Christmas Day

The day of four Christmases. The first was hardly mentionable — their little family gathering where OLeif and Collette would present Puck with his presents. In fact, it was non-existent, only melded into the third, which took place at the Silverspoon’s by eight o’clock that morning.
There was much tearing of paper. Jack received a large cotton Texas flag from Collette.
“Everybody, hands on their hearts. Sing the song,” said Denae, as Curly and Izzy stretched it out between them in the living room. “The eyes of Texas…”
“That’s your heritage, Puck,” said Izzy, pointing to the flag.
“Well, part of it,” said Collette, laughing, very much a Northern girl, herself, and a loyal St. Louisan.
Denae received a set of brushed chrome-like mixing bowls, sci-fi looking spoon rest, whisk, and cooking tongs from Curly.
OLeif would receive double duty that day — the same thing from both sets of parents. A set of watercolors, water pens, and watercolor notebooks.
OLeif and Collette were given, together, a large set of black photo frames attached as one piece, a set of cookie cooling racks, and a bendable metal spatula.
Collette also received some Christmas money and travel-like boxes filled with a box of orange chocolate sticks and socks.
Curly and Izzy both were given electronic toothbrush tops and leather guitar straps.
Curly got a jazz fakebook from OLeif, and Izzy a new set of games, and a piece of iron man equipment.
The Puck was very happy with his jack-in-the-box, which was actually a bear-in-the-box. He gave him several little kisses on the nose. There was also a push-roll music box apparatus, a mini camping lantern set, and the long-awaited tube of 56 rubber bouncy balls. He spent the rest of the morning, after breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls, dropping them down empty wrapping paper tubes.
But the big gift of the day came as a surprise from Theodore. A blue ray player. Both the Snicketts and the Silverspoon houses now had their new toys. The boys were very excited and immediately put the machine to work.
By eleven, it was over to the house for Christmas #4, overall.
In order of age, Puck went first, to receive a large stack of cardboard stacking boxes and a magnetic alphabet board with chalkboard on the other side.
Linnea raked it in with a karate American Girl doll set, a precious stone heart necklace set (to come in the mail), a Nancy Drew computer game, a gray and red striped sweater, black gloves, a Playmobile pirate set, a soft sapphire blue blanket, and a black and white striped hat and Egyptian make-up from Cherry.
Francis was given mostly air-softing equipment, which thrilled him, and the complete second season of SpongeBob Squarepants, to share with Joe.
Rose had a Whoppers notebook and case of Whoppers malt balls, a pair of dangling elephant earrings, brown, and an Operation keychain set from Collette, Led Zeppelin tee, leather bracelet, and a new camera lens.
Joe — bike equipment, including an air horn and carbon fiber handles.
Carrie-Bri — Dr. Who Season 4, the Natural Ood action figure, and a set of brightly colored MUSE collectors mugs from Joe (still being processed via Royal Mail).
Collette was given a sun jar, moon landing desktop sandbox, on DVD: The Importance of Being Earnest and Seven Years in Tibet, a square Italian village-like plate, a cranberry chutney Yankee Candle, an Egypt Eyewitness guide, the poem of The Cid, and the book: Journey to the Center of the Earth.
OLeif, of course, received the same art supplies, although different brands, a staple-less stapler, and the new ESV study Bible from Carrie-Bri.
Mom got her bike bell and basket, candle holders and candles, and The Muppets Christmas Carol.
And Dad — the charcoal gray overcoat and scarf.
It had also been reported that Grandma had been in happy tears over her gift from the family — Carrie’s first iPod with speaker, including all the music she could ever want from her years growing up.
It was all, collectively, a very generous moment in time.
But Christmas still wasn’t over. It was time to leave for the Black’s in New Town, for Christmas #5.
Three full of the four families were there for the celebration. Everyone but Uncle Clarence, Aunt Galena, Samwise, and Schroeder, who were recovering from a very long year in South Carolina. They weren’t forgotten, however. Aunt Corliss called up Uncle Clarence after everyone had gathered together, and they wished them a merry Christmas.
“Merry Christmas,” said Uncle Clarence, who sounded so very much like Dad. “We love you all.”
By the time they walked in the door, the girls — Aunt Corliss, Mom, and Aunt Tuuli — were all wearing reindeer antlers, courtesy of Grandma Snicketts.
They were also there to celebrate Grandma’s recent 80th birthday. After dinner and a cherry Coke for Collette, they watched Grandma open her Presto email device, and passed around the birthday cake from Dairy Queen.
Grandma also handed out the traditional Christmas money to her grandkids and great-grandkids, this time wrapped with candy canes in felt Christmas stockings.
Puck and Liselotte were old enough to have their own little gifts that Christmas. Liselotte was given a menagerie of tiny stuffed animals, Puck — several brightly colored matchbox cars (which Dad helped Grandma pick out for him), and a wind-up little clown on a bicycle, apiece. Puck and Liselotte were very happy with their gifts. They paused their endless treks up and down the carpeted stairs together, calling “hi” to their family with their chubby faces pushed through the banister rails, to play with their new toys.
And the twins. They were growing so fast. Already about eleven pounds, each. Bristol (who had grown a goatee) and Nerissa, were very calm and cool parents. So was the twins’ loving uncle, Travis, who gladly took his turn holding the little pink darlings, as did almost everyone else.
Grandma talked some about how the various cousins used to cause trouble for her when they were little, including Polly, who was there with her almost always smiling Fernando.
And everyone, as usual, had fun seeing one another again. Collette knew that the following day she would hear more news from Mom, who usually managed to catch up with every member of the family by the end of the gathering.