This morning I awoke with My Favoritest's alarm. I showered and was ready for the day before anyone else in the house woke up. I spent a little time taking some pictures of our elf Murphy's latest activities. She had carefully hung our stockings on the mantle, complete with toule and twinkling lights.
The presents were wrapped under the tree. Doodle's gifts for everyone were chosen with care and lovingingly wrapped with lots of tape and a crumpling technique. Just above her packages were a cluster of ornaments received in the mail the day before. As I focused my lens, I smiled to myself thinking that this is what our Christmas celebration is about.
And then I walked to the back of the living room and took a few snapshots of the whole room. And as the Hanukkah decorations and Christmas tree filled the viewfinder, I was so at peace with our whole holiday celebration this year. And not too long after, Doodle woke up and the house started to hum with the noise of my family.
Our day went as most days go. Bubbie and Zayde took Doodle ot a movie. Sadie (who's new nickname is TerrorTot) refused to give in to her exhaustion and wouldn't nap. My Favoritest came home early from work. Dinner was in the crock pot. All in all life was good. I was picking things up around the house, when I caught a wiff of burnt. I made the oven, stove, toaster circut and then headed to the laundry room. Calling for my Favoritest, we quickly realized the smell was in fact the dryer. As I pulled some clothes out, a big billow of smoke came with it and I saw bright orange in the back of the dryer. We called 911, grabbed the baby and the dogs and got out of the house. And we stood in the driveway as snow flurries spit out of the sky and watched smoke billow out of the window. Hearing the sirens grow louder and praying they got there before too much damage was done.
To our great relief and amazement, "they" were four firetrucks filled with volunteer firefighters. On Christmas Eve! There were no less than 15 heros on our lawn and in our house.
The fire was real, but thankfully small.
The real damage was only to the laundry room.
The house and everything in it smells of burnt stuff. The fire inspector told us it wasnt safe to sleep there, so while our gracious neigbors ordered pizza and entertained my kids and parents, I called the insurance company and My Favoritest and I gathered some things from the house and we headed to the hotel.
One trip to Target, one trip to the gas station store, and 2 more trips to our house and we are settled in a 2 room suite. And as I sit here typing this, I hear the hum of the power screw driver as Zayde builds a shopping cart for TerrorTot's Santa gift. My Favoritest is crunching wrapping paper and he's doing it just for me, so my morning is special. My babies are nestled snug in their beds/newly purchased pack and play.
The presents are stacked around our beautiful red tinsle tree
The stockings are resting in the hotel easy chair.
All six of us are in our matching jammies (which were spared from the stench) that we opened together! And although it is far from the image I had of our Christmas Eve, my family is safe and together and we are finding joy in our traditions and making more! I hope this finds you with those you love, laughing together!
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