Stay tuned for our Annual Holiday Marathon starting Friday and running through New Year's Day!
Jingle Bell Rock (1/1)
"Hi Daddy!" Angie waved excitedly from the riser where she stood with her other hand in Ashae's.
Steve returned the wave and as a smile split his face, took the seat next to Catherine.
"She's ready to burst," she said with a beaming smile of her own.
Angie stood, bouncing in place, sporting a headband she'd constructed from sparkling garland in class. Mr. Frederic and Ms. Julie flanked risers that held the excited preschoolers, and after welcoming everyone to the Holiday Sing Celebration, he pressed play to start the music, with both teachers beginning to sing a few words to start the children off.
Two words into the song the kids were happily singing, most at the top of their voices while making choreographed gestures that were at least partially in sync.
Catherine placed a hand on Steve's knee and leaned over chuckling when he whispered, "Did we have any doubt?" at Angie singing loudly enough that her voice was easily recognizable to her parents and her gestures being the most enthusiastic of the group.
"Not for a second," she responded, "I am so happy they're filming it," she tilted her chin towards the camera set up to record the performance as Angie and her classmates burst into Jingle Bells, complete with the preschoolers shaking bells throughout the song.
Three songs later, they ended with Mele Kalikimaka and when the parents in attendance clapped and cheered, began to clap for themselves as well. They were helped off the two row risers by Julie and Frederick who complimented each child. After a high five from both teachers, Angie and Ashae shared a hug before turning to hug their friends.
"She's like lightning in a bottle," a mom in her late twenties told Steve and Catherine as she smiled at Angie, who was running over to them. "But from what I've seen on the news since I was in high school, she comes by it naturally."
"Thanks, she's definitely a force of nature," Catherine smiled as Steve caught their daughter who'd made a leap for his arms.
"That was so much fun," she said excitedly. "And guess what? De'res cookies and punch in the classroom because we did such a good job."
"You were all amazing." Steve smiled as Angie kissed his cheek then leaned over to do the same to her mother. "I think we have time for a quick cookie before we have to head to the airport."
"YAY!" Angie threw her arms in the air. "Joanie's comin' today!" She clapped her hands then steepled her fingers under chin. "Then three more sleeps 'til Santa gets here. Aunt Mary said it's ok if Joanie sleeps at our house sometimes even though they gots some other place to stay. That's ok, right?"
"Absolutely," Catherine told her.
"We stayed in a hotel when we goed to Dizzyworld," Angie told the young mother from earlier who had now been joined by her own son, Jeremy. A very sweet but very shy young boy from Angie's class. "They not stayin' in a hotel like that. It's …" She looked at Catherine. "What is it, Mommy?"
"An Airbnb," Catherine reminded her.
"That's right," Angie nodded. "They not stayin' wif us this time because there's too many people coming."
The young mother knelt in front of Angie. "Sounds like you're gonna have an exciting Christmas."
"You can come if you want," Angie offered. "We havin' lots of people at our house. But mommy and daddy say dere's always room for more."
The woman grinned. "That's a very sweet offer, Angie. But we're actually flying to Colorado later today to spend Christmas with Jeremy's grandparents."
"They got snow dere?" Angie asked.
"They might," the woman said. "We'll have to wait and see."
"I like snow," Angie bubbled. "I got to play in it when we was in New Jersey." She turned to Jeremy with a questioning look. "Did you tell Santa where you was goin' for Christmas?"
He nodded. "When I saw him at the mall."
"That's good." Angie smiled. "He'll know where to deliver you presents then. Right, Mommy?"
"That's right." Catherine smiled. "Santa is very good at keeping track of things like that."
Angie took Jeremy's hand. "We better go get a cookie 'cuz we both got lots to do today."
Jeremy's mother chuckled as she watched the two head off towards their classroom. "Definitely a force of nature."
"I don't see them yet," Angie reported loudly as she surveyed the throngs of people at the airport from her perch on Steve's shoulders.
"Their plane landed a few minutes ago so they'll be here soon," Elizabeth told her granddaughter.
Angie shook the bells in her hand excitedly right next to Steve's ear causing him to wince slightly.
"I think the hats and signs were a great idea," Catherine told her mother as she looked over the festively adorned welcome party consisting of herself, Steve, Angie, DJ, Elizabeth, Joseph, Grace, and Danny. "But maybe next time we should skip the bells."
"If I had thought about it I'd have suggested she bring the horn off her bike," Danny teased.
"It took some time but we finally convinced her the bike horn is an outside only toy," Steve said. "If you do anything at all to convince her otherwise, you'll pay."
"What are you gonna do?" Danny smirked. "Grace is too old for loud toys."
Catherine arched an eyebrow at him. "There are other ways."
"I'm really excited to see everybody," DJ said as he adjusted his Santa hat and readied the glittery 'Mele Kalikimaka' sign Grace had helped he and Angie make. "When I talked to Avery on FaceTime he said he likes building things with LEGO too. And he plays baseball just like me. His favorite team is the Dodgers."
"You guys are gonna have a lot of fun together," Grace said.
Suddenly Angie squealed excitedly. "I see Aunt Mary!"
A second later Steve spotted his sister and waved her and the LA crew over.
"Oh my!" Mary laughed as she approached. "No way we could have missed this group. You guys look fantastic!"
"We wanted to get your trip off on the right foot," Elizabeth said as she hugged Mary, then Aaron.
Angie began to squirm. "Let me down, please."
The minute her feet hit the floor she threw herself into an excited hug with Joan.
"Cousin Angie!" Joan smiled. "And Primo DJ!" Joan took Avery's hand. "This is my cousin Avery."
"Hi!" DJ said. "Welcome to Hawaii!"
"You didn't have to go to all this trouble," Sue Reyes said with a delighted smile.
"It was nothing," Joseph assured her. "We're so happy you decided to spend your holidays here. The more the merrier."
"If you thought the Grandparent's FunTime Express was something in Disney World, just wait until you see the Christmas edition," Ramon beamed.
"Hi Aunt Deb," Steve said as he hugged her. "You look great."
"I feel great," Deb assured him.
"We stopped over at the rental this morning to make sure everything was ready for you," Elizabeth told Sue. "It's just two buildings over from ours so you'll be nice and close."
"We were lucky to get such a nice place," Sue said gratefully. "Especially at Christmastime."
"The granddaughter of the owner works with me at Tutor Time," Elizabeth said. "They're a wonderful family. They moved to a smaller place in Diamond Head last year when they retired but decided to keep the condo and rent it out as an Airbnb."
"But Mommy said you can still sleep at our house if you want," Angie told Joan.
"You too," DJ told Avery. "There's lots of space in my room and Daddy said if you want maybe we can camp out on the beach."
"That sounds AWESOME!" Avery looked excitedly at his parents. "Can I do that?"
"If it's ok with Steve and Catherine," Alyssa chuckled. "Not even out of the airport yet and they're already planning sleepovers."
"Of course it's ok with us," Catherine said with a smile. "We've been counting the days until you guys arrived. Kaitlyn is volunteering at an adoption event at the shelter this afternoon or she'd have been here too. She's very, very excited to see you."
"I'm excited to see her too," Alyssa said. "Last time we talked she mentioned an internship program at the zoo and I told her I'd be happy to help her with the application."
"She sees another budding veterinarian in the making and she can't help herself," Paul chuckled. "I'm pretty sure there are even some vet school brochures in her suitcase."
Alyssa elbowed her husband. "It's never too early to start planning."
"It certainly isn't," Deb agreed. "And I for one plan on having an amazing holiday. So let's grab the luggage and get this party started."
THE END
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