Christmas Day

Our day started with a predictably ironic situation. Abbie came into our bedroom and crawled in bed with us. This isn't especially uncommon, but it was 6:00 AM and she was wide awake. The irony lies in the fact that on any other Monday morning, we would be getting up for work, and she would be resisting our efforts to get her awake. Now, we were the ones resisting. But of course, when you're 9 and it's Christmas morning, it's hard to sleep in.

We managed to hold Abbie off for about an hour, but shortly after 7:00 it was clearly time to get up. Although Nathan had not stirred, we knew that it wouldn't take any time to get him up and going. I made coffee and started the fireplace. Kim took some "before pictures," and by 7:30 we were gathered in the living room to begin.

As we started, things looked similar to every other Christmas morning at our house. The kids started by going through their stockings, and they had a great time. What happened next was a bit of surprise. Usually stockings are followed by the kids each opening one or two gifts, and then it's breakfast time. The twist was that neither was especially interested in opening gifts. They were excited, of course, but what they really wanted to do next was give us the gifts that they had purchased and made. It was such an unexpected pleasure to see them enjoying themselves this way. They were both genuinely eager to see the reactions as their gifts were opened. The satisfaction on their faces as we thanked them was something to see.

Their eagerness to give this Christmas was pretty much equaled by their gratitude. As they opened their presents and throughout the day, they thanked us over and over again.

It has been the best kind of day. We have laughed, played, eaten way too much, and relaxed. It's been the best kind of day, because we have thoroughly enjoyed being at home and being together. I guess in spite of all of the things about the "holidays" that drive me to fits of crankiness, it's been worth it all over again.