nikolaustag

it was a festive holiday night.

joe cooked a ham for dinner and we lit the advent wreath candle while we ate, culminating with the usual fight over who got to blow it out.

then we dressed in our warmest clothes to see the live nativity reenactment the ward put together. it was cold and homey and wonderful as we snuggled in our blankets on the baseball field and watched the boys' reactions.

isaak wanted to know why the angels didn't have wings and when it was going to be over. [especially during the lengthy benediction]

jonah wanted to know how in the heck mary got the baby out of her tummy so fast and without any doctor. [me too, son. me too.]

we came home to homemade "monkey bread" and hot cocoa before the boys made their preparations for nikolausabend.

they set out their favorite pair of shoes by the door to be filled by sankt nikolaus and did not forget about his hungry horse. [of course, of course]

sankt nikolaus must have turned a blind eye to some of their naughty qualities again. [especially since isaak was still awake at 1:30am eating late night ham leftovers with daddy when i got home from my girls' night out. ] their new shoes were filled to the brim with chocolate coins and cherry candy canes for breakfast.

it came upon a midnight clear - sixpence none the richer