They were up earlier than expected. Gifts were ripped open, hugs were given, and laughs were shared. However, as soon as the last present was opened, the Hermans began the task of cleaning up the wrapping paper and tissue paper. Four children set to complete it, it was a herculean task. The parents began cooking, and the grandparents aided the children, arming them with garbage bags.
Long hours passed of effort, cooking, cleaning and with the promise of food as soon as the guests arrived, the Hermans worked. While it was time for guests to arrive at the Herman's ornately decorated house, Leo labored on in the kitchen, aided by Shepard, who seemed to have flour up his sleeves and in his hair. Eve was running out of the kitchen with flour on her hands, chasing her brother. RJ, being tired from a day's work, was curled in her new grandmother's arms fast asleep.
The doorbell rung.
Shepard brushed away the flour from his hands onto his apron which read 'hot stuff coming through'. It took some dodging from Shepard to avoid the hands of his sister, who had abandoned chasing after Adam to come after him. Finally, he opened the door. "Hey, come in~" He brushed away the flour in his hair, flinching his eyes closed rendering him unable to see who was exactly at the door.
The house was warm, be it from the heat of the oven, or from how instantly welcome someone felt walking into the home. A large tree stood in the stairwell, a small angel stood on top of the tree. Six stockings hung from the stairs, one for each member of the immediate family. To the left was the living room, where a fire roared below a TV, which was on the third run of 'Elf' which RJ was enjoying until she fell asleep.
"Ah--dinner is going to be a bit, make yourselves at home." Poor Shepard continued to struggle through the flour.
ooc; no need to match this my dudes, just setting the tone. <333 Merry Christmas!