Christmas V & VI
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas V was in session by 8:00 that morning.
It would be well nigh impossible to recall the full amount of gifts exchanged that morning. The Christmas tree was so packed full beneath with shiny presents, that they had overflowed onto the television cabinet.
Trays of bacon, coffee, and mini cinnamon rolls were passed around as they began…
Puck, still in pajamas and dalek robe was gifted Marbleworks, bright yellow galoshes, a build and take-a-part airplane set from his Nana and Papa, and then three board games: Hi Ho Cherry-O, Chutes & Ladders, and Candyland from Kitts and Relevance. And a pretty amazing pirate skull and crossed bones green-fringed mohawk hat that Kitts had knitted herself. It was such a hit, that all of the boys in the family immediately requested their own.
Isaac was given a book of black and white photography entitled Seattle, the 5th season of Doctor Who, and then a plastic film camera from OLeif.
For Curly: a guitar stand and tools.
Kitts received several sweaters, an eye-catching deep yellow seven-strand Indian bead necklace.
For Collette, a beautiful multi-colored plaid scarf and six-piece brightly colored mug set, all hand-selected by Izzy. A deep violet padded vest, stirling silver earrings, and a bath & body set. And a beautiful deep green leather and Turkish cloth print journal from Kitts and Relevance as a late birthday gift.
OLeif was gifted the ESV CD collection and his much-beloved Roku box.
Norman: a ‘tech-thriller’ novel, remote-controlled mini helicopter, etc.
Gloria was blown-over by the complete two-ton set of Farside, and was soon rolling in tears of laughter.
Theodore was given a bronze-cast cowboy model and two copies of hand-drawn Texas-pride prints. A book and two small moleskines from Puck.
Not to mention the stockings, stocked with chocolates, chapsticks, Norwegian hand cream, socks, and the boxes of chocolate-covered cherries.
There was more, of course, but it could not all be quite remembered.
“So what did Santa bring you?” the boys had asked Puck, prior to the tearing of papers, ribbons, and bows…
Puck looked serious about the whole idea, and said, “Santa is dead.”
Then Gloria got busy with the crab cakes and the shrimp in the deep fryer. Mixing tartar sauce, etc.
And Curly and Izzy began a wrestling match over who could use the mini helicopter.
“Watch out!” Puck declared. “There’s a baby in the house!”
And he and Izzy put together the Marbleworks, and then Kitts showed him how to play his board games.
Then Kitts got to continue knitting a black and white-striped scarf for Puck.
And snow lay thick on the ground.
1:30 saw Relevance and Kitts off to the South’s, where Kitts was to create their Christmas dinner. And OLeif, Collette, and Puck packing up the loot to head over to the church barn where all 31 available family members were to gather for Christmas VI. They were only missing Uncle Clarence, Aunt Galena, Samwise, Schroeder (all in South Carolina), and Carrie-Bri, resting up at home.
Mom had used her homey touch to spin Christmas magic in electric candles, white Christmas lights, wreaths, and garlands, little lamps, and the Christmas tree hung with dried orange slices around the barn.
The children’s corner was overloaded with goodies, including stockings for the great-grandchildren: (five girls and one boy), stuffed with squishy frogs, M’nM dispensers, glow sticks, and other happy things, which was a hit. Not to mention the little hobby horses. And the loads of blocks, cars, play kitchen items, and puzzles, etc. Puck was thrilled to see Liselotte again, and enjoyed just as much playing with his other cousins who buried him in the block tub while Sunlight raided the dessert table. The great-grandchildren provided a very convenient and entertaining floor show.
It was the same. Good old Christmas gathering with the Snicketts-Black side of the family. New stories, old stories. Laughing, jokes, two more additions to the family via birth and marriage, since the last Christmas, thankfulness for those who had come through health trials of the year… Grandma and Aunt Tuuli seemed to be recovering better, and well, respectively, from their back surgeries.
Dinner: Super Smokers.
Dessert: chocolate peanut butter Rice Krispy treats, peppermint bark, etc.
Then there were some honorary gifts to extend about those there-gathered, including little Santa Claus overalls filled with some Christmas money and candy canes from Grandma. Dad had Sing Out CDs for Uncle Balthasar as well. Then Grandma was given peppermint bark and the digital photo frame, and some other things, all of which Puck took credit for having given, seeing as he had, for the third time in three days, been given the responsibility of handing out gifts.
And in that interesting Christmas news that skirted about throughout the afternoon…
Largest news of all — it seemed as though there would now be another Snicketts great-grandkid. Travis was expecting his second child the following August. Whisper was to become a big sister.
Then home in the early night and the snow lands.
OLeif was out to the movies with his brothers, Joe, and Theodore.
And Collette… well, Collette just couldn’t seem to help herself from breaking into the box of German chocolates. O, Christmas, Christmas…
As always, it was good to see extended family again, despite the unfortunate absences of 13.9% of their population. The next gathering would be the following afternoon at Grandpa Snicketts’.
And Collette’s original belief still held true, that Polly and Fernando were very much the cutest couple she had ever seen.