Posting Sentries

My LW's mom (a.k.a. MIL a.k.a. "Grammy") and grandparents (a.k.a. GG & Papa) all arrived here yesterday after the long drive down from New York.

Grammy really had the car packed tight. I couldn't believe how many presents she brought in the trunk. Needless to say, the boys are very excited. They put the presents out under the tree, and then they posted guards to protect the presents.


I'm not exactly sure from who the guards are protecting the presents. Having the boys' stuffed animal minions guard the boys' presents is kind of like the fox guarding the chicken coup if you ask me. I thought a revision of the 11 General Orders of a Sentry were in order.

1. To take charge of this post Christmas tree and all government property presents in view.
2. To walk sit my post in a military soft cuddly manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything which takes place within sight or hearing.
3. To report keep quiet about all any violations of orders I am instructed given by the parental units to enforce, such as no handling, shaking, weighing, spinning, rolling, tossing, tipping, poking, bouncing, punching, flipping, gripping, peeking, or unwrapping of the presents.
4. To repeat ignore all calls of chaos throughout the house from posts more distant from the guard house Christmas tree than my own.
5. To quit my post only when properly relieved put away in the boys' rooms (because you know the boys won't put them away).
6. To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, the Officer of the Day, and all officers and non-commissioned officers little boys of the guard house only.
7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty (this gives new meaning to the phrase "silent service").
8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder, unless such disorder is caused by the little boys in the house as a distraction for the execution of rule 3 above.
9. To call the Corporal of the Guard Eldest Son in any case not covered by instructions.
10. To salute give a blank stare to all officers and all colors and standards not cased.
11. To be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons parents on or near my post Christmas tree, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority (such as putting more presents under the tree or retrieving a present for a little boy to open).

Last night, you'd have thunk our kids had been possessed or kidnapped by aliens and brainwashed. At dinner, they were perfect little angels. They willingly ate their dinners without any fuss whatsoever. There were no exclamations of "ewww!" or "yucky!" YB actually declared dinner was "yummy" (will wonders never cease) and asked for more (he NEVER does this).

GG and Papa are VERY impressed. They commented on what good boys we have. While I am truly very grateful for our boys, they aren't normally THIS well behaved.

GG and YB reading Cat in the Hat

Then again, the presents under the tree might have something to do with it. Oh, and all the other goodies they brought with them from New York like...

SPEEDIES!!!

COOKIES!!!

COFFEE CAKE!!!

APPLE PIE!!!

Oh, and I meant to show you this picture earlier. I made it home on Friday in time to taste test the fudge (peanut butter fudge, caramel fudge, and heath bar fudge) that LW made to give as a present to each of the boys' teachers.

Mmmm, fuuuuuudge.

Man, I really need to go the gym.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!