Christmas Day

With a brand new toddler, I had low expectations of keeping Christmas beautiful this year.  This might be due to my memories of Henry at the same age, when he pulled the Christmas tree over three separate times and the lights, garland and ornaments were all haphazardly placed by the time Christmas Day arrived.

For this reason, I purposely kept the bottom six inches of the tree undecorated.  And do you know what?  He never went near the tree.  It was if it didn't exist.  Eventually, I coaxed him to look at it and then he did swat at a few ornaments but it was pretty harmless.  You never know.

I also waited to put presents under the tree, thinking he'd tear the paper or ribbons off but he left those alone as well.  All of the older boys, but Seth especially, were eager to see their names on tags under the tree and I started putting them under as fast as I could wrap them a couple of days before Christmas.  This year, as in years past, my goal was to not overdo it.  It is hard enough to keep Christ's birth as the focus of the holiday and I worry as good as my intentions are, they all end up spoiled year after year.  By the time I had all of the gifts wrapped and under the tree, in addition to the gifts from their grandparents, aunts and to each other, I knew I had failed again.  They loved it, of course, but the piles and piles were a bit obscene to me.

Still, Christmas time is the one time a year I will change decorations in the home and the boys know by that effort alone that it is a special and unique event.  I have an affinity for nativity scenes and have five set up around the house.  I'd like to get more.  To me, it helps balance all of those glittery boxes under the tree. This one is in my front entrance and is the biggest and glitziest by far.  It was given to me by my mother and is just a painted ceramic from Costco, I believe.  I still like it and enjoy its size and splendor.  The boys like looking at it as well.  I also have a single piece creche scene from Israel, a painted clay Mary, Joseph, Jesus structure, a blown glass nativity from Myanmar and a cute spanish nativity given to me by some visiting teachers years ago.  No santas, frostys or rudolphs, although I am not philosophically opposed to them.  I enjoy those stories and songs but choose to surround myself with religious and sacred symbols of Christmas to keep me grounded to the reason for the season.



I almost have 24 Christmas books now.  I have been building my collection and hope to have a book for each day in December to read...a literary advent, if you will.



I know I could do more with this big mantel but I like the reminder of peace and the pregnant Mary and Joseph on a donkey on the left side.




My mom gave me an early Christmas gift and we enjoyed this beautiful quilt all of December.  The red fabric is my favorite as its pattern is red with black music.  It is a nice addition to our holiday decor.


Our boys have never woken earlier than any normal day on Christmas.  I'm not complaining but I do think it a little interesting that they go to bed threatening to wake up at 2 am and then...sleep right through all of that internal excitement.  Henry was the first up and after letting him and Daniel explore their stockings for a bit, we eventually sent Henry upstairs to wake up the other two.  Maureen was there to catch all of the excitement and everyone seemed thrilled with what Santa left them.  Well...Daniel was more interested in Henry's hippity hop than his bee toy, but that's to be expected.

In addition to the hippity hop, Henry also got a globe.  Santa has learned that toys with small parts tend to get lost that very day.  It's much easier to keep track of two relatively large orbits instead.

Sam, got two more sets of college helmets for his collection.  I've never seen a boy more able to play by himself with imaginary brackets.  He sets the helmets up in rows and in groups of twos and then, methodically, moves helmets forwards if that team "wins" eventually crowning a championship helmet.  It's fascinating to watch.

Henry might have also been equally excited to play with Daniel's bee.  I have noticed Henry loves Daniel's toys.  He is a very emotionally young 6 almost 7 year old.

This was Seth's Santa list this year.  Very organized, don't you think?  He makes me laugh.

Santa did bring him one item on his lengthy list.  A Kevin Durant jersey, who is his absolute favorite player.

Daniel didn't really understand why there were all these new toys but he didn't seem to mind too much. He got this very ego affirming dog from Grandpa and Grandma J.  My favorite line, "You're wonderful!"

Maureen likes her hair products from Sarah, who always spoils everyone.

My mom made BYU pillowcases for all of the boys and included an age appropriate book.  Sweet!

The family got an X-box.  I hesitated to get another gaming system as we have a Wii but it is 5 years old and kind of tempermental.  Besides, the boys prefer the sport games (Madden, NBA2K, FIFA) and the Wii just doesn't do those games very well.  We got one with a Kinect sensor and I got myself Just Dance 4.  It makes you sweat!

Seth's brother's spoiled him by getting him more elite socks, a compression tank (I am not a fan of tanks on boys but I guess those sleeves affect pure shooting?) and he put together this over-the-door hoop from Santa and played all. day. long.

Easy to please Sam still playing with his helmets.  He also got a Lionel Messi jersey.

Henry couldn't wait to play with his new bath toy from Daniel.  Seriously, I think this $4.00 toy was the most fun he had all day.

He just likes to take baths with his brother.  It's way more fun to have someone else in there than to be in the big bathtub by himself.

Everyone got lots more stuff - books, BYU gear, games.  As much as the boys enjoyed opening up gifts, they each got the most excited when one of their brothers was opening up a personal gift.  There was quite a mess afterward.  Last year, my dad was around and I could barely give him boxes and wrapping paper fast enough to clean up.  This year, the room looked like this for quite a while.

Because I splurged and got him a new suit for our anniversary, I only got Jay the book No Easy Day and the game, "Pandemic" for Christmas.  I know it's not a competition but he definitely outdid my meager effort.  The first gift I opened from him were pictures and a poem from him and the boys.  Jay has always had a knack for lyrics/poetry (that is how he proposed - by singing an original song for me) and he came through with a real gem this year.

Twas the night before fair
And all through the farm
Cowboys were sleepin'
All nice and warm

Out in the barn were steers happy and fat
Chewing their cud and gross things like that
While Dad in his bed couldn't fall off to sleep
So excited for the show; all he could do was think

Did we ffed enough, brush enough, give the right hay?
Tomorrow we'll know what the judges will say
While Ma in her pj's slept peaceful and sound
Dreaming of trips, cars and jewels around

Her head was not full of different feeding rations
No, we know that she has different passions
But there in the morning, she wakes up a grinnin' 
"No matter what place, I know our boys are winnin'"

Four legs and a tail, a hide full of leather
Walking and feeding in all kinds of weather
Are not the dreams of our princess so dear
But she never complains and always has "cowboy cheer"

Manure is not really high on her list
And halters and show sticks would not be long missed
A barn for some cattle was not her first choice
But she put herself aside, to think of her boys

We know that the "show" is not what you do
And 4-H may not be ideal for you
But deep down inside it brings me such pleasure
Our boys will learn lessons that they too will treasure

Plus, looking at sires just gives me a gleem
So thank you for letting me live out my dream
Someday you may wonder what the fuss was about
But you'll also be sure if a steer is "soggy" or "stout"

Jewels are easy to buy in the store
But we wanted to give you a little bit more
So with this nice necklace to our princess we say
To the best steer mom ever,
Merry Christmas, today!

I then opened up a jewelry box and found this!  Wow.  Words can not express. I have a cow...hanging at my throat.  A dream come true.

Jay quickly explained that the box I was to open next didn't arrive on time and that this was more of a joke than a real gift.  A couple of days later, I opened this:

A beautiful mother's necklace with my boys' birthstones.  It's interesting because Sam and Henry are both January and the color of garnets are not the same.  It doesn't bother me, though, because they are not the same. I like the difference.

I much prefer this charm dangling off my neck.  It really is lovely.

I loved Christmas and don't want to sound ungrateful or unhappy but there was sadness later in the day that shadowed over everything.  I don't know if it's an emotional letdown after so much preparation and anticipation or something more sinister and troubling but I felt a bit jealous.  Not of anyone's possessions or acquisitions but of everyone's seeming contentedness with their day.  As I talked to family members around the country, I felt like everyone was having a better day wherever they were or whomever they were with.  Maybe it was me missing being a child.  Or missing family.  Maybe it is the guilt from never making fudge, sugar cookies or gingerbread houses with my kids or not having annual ornaments or going caroling.  There are so many good things to spend time doing and we didn't do so many things and now it was all over and too late to make amends. I always think I'll have more energy or more ambition the next year and I never do.  I want my boys to understand charity and find the joy in generosity and giving but, this year, it was just easier for me to get all of the gifts for the family our 4-H club adopted for Christmas .  I'm not even sure they know we did it.  The thought, "They're missing the point of Christmas gifts," went through my head and then I wondered if I knew the point was of Christmas gifts.  I know.  It was quite the letdown.

I include my less than happy feelings because they were as real a part of the day as was all of the joy and fun.  I want Christmas to be meaningful and purposeful as well as memorable and wonderful.  By the sound of all those adjectives, I guess I want it to be "full."  Not just with stuff but with love. I hope it was.