Rolling over Kate looked at her clock, it was quarter to 4. smiling softly, she carefully pushed herself up against her pillow ready to put her last elf on the shelf plan in to action as on the 24th they would go back to Santa and leave the Christmas eve boxes for the children and this one was the best she was sure of it.
"Mike" she whispered poking him softly. "Mike" she called again when there was no response. After several attempts there was still no response. She was lucky Mike could sleep like the dead and not wake for anything.
Smiling softly, she reached over to the bedside table turning her lamp on and pulling her makeup bag towards her. Pulling out a old lip and cheek tint she opened it carefully putting two large circles on his cheeks she then also added a dot on his nose. Next, she got to work with an old eyeliner pencil. Carefully she added some freckles and the crowning glory was writing the word Elfie on his forehead.
Trying to muffle her giggles so as not to wake him she reached over turning the light off. As she lay back against her pillow, she felt an arm wrap around her holding her close. She smiled in to the darkness she couldn't wait to see the look on Mikes face.
Heading downstairs a few hours later mike was still asleep. The kids were not far behind her. The hype of Christmas building with 2 days to go she wasn't surprised.
Grace has already started planning how she could catch Santa in the act.
Placing the bowls of cereals in front of the kids she smiled sipping her coffee as she heard Mike walk down the stairs.
"good morning" Mike smiled
"Daddy you look funny" Grace giggled
"what!" he said "what do you mean"
Kate grinned over her coffee as he looked in the mirror above the fireplace in the living room.
"what the hell" he exclaimed "what has that little monster of an elf done to me"
Walking over Kate handed him a pack of make-up removal wipes.
"i know it was you" Mike whispered
"i have no idea what you mean "Kate said acting all innocent
"a but you have red all over your fingers. And I am so going to make you pay later" he whispered kissing her.
"is that a promise" she grinned walking back in to the kitchen filling her cup up with another coffee and one for mike.
"this isn't coming off" Mike said scrubbing at his face with one of the wipes.
"try my cleanser upstairs with some hot water. Those wipes are usually just for a quick once over" she smiled
An hour later Mike returned down stairs. The eyeliner had come off his forehead and you couldn't see the freckles but his cheeks still had a pink tinge and it had smudged where he had scrubbed at his face trying to get it off.
Looking over from the kitchen Kate smiled still trying to hide her grin as he still looked a little daft with the rose-tinted cheeks. "right" she said "i thought we could have a movie day. There are a few more Christmas films starting with Miracle on 34th street." she smiled
"the 1947 version?" Mike asked
"no, the 1994 one with Mara Wilson. Its way better and funnier, and then we can watch the Grinch" she smiled.
"sounds like a plan" Mike smiled "although I do have to nip in to the office for a bit" Mike smiled
"Mike its Christmas" Kate sighed
"it's actually the eve of Christmas eve it's not Christmas for another 48 hours and this is important" Mike smiled kissing on the cheek.
"fine well hurry back" she smiled watching as Mike walked out.
"mum why didn't you tell daddy he still had the make up on his cheek" Nicole asked
"did he. I can't say I noticed" Kate grinned
"that's mean mummy I am going to tell Santa and you will go on the naughty list" Grace grinned
"well that's okay then we both can be on the naughty list as Santa was watching when you were planning your Santa trap" Kate said folding her arms. "right then shall we get set up for the movie day" Kate smiled
Several hours later Kate sat on the sofa. The kids had gotten board of the movies and gone off to do their own things and she turned the Grinch off as Jim Carey creeped her out as the Grinch. At least tomorrow was Christmas eve and then she could relax a little she had one more film to watch as a special Christmas treat. Christmas day would be full of the kids just playing with all their new toys. It had been a tough year but at least they had had it easier than some. This year was going to be a odd Christmas that was for sure.
so hope you like this. i hope to get a Christmas eve chapter up tomorrow but for most of you it will more than likely be Christmas day when you see it. hope Christmas is a fab day for you all x
