This past Christmas was good.
We ate a fancy dinner that my folks made for Christmas eve.
Then we gathered together on Christmas day.
We ate lunch and then got ready for the yearly fun.
The smaller children exchange gifts and
the adults each bring a gift for a game.
I always try to bring good gifts but there is a spend limit. (thank goodness)
We put all the gifts in the center of the room and pick numbers.
The person with one goes first and so on.
You can steal someones gift or pick a new one from the pile.
If yours gets stolen you get to go again.
This year the highlight was that travelocity nome shown above.
Heydon got a box of truffles.
Seems appropriate for someone who can’t stay full.
He ate the top layer and then wanted to give it to his girlfriend for a Christmas present.
We had to inform him that over our dead body was he going to regift a half eaten box of chocolates.
He tried to convince us that she “would understand”
Obiously the boy has much to learn.
(Funny thing is that while I sit here thinking of it, I am pretty sure Garth would or has tried the same thing.)
I realize, as I look through these pictures that there are many of Keria.
Now, when I think about it, it is because of her intense excitement for the whole experience.
She was excited about presents,
and cousins
and time at someone else’s place,
and the food.
They all were happy
but she was bubbly.
After the great gift exchange
We all get a gallon ziplock bag half full of candy.
We set the timer and trade-off what we don’t like
and try to gather what we do like.
This year, like always,
I did pretty well.
I show no mercy for the youngsters.
That may seem mean
but I have a more refined palate than they do.
So it is not considered mean
to trade-off the candy canes and ring pops
for the chocolate and gum.
They will learn in time.
This is one of the lovely items we took home.
I tried to tell him not to pick it
but he never listens.
This is the magic of Christmas morning at it’s best.
It is funny to me that no matter what the age they are still excited about make-believe.
We all pretend that they don’t know the truth about the
tooth fairy
easter bunny
and
santa clause.
Sometimes I wonder if they think that Jesus or God belongs on that list.
I struggle to make spirituality real.
Honestly, I struggle to make the other characters real.
The tooth fairy has had more excuses than I can remember.
Quite frankly I’m a little tired of covering for her.
When I grew up Christmas and Easter were the cornerstone of our beliefs.
I don’t know if I don’t feel the same way about those holidays because I am old.
Is it because it is all smoke and mirrors for the children
and the magic is gone when you have to create it.
Or….is it not how I believe now?
I believe that all are loved deeply by a creator,
that we should find mercy inside ourselves even when it is not our first reaction.
That love, respect and understanding should be our first line of defence when parenting.
That more times than not I am clueless
but happy to continue to figure it out.
This robe that Garth has on, is a gift that was needed.
He had worn his white robe until it was not white and had a broken belt.
He had started wearing a church belt to hold all of his goodness in.
I looked all over for a robe.
On Christmas eve I was out looking for a robe.
I stopped a clerk and asked her if they had one.
“no. We got so very few of them.” she said.
I replied. “Well, the obviously haven’t seen my husband in his old one.”
Thank goodness I found one at Target.
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