It reminds me of Christmases growing up. With nine kids in the family, our pile o' presents was massive. The Alps had nothing on us. Our old victorian house had a very large living room just off the bottom of the winding, open staircase. The entryway was as wide as three doorways because that's how those old houses were built. Just across the room from the entry was a large picture window, which must have provided a view of Lake Harriet, at the bottom of the hill, before the other houses on the street were built. Our eight or ten foot tree always went in front of that window. The room was probably fifteen feet wide at that point. There were years when the pile o' presents reached so far across the room that we could see the edges of a few wrapped packages from the top of the stairs.
We were not allowed to simply charge down the stairs on Holiday mornings. My parents loved the fun as much as we did and were determined not to miss a second, so our tradition on Easter and Christmas was to gather outside Mom and Dad's bedroom and when two or three of us had done so, go inside and jump into bed with them. Any late risers would simply join us and when everyone was awake, Dad would go down stairs, turn on the tree, light a fire in the fireplace, put on a pot of coffee and some Bing Crosby on the turntable. Once he had set the stage to his own satisfaction, he'd come half way up the stairs and call to Mom to line us up. On Christmas, we lined up oldest to youngest. Then Mom would lead us all down the stairs and into the living room where the tree and the loot glittered like the treasure of King Tut. We'd all take seats and Dad would start handing out presents one at a time. This made certain that not a single gift went unremarked. Nothing was taken for granted or lost. It also made the sweet, sweet agony of anticipation last until we could barely stand it. God, it was fun!
The only difference between those days and our Christmas now is the ratio of kids to adults. Growing up, it was mostly 2:8. Then 2:9. As we grew up, we added grandkids. By the last year they lived in the old house, the numbers were around 19: 18. At Ty's house the ratio this year on Christmas morning was 8:5. The kids were all up so late the night before that I was up an hour before the pitter patter of little feet was heard anywhere in that enormous, rambling structure. There's no giant staircase to keep the kids away from the tree, so the morning dynamic is very different but just as much fun.
Because of the early start to the party the day before, we didn't go to the children's Christmas Eve service. The plan was to go together to the 9:30 at the local church. Zack and Jay had run off to late mass so they stayed behind with BoopityBoop to prepare breakfast while the rest of us ran off and Thanked God for sending us His only Son to redeem us.
Making kids go to church before they get to open their presents must be a huge contributor to kids falling away from the faith as soon when they get older. Next year, we'll have to come up with a better idea. Why is Mass at 9:30?? Who has time to open a hundred gifts by 9? Mass should be at 10:30. We could work with that schedule.
Anyway, after Mass, we returned to the aroma of bacon and coffee. It doesn't get any better than that, does it?
Jay wanted to eat first but the kids were dying, so we let them all open one gift. Then we ate like a pack of ravenous wolves and got down to the real business of the day: Opening presents!
Everyone got plenty of lovely, thoughtful gifts. Over the years, I've suggested different ways to lighten the load for my kids, some of whom are new to their careers and don't have much discretionary income but they all like buying (or making ) stuff for each other, so I'm always shouted down. Fine by me: I benefit the most. Since my kids have been old enough to hold a job, I've gotten more stuff than anyone else in the place. And it's all good! I appreciate all of it and I use all of it but I have had moments when I've thought how lovely it would be to get away from the gift giving end altogether...
Then I give myself a mental slap: I LOVE shopping for them all, wrapping up presents etc. I even love getting stuff from them all!! It hardly matters what's inside, I just love the fact that Josie thought I would enjoy it...then I open it and it's exactly what I needed!!
I mean, that's really fun!!
so if I say "Christmas would be just as much fun without the presents" I'm lying.
Hands down, best gift of the decade is my new mink coat. It's simply breathtaking. It's also very warm and surprisingly light weight.