Christmas Eve 2006

Rachel and Lucy are 7, Zach 6 and Grace 3

"Mum, I'm so excited" Rachel said as she opened the final window of her advent calendar. "Santa comes tonight" she added. Rachel was growing up fast, faster than her twin sister in some ways. She missed that she no longer called her and Will to Mummy and Daddy, she was simply now just Mum.

"He does, so do you remember what you need to do tonight?" Alicia asked as she lifted Grace to open her own advent calendar

"Uh hu, we need to go to bed early, and stay asleep or Santa won't come" Rachel said as Lucy entered the room with her book in her hand.

"Mummy, can we read the night before Christmas, you said we could on Christmas Eve?" Lucy asked

"I did, didn't I, but I still have lots to do, and don't forget Daddy and Uncle Owen are going to take you all sledging first" Alicia said to her children which made them all smile.

"Mummy, I didn't know Santa was a knight" Zach said.

"He isn't sweetie" Alicia replied

"But Lucy said he was, she said we were going to read the night before Christmas" Zach complained

"No Zach, night as in night time, you know when it gets dark" Lucy replied

"You're so dumb" Rachel said to her brother which caused him to cry.

"Mummy, I'm not dumb" Zach complained as he wrapped his arms around Alicia leg

"No your not dumb sweetie, Rachel go sit in timeout please"

"But Mum please not on Christmas Eve" Rachel whined.

"Mummy, Rachie on timeout" Grace said pointing to her sister sitting on the bottom step.

"Yes, she was naughty, that where you go when you are naughty too" Alicia said.

"Will Santa put Rachie on naughty list?" Grace questioned which caused Rachel's eyes to widen; she didn't want to be on the naughty list.

"Mum, please don't let Santa put me on the naughty list" Rachel pleaded

"It's not up to me, but maybe if you are really good for the rest of the day and do something nice you'll be on the nice list" Alicia said.

Rachel thought about it for a moment, she was going to make sure she was definitely on the nice list.

"Lucy and Zach can you please go and put your snow boots on and your waterproof trousers, Gracie you go get me yours and I'll help you change" Alicia said to her kids who were very excited and ran to their rooms to get their things.

Rachel kicked her feet on the back of the stairs as she sat thinking, she hated being on timeout, but always felt better afterwards, she didn't know why she always said or did the wrong thing, but she knew after she had done it that she shouldn't have.

"Mum, I'm sorry" Rachel said

"It's your brother you need to apologise to; you know it isn't nice to call him dumb"

"I know, I didn't mean it"

"It hurts his feelings, and you need to remember he is a year younger than you, he hasn't learned all the things you have yet, and as a big sister it's your job to teach him."

"I do that, I taught him how to play snap, remember he played with me and Lucy" Rachel said proudly

"I know, and when you do that you are a great big sister, but calling Zach and Grace dumb isn't very nice is it"

"I promise I'll be nicer, can I got get ready for sledging too?"

"Yes, but remember and say sorry to Zach"

"I will Mum"

….

Alicia worked quickly once the kids and Will had left to meet Owen at the park. She finished all the wrapping of the Christmas gifts, started with the Christmas dinner, and cleared the house ready for their guests tomorrow.

Will on the other hand had his hands full with the kids. They slowly climbed to the top of the hill with their sledges. The twins and Zach having great fun racing down the hill. Rachel had apologised to Zach who had now forgot about the incident and was happy that he was beating his sisters in the races downhill.

Grace was too wee to sledge on her own to Will went with her on the same sledge a few times, but walking back up the hill was tiring on her little legs, so instead they spent their time building a snowman and making lots of snow angels, before Will took them all for hot chocolate in the café at the other side of the park.

TBC

This is just a little something I wrote on the ferry, I will try and get the other half written up this weekend.