This past Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mom and I had to work.

But, H, you are still out of school for the Christmas break.

Because of this you two have been at Pop and Gammies for the last three nights.

Anyway. Mom and I came to pick y’all up today.

You were both so tired from too many late nights and too much TV.

We all late lunch together and visited into the late afternoon before we came home.

Before we left, you girls insisted on swinging for a bit in the front yard.

We ended up swinging for over half an hour.

Lifting one of y’all in the air (forever ago), I sang a line from an old R. Kelly song.

I believe I can fly…
Spread my wings and touch the sky…

(Don’t lookup R. Kelly. Decades later he got in a ton of trouble.)

As we pushed you both in your swings y’all screamed that first line over and over until I asked you to stop.

And then everyone but me fell asleep on the car ride home.

I love you.

-Dad

Mom and I both said at different times today that it was a nice day.

It was laidback and slow.

To start, we slept as well as any family does with a three-year-old and six-year-old up at random hours.

Then we milled around the house playing and watching TV until around 10.

I mostly drank coffee.

And then we headed to Seminole for the day.

We were lazy when we got there but mom and I got to visit with Pop and Gammies more than we have in a while.

My favorite part of the day was laying in the floor with you girls and watching TV in front of the fire. We laid on pillows and a bed-sheet Gammies had put down for us. I think we spent most of the afternoon that way.

We all had barbecue for lunch and apple pie in the late afternoon.

Y’all asked to stay, so we left y’all to spend the night around 5:30.

I already can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

I love you.

-Dad

We have all nearly survived Christmas Eve.

The day started lazily playing and watching TV.

For lunch we ate at Caprock Cafe and then we all went for a carriage ride at Kingsgate.

By that time everyone was tired, so we drove around the loop trying to get ya’ll to nap. As usual, H napped for about 10% of the ride and K napped for 80%.

We made the 3:00 Christmas Eve service and sat by the Birkelbach’s.

I always enjoy the end. The church is dark and the candles light the room as we sing Silent Night – but maybe I will have more to say about that later.

After watching Charlie Brown Christmas – but before watching Home Alone (for the first time) – we are tamales and rice for dinner.

H you fell asleep reading books in bed tonight as K yawned through the last few pages.

Of course, y’all left a few gingerbread cookies out for Santa.

Mom and i just finished putting K’s new balance bike and H’s new scooter together. They will be waiting for you under the tree when you wake up.

You two are so beautiful.

And I just love your matching Christmas pajamas.

Merry Christmas.

I love you.

-Dad