The Voices in my HeadPresents and Boxes and Bows...OH NO!
December 25th 2006 23:38
It has been a beautiful day. A very messy one...but a beautiful one!
We were awakened, on schedule, at 7:00a.m. by the kids squealing, the dogs' barking, the shining sun and my husband...was snoring. *smile* (It takes him a while to wake up.)
We mosied into the living room that was full of presents, and waited for my husband, Jeff, to come in. The kids were so excited. The fresh scrubbed glow of their faces, illuminated by the Christmas tree lights was the most beautiful sight I have seen this year.
Every year, I play a game with their presents. They are never labeled to the kids by name. They are labeled, To: XYZ, 123, 789, or ABC. Before the first present can be opened, each child must guess which label is theirs. If they get it right, they may open a gift. If not, it becomes the next person's turn. It goes pretty quickly, considering they are all working together on the guessing. I always set out their biggest, best gifts to be opened first during the game. There is a lot of groaning, but a lot of giggling, too.
Once everyone knows which presents are theirs and after all the gifts are opened, -(a whole 17 minutes later,)- we eat birthday cake. It's just a little reminder of what the day is really about and a fun way to drive that point home with the kids. That's the only time they get to eat cake for breakfast and they LOVE doing it.
After that, it is time to just lay back and look at the mess...It took three months to plan, buy, and wrap all the gifts...it's completely undone in 15 minutes...including game time! So, I look at the mess...the wrapping, the bows, the empty boxes...
And remember...
...when they were too small to open their own gifts.
I remember when the biggest gift was a 'My Little Pony' or a racecar. Now, it's I-pods and cellphones.
I remember the lean years when there wasn't much under the tree at all...and the smiles of those kids as if what they received was an unheard of bounty.
I remember Christmases when I was pregnant...
Christmases when life had beaten my husband and I to a bloody pulp...and Christmas felt like little more than a mockery of all we were limited on...money, joy, happiness...
I will always remember this Christmas for so many reasons. I will remember the bounty of family.
I will remember the joy.
I will remember my children squealing with delight.
I will remember my daughter taking pictures with her commonplace but new, average, cellphone of family, friends and pets to always have with her. This is the sort of person she is at 15. My heart swells with pride over her sense of family.
I will remember my son, my big, manly, twelve year old son, freaking out over his PS2.
I will remember my youngest son showing me magic tricks he has learned from his new magic set.
I will remember the way my youngest daughter looked in her new outfit...not so much like a little girl anymore. Shockingly not so much like a little girl anymore.
I have four children. (I mention this a lot on this site, and it's something I am the most proud of in my life...bare with me. *smile*)
I have been blessed beyond measure. Beyond MEASURE.
My husband and I have often thought and sometimes said that we had them too young...too close together...without enough planning...without enough, period.
Even this year, when there was a bounty for my kids, it was not Razor phones or PS3's they received...and not one complaint was uttered by any of them.
I do not know why or how I came to be worthy in God's eyes of these kids...or of my husband...but thank you, God.
I hope that your Christmas was blessed in every way.
Merry Christmas!
We were awakened, on schedule, at 7:00a.m. by the kids squealing, the dogs' barking, the shining sun and my husband...was snoring. *smile* (It takes him a while to wake up.)
We mosied into the living room that was full of presents, and waited for my husband, Jeff, to come in. The kids were so excited. The fresh scrubbed glow of their faces, illuminated by the Christmas tree lights was the most beautiful sight I have seen this year.
Every year, I play a game with their presents. They are never labeled to the kids by name. They are labeled, To: XYZ, 123, 789, or ABC. Before the first present can be opened, each child must guess which label is theirs. If they get it right, they may open a gift. If not, it becomes the next person's turn. It goes pretty quickly, considering they are all working together on the guessing. I always set out their biggest, best gifts to be opened first during the game. There is a lot of groaning, but a lot of giggling, too.
Once everyone knows which presents are theirs and after all the gifts are opened, -(a whole 17 minutes later,)- we eat birthday cake. It's just a little reminder of what the day is really about and a fun way to drive that point home with the kids. That's the only time they get to eat cake for breakfast and they LOVE doing it.
After that, it is time to just lay back and look at the mess...It took three months to plan, buy, and wrap all the gifts...it's completely undone in 15 minutes...including game time! So, I look at the mess...the wrapping, the bows, the empty boxes...
And remember...
...when they were too small to open their own gifts.
I remember when the biggest gift was a 'My Little Pony' or a racecar. Now, it's I-pods and cellphones.
I remember the lean years when there wasn't much under the tree at all...and the smiles of those kids as if what they received was an unheard of bounty.
I remember Christmases when I was pregnant...
Christmases when life had beaten my husband and I to a bloody pulp...and Christmas felt like little more than a mockery of all we were limited on...money, joy, happiness...
I will always remember this Christmas for so many reasons. I will remember the bounty of family.
I will remember the joy.
I will remember my children squealing with delight.
I will remember my daughter taking pictures with her commonplace but new, average, cellphone of family, friends and pets to always have with her. This is the sort of person she is at 15. My heart swells with pride over her sense of family.
I will remember my son, my big, manly, twelve year old son, freaking out over his PS2.
I will remember my youngest son showing me magic tricks he has learned from his new magic set.
I will remember the way my youngest daughter looked in her new outfit...not so much like a little girl anymore. Shockingly not so much like a little girl anymore.
I have four children. (I mention this a lot on this site, and it's something I am the most proud of in my life...bare with me. *smile*)
I have been blessed beyond measure. Beyond MEASURE.
My husband and I have often thought and sometimes said that we had them too young...too close together...without enough planning...without enough, period.
Even this year, when there was a bounty for my kids, it was not Razor phones or PS3's they received...and not one complaint was uttered by any of them.
I do not know why or how I came to be worthy in God's eyes of these kids...or of my husband...but thank you, God.
I hope that your Christmas was blessed in every way.
Merry Christmas!
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Comment by LaurenD
LaurenD
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
I am so glad to know that! I started to read your latest post earlier but supper was ready...I am just now getting back on and taking care of some things...I will be by later to read it. It sounded a bit like you were or are having some holiday stress...
Thanks for stopping by...
Voices~
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Having nothing makes you appreciate everything and what better time of year than now to reflect on such thoughts.
Have a great one
Ash
Comment by Sarah White
coolgirlsar to the rescue
One Too Many Chocolate Bars
My three year old son wanted only one thing for christmas, he may have got more but all that he wanted was a garage to play his cars on. My husband and I hunted high and low for the right one and thought we found it. My son's face on christmas morning when he got to his last present which was the garage will stay with my forever and the "Oh Wow it's what I asked for." was pricely.
I'm glad you had such a wonderful christmas.
Sarah.
xxx
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
Thank you, as always, for your kind words. They are appreciated more than you know.
I am blessed...and it's lovely when others understand what I am trying to convey...nothing more than gratefullness for the blessings I have...
Blessings,
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
Is that not the best feeling in the world? lol
Thank you for sharing a bit of your Christmas morning...it blessed me.
Come back,
Voices~
Comment by Moonbeam
First of all, I must make this query; just how often do u mosey? I wasn't aware that u mosied @ all. Do u mosey in public? Will u mosey on New Year's Day?
Ok....enough of that!
Couldn't resist though; u know how depraved I am....
A lovely Christmas memory indeed. Your children adore u, u know. As do many others.
Looking forward to a new year of fun & family,
Auntie Monnbeam
Comment by The Voices in my Head
The Voices in my Head
Thanks again for that reminder. You rock.
Voices~