Once I learned the "truth" about Santa, I immediately enlisted myself as "Santa's helper." I loved staying up late on Christmas Eve helping my mom wrap presents and set out piles of gifts (because, even if everyone isn't getting much, with 10 people in the family, there were always piles of presents). There was nothing I liked more than seeing the living room sparkling in the glow of the Christmas tree lights, filled with festively wrapped presents, and somehow, alive with joy and excitement.
Fast forward twenty years - nothing much has changed.
Christmas Eve, when the kids are nestled snug in their beds, is still one of my favorite times. While Santa may not figure strongly in our celebration (I still haven't quite decided what I want to think/do about that part of Christmas...this year I didn't put "from Santa" on any of the gifts, and nobody noticed or commented), there is still a strong element of anticipation and surprise.
For starters, with the exception of gifts we receive in the mail from family and friends, I don't put any other gifts under the tree before Christmas morning. Part of that is because the boys are still small and I don't entirely trust their ability to refrain from unwrapping said gifts, but the main reason is that I love the dramatic shift from "hardly anything" to "full to bursting." I love the amazement I see in my kids' eyes when they come into the living room first thing Christmas morning and are greeted with a transformed and entirely wonderful sight. I like it so much, that I even send Mark to bed before I'm "finished" so he can have some of the surprise too. Although, this year, I had a midnight helper, who apparently couldn't wait till morning to see the wonderment.
Since Christmas fell on Sunday this year, we felt we needed to be a little more proactive in making plans for how the day might progress. Since church began at 11, we worked backward and determined that the kids could get up at 7 and open presents for an hour. Then we'd stop for breakfast and get ready for church and finish opening gifts when we got home from church.
Of course, the kids were all up before 7, but we managed to (just barely) hold them back till the appointed time. Due to a poorly timed potty break, I missed witnessing the moment they saw the transformed living room. Devastating (silly, I know, but it really made me sad).
First, we always open stockings. I love stockings! It's so fun to fill them with little treasures and treats; little, usually simple things that might be meaningful to the receiver.
Even Grandma and Grandpa had stockings and it was great to have them celebrate the day with our little family. On Thane and Bryce's Christmas pajamas, it reads, "What Santa Doesn't Bring Me, Grandma Will," and boy was that ever true!
Once done with stockings, we progressed to opening gifts one at a time, from youngest to oldest. Thane had no problem figuring out how to open his presents - he tore in with a toddler's delight and energy. However, once he got the present unwrapped, he was more interested in throwing away the wrapping paper than in the gift itself. He took his "job" of throwing away everyone's wrapping paper very seriously. He's his father's son.
Thane's favorite gifts were probably bath toys (including replacement bath drums for the ones that finally met their demise after 5 years of loyal service). Though, he also loves the Legos (Duplos) we added to our (vast) collection and his Wedgits (a seriously cool toy).
Thane spent most of the present opening time wandering from person to person asking for snacks and treats. When he came to me asking for a package of fruit snacks, I happily unwrapped one, only to hear from Mark, "I already gave him two packages." Then Grandpa piped up, "I shared one with him too." Then Aubree, "me too!" Clever little beggar.
Bryce greeted the morning with pure delight. Everything thrilled him. He got a bright orange beanie in his stocking and promptly put it on his head and left it there all morning. His favorite gift was a fabulous Viking ship from Grandma and Grandpa Winters (don't be confused if he tells you he got a pirate ship, he won't be persuaded that it's actually a Viking ship). He also loves his new Car Mat/Rug and plays with it all the time.
By now, Aubree's a professional when it comes to Christmas morning. She orchestrated handing out all the presents (and quickly discovered that I'd wrapped each person's gifts in their own special wrapping paper) and helped coordinate who was next in line to open a gift. She was properly excited with all her gifts, though she certainly had favorites, including: a snow globe, a container full of fancy rocks, and new books, nail polish and chapstick from her cousin, Cambrie (who knows exactly what Aubree likes).
My favorite gift was a picture frame from my amazing sister, Kira. She put a quote on the frame from Alma, "We do not doubt our mother's knew it." I've always wanted to put that quote on a board or a wall, but on a picture frame where I can put my kids' picture too?? Worlds better!! Kira's a genius! I cried when I opened the gift, it's so perfect. I'm going to hang it in my bedroom where I will see it everyday as a reminder of what I hope my kids can one day say about me.
Surprisingly, we finished opening all the gifts just before 8 am. I remember it taking 2 full days to open gifts when Aubree was younger. It's amazing how much different it is to have older kids setting the tone and providing the example. Thane didn't seem to get overwhelmed at all.
It was a very good day.
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