I'm so behind on these blogs. I have to catch up, because if I don't, it's the beginning of the end of my three good things and I don't want that. I've got notes written in draft to ensure that I don't forget what my blessings for each day were, but I need to flesh those suckers out.
So, about Christmas Day...
1. The day was nothing short of wonderful. It was relaxed. The kids were pretty happy and well-behaved. After what has felt like weeks of packing the kids up and rushing them around from one engagement to another (as pleasant and fun as all of them were), it was nice to not feel like we had somewhere to be; like we were meeting another deadline.
The boys slept in until about 9:30 (crazy, right?!). They had gone to bed so late the night before because of Carter's birthday, so I was relieved that they both slept in so late -- makes for less grouchy kiddos. We got up, did gifts and stockings from Santa. Carter likes opening gifts, but there is still a level of indifference. Most of the time, he still had a pile of gifts to open that we'd have to remind him about. Grayson was a different story. That kid loved opening presents. I think it's his favourite thing to do... of all the things one could do in the world. It was fun to see him be so excited to open presents, especially since we've never really had that experience before with Carter.
Uncle Curt came over for brunch, but was here in time for present opening. And Amma was still here too, so she got to see the boys open their gifts. Once gifts were done, I cleaned up from Carter's party the night before, Jeff made breakie, and awesome Uncle Curt started putting the kids' toys together and playing with them. Amma left just before brunch (anyone who has had one of Jeff's breakfasts will know that this wasn't her best move), we ate brunch and mostly just hung out (with Uncle Curt) in our PJ's for the majority of the day.
Carter's new obsession is Disney Infinity on the Xbox, so he and Curt went down to play after breakfast. It might have been the sweetest thing to go downstairs and see those boys down there - sweat pants, messy hair, under blankets, sprawled out on the couch, playing video games together. It felt like what Christmas should feel like -- Uncle and Carter working on a video game together, Grayson, excitedly playing with all of his new trucks and toys, PJ's for most of the day, lots of hot coffee, new toys scattered all over the living room. I imagined that this is how every Christmas would go. I liked it.
2. Our only engagement was at my mom's, for Christmas supper with her side of the family. I have always been very close with my mom's side -- with her parents, and with my aunts, uncles, and cousins on that side, and being around them just generally makes me feel happy. We have a lot of fun together. The group as a whole likes playing games, being loud, and there is a great deal of laughter and the very best kind of chaos. It brings back very happy childhood memories and I'm grateful (and hopeful) that my kids will grow up making those same types of memories.
3. My cousin Shaun, and his wife, Kelly, have three kids. Their oldest two girls and Carter have a ball together, running around like a group of crazies. Because the girls were there, we didn't really want Carter and/or Gray opening their Christmas presents from my parents that evening because we didn't want the girls to feel left out. Grayson, the present addict, kept asking to open "just one" and would hold up one index finger and shake it from side-to-side. If he wasn't getting action from one person, he would move onto the next: going up to them, dragging them by one finger to the Christmas tree where he would hold up his index finger with a little, "just one" plea. It was so funny. I regret not recording a video of it on my phone.
A fairly predictable Christmas Edition of my Good Things, but, sometimes -- and most certainly in this case -- predictability is a good thing.
I took lots of pictures of the boys opening their gifts that day and then completely spaced and forgot to get an actual picture of them all dressed up and together at my parents' place, or a picture of the four of us together on Christmas Day. I'm so annoyed at myself and sad about it. But, it is what it is :(
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