Christmas 2011

I'll return back to update the advent daily Christmas events from where I left off later, but for now I want to document the highlights and some elect details from the days leading up to and the actual day of Christmas. Technically Christmas day isn't quite over, but since it is really all about the kids, essentially it is because they are now asleep.

What made Christmas 2011 unique, probably the most significant detail was the fact that Amanda's parents drove up from Pocatello a few days prior and were here for the whole event. This was even more significant because, as far as I know, they have never spent a Christmas outside of Pocatello, where all their immediate family (with the sole exception of Amanda) and a large portion of their extended family reside. I hope they enjoyed themselves - they wouldn't say anything if they didn't, so we may never know.

Christmas Eve
This is the third year that we have celebrated a Christmas in Spokane as residents of Spokane. In each of the previous two years we spent Christmas eve with my parents and my brother's family (Allen and Shannan), including their 4 kids. Their family is much more particular about Christmas traditions than I am or Amanda is and they have quite a few more Christmas' under their belt, so in each of the past two years we have really just followed their lead; however, this year was much different. Because Amanda's parents were here, we decided to have our own Christmas eve "program" and dinner. I threw together a super basic turkey dinner, consisting of only turkey breast (roast), mashed potatoes and gravy, StoveTop Stuffing and store-bought rolls. After cleaning up we put forth our best attempt to act out Luke 2 (and a little from Matthew 2). Charlie selected the role of angel, Amanda was Mary and Sam was a wise man from the east. Grandpa Roger was pegged as a shepherd, Mister Incredible (Sam's Build-a-bear teddy bear) was the baby Jesus, I was the narrator/reader and Isaac simply roamed the stage. Using a rocking horse, a stuffed Aflac duck and an Eastern Eagle stuffed toy we set a manger scene. We employed several blankets, sheets, belts and other items to dress the boys up. They were quite excited. Knowing well in advance of his chosen role, Sam had prepared gold, frankincense and myrh to gift to the baby Jesus and a star, which he hung from the mantel using a long piece of Scotch tape. It took no more than 5 minutes to act it out, but the kids were absolutely great. Charlie smiled big as he repeated the words of the angel. Sam peacefully placed the three gifts on baby Jesus as he knelt in front of him. Whether any of it was internalized and the real meaning of Christmas understood, we will have to wait and see, but it was sure fun. We followed that up with a reading of 'T'was the Night Before Christmas', read by Grandpa Roger. We then opened one gift each, which is, has been and will always be a new pair of pajamas. For whatever reason, I think that Amanda and I thought that those things would take the remainder of the evening, however they did not. So, as Grandpa finished reading the closing words "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" the clock was barely showing 7pm. Too early to put them to bed, so we riffed it a bit and put in a movie - A Muppets Christmas Carol. We had convinced Sam that we should leave two creme puffs and a class of Root beer out for Santa rather than the traditional cookies and milk. This way Santa would remember our house and would look forward to coming back next year. Also, earlier in the day, on his own accord, Sam declared that he would not only leave out treats for Santa but that he would also leave Santa a note, thanking him for the presents. So after the movie ended we put out the treats and note and put the two older boys to bed (Isaac had gone down during the movie). We cracked the laundry room window and while I improvised yet another bedtime story Amanda jingled some bells from just outside the window, pretending the bells were from Santa's sleigh. The boys were quite excited and quickly fell asleep.

Christmas Day
We have settled into to the "tradition" of leaving the Santa gifts out - unwrapped - for each child. This year those gifts included the following:

• For Sam - a 16" x 16" Lego sheet and a 3 in 1 Lego set


• For Charlie - an apron (made by Amanda) and some cooking utensils - Charlie is our little helper in the kitchen. You cannot begin a baking project without Charlie pushing a chair up to join the fun.


• For Isaac - a play grocery cart and a push toy


• For all - a race car Trio set, put together by me the night before.

Given the floor plan of our home and the fact that the kids were sleeping in the master bedroom (Grandpa and Grandma were in Sam and Charlie's room), Amanda had the boys wait in the bathroom until the grandparents were awake before entering the living room to see what Santa brought. They didn't seem to mind as they were playing iPhone games. Finally the moment came, the kids ran in to see what Santa had brought. Although they loved their Santa gifts, they seemed much more excited to dig into the stockings. Charlie was very amusing to watch. He individually showed me, Amanda, Grandpa Roger and Grandma Maryanne each item that he pulled out of the stocking. It took him much more time to get through his stocking that it did Sam. After that we had a big breakfast, cleaned up and took off to attend sacrament meeting at my parents' ward (because it met at 11am and ours didn't meet until 1pm). We planned on waiting until after church to open all of the other presents, so once was returned home we opened presents. Trying to maintain any sense of order while a 3 and 5 year old worked through two very large stacks of gifts was quite difficult. This will probably be remembered as "the Lego" Christmas as there were several Lego sets and related gifts. Papa and DeeDee (my parents) joined us at about 2:30 with another stack of gifts. We had to pull the kids away from putting together the Lego sets to open the new wave of gifts. Thank goodness for grandparents, otherwise our children's loot would have been only a fraction of what actually was. Amanda gave me Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in Russian and a season of DVDs of one of my favorite TV series. I gave her a new set of scriptures and a kitchen scale. I love that she gave me things that were not on my list (my mother-in-law requires a Christmas gift wish list from me each year, usually in mid-November, otherwise I wouldn't make a list). She gave me things that she knew I would enjoy and she exceeded any expectations.

We finished up the evening with dinner with both sets of grandparents. Beef stroganoff, a forever favorite. We visited a bit before Papa and DeeDee went on to Allen and Shannan's.

I sit here now feeling extremely blessed. Blessed to be surrounded by caring family members. Blessed financially. Blessed with healthy, happy children. Blessed with a loving wife. Blessed with a knowledge of and testimony of our Savour Jesus Christ and his Gospel. Tonight, as I lay sandwiched between Sam and Charlie as they dozed off to sleep, I felt so full of love for them. To a degree that I would have never thought I could have ever been capable. I guess fatherhood does that to you - expands and deepens ones ability to love another human being. Perhaps its part due to the season. Nonetheless, I adore my three boys. It was a blast to see them bask in the Christmas spirit and excitement and I look forward to many more.