Christmas part 1

We'll start with Christmas. I worked until about 4 or so Christmas Eve. That wasn't the plan, but it is amazing how many husbands put off shopping for their beloveds till then! At 3 p.m., when I had intended on closing I had a guy rush in and buy a 215 dollar purse for his wife! That's cutting it close on the big gift! I can understand coming in for a few stocking stuffers or a bar of soap to beef up the pile, but a $215 gift at the last minute??? Thom was there with the kids when the guy came in and had to clamp his hand over Jedd's mouth and physically remove him to the back room because when I told the man his total Jedd started in awe, "How much did she say that was?!"

The candlelight service at church that evening was lovely and tear-moving. Then home to finish wrapping and stuffing stockings. Emma and Jedd had theirs hung by the chimney with care. Annie couldn't find hers so had a pillowcase hanging off a chair arm. But with care.

Our tradition in the morning is to come down and light a fire and make coffee. We light some candles and the kids can come down around 7. Somehow Jedd messed up the setting of his alarm clock and at 6 a.m. music started screaming loud enough that it brought to mind the army's trick of blasting the enemy out of their holes with mega-speakers blowing hard rock at them. Thom and I were up. Somehow the kids went back to sleep. (in fact I don't think Emma budged)

7 a.m. they all giggled their way down, and lumped onto the sofa. I handed round stockings and they dug in. This was an Edmunds Scientific year so they were filled with hand boilers and exploding rocks and electicity globes. Good fun for all. Per tradition in the Huntington family, after stockings Thom read the Christmas Story from a padded book I bought when the twins were toddlers. The one year I couldn't locate the book it was a great disappointment. It's funny how much small things mean to kids. We still read the story from a bible, but it wasn't the same.

What a lovely day. Thom's dad and sister came over and the Howard family and the Ballengers joined us as well. I love a full house on a holiday. Food every where. Kids jumping on the trampoline. Oh... yeah, we surprised the kids with one of those. And I can attest to the fact that 17 years old is not to old for jumping! I can also say 46 year olds can jump but not as gracefully.