The Stockings Are Hung

Merry Christmas Eve Morning.  It's the calm before the storm.   Since I've slacked so much on writing, I thought I would take advantage of these last few quiet minutes and write out some thoughts.

The Christmas season is my absolute favorite time of year.  It stems from my childhood Christmases.  The twinkling lights and beautiful decorations. Presents wrapped with shiny paper and tied with big satin bows.  Christmas programs and parties at school.  Picking out just the right gift for someone. Spending time with the people who mean the most to you. Family traditions.  Creating memories.  It was all so magical, I couldn't get enough of it.  (And obviously still can't)

At the age of 8 or 9, I had my own wrapping station all set up in my basement.  I would wrap ALL of the gifts that my Parents and Grandparents bought, except mine of course.  This was back in the day when you could still have your gifts wrapped at the store.  (I don't think they do that anymore.  And if they do, it certainly isn't cheap.) You would drop off your gifts, pick out the wrapping paper, leave and come back a little while later to perfectly wrapped presents with intricate bows and decorations on them.  My Grandma was the store manager at a high end department store, named Hartzfelds, that provided this service. My goal for each present that I wrapped, was for it to look like something wrapped by them.  And I usually succeeded.  No "stick on bows" for this girl.  Needless to say, things haven't changed much.  I still have a wrapping station.  At the moment it isn't in it's own designated room anymore. (Yes.  I had a wrapping room in a couple of my houses.  Don't judge.)  I still go a little crazy with my wrapping.  There's always a theme.  Only specific colors are allowed under my tree. And blue is NOT one of them.  At the moment, green isn't either.  All of the presents match. Yes, I'm a freak.  But I'm perfectly okay with that.


This year, I will have all but one of my kids (including 2 more we've picked up along the way) home for Christmas.  I sewed all new stockings and a new Christmas quilt, put up 3 trees, hung garland along all of the banisters, had my honey set up the village and hang the lights outside, baked everyone's favorites, shopped to within an inch of my wallet and spent DAYS wrapping a mountain of presents. I think I am ready.

Christmas 2011

To kick off the next few days of festivities, we will go to my cousin/BFF's house for a Mexican Fiesta.  Since I refuse to trek all over God's Creation on my favorite day of the year, this will be the only "big" family Christmas celebration we attend.   We will eat ourselves into an oblivion, drink some winter sangria, watch the kids exchange their presents and just generally enjoy each other's company.  Tonight, I will probably hear endless pleas to "open just one gift" from my 2 youngest boys. My youngest will get the usual plate of cookies and milk ready for Santa and put carrots out for the reindeer.  After everyone goes to bed, my honey and I will probably make 20 trips each, up and down 2 flights of stairs, to bring all of the presents up.  And literally FILL the living room.  Sometime while we sleep, Santa will show up and add a few gifts of his own.

Christmas morning 2011

Tomorrow morning, I will probably start receiving texts from my youngest 2 kids (11 and 15) sometime around 6 a.m., asking if they can come out of their rooms.  I'll try to hold them off till at least 7:00.  8:00 would be better but I'll probably get 6:30.  When I finally relent, they'll get the other kids up and sit on the stairs for the annual "Christmas Morning on the stairs picture".  Once that's done, I'll un-cage the animals and chaos will erupt.  They will descend on the tree like vultures.  Not to get to the presents, but to find the pickle.  Whoever finds that coveted ornament on the tree, gets a special present.  (My daughter is the one to beat at this game.)  When we finally get to open our presents, it's not a free-for-all.  I never understood the concept of letting the kids rip through all of the presents at the same time.  No one gets to see what you got, the gift giver doesn't get to see the reaction, and Christmas is over in mere minutes.  No way.  Not at this house.  Christmas morning only comes once a year.  It should be cherished.  It should be stretched out for as long as it can be.  We take our time and open one gift at a time. Somewhere in the middle we take a break, have breakfast and then go back to unwrapping afterword.  My Mom and her boyfriend will come over in the afternoon for dinner and more presents and the rest of the day will be spent playing with all of our new "toys".

The Great Pickle Hunt 2011

The Victor....again.

My 2nd oldest son and his Fiancee' will arrive sometime late tomorrow night, so we'll have another round the day after Christmas.  And then we get to keep them until the New Years Day.  I'm so excited I can't wait.   A full week of family time with no interruptions.  No school or work for anyone.  Just hours upon hours to spend with the ones I love and create more memories.  It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!!!

Merry Christmas