<Shina>

My fingers were numb as I packed the snow onto the already huge ball of snow before me, the children screaming as they threw snow into the air at each other. Laughing, I turned towards Eli as he rolled a second huge snowball towards my own.

"Here, Love. Let me get that for you, it's bound to be heavy." Leaving his own behind for a moment, he carefully lifted mine into his arms and carried it over to his, placing it on top and gently packing more snow onto them to hold them together.

"Snowman! Snowman! Snowman!" The twins began chanting as they ran in a giant circle around us, their giggles quickly filling the air with joy.

"Ok you two, I thought you were going to make the head?" I sent a fake scowl at the two of them before I burst out in laughter, Eli smiling at me as he went to help them make the head for the snowman we had been working on together.

What a wonderful way to spend Christmas Eve.

--------

<Elijah>

I placed a kiss on the children's foreheads as I tucked them into bed, each one still wide eyed as they asked if Santa was really going to come and bring them presents tonight.

"Yes, but remember, he will only come AFTER you have gone to sleep. So close your eyes and have wonderful dreams, so when you open them in the morning, you can have lots of presents to unwrap." I kissed Emily on the nose before turning to Matthew and ruffling his soft hair, so much like how Shina's felt when I ran my fingers through it.

"Okay Daddy! Night night!" They both shouted together before closing their eyes tightly, giggles escaping their mouths before they both rolled towards each other and grabbed their twins hands. This was one of the few nights they shared a bed, the excitement too much to bare spending it on opposite sides on the room.

Closing the door gently, I whispered one last goodnight to them and walked down the stairs to spend some time with my beloved Shina.

"So, what did you want to watch together while we wait for them to actually fall asleep, Dearest?" Her sweet voice whispered into my ears as I sat beside her on the couch.

"Well, it is Christmas Eve. How about watching It's a Wonderful Life?" I asked her softly, leaning closer to press my lips against her hair.

"Eli, we just saw that yesterday!" She laughed as I began tickling her ribs.

"Well, Love, it's not like we have to watch a movie... If you think you can keep quiet enough that is." I said as I slowly began trailing kisses down her neck, nibbling gently where it met her shoulder.

I smiled against her skin when I heard her soft moan answer me.