Nora and Melissa supervised as the kids sat around the kitchen table each decorating their own gingerbread house.
“That looks lovely, Tori,” Melissa smiled at her niece as Nora snapped a picture.
“Take my picture, Grandma; a snow princess lives in my pretty house!” Celia announced as she reached for another purple gumdrop.
“Santa Claus lives in mine,” Zach said, showing off his elaborately decorated creation for the camera.
“Mama, Leah isn’t decorating hers!” Lily tattled.
“Leah, look at mine,” Lucy insisted. “Do it just like this! Look at mine, Grandma! Look at my gingerbread house, Mama!”
“Good job, Lucy!” Nora, kissed her cheek.
“What about mine?” Lily called.
Nora raised her camera toward the twins. “You both did a fantastic job! Now smile pretty for me!”
“Uncle Grant, Patton threw M & M’s at my gingerbread house!” Tori yelled toward the living room.
“I did not!” Patton protested. “I was shooting hoops at my basketball goal!”
“Sounds like you missed,” Grant called easily.
“It’s okay,” Melissa said lovingly soothing both Patton and Tori with gentle pats. “Patton are you done with your gingerbread house, Baby?”
“Yeah,” Patton nodded.
“Whoa, try that again,” Grant called from the living room. “Yeah? Is that what you’re sticking with, Soldier?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Patton blushed slightly as he grinned at his aunt.
“I’m not finished with mine yet,” Lily declared.
“Me either,” Lucy agreed.
“That’s fine,” Melissa smiled. “Keep working. Mama is going to help Leah finish hers!”
“Aunt Hailey, Patton ate the rest of my Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and now I can’t finish my roof!” Lucy called, distraught.
“Lucy,” Melissa wagged her finger. “You are fine. We have more; do not whine.”
“Would you like some cheese with that whine?” Patton laughed, his mouth full.
Grant stood up from the couch. “I think that was my cue,” he sighed.
“Grant, don’t you dare get on to that precious angel,” Rachel laughed.
“Seriously,” David scoffed. “Do we have video evidence of Grant at age three?”
“Mama, Patton got icing on my new dress!” Celia squealed.
Grant raised an eyebrow at Rachel. “Okay, fine, go get your brat,” she winked at her brother.
“Innocent until proven guilty!” Joanna declared.
“The defense attorney speaks,” John nodded.
Patton came running into the living room, his hand smeared with white icing. Grant grabbed his son’s arm before he could touch any furniture or anyone else’s clothes. “The prosecution presents Exhibit A …” he rolled his eyes, as he scooped Patton up.
Grant carried Patton back to his chair at the table, where Nora was waiting to wipe his hand. “It was an accident, Daddy,” she drawled.
Grant looked at Patton questioningly, and Patton stared up at his daddy, his lips zipped, but his eyes grinning. “Live the fourth and plead the fifth I guess?” Grant smiled at his sister-in-law as he kissed the top of Patton’s head.
“Uncle Grant,” Leah said, tugging at his shirt sleeve.
Grant knelt down next to his niece, opening his mouth wide as he pointed at her gingerbread house. “What is that?” he asked.
“What is that?” Leah repeated. “Gingerbread house,” she added with a pleased smile.
Hailey walked into the kitchen, grinning as she took her phone from the front pocket of her hoodie. “Look here everybody!” she called. The kids all turned with cheesy, exaggerated smiles as they posed next to their festive creations, and Hailey tapped the screen of her phone to take a picture.
“Are you putting us on Facebook?” Patton inquired.
“Patton, get over here and stop jumping on the couch like a monkey, please, Son!” Grant insisted as he motioned Patton toward him. “You are supposed to be helping decorate the Christmas tree.”
