Merry Christmas part II

Merry Christmas!  I hope that you are doing well and that you had an amazing Christmas Eve and wonderful morning.

We had the "Santa" duty of putting together a toy kitchen late on Christmas Eve.  It was much easier this year than in years past.  I think science, engineering and toy makers are getting better.  Either that, or springing for the better quality stuff makes it easier on Christmas morning.  Anyway, Trish and I enjoyed putting the presents together this year.  It only took about twenty or thirty minutes and we only had to take it apart once to insert a skipped step.  I had a great time laughing over memories, talking about the toys and what we expected from the kids in terms of reactions.  We laughed about the missing stocking candy - we ate it all before Christmas.  We were able to get to bed before 1:00am on Christmas morning, a new record I think.  Or at least a new record since Sydney and Paige were born.

Christmas Eve was amazing this year as usual.  We decided to do a finger foods Christmas Eve dinner instead of the usual formal Christmas Eve dinner (ham, turkey, trimmings and dessert).  It made the night less stressful.  We all enjoyed sitting around the table and enjoying some laughs, eating finger sandwiches, little smokies, chips and dip, and cookies.  At dinner Trish and I pretended that Santa was going to pass over the older girls.  They looked so distraught.  It was too funny to watch them panic, try to regroup, and then be unable to hide their emotions.  

Of course, the girls and Trish made cookies as usual.  This year Santa had to take gingerbread cookies b/c Mrs. Claus has been craving them all season.  The cookies were really good.  Ava helped do the cooking and decorating with Trish.  She had fun and made some great cookies in the process.

Christmas morning was beautiful.  We had a very Merry Christmas morning even as it kicked into gear very early.  It all got started at 3:00 am when the rest of the kids got up.  Paige was up at 2:30.  She apparently decided to take a cat nap from 11 to 2 and then she got up the courage to just go down stairs.  She investigated everything and then rallied the troops.  She rallied Sydney and then Gabbi and Cassarra.  It wasn't long before they had Ava and Emma up too.  They all made so much noise and were so excited.  Ava and Emma with their kitchen, Paige with her dolls and the other three with various trinkets and toys.  Of course they all wanted to stay up and open presents, but we made them go back to bed till six.  

After they saw what "Santa" brought we went to bed till 5:30.  That's when the anxious crew began with 15 to 30 minute updates on the time.  "Hey Dad," came Paige's voice, "it's after 5."  A little later, "Uh, Um, its after 5:30."  The updates repeated until I marched downstairs and started the coffee.  Once Trish got up, we started opening gifts from one another.  We finished opening presents around 8:30 and then had breakfast.  

After breakfast, we did an Advent wreath devotional on the coming of Christ and on the birth of Christ.  We finished up with a Christmas devotional on the coming and birth of Christ by Billy Graham.  

One last gift session closed out the morning.  Trish surprised me with a headset to go with a watch that I have wanted since July.  All in all, I think everyone enjoyed their gifts.  We are so tremendously blessed with memories, faith, love, family and good laughs.  When I think about the laughs, the food from Christmas Eve, the love, the family ties and times, the gift sharing, and the good spirits I realize that the gifts are just icing - in reality.  We have the real stuff of Christmas in Christ, in love, and in relationship to each other.

Anyway, right now the older girls are currently buried in their gifts while Trish and I are enjoying this time.  Emma has crashed on the couch.  

Dear God, thank you for the gift of Christ and His love.  We thank you for the gift of family and their love.  We pray that all over you will make your love and presence known in the opening of each present and the lighting of each light.  And may all the world enjoy a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas