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I decide they’re clueless a moment later when Kookie catches my eye and smiles that innocent smile of his.  You know the one.  It ends with him pressing his lips together in such a fashion that those adorable dents appear in his cheeks.  He performs that particular smile all too seldom.  I wish he’d flash those dimples more often, but he usually keeps them under wraps.  Next, he begs some cocoa from Emmie who happily shares hers with him before he downs the remainder of his cider.

I glance around at the rest of my happy troop.  Everyone else is cheerfully chomping on their cookies and sipping a steaming drink.  Except for my little twins who are still complaining that they’re too hot.  

My husband glances at me.  “I’m going to go load the tree into the car.”

Everett tosses his napkin into a trash can and responds, “I’ll go with you, Daddy.”

Noel jumps up to follow them.

“You’re taking Everett and Noel home with you, right?”

My husband turns to smile at me and nods before reaching out to ruffle Everett’s hair and beam down at Noel.

“You wanna ride with me and Mount Everest, No?” he asks, calling our son by the nickname he gave him.

My husband is always giving people nicknames.  He calls Emmie M&M.  

“She does have two M’s in her name, right?” was his response the first time I called him on it.

He started calling Janna, Banana, after Kookie dubbed her Nana.  Eventually, the twins came along and picked up on it.  Janna has been called Banana more times than I can count.  It still makes her roll her eyes.  

My other half also came up with Abner’s nickname.  For Alastair, he took a page out of the Amazing Mumford’s book – the magician from Sesame Street.  

“À la Stair!”

I giggled the first time I heard him say that.  I could hear the echo of Mumford’s voice.  À la peanut butter sandwiches!

I just shook my head.  I, of course, came up with Kookie’s nickname after my husband asked me why I wanted to give our firstborn son a Korean name.  To which I replied that I wanted to name him after a good friend of mine.  Someone I’d known growing up.  I was astonished when he agreed.  

I wave goodbye to my husband, my son, and his friend before turning back towards my group.  “Are you guys ready to head home?”

They all nod.  

“Does anyone want to go shopping with me for toys today?”

“I’ll help you, Mom,” Kookie instantly offers.

I beam at him.  He understands what I’m really asking.  Another of our Christmas traditions is to buy toys for families who are in need near us.  Every year we work to make my favorite holiday a joy for a few families who otherwise might not have anything to open on Christmas morning.

“Can I come too?” Emmie immediately queries.

My eyes travel from Kookie’s face – he’s now staring at her with a bemused expression on his countenance – to hers.

“Absolutely!  The more, the merrier!”

“Let’s do it!” Alastair cries as he heads for the car.

“Yeah!” Abs is right behind him.

I toss Kookie my car keys, and he and Emmie chase after the twins as I turn towards Janna and Lyric.

“Do you two want to meet us at the store?” I ask.

“Well, uh…” Lyric responds.

But Janna comes to his rescue.  “No, thanks, Mom.  We’re gonna head home.  I need to go dig out all the decorations so we can decorate the tree tonight.”  She gives me a knowing look.  “You know?  Family traditions and all?”  Then she pins me with her piercing stare.  “Do we have all the stuff to make cookies and hot chocolate?”

I glance at the half-eaten cookie in her hand and the cup of cocoa resting in her other palm.  “Yes, I can see that you need more sugar,” I reply, laughing.

“It’s a tradition, Mom.  Christmas always has lots of sugar.”

I groan.  “Don’t remind me.  I’m still trying to lose the weight I gained yesterday, and now you want to tempt me with Christmas cookies and hot chocolate.”  I pop the remainder of my chocolate chip cookie into my mouth, savoring the chocolate as it melts on my tongue a moment later.

“Can we really complete four of our Christmas traditions in one day?” I ask, knowing that we often do.  

She gives me a knowing look.  “You know the only thing we’re completing today is chopping down a tree and decorating it.  Shopping for other kids takes us several trips to the store.  And cookie baking happens throughout the whole season.”

“That would explain the extra five pounds on the scale,” I murmur.

“We’ll do more squats,” she responds breezily.

I glance down at my pants.  “I’m not entirely sure that will help my thighs.”  I look up to see a bit of discomfort flashing across Lyric’s face at the mention of my thighs, so I change the subject.  “All right, you two head home.  I’m taking my troop shopping.  We’ll be along in a little while.”

I head for my car wondering when my daughter became old enough to attract a boyfriend.