December twenty-third they arrived back in Tulsa. As a family they put up the tree and hung all of the homemade ornaments.

Amy picked up one of Zac’s, it was so cool. She wished she could have one to hand on the tree and go, “I made that” “It’s mine”

Zac came over to her. “Hey Aimes, you can put that on the tree for me.”

Amy smiled. “No Zac. I wouldn’t want someone else to hang my ornaments up so I’m not gonna hand yours up. I’ll stick to the colored balls.”

“You sure?”

“Yea.”

“Okay, then fine. But you have to put the Angel on top.” Zac took the ornament from her and grinned.

Amy looked at the tall tree. How am I gonna reach? She wondered.

They finally had decorated the tree.

“Well, whose turn is it to put the Angel on top?” Walker asked his kids.

“Amy’s!” They all declared.

“C’mere. Amy.”

She went to Walker. “Here.” He handed her the Angel. “Ready?”

“I can’t reach.”

Walker smiled. “I’m gonna put you on my shoulders.”

“Oh. Okay.”

The next morning everyone was rounded up and the kids knew it was ornament making time.

Amy looked at the table it was covered with supplies. She hung by the doorway. Mackie dug into the shredded wheat and began crumbling it up on his mother’s instructions. He was going to make a wreath and hang it on the tree.

Jessie and Avie were decorating glad Christmas balls. Isaac was constructing a sled out of Popsicle sticks and toothpicks. Zac was making a small paper mache snowman. And lastly Taylor was painting a wooden Santa.

Diana had made sure all of her kids ere underway when she grabbed hold of Amy’s hand. She put a metal lid in front of her, a nail, a pattern, a marker, and a hammer.

Amy traced this pattern out and then make little holes along the pattern. “Like Zac’s?”

“Exactly.” Diana smiled and left her children to work. After a few hours Amy came into the living room.

“Mrs. Hanson, I’m done. It’s not as good as Zac’s but I tried.” She handed it to Diana.

She looked over the heart with Joy written in the center. It was a little crooked, but to a mother it was perfect.

“It’s wonderful. Put your name on it and put it on the tree.” Amy did as instructed.

After a major dinner the young Hanson children were put to bed. The three girls couldn’t sleep.

“You excited, Amy?”

“Yeah. I’ve never gotten presents from Santa Clause before.” The girls were on the floor talking when Amy’s ears perked.

“Do you hear that?” They all fell silent the sound of sleigh bells filled their ears.

“Santa!” Exclaimed Avery they all ran to the window, and stretched their necks looked for Santa.

The door burst open, and Isaac came in all excited.

“Did you guys hear the sleigh bells?” Their brother was clad in his boxers, a tee-shirt, and his hair pulled up in a pony tail. His basic bed attire.

“You heard it too?”

“Yeah, of course. C’mon get into bed. So Santa will come. He’s across the street now. Did you guys leave cookies and milk?”

“Yes.” They all chorused.

Isaac tucked them into bed. The girls pulled the covers around their ears and tired to sleep.

“Man Ike! Next year you get to freeze to death.” Taylor said as he put the sleigh bells next to Zac’s drumsticks. He jumped into bed and wrapped the covers about his freezing body.

“Well, it’s not my fault you went out there in your boxers.”

“Oh shut up, Ike.”

Zac came in. “Mackie’s in bed.”

“Good night everyone. Merry Christmas.”