Callen put the boys in their playpens before checking on Lori in the kitchen.
"Everything okay Lori?" Callen asked as he walked into the kitchen.
"Yeah it's fine," Lori replied as she waved the oven mitt above the toaster. "Just burned the bread."
"Ah okay." Callen grabbed the chair and turned the smoke alarm off. Lori put the hood of the stove on so the smoke would clear. "Do you have enough toast or do you need me to get some more?"
"Oh no, this was just for lunch. You don't need to get more, we have enough."
"Alright."
Since everything was under control in the kitchen Callen went back to the living room. Once the smoke had cleared from the kitchen Lori called everyone in for lunch. The boys sat peacefully in their swing chairs as the others ate. Once lunch was over they took the kids upstairs for their afternoon nap.
"No, no sweep," Julie protested.
"Yes Julie, you have to go to sleep," Callen told her as he took Julie upstairs. "Grandma, grandpa and your aunts and uncles are coming over for dinner tonight so you don't want to fall asleep then."
Callen tucked the girls into bed as Lori took the boys to bed. The boys were asleep before Lori even left the room. Myra and Julie didn't want to go to sleep at first but they were asleep after like fifteen minutes. Lori went back to the kitchen and continued with dinner. Callen went to clean the house before the guests arrived.
Just after 3pm Callen went upstairs to get the kids. Callen first went to get the girls. He dressed the girls in their Christmas outfits. They were both wearing a dress with a white long sleeved shirt under it, the top was red and the skirt was white, the skirt had red glittery dots on it and in between the top and the skirt was a red rose. Callen put the girls' hair in a ponytails and then made three braids. He took the girls downstairs via the back stairs so Lori could see their outfits.
"Aww don't you look cute," Lori spoke as the girls came down the stairs.
"We pwincess," Myra replied.
"Yes you are."
The girls went back to the living room as Callen went back upstairs to get the boys. He changed the boys in their Christmas outfits as well. Callen dressed them in black pants with a red button down long sleeved shirt and over it a pinstriped vest with a plaid clip-on tie.
"Don't you look cute," Callen spoke to them. "Mommy is just gonna love you."
Callen dressed Finn first and took him downstairs via the back stairs.
"Look who's here honey," Callen spoke.
"Hey Finn, aww oh my god. You look so cute." Lori cleaned up her hands and took Finn from Callen. "Hey little guy. You are a little prince. You looked so cute."
Callen went back upstairs and dressed Charlie as well. When he came into the living room Lori was breastfeeding Finn. Callen warmed up a bottle for Charlie and fed him as well.
"Why don't we take some pics?" Lori suggested.
"Yeah. Some nice Christmas pictures."
Lori grabbed the camera. First they took a picture of the girls. Callen put the girls in front of the tree and Lori took a few pictures. Next they put the boys on the girls' lap and took some more pictures. After that they took a few pictures of just the boys.
"We should take a family pictures as well," Callen suggested.
"Yeah once we are in our Christmas outfits as well."
Lori went back to the kitchen to finish the preparations of the dinner. Once Lori was done with the preparations she went upstairs to get a shower. Lori dressed herself in a knee length dark red dress, in the middle of the dress was a band of silver glitter and the arms were made out of lace. She finished the outfit with black panty hose and a pair of dark red pumps. She applied some make-up and did her hair before going back down. She went back to the kitchen and went back to making dinner. Callen came into the kitchen to tell her he was going to take a shower as well. Callen just watched her for a little bit. Damn his wife looked hot. The dress showed off her curves perfectly. Her figure was almost back to 'normal' again after the birth. Callen walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"You look beautiful," Callen told her.
"Thank you."
"I'm just gonna go take a shower."
"Sure that's fine."
Callen gave Lori a kiss before he went upstairs. Lori went into the living room to keep an eye on the kids. Callen was back down about twenty minutes later. He was dressed in pair of dress jeans with a white, dark blue and red plaid blouse and a dark blue jacket. Now that they were all dressed they took the family Christmas picture. They all sat down next to the Christmas tree, Myra and Julie sat in the middle and Callen was holding Finn on his lap and Lori was holding Charlie on her lap. Lori set the timer and quickly sat back down and pulled Charlie on her lap. Once the picture was taken Lori looked at the picture. It was just perfect. Just as they finished the doorbell rang. Myra ran up to the door. She knew she couldn't open the door without an adult there but she wanted to see who it was.
"It's gwandma!" Myra squealed as she looked through the window.
Lori opened the door and it were in fact her parents and her sister Sylvie.
"Hey Myra," Susan spoke.
"Gwandma!"
Susan got down and gave Myra a hug and a kiss. Julie came running up to them as well.
"Gwandpa!"
"Hey my little princess," Richard replied and gave Julie a hug and a kiss and then they switched girls.
Sylvie gave both girls a hug and a kiss too. Susan walked up to the bouncy chairs where Finn and Charlie were.
"Hey you two. Oh my, you've grown," Susan spoke.
"Oh yes they have. They are growing really fast."
"I can't believe they are already a month old."
"I know me neither."
Susan tickled their tummies causing the boys to smile. "You two are so cute."
Susan picked Finn up and Richard picked Charlie up. Lori poured everyone a drink.
"How's your hand G?" Susan asked.
"It's getting better, doesn't hurt that much anymore."
"That's good. I bet it's not handy with the new babies around."
"No it's not really handy but I'm managing."
A little later Chris, Brooke and Ryan arrived too. Lori, Susan, Sylvie and Brooke disappeared into the kitchen to finish dinner a little later.
"Dinner's ready," Lori called into the living room just after 6pm. The guys took the kids into the kitchen. The girls were placed on their booster seats on the chairs and Finn and Charlie were placed in their swing chairs which stood next to table.
"It's really delicious Lori," Susan spoke once they started eating.
"Thank you mom."
Lori had made stuffed chicken with mashed potatoes, beans and salad. Everyone was really enjoying dinner. Myra and Julie ate very well as well.
"Before we have dessert I would just like to say something," Chris spoke up. "First of all, thank you Lori and G for having us over and for making this meal, it was really delicious. It's always nice to spend Christmas with family. And secondly, Brooke and I have a little announcement to make. We are having a baby."
"Oh my god!" Susan reacted. "That's amazing, congratulations."
Everyone stood up to congratulate Chris and Brooke.
"How far along are you?" Lori asked as she congratulated Brooke.
"Just eleven weeks."
"Well enjoy it, it's something special. If you ever need anything don't hesitate to call."
"Thank you, I will."
"Mommy, wat going on?" Myra asked.
"Your Uncle Chris and Aunt Brooke are having a little baby."
"Just like mommy and daddy have little bwosses?"
"Yes just like that, but then only one baby. That's gonna be your little cousin."
"Wat is cousin?"
"That's when your aunt and uncle have a little baby, that little baby is called cousin."
"Name is cousin?"
"No sweetie, that's just what we call it. Just like I'm called your mommy and Uncle Chris is called uncle."
"Oh."
"When baby be hewe?"
"It's gonna be a while, just like when mommy and daddy told you about your little brothers. Your cousin has to grow in Auntie Brooke's stomach first too. The baby will be here around the summer."
"Baby live hewe too?"
"No sweetie, this is Uncle Chris' and Auntie Brooke's baby, the baby will be living with them, with their mommy and daddy. Just like you are living with your mommy and daddy."
"Okay."
Now that Myra was done asking questions Lori pulled out the dessert. She had made tiramisu with strawberries.
"Thank you for dinner sis, it was really amazing," Ryan spoke once they were all finished.
Richard and Susan cleared the table an loaded everything into the dishwasher. Just as they were done eating Finn and Charlie started fussing.
"Chris, Brooke, would you like to feed them? For some practice," Lori asked.
"Yeah sure. If you don't mind," Chris responded.
"No not at all."
Lori pulled two bottles of breast milk out of the fridge and put them in the bottle warmers.
"Hey little guy, it's okay, it's coming," Chris spoke as he picked Charlie up and Brooke did the same to Finn.
Once the bottles were warm Lori handed them to Chris and Brooke. The boys eagerly started drinking as soon as the pacifiers were in their mouths. Lori took a picture of Chris and Brooke feeding the boys. The boys didn't mind at all, they were happy, they didn't care who fed them. Finn's bottle was almost empty but he didn't want to take it anymore.
"That's okay Brooke, they don't always finish it. He has drank enough," Lori told Brooke.
"Alright." Brooke put the bottle on the table and put Finn over her shoulder for burping.
"You really are a natural Brooke."
"Oh I don't know about that, I just love babies and I've had some practice with my little nieces and nephews."
"You'll be a great mom, you'll both be great parents."
"Thanks."
Once both boys had been fed and burped Brooke and Sylvie took the boys upstairs. They changed their diapers and dressed the boys in their footy reindeer pajamas. The boys lay peacefully sucking on their pacifiers in their cribs. Brooke and Sylvie turned their music mobiles on before going back downstairs.
"Hey sis," Chris called Lori over once Brooke and Sylvie had gone upstairs. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Yeah sure."
Chris took Lori to the living room since the others were still in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner.
"Did you get the thing we talked about?"
"Yes I did."
Lori opened the box that was standing on the mantle and pulled out a ring box. Chris took it and opened it.
"It's perfect."
"She's just gonna love it, I know."
"Thank you sis for getting this ring and holding on to it."
"It's my pleasure, I'm happy to assist."
"Is everything else set up too?"
"Yes, I went down to the restaurant to make sure everything was just the way you had told me. It was perfect. She's gonna love it. Everything is set for tomorrow night."
"Thank you sis."
"No problem. I'm happy for you and Brooke and I'm happy that I'm gonna be an aunt."
"Yeah, you had four kids already, it's about time someone else added a kid into this family," Chris joked.
"You and Brooke are gonna be great parents, I just know it."
"Thanks Lori."
Myra and Julie could stay up a little longer. They sat at the table and played a game with grandma and grandpa. After the game had finished Susan and Richard took the girls up to bed. Within minutes the girls were asleep. The adults sat in the living room and they played a game of charades. Lori was teamed up with Sylvie, Chris was teamed up with Callen, Ryan was teamed up with Richard and Susan was teamed up with Brooke. First up was Lori.
"Alright Lori, you're ready?" Callen asked.
"Yep, hit it."
Callen hit the timer and Lori looked at the card. Lori made the sign for what subject it was.
"It's a movie," Sylvie spoke. Lori put four fingers up. "Four words." Lori put three fingers up. "Third word." Lori made some fighting moves. "Fighting, karate, angry." Lori made a sign to go back to what Sylvie originally said. "Fighting, karate." Lori rolled with her hands to keep Sylvie on that train and keep guessing. "Ninja." Lori made the sign that was correct. "Teenage mutant ninja turtles," Sylvie guessed.
"Yes! Got it!" Lori spoke.
Lori sat back down and high fived Sylvie. Callen wrote the seconds on the paper. Next it was Callen's turn. Once he was ready Lori pressed the timer. Callen looked at the card. Callen first made the sign for what subject it was.
"Saying," Chris spoke. Callen put six fingers up. "Six words." Callen put the first finger up. "First word."
Callen pretended to fly with his arms. "Bird." That was correct. Callen put four fingers up. "Forth word."
Callen was the bird again and plucked something. He held it in his hand and showed Chris that this was it. "Feather." That was correct. "Birds of a feather flock together."
"Yes correct!"
They were having a lot of fun playing. Each team member had been up two times. When the four rounds were up it was a tie between Lori's and Callen's team. They would each have to do one more to determine the winner. Only one team member could go up, whoever had the fastest score would win.
"Alright, the ladies can go first," Callen said.
"Are you gonna go or should it?" Lori asked.
"You go, you're better at performing than me."
"Alright."
Lori took her position up front.
"Ready Lori?" Susan asked.
"Ready mom."
Susan hit the timer as Lori picked up the card.
"A saying," Sylvie spoke when Lori had made the sign. "Twelve words. Second word." Lori moved to the ground and plucked some things. "Flower, leaves, grass." That was correct. "Twelfth word." Lori pretended to make something with her hands. "Road, mountain, bump, hill." Hill was correct. "The grass is always greener on the other side of the hill."
"Yes!"
"Ninety seconds, not bad," Susan spoke. "G, Chris, you're up."
"You go Chris, you're better at this," Callen suggested.
"Alright."
"Ready Chris?"
"Ready mom," Chris replied and Chris picked up the card as Susan punched in the timer.
"A song," Callen spoke once Chris had made the sign for song. "Four words. First word. Box, road, boat, car, bridge." That was correct. "Fourth word. Piano." Chris tried first but that wasn't the word he was looking for. "Bridge." Chris motioned to what was underneath the bridge. "River, water." Water was correct. "Bridge over troubled water."
"Yes got it!"
"What's the time Susan?" Callen asked.
"It's close between you too. Only five seconds apart."
"Come on mom, who won?" Sylvie pushed.
"Sylvie and Lori had ninety seconds and Chris and G had… ninety five seconds, so Lori and Sylvie won. Congrats."
"Woohoo!" Sylvie and Lori high fived each other.
"Well played," Chris told them.
The family sat around for a little longer before they all went up to bed.
"It's nice having your family here," Callen spoke once they were in bed.
"Yeah it is. I love Christmas, it's always nice to be with family."
"Yes it is. And Chris and Brooke having a little baby as well."
"Yeah, it's gonna be niece having a little niece or nephew."
"Yes it will be. And Myra asking if the baby would live here too."
"Yeah to her it's like new baby being born and he comes to live her so she thought that would happened now too."
"Yeah, that's understandable. I can't wait for Christmas morning, I know the girls will love their presents."
"Oh yeah I'm sure they will."
The rest of the family had stayed the night so they could all spend Christmas morning together. Callen and Lori gave each other a good night kiss and Lori snuggled into Callen's arms.
The next morning the girls stormed into their room bright and early.
"Mommy, daddy!" The girls squealed. "Santa came."
"Girls easy," Callen grunted. "It's only 7am."
"But daddy, Santa came, pwessies," Julie replied.
"It's too early sweetie. We'll go down later. Come on, you can stay here with me and mommy."
The girls lay in between Callen and Lori. They were so excited but after a while they fell back asleep again. When they woke up again it was 8.30am. Now Callen and Lori agreed that it was time to go out. Last night they had agreed they would be down around 8.30.
"Alright, let's go wake up the others."
Callen went with the girls to wake the others up as Lori went to get the boys. They all went down in their pajamas.
When Myra and Julie came down in the living room they couldn't believe their eyes.