On Christmas Eve, the kids opened up their Christmas PJ's.
We read them their Christmas stories,
and as soon as they were safely into bed, we set to work. It was daunting enough to keep three kids under three safe around a Christmas tree for two weeks. Adding a single present would've been sheer insanity. We even debated putting out the presents before morning, because Devon often nightwakes and comes into our bedroom a few times into the middle of the night. Sometimes we wake to find a few thing's he's used the opportunity of some alone time to rearrange. Just this morning I was grinding the coffee when I looked over and discovered a small pile of peas and beans carefully stacked on the leather ottoman in the living room. We were afraid of the mess a toddler with privacy could make of a pristine Christmas tableau.
The magic of Christmas is that presents appear on Christmas morning. They aren't trotted out from the spare room while everybody looks on. We risked it and it paid off. Devon was ready to start in pretty early.
We started with our traditional Christmas breakfast of Norwegian rice porridge (Rommegrot).
Then it was Devon's turn to open his stocking. Out popped Iron Bert and Iron Harry, the engines he'd spied in Mommy and Daddy's room, along with all his other treats.
The girls excitedly reached into their very first stockings.
"Wow, Carrie and Melina, you get BRAND NEW ENGINES!!!" said Devon.
"Wow, Grammy and Grandpa, you get BRAND NEW ENGINES!!!" said Devon.
"Wow, Mommy and Daddy, you get BRAND NEW ENGINES!!!" said Devon.
After breakfast, we gathered around to read the Christmas story and open presents. It was fun, but a pretty hectic time, as "wait", "take turns" and "slow down" are not easy right now. We want the kids to take time enjoying Christmas and not rush through it in ten minutes.
Everyone outdid themselves in thoughtful giving this year, but especially Craig. He ordered me a Mythbusters homage t-shirt and customized it at a screenprinting shop in town. Not only do I do my own stunts, these days I do them with an audience of three. It's perfect.
At our house we always wonder what will become "THE Toy of Christmas" for each of the kids every year. It has nothing to do with greed or materialism. It's just that each Christmas when we look back we can remember a special toy that was really exciting to receive and play with. Devon's was Tidmouth Sheds for his Thomas Wooden Railway. Mommy found it on Craigslist and saved it in the closet for six weeks. It was the one toy this year that he didn't find before it was time.
The girls loved their Disney Princess Castle, sent from Uncle Tim. Mommy picked it up at Walmart late one night with teething Melina. As soon as Melina saw it she forgot her angst and dove from the basket into the bucket of the cart, throwing her scrawny arms around the box and giving me a big smile. It's been waiting in the pack-and-play for Christmas Day ever since. They love putting the princess dolls on the pedestal and listening to them play their songs.
Mommy: Look! What is Princess Rapunzel going to say? placing her on pedestal
Princess Rapunzel: THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!!!
Mommy: YAYYYYY! Let's try Snow White!
Carrie: Ooh.
Melina Ooh. pointing
Hmmm.... I wonder what Mommy's "THE Toy of Christmas" is this year.....
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