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Christmas Comes Early

Posted on December 23, 2008 by auburnchick

We have a tradition in the AuburnChick household.  Because we’re away on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (in fact, most of the Christmas holiday), we always make sure we spend one evening together as a family.  This is the night when we open our presents to one another…just the four of us.

Tonight was the night since we’ll be leaving early in the morning.

The tree beforehand:

I think we did a good job on the kids’ gifts.  They seemed to be happy.  Rooster got a shirt from Soccer Chick, a football, a PSP game, and a set of the most humongous drum sticks I’ve ever seen.

Chicky got an iPod adapter for the car (from brother), a Kohl’s gift card (she already went out and spent it on a really big collage picture frame), THE boots she HAD to have, and the devotion book A Call to Die:

The kids gave the Mr. the movie The Dark Knight (sickly Rooster and I are watching it right now), and a shirt.

Here’s what I got:

Mr. AuburnChick gave me an I.O.U. for an electronic row counter (KP) and the book 1776.  I love history books!  Soccer Chick gave me the C.S. Lewis book Mere Christianity and an insulated cup (it was from the Christian bookstore too).  Rooster gave me the pink skin that’s on my phone (you can barely see it in the picture above).

Oh, and we gave the kids the game “Urban Myth.”  Rooster and I played a round, and it’s a hoot!  He said that he likes it because he’s learning things as he plays…

An all-around good evening.  Now, if only Rooster would start feeling better.  After we opened presents, he was feeling rather poorly again, so I checked his temperature:  102.6.  Not good.

I’m hoping that the Lord, along with my tender loving care, will bring him back good health in time to really enjoy the holiday.

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Christmas Memory #23

Posted on December 23, 2008 by auburnchick

I love watching the expressions on the faces of those I love as they open their gifts.

When Soccer Chick was in the 7th grade, she begged for a cell phone.  Yeah, I know…kind of young…but she was starting to need one because of after-school activities and what-not.  So, after much thought, the Mr. and I decided that this would be her main gift.  We had been telling her no for so long that she didn’t suspect a thing.

I was psyched!  At the time, I worked at my local sheriff’s office.  The sheriff is a very kind man, so I asked him if he would mind leaving Chick a voicemail from “Santa.”  The sheriff’s deep voice was perfect for this.  He took the new phone into his office and closed the door, leaving me outside to wait.  He reappeared a few minutes later with a big smile on his face, handing the phone back.

A brief explanation of how Christmas works in the AuburnChick home.  Every year, we go to the Mr.’s parents’ home for the holidays.  We do our own private family Christmas either right before we leave or the day we get home, depending on how long we’re gone.  Santa always visits Grandmama and Granddaddy’s house, though.  He brings the main gifts, which are left unwrapped under the tree.  The kids are not allowed to go downstairs to see the tree until everyone is up.  I, as Grand Mom for the day, lead the way, camera in hand to capture the Moment.

Ok, so back to my story…

Christmas morning came, and the kids walked downstairs.  Soccer Chick’s eyes widened as she saw the phone.  I believe she asked if it was real.  We told her to see if it would power up.  It did.

She was surprised to see she had a voicemail.  She played it in front of everyone.  Santa had left a personalized message, explaining that she had been a good girl, and he hoped she liked the phone.  I can’t remember the rest of the message, but it made her day and gave us all a good laugh.

To this day, when she asks who left the message, I simply say, “Santa” with a smile on my face.

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