Pirate Night

started out with some pirate singing.  You know all those favorite pirate songs from your childhood.

Then I had their undivided attention.  It was a pirate miracle.

And they immediately found the upstairs swamp

full of pirate ducks.

The clues sent them running.

Could there really be treasure in the dryer?  No one has ever even found a lost sock in there.

There would be pajamas though . . . . . . . . and Adelaide was thrilled.

 And Reese didn't care if she stripped right down in the closet to her pirate pj's.

 She must have known she was going to get a pirate hat.

Who knew that everyone wanted a pirate hat?

 Is Eric texting?  Is his impressionable little nephew taking notes or horrified that he is not paying attention to their leader?

 At this point I think Geoff is watching others eat cupcakes. (And Eric has some bling.)

 

There was abundant bling and cake

until they ate it.

 Turns out everyone wants to be a pirate.
(And yes we have a urinal in the middle of the room.)

Does anyone else see why Geoff and Alayna are right for each other?

The entire casa was filled with pirates.

Max was a natural at sticking his head through that hole or is Max really a pirate?

 Too sweet to be a pirate Reese.

Camryn and their amazing fearless captain,  Kirsten.

So then everyone was hyped up and decided to dance

until a couple of dancers got crazy.

Course that just encouraged a couple of others to jump in.

And finally all of our little pirates.

Good times.  The grandkids want a repeat next visit but I don't know if you can have that kind of serendipity twice.

So last year

we had Christmas.  Everyone was coming home.  Where ever that is.  I had one week to put up the tree and decorate, wrap a boatload of presents and buy groceries for an army. 

And then they arrived,

 

 all these crazy kids 

(some people think this photo is staged but not so.  Geoff and Emily, of course, thought if they were going to have their photo taken then this is how they should pose.  Eric thought he would appear mature about the whole thing.  Justin just turned his back on the shenanigans and Jenny jumped in at the last second.)

 

and these beautiful grandchildren arrived.

Miranda posed and photographed this tiny Christmas elf.

 

 She was such a good model

 and so very cozy even though the door was open to capture the very best light.

We were so happy she came into the world a month early so she could spend the holidays with us.  And she is obviously ecstatic about it.

Christmas Eve was the usual put your bear head on and look like a sheep.

Mary and Joseph arrived with the donkey, of course.

Even some little sheep wandered in.

A charming angel appeared.  And it is always more angelic to stand on the table.

And every boy wanted a starring role, so Max also portrayed the tiny babe.

It is tradition to play a song for the Christmas Eve program so Emily dusted off her guitar.

Kirsten played a beautiful solo.

Justin also played,  Jenny accompanied our singing and Eric played while Alayna sang and Geoff performed an interpretive dance.  We have the video and it will be used when necessary.

The grandkids all shared a Christmas Eve gift.  There were sweets and treats and jammies for all.

Can you feel the anticipation?