Christmas is always a special day of the year in our family. But this year it was even more special because Mom and I were able to share the day with our entire family at our house. Actually, the family Christmas started Christmas eve when Jake, Shannon, Trav, and Rowyn, mom, and I went to Christmas Eve mass at Shawn and Corey’s church in Williamston to watch O’Malley sing in their children’s choir. O’Malley was the star of the show (at least in our minds). After mass, we went back to Shawn and Corey’s for a Christmas snack and a toast and then headed to our separate homes to try and get some sleep like that was even a possibility.
Mom had spent weeks decorating the entire house. She had her Christmas village all set up with its streets and animals and people. But someone had placed a miniature Santa figurine on the roof of one of the houses. That was a first. And no one owned up to the sneaky maneuver. And mom is still trying to figure out who was the guilty culprit, Every room in the house had some Christmas memento in it just like Karen’s mother used to do for Karen and her sisters. And every one of the mementos had been thoughtfully selected for each room and placed in a specific position for all who entered to see and enjoy it. The detail was incredible. I don’t know which mom spent more time doing, decorating the house or planning the location of every ornament and decoration. But the end result had its intended effect…a very warm, inviting, cozy, Christmasy environment.
The first item on the agenda was a social hour followed by dinner. And then, and then, and then, the real fun began as the stockings hanging from the fireplace were opened followed immediately by a gift exchange. The final event was a “steal a gift” exchange. Each family member draws a playing card to determine the order of gift selection. All the gifts are in the center of the floor. After the first person chooses a gift each succeeding person has two options: taking a gift from one of the people who have a gift (stealing a gift) or taking a gift from the pile on the floor. When all is said and done, and all the stealing and trading has finished, it seems like everyone has the gift they wanted. Except Jim…he never seems to get a good draw. But he does have a smile on his face when it is all over.
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