Finding Charlie Rose

It was Christmas Eve and Charlie was excited. Christmas Eve meant Christmas baking, songs and treats. It also would be when Charlie and her mummy would watch the carols on TV. Maree and Charlie had made cookies and gingerbread men. Charlie didn't like the taste of the gingerbread men but she liked the icing. They also made chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert along with pavlova. Charlie had never had pavlova before but Gamma showed her pictures and she was happy they were putting strawberries on it later.

Sam and Liam went to the fish markets super early to get the seafood and then had a sleep when they got home. John had been called to an emergency job and should be arriving home just before 5 pm.

Charlie had never spent Christmas with so many people. She was excited and was hyped up on sugar from helping to decorate the gingerbread men. Oliver had put her in a Christmas dress that John had brought for her and had done her hair. He just clipped the bits at the front off her face and left it down. "O's it's kissmas" Charlie squealed excitedly. "I know munchkin. Santa is coming tonight" Oliver replied smiling at his sister. He couldn't help but laugh at her excitement. "We have to leave some milk and cookies for Santa tonight and carrots for the reindeer" Oliver added. "Not the men's cookies they yuck" Charlie said causing Oliver to laugh again. "Not the men's cookies then munchkin" Oliver laughed out. He picked up Charlie taking her downstairs to see everyone.

On the table, there was a whole lot of fruit and veggies cut up, along with dips and chips, cheese and some meat stuff Charlie was trying to smell. She was stopped by John picking her up and handed her a bread stick. Charlie pointed to the green avocado dip "Some for Charlie?" she asked. "Don't tell Gamma" John said dipping the breadstick in the dip earning a glare from Gamma. Charlie waved to her gamma and blew her a kiss causing everyone to laugh as Gamma smiled at the little girl. Charlie truly had everyone wrapped around her little finger without even knowing it.

Everyone sat down for dinner eating and chatting away. Charlie was talking to Ross about Levi and his car. "I let him smell worm," she told Ross. Ross assumed this was a big deal so he acted the part "Really wow. Is he your boyfriend?" Ross asked Charlie causing everyone to look at the two. "Yep," Charlie said while she nodded her head yes. John laughed as did Mrs Harper, Taylor and Gamma especially with the looks on everyone else's faces. "Levi marry Charlie," she told Ross swinging her arms around for dramatics. "Aren't you a little young for marriage?" Ross asked trying to keep a straight face. "When Charlie is big" Charlie replied. "Wow, can I meet him?" Ross asked. "We have a boxing date" Charlie replied causing Ross to laugh. "A play date baby girl, on Boxing Day" Sam corrected her. "Charlie said dat" she sassed back causing them all to laugh again.

Dessert was served and all Charlie wanted was the strawberries. When she was finished Sam had to bathe her as she had chocolate everywhere. Once the bath was done Charlie didn't want clothes, it seemed the sugar rush was wearing off. The boys had decided they were doing a sleepover just like their mother used to do. They were camping in the family room together. They had set up air mattresses and pillows for all of them. John, Damien, Shane and Taylor were also going to be joining them. Gamma said she preferred her bed but wanted to be woken up in the morning to be there when Charlie saw Santa had been.

Charlie came downstairs to say goodbye to everyone and set up the food for Santa and the reindeer wishing everyone a "marry kissmas". Charlie wanted to sleep on Sammy tonight so he had laid down with her on the mattress with her worm. She was asleep pretty quickly. He told everyone where the presents were hidden and asked for a picture of how they were set up. John, Shane, Damien and Taylor went outside to set up the swing set and put Charlie's bike together. They had truly spoilt her.

Charlie woke the next morning at 6 am, she was so excited and started bouncing on Sammy. "Sammy, it's kissmas" she whispered shouted. "Go back to sleep Charlie" Byron grumbled. "Bee it's kissmas," Charlie said louder. Sam was watching his sister smiling. "Merry Christmas baby girl" Sam said to his sister, "marry kissmas Sammy" Charlie cheered loudly. "Wake everyone up then we can go downstairs together" Sam told his sister. Charlie began jumping on everyone to get them to wake up earning groans from all. Byron wouldn't get up so Charlie went and yelled in his ear "Santa come". Byron sat upright shaking his head "Ouch Charlie" Byron complained "that hurt". "Gamma?" Charlie asked looking around for her grandmother. "Right here sweetheart" Gamma smiled at her.

Everyone headed downstairs eldest to youngest, Charlie was bouncing on her feet to go down but everyone wanted to be able to see her face as she saw what Santa had left, Taylor offered to stay with Charlie so he could help her down the stairs.

Once everyone was in position phones ready to film and Liam with his camera ready, Charlie was called down. She tried to hurry down the stairs almost falling in the process, luckily Taylor was with her and caught her. "Peas tay tay," Charlie said. "You are very welcome Queen Charlie" Taylor replied earning a giggle from Charlie. She headed into the lounge room and squealed seeing the presents. She ran straight to the bike trying to climb onto the seat. "Charlie look at the footprints" Oliver called out. He had spent a good 30 minutes creating the footprints using flour leading to outside where the swing set was set up. "Santa here?" Charlie asked. "He must have been. Let's go follow the footprints" Sam stated.

Charlie tried to walk on the footprint but she couldn't. They followed the footprints that led outside. Charlie looked outside and saw the swing set "Sammy swings" Charlie said pointing to the swings. "Yeh baby girl want to go see?" Sam asked his sister who was nodding. Sam opened the door and Charlie took off towards the swings and sat on the swing. "J push me peas" Charlie called out. John walked out and pushed his niece watching her smiling and laughing on the swing. After spending about 20 minutes on the swings Byron convinced Charlie to come inside to open the other presents. Maree had made breakfast for everyone while Charlie was playing. Oliver had cut some French toast for Charlie to munch on before they went to open presents.

It took over an hour to get through the presents and the place was covered in wrapping paper at the end. Charlie was busy playing with her dolls and the cars she had got. Maree got to work on making lunch. Ross and Mrs Harper came round to see Charlie and the boys. Everyone was happy that Charlie was here for Christmas it made them feel like a family again. Not everyone was blood-related, but it was their family and with Charlie it was perfect.