Christmas at Home

Christmas

Click here for the fullscreen slideshow

This was the second year we have celebrated Christmas day ALL day.  Mom and Dad went downstairs to setup the cameras and check for any Reindeer accidents then called down the troops.  Open gifts, enjoy gifts, laugh, cuddle, repeat.  ALL day long.   The kids were really looking forward to giving Jen and I our gifts since they had been keeping them a secret for weeks now, well for the most part.  CJ basically plays that game "Taboo" with his hints describing them in every possible detail but keeping his "promise" by not saying exactly what it is.  Maddie? That chick is the Fort Knox of secrets, not a peep.  We had reached a quiet point in the afternoon and came upon a note that Santa had left for the kids.  It read:

To CJ, Maddie, Cassie and Lanie:  I have more presents for you, you have been so good so far.  Look in the place you would park your car. Love, Santa

"THE GARAGE!" they screamed in unison and headed for the door.  We stopped them long enough to slip on coats and boots and let them out into the garage.  Santa had left the girls a huge cedar playhouse that he had the insight to build in the garage (taking up Dad's parking spot for the winter) and CJ got a digital drumset.  They were so excited that they arranged furniture in their new playhouse and played in the cold, cold garage for a good half hour.  When they came inside we unveiled a final small gift for the whole family that Jen and I had been looking forward to for months.  It was a High School Musical 1 and 2 karaoke game for the Playstation (they LOVE HSM!).  We all took turns with a few favorites and are not embarrassed to tell you we played kidless for a bit after their bedtime.

Special Bonus for readers 16 and older (wink, wink):
"Some Assembly Required" by Corey Lallo

Twas the night before Christmas
myself and my spouse
are building a drum set and a cedar playhouse
"assembly is required" we were promised "some"
it's 3 AM in an unheated garage and my fingers are numb
The kids nestled warmly listening for the fat man
my eyes are drooped, my aim is off and I can't trust my hand
A curse hits the cold air for my thumb I just hit
I hope the kids don't think Santa's new phrase is
"HO, HO, HOOOO S#!T!"
I'm not gonna pout, not gonna shout.
I'm not asking just for myself...
would it be much trouble if perhaps next year
St. Nick could spare an elf?
I am sure it is not a standard request to ask for help with labor
but might I remind him we are going on 20 years
I have been asking for a working light saber
We decide the finishing touches can wait
so we put the construction on pause
since sleeping in is not in the cards the morning of the Claus
It comes at last, stuffed stockings, presents piled
"Did you hear Santa last night?"
the day is spent giving, receiving and sharing
among laughs and squeals of delight
The response was awe to presents big and small,
even the boring socks
but wouldn't you know our little angels are having the
TIME
OF
THEIR
LIVES!!
...playing in the freakin' cardboard box