Otter Antics, Week Five and Six

Dear Ian,

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through our house, we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off but grinning from ear to ear. 

You are so completely excited about tonight.  At one point this morning, you were literally running back and forth from the living room to the kitchen singing, "Santa is coming, Santa is coming."  We have been watching movies, icing cookies, making meatballs and singing Christmas carols since 7am this morning. 

While you are almost off your rocker with excitement, you've been able to keep yourself in check thanks to both me keeping you busy and you being watched by Otter.  Tonight is his last night with us, as he will head back to the North Pole after Santa delivers his gifts and treats.  Would it be strange for a full grown Mommy adult to openly admit that I am a little bummed that the Otter fun is about to end?  Strange or not, I feel a little let down that after today, I wont get to wake up to you coming down the stairs asking if I've seen Otter yet.  I wont have that extra leverage when you do become a little... feisty... after today.  But I know that you have had a great time with our morning Otter Searches, and it's been great to see your faith in Christmas magic grow.

These last couple of weeks with Otter have been fun, and he's been up to all sorts of mischief.  Here we go!

 Here's Otter working out!  He must have been doing hanging sit ups.  He's on Daddy's pull-up bar.

 Silly elf.  Checking out the Reindeer food that you made at school with Ms. Amy.

Traveling to the North Pole every night must be exhausting.  Here's otter snuggling with your Lovey.

 Checking to see if you fed your fishies. 

 On this morning, Otter suggested that you have a mug of hot cocoa. 

Wow!  Special day!  Otter left you some new Christmas jammies.

 And uh oh.  Sometimes elves just cant resist chocolate.  Otter got into our stash of Hershey Kisses.

 

On this morning, we woke up to a little problem.  How in the world will we get up and down the stairs?!

 And who was the culprit behind that crepe paper barricade?  Otter, of course.

 

This was taken today, Christmas Eve.  It's Otter's last morning surprise, and he hung balloons by our stockings hung with care.  He even wrote you a note.  Here it is:

If you cant read it, it says:

Dear Ian,
Today is the last day I will watch over you in your house.  Tonight, Santa will come, and after he delivers his gifts and fills your stocking, he will take me back to the North Pole.  But don't be sad.  Tomorrow is Christmas!  Let's have a party!  I even blew up the balloons!  Have a cookie, sing a song, and let's get ready for a happy, happy day with family.  You have been a pretty good boy this year; keep up the good work, and I will see you very soon!  Love always, Otter.

And now it's time to take our naps and get ready for all our Christmas Eve fun.  From a party at Grandma and Grandpa Brooks' house, to meatball subs at Grandma and Papa Davis' house, to stories and cookies left for Santa, we have a lot for which we need to rest up.  And I can't wait.

I love you, Bear!
Merry Christmas,
Mommy