As I have grown older, Christmas has taken on a different meaning for me. When I was a child, I could not sleep for weeks before Christmas. I would spend hours staring at the presents under the tree imaging what each one holds and pretending that I knew the contents of each package. When Christmas Eve would final come, I would beg my Mom to let me open just one present. Just one please! She would allow it. I would tear into one present under the tree to reveal - pajamas! Or worse - Chones! (Chones is slang for Underware). I would change into my "new" pajamas and go off to bed hoping-praying for a better Christmas haul the next morning. I would toss and turn all night thinking about the presents under the tree. Then 6am would roll around and I would jump out of bed and make as much noise as I could to wake the family because it was Christmas! I would open my gifts from family and friends and the cool gifts from Santa. Being satisfied with my bounty, I would head off to my room and spend countless hours playing with my new toys.
But now as a father of three, Christmas means two things - boxes and wrapping paper. It is my job in our Christmas dynamic to collect the boxes and wrapping paper that the presents came in. I dutifully man my post with a black trash bag at my side ready to collect the paper and boxes that come flying my way from three overzealous children as they rip, cut, and chew their way through their Christmas bounty.
And you know what? I have the best seat in the house!
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Not a creature was stirring....
Except for my three kids at 1 o'clock in the morning...
I could hear Cayla get up and shuffle her feet off into to the living room. We had left the tree lights on and Santa had come and delivered the kids' gifts and eaten the cookies. When Cayla saw the tree I could hear her startled breath. She quickly ran to get Genesis. Genesis, being the ring leader of the crew, quickly ran into the room and let out a shreek. Her and Cayla quickly ran into Jacob's room to wake the boy. He joined the parade that ran into the living room. I could hear the shuffling of feet and the whispering of little voices as they surveyed the presents that Santa had brought.
From my bed, I called out to the kids and said, "If you don't go back to bed, it all goes away." Startled, the curious three trampled over each other to make it back to their rooms letting out giggles and whisphers the whole way.
And that ladies and gentlemen is how our Christmas began....
I could hear Cayla get up and shuffle her feet off into to the living room. We had left the tree lights on and Santa had come and delivered the kids' gifts and eaten the cookies. When Cayla saw the tree I could hear her startled breath. She quickly ran to get Genesis. Genesis, being the ring leader of the crew, quickly ran into the room and let out a shreek. Her and Cayla quickly ran into Jacob's room to wake the boy. He joined the parade that ran into the living room. I could hear the shuffling of feet and the whispering of little voices as they surveyed the presents that Santa had brought.
From my bed, I called out to the kids and said, "If you don't go back to bed, it all goes away." Startled, the curious three trampled over each other to make it back to their rooms letting out giggles and whisphers the whole way.
And that ladies and gentlemen is how our Christmas began....
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