One for the books.
Christmas Morning Highlights: Ava noticed that the other kids each had a rather large gift to open. Katrina's turned out to be what she "has always wanted!"-a vintage dress form. She also opened a new black dress coat. Later I opened the same coat for me. "Look Katrina, we can be twinners!" "Greeaaat," she said with much less enthusiasm. Mallerie opened some new bedding and a personal DVD player. Both Grayson and Graham got inflateable punching bags (that almost made it through the day). Ava declared, "I guess I'm the only one who doesn't get a BIG present." No sooner had she lamented when she found a teeny-tiny package under the tree with HER name on it. To her delight it was an Ipod, her wildest dream come true. I assured her she could trade for a BIG present to which she said, "No way!" Callie would have been content if we sat around singing Junle Bells, she really took to that song this season. The boys got all kinds of trucks and cars and building things. But the main excitment this year was beheld in family gifts. After opening surprises such as a Blu-ray player (black Friday special), and a Wii (reward from work), Katrina said, "We'll be whole new family!" I remember feeling that way when my family opened a VCR many years ago, and again when we finally got a CD player (I was in High School). Matt and I had gone back and forth about getting a flatscreen TV for downstairs because what would be the point of having a blu-ray in HD when the TV wasn't. But neither Matt nor I could justify putting out the money (which we didn't have anyway) when our trusty Sony from 1997 was still working fine.
Then it CAME.
Backstory: Matt hadn't told me about a contest he had entered at work because even though he had been the winner for the year, he wasn't sure he would be acknowledged since he is no longer with Gatorade. But on the morning of Christmas Eve, his reward gift card came in the mail. Enough for a flatscreen. He jumped in the car to get to Best Buy in Park City before closing time. This turned out to be a fun thing for the family to unveil together on Christmas Morning, "Whahooo!" I couldn't believe the difference in the thickness of the old set and the new when placed side by side. Yet Matt and I were just as excited when we got the Sony 32", and ya know what?
They cost 'bout the SAME.
In speaking with Graham about the upcoming big day I realized he expected to open the same gifts he opened last year. He had a pretty good little memory too. The other thing I learned about him is that he's not so good at keeping a surprise. I wrapped a nerf football for Grayson one day while the kids were at school. This was a gift from Callie to Grayson. The second the kids got in the van Graham yelled, "Grayson we wrapped you a BASKETBALL." Then his eyes grew wide and he threw his hands over his mouth. No harm done because, in reality we hadn't wrapped him a basketball at all.
Christmas day was HEAVENLY. Matt spent the day hooking up one electonic after another, the kids put in their new movies and I plopped on the couch. I didn't move for hours. Matt has observed that I'm one to go-go-go and then finally hit a wall. He's much more steady Eddy. Totally! He's totally Eddy. But Callie seemed to be thrilled I had hit some imaginary wall. She kept bringing me things to look at and books to read. She looked cute as a cupcake from head to toe. We cuddled up and fell asleep during Beauty and the Beast for a few scenes. A few months ago I had Growlie with me at FYE and there was a flat screen playing the newly RE-released Beauty on Blu-ray in HD. It was BEAUTIFUL. That movie has so many vivid colors as it is but they came to life in such a way that neither I nor Growlie could move. We were captivated. It was soon after that that I got my heart set on the blu-ray.
I think we've finally found what works best for us on Christmas, a pajama day with shades drawn where we can enjoy being together. Matt and the kids battled it out on the Wii. Perhaps I need more practice, but for now I contiue to be TERRIBLE.
The shut in feel contined through Christmas break. I LOVE it! I think it's my favorite week of the year. There was one day where Ava and I cuddled on the bed and listened to her entire Ipod. I read and relaxed and finished off the Christmas goodies. The older I get the more of a homebody I become. It just works for me. Both Matt and I have been putting our gifts for eachother to great use. I'm wondering how we ever lived without a KitchenAid or a DVR. I outdid him though since my gift was actually a surprise.
PS: I'm noticing that this entry has lots of letters so don't get confused, The DVR is not for the Blu-ray, but for the HDTV in our room, the Blu-ray is for the HDTV downstairs, where it replaced the DVD but we still have the VCR. The CD is replaced by the Ipod, and to get any of it to work we needed an HDMI cord from FYE, for your FYI. Phew!
