Our Christmas day is low key compared to many. As a young child, I remember Christmas morning starting off with the frenzy of opening presents at our own home, treking up to Newburyport for a Perry family Christmas and then driving to Maine for a Wallace family Christmas all in one day. As a kid, what a great time but I would not want to be my parents getting that all accomplished and try to enjoy the holiday. I'll stick with the quieter version. Chuck is grounded home by his type of work and is exhausted and overworked by the time Christmas nears making a low key holiday another necessity. That said, there is always a price. We are unable to travel to California and give our kids that festive celebration shared with cousins and extended family. There is a pang of void shared by both Chuck and I, knowing they are missing out on that. But, we make the best of it and judging from the photos, I think they still have a magical memorable Christmas day. Our west Coast family close the distance with packages and phone calls and the gifts just don't stop, reminding us that we are part of it all dispite the miles. We have learned to embrace our own tradition of a relaxing day with no pressures, a rare gift in itself. The kids can play with the new stuff, I can serve dinner when the spirit moves, and Chuck can gear down from a crazied retail push.
Ok Mom, can't we open now?
Santa delivered a DSi for both
and games.
Jackie's a big fan of ICarly.
Zac gets a remote control car he begged for at the store.
The kids got a package that admits them to the black belt club at EFK.
Time out from opening presents to dress, eat and cuddle with last year's present.
Mimi and Papa join us for a quiet dinner.
On to round two, opening the packages from California.
Jackie and Zac look forward to spending some vacation time with their pal Rebekah.
Friendship is the best gift of all.
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