Our Christmas was a quiet family day at home. Briggs demonstrated extreme patience as he read on the couch until 7:45 before coming upstairs to wake me up, and then he waited again until 8:15 when I gave him permission to wake up Adelie to start our Christmas morning.
After reading the Christmas story from Briggs' storybook Bible and taking the obligatory Christmas morning picture, we enjoyed present opening time as a family.
Stockings were filled with the fun "necessities"...new socks, toothbrushes, body wash, gum, chapstick. There is always joy in the little things that the kids get in their stockings.
Most years the kids make each other gifts. This year, as the kids all get an allowance now, they decided that they wanted to buy each other gifts. Adelie got Staley this fuzzy new coral blanket for her room. Staley and Adelie gave Briggs the first 2 Harry Potter audiobooks. Briggs gave Staley a notebook and some pencils and bought a craft kit for Adelie.
Staley got Adelie fake mustaches and a magical mixie, which were both things on Adelie's Christmas list. (Yes, fake mustaches were on Adelie's list.) I loved that all kids put good thought into what to get for their siblings and came up with great ideas that still fit within their budget.
Each kid got a few things from us as well...a sweatshirt and socks, something for their room, and a big item off their list. Briggs got this Harry Potter Lego set.
Adelie got a hoverboard.
Staley got a new comforter and these Converse high tops.
We also gave the kids a few group gifts. They got a game, a couple soap making kits, and tickets to a show on Broadway in New York over spring break.
We have owned a Nintendo Wii since long before the kids were born, but have never set it up for use with the kids. As part of their Christmas gift, Zach got our Wii working and we wrapped up a few games for them. Mario Kart has been the favorite.
We spent the rest of our Christmas day at home. We had a brunch with breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls, pastry puffins, and fruit. There was more Wii playing, including some Just Dance competitions.
Briggs built his whole new Lego set that afternoon and then played Harry Potter Legos for a long time. Staley set up her room with her new comforter set and blanket.
The kids all took turns learning how to ride the hoverboard.
We spent the rest of our day relaxing and playing at home, eating a yummy Christmas dinner with contributions from Grammie and Miss Vickie (since we had intended to eat dinner with them before our house was overtaken with sickness), watching a Christmas movie, and just spending time together.
Maybe God knew that what I really needed out of this Christmas break was to enjoy an empty schedule. No playdates. No obligations. No outings. With our covid Christmas, I had an excuse to just stay home and be. And it was very merry indeed.
