firetrucks, candles, music

Our youngest son's home was bursting with family as we enjoyed a Christmas Eve buffet. Little One had just gone to bed with exhaustion when we heard the sounds of fire sirens and a truck coming near.  Assuming the worst (maybe the luminaries had caught on fire?) we rushed to the door and what did our wondering eye behold but Santa high up on the hook and ladder truck, ho-ho-ho-ing and tossing candy to the children excitedly following his truck down the street. Us old children and the younger were totally delighted. Unfortunately Little One slept through it all. And we're thankful it wasn't a real fire.

Since we had children around our Christmas table again this year it was necessary to celebrate Jesus' birthday with a cake and singing "happy birthday" to the king of kings. This was the best I could come up with, and sing we did, and then enjoyed red velvet cupcakes, fit for a king!

We later enjoyed a beautiful piano concert including a song of bells for Christmas ... complete with bell ringing by little one and her big cousin (who is seen here coaching her on the details of ringing a bell!) One group leaves today and tomorrow the "sidebar" little girls arrive!