Raw isn't live this week, so Mike gets a few days off to spend with AJ and the kids. He chuckles and leans down to kiss the top of Sara Louisa's head, hesitating for a moment and looking down at her. "When did you get so tall, huh?" he asks, teasing but yet not. His babies are growing up when his back's turned and he doesn't like it!
She giggles and then pouts up at him. "I'm still pretty short, daddy."
He scoffs, running his hands over her hair teasingly. "Well, I guess we'll just have to do something about that, now won't we?" He hoists her up, causing her to squeal, and places her securely on his shoulders. "You feel short now?" he asks, playfully bouncing her up and down a couple of times as she giggles and grips his hands.
"No, daddy!" she cries out, beaming as he walks her over to the mirror to get a proper look at her.
"This is how tall you'll be when you grow up, Sara Lou," he tells her, laughing at the look on her face.
"I doubt that, Daddy!" she says, squeezing his hands and looking up as AJ and George peek in.
"What are you two doing in here?" AJ asks, laughing a little bit when she sees Sara on Mike's shoulders. "Come on, you two. It's almost lunch time."
"Are Uncle John and Aunt Taya coming with gifts then?" Sara asks, squirming a little as Mike hoists her back down and settles her safely on the floor.
"Yes, and Maryse and Heath," he says, tickling her. "We all really just spoil you guys, don't we?"
She pouts. "But we've been good this year, or at least I have been!" She nudges George once she's run over to join him. "You've tried to be, haven't you, George?"
"Yes," he says, wide eyed, innocent in a way that makes both AJ and Mike have to fight back laughter.
"Well, I guess they're right," AJ says reluctantly, winking at Mike. "They're usually good kids. I guess it's ok if we let them have a couple more gifts. Right, Mike?"
He takes a minute, examining the children, lost in thought. Finally he cracks under the looks on their faces and nods. "Yeah," he concedes. "They've been good kids. We can let their aunts and uncles spoil them a little more, I guess."
"Yay!" George cries, running up to cling to his father's leg. Mike just laughs and picks him up, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, daddy."
"Sure thing, kiddo," he says, kissing George on the side of the head. "But first, lunch!"
The kids groan, too excited for their gifts to care about food, but give in fairly quickly, all things considered.
Mike laughs and kisses AJ while they run outside to greet Taya and John, pulling her close. "Merry Christmas, sweetheart."
She hums, kissing him back. "Merry Christmas," she murmurs, patting him on the cheek. "Rain check," she promises before joining the kids in greeting their friends.
He chuckles, ducking his head for a moment and sighing, then following his family out to get the social part of this holiday started.