One day early

It was Christmas eve.  

Mum was very busy making sure the house was all tidy and everything was put away where it belonged.

Mary tried to help by clearing her bedroom and trying to help Joe with his but seeing as he was still only a baby most of the mess had possibly been Mary too.

Mum hovered, mopped, and wiped all of the surfaces.

Soon the house was looking new and shiny.

The Christmas tree was glittering with all of the lights and decorations.

The floor below it was also sparkling with all the shiny wrapping paper over the presents.

Now the house was ready for Santa.

It was getting late, “where is dad?” asked Mary.

“Dad has to work a bit late to make sure the office is closed and all of the work has been done before the end of the day, but don’t worry Dad will be home before bed time.”

Mary was still a bit worried; Mary didn’t want Dad to miss Christmas.

Mary drew some pictures for a bit, read for a bit, played with Joe for a bit but couldn’t stop worrying dad might miss Christmas.

Mum asked Mary to come through to the kitchen to help.

Mary was given the job of finding and putting away the ingredients mum asked for.  Mary didn’t know what Mum was making but didn’t mind because as long as she continued to help mum might give her a taste, mum said it was the cooks treat, and Mary certainly didn’t mind taste testing mums baking.

 Busy stirring and chatting in the Kitchen, they didn’t realize Dad was home, so he surprised them both with a bunch of flowers, and a wee toy for Joe.

“Whats all this?” asked mum shocked and surprised.

“Its just a wee gift for each of you to start the holiday right, and I have another surprise, why don’t we each choose one small gift from under the tree to open now?”

 “But it’s a day early?” said Mary in shock.

“Seeing as we have been very busy all day and making the house all nice and tidy I don’t think Santa would mind if we opened one wee present,” smiled Mum.

They all headed out of the Kitchen and into the living room beside the Christmas tree.

Mary just stood and looked.

“What’s wrong Mary?”

“I don’t know which to choose, they all look so good.”

“I know we are very lucky to have such generous family and friends,” replied Mum with a smile.

“Can I have this instead?”  Requested Mary pulling a candy cane from the tree.

“Of course, replied Mum a little confused.

“I don’t want the presents to get jealous, so I’ll wait till tomorrow, I hope Santa doesn’t mind.”

“I don’t think he’ll mind at all, he’ll just be glad he delivered all of 

©joannehepburn 24/12/2016

Getting ready for Santa

Mum was busy in the kitchen, Dad was sorting out the garden, even Joe was possibly sorting out his toys.  Mary didn’t understand what all the fuss was about.

“Mary can you help me please?” asked Mum.

Mary wandered through to the kitchen, “how can I help?” asked an intrigued Mary.

Could you help me with the dishes, then we have a much more interesting task afterwards when Dad finishes what he needs to do.

Mary stood on her wee stool, she was almost tall enough but still that bit too short to reach the dishes or the cupboard but not for too much longer.

The dishes were done and put away mum wiped down all of the surfaces, just as dad burst through the door with a tree.

“Dad what are you doing?” blurted Mary.

“Well I thought we could dress it up all pretty and shiny for Christmas,” stated Dad.

“Well we better get started,” winked Mum looking at Dad.

Dad got the tree steady in its bucket so it wouldn’t move or fall, now the fun begins.

Dad was the tallest so he always put the lights on. 

Everyone go to hang up the shiny decorations.  Some sparkled, some Mary and Joe had made, others were presents from aunties and cousins.  

Each were given their own branch, once all the branches were filled, it was Joe’s turn  to put the star on the top of the tree this year , with a little help from dad.

They all stood back to get a better look at their work.

“Wow I think its the best one yet,” smiled Mum.

“Agreed” chimed Mary and Dad.

“But I think we might be missing something.” Whispered a confused Mum.  “Oh yes, we need to put out treats for the reindeer and Santa. What do you think they would like to keep them fueled for the long night of work?”  

“I think the reindeer would like some carrots and parsnips, definitely carrots,” advised Mary.

“Why carrots?” asked Dad.

“Granny always says that carrots help you see in the dark and we don’t want Santa getting lost, do we.” advised Mary.

“No we couldn’t have that, but what are we going to give Santa?” mused Dad.

“I think Santa  would like some juice and an apple” nodded Mary.

“Not a glass of milk and some cookies or a mince pie Mary? Questioned Dad.

“No I think Santa will be quite bored of all the chocolate, cookies and mince pies from everyone else, I think we could try something lighter and Mum says apples are really good for keeping you awake, I think Santa might quite like the change."

“That sounds like a really good idea Mary, you might get a surprise gift for your quick thinking,” smiled Dad. 

“Oh, I think we forgot, “ yelled Dad as he rushed into the kitchen, “These,” he hollered as He took through a tray of mince pies and juice, “These are for us to enjoy.  Now Christmas can really begin.”

©18.12.2016 joannehepburn

Wrapping gifts

Mary had helped mum bake some tasty treats earlier. 

They had made, gingerbread, shortbread (granny’s favourite) biscuits and some cookies they could wrap up and give out as gifts. 

The short bread was going to be given for both granny’s to enjoy with their tea. 

The ginger bread was for the neighbours.

The cookies and biscuits were for aunties and cousins. 

Mary might have taken a few to test they were yummy before mum put them into jars and wrapped with a ribbon and a gift tag so we could tell who they were for.

Presents do not need to be expensive to mean a lot to the person, advised Mum.  Its the thought behind them matters, and everyone loved Mum’s baking.

Now all the baking was complete onto wrapping all of the other presents, that were not recommended to eat.

Reams of paper, patterned paper, tissue paper, ribbon, fancy stick-on bows and sticky tape were strewn across the table.

It was not usually this bad for birthdays or anniversary's or surprise’s but for Christmas there was so much! 

So many gifts scattered round the room, this was going to take some time.

Mary loved watching mum wrap up the presents.  Especially when she disguised some because they were awkward shapes making it even harder for people to guess what they were. 

Mary tried to help wrapping the presents last year but it didn’t end so well. Mary might have got tangled in all the sticky tape and ripped the paper. This year Mary decided to just watched Mum and bring juice and biscuits when asked. 

Mum was very cleaver when she wrapped presents; she never took too much paper and always managed to cover the gift fully.  With a few folds and a bit of tape the item would be hidden completely until Christmas. 

The skill baffled Mary, her folds didn’t hide, they only ripped the paper, so she left it to the expert.

Mary liked how dad wrapped up all of his presents (he might have got stuck in sticky tape in the past too)

Dad liked to use colorful gift bags that not only hid the shape of the item but were super easy to use and if you really wanted to you could close up the top so no one could take a sneaky peak before Christmas day.

It took all afternoon but the pile of presents under the Christmas tree grew and grew.  They were possibly about to run out of space but Mum got up from the table and put down the last of the gifts under the tree.

“Is that a good pile of surprises?” Asked mum quite delighted with herself.

“Yea, its the best” giggled Mary as Mum got up and gave Mary a big

squishy hug with a big smile to match the one on Mary's face. 

Not too long to wait now, we’ll all have to be on our best behaviour so Santa keeps our names on his nice list joked mum with a wink.

©joannehepburn 11/12/2016

Writing cards

Mum was sitting down at the dining table busy writing away.

Mary played in her room, and played a game with Joe, then did some drawing but mum was still sitting writing.

“What you up to mum? Asked Mary (Mum never sat still for this long)

“I’m writing Christmas cards to all of our friends and relatives, would you like to help?”

“Can I draw a picture for each of them instead?” asked Mary

“Of course you can, that would be lovely, I think everyone would like that very much.” Replied Mum with a smile.

And with that Mary go to work.  

The first card got a big Christmas tree with lots of presents under it .

The next got a smaller tree with a big star on top.

The next holly, the next Christmas pud.

Every card had a different picture from Mary on it.

Joe looked up every now and again wondering why everyone was so quiet, then got back to playing with his rattle and teddy.

After what seemed like forever they were on the last card.

This is for Granny Jones, what picture do you think she would like?

“I’ve got the perfect idea, I’ll draw the circle she hangs on the door in the winter”.

“Do you mean the circle of holly with berries and a bow?”

“Yea,” nodded Mary focusing on her picture.

Mum finished writing the cards and the addresses so they would make it to each of their friends and family.

Mary had finished the last picture.

“Oh my goodness Mary that’s wonderful, Granny will like that a lot,” said mum with a smile.

“Can I draw a little something on the envelope?”

“You can draw on the other side of the address, just to the post office doesn’t get lost.”

“Good idea, agreed Mary as she drew a single holly leaf as a wee hint to the picture that was hidden inside.”

Oh thats lovely, I’m sure Granny is going to love that, advised Mum  with a nod.

“How about we get to the post office to make sure all of these make it to everyone in plenty of time before Christmas?”

Mary was already putting on her wellie’s and jacket as mum spoke.

Mum got Joe all wrapped up with blankets a scarf, hat and gloves.

They were all buttoned up ready for the cold as they left the house.

The post office was just round the corner.

It was still quite quiet, they must be early, the Christmas crowds had not started yet.

“What beautiful pictures,” commented the lady behind the counter.

Mary just smiled as she hid behind mum.

“There all Mary’s hard work” advised Mum.

“What lucky people,” smiled the lady.

Mary skipped all the way home; she loved it when people liked her drawings.

©joannehepburn 04.12.2016