The unbearable countdown

They've been up for 45 seconds and they are already lamenting the fact that 5 more sleeps separate them from the excitement of walking down the stairs to check if Santa delivered the goods one more time.
I wonder if little kids' hearts can explode from too much longing. I'm getting worried.

Fifteen minutes later, Mrs Raheny and I had to invest all our newly acquired Parent + skills into the resolution of Calendargate without bloodshed or screams over 110 db.
Finnzy-Bob had gobbled all his days on the Peppered Pig advent calendar and had proceeded to destroy the two top rows of Luca's.
There were tears. And muttered threats. And not quite so muttered declarations of intent (of the reprisal kind).

We are bracing ourselves for more unChristmaslike feelings on 23 December when Luca stares angrily at a ripped door and an empty chocolate cache...