Christmas gifts and reading

Christmas was good and the kids still enjoy their toys. In fact yesterday Kanga threw a birthday party for the doll she received. Tigger got TWO remote controlled cars (and they both use the same frequency so they can't be at the same time) and Angel has worn the wrap I gave her several times in the last week. I got some airsoft stuff (including a new automatic electronic gun) and while I haven't gotten out yet, I have been able to adjust my new gear and role play in the basement while everybody was asleep. Yes, I put on my camo and practiced changing mags, moving, and aiming. Dorky, I know, but I've learned that it pays to practice. I've also started reading two books that my mother got me: The Read-aloud Handbook, and Lyle's Law by Lyle Feisel. Mom told me that The Read-aloud Handbook was a big influence on her parenting. I can see it.

Mom read aloud to us a lot growing up. When I was younger I found it hard to sit still and pay attention for many of the books. I have vivid memories of two scenes from Fellowship of the Ring when she read that to us, but I know that I liked to move around and play on the floor while she read. Mom confessed that she was worried about me a couple of times and my apparent lack of commitment to reading. She stopped worrying when I discovered that you could get books about animals, planes, and guns. It was just a matter of finding my interests. She made efforts to find books that I liked and read them to me. The Belgariad and the other Eddings books were the start of many successful read alouds. Books were always a big part of our family, and still our. I'm glad that my daughter is an avid reader and I hope I can encourage my sons to the same.

Christmas Update

I apologize for missing my usual post on Monday. And then for not posting Tuesday. I will not apologize for not posting Wednesday for reasons that I hope are obvious. When I started this blog I thought in many ways that it would be akin to the weekly E-mail I get from my mother or the letter updates I get from my father. As many people are sending out Christmas cards at this time with updates of what has happened this year the thought occurred to me to do something similar on my blog. I guess the thing that makes me hesitate is that I've been posting weekly blog posts about the big events that have happened since April. As my mother's note in the Christmas card she sent us said, "You know what we've been up to." That is not all the handwritten note said.

The other thing that makes me hesitate is that my blog is completely public. Even unlike my Facebook page this has no privacy settings. I'm okay with that and willfully acknowledge the implications.

As I thought about what to post, my mind drifted to what Christmas means to me and why I enjoy it so. Having five days off of work (the weekend, a personal day, and two for the holiday) was certainly nice. Receiving some enjoyable gifts is always pleasant. Being able to watch my kids open their gifts and watch their faces and excitement. The best part was being able to be with family. Monday we spent the bulk of the day at my parents. My sister, Babe, asked if Kanga and Tigger wanted to go sledding with her and her friends. So we went down a little earlier than originally planned and had some fun. Dinner was a little later than planned, but mostly due to some question as to who was coming when. It's great fun trying to coordinate schedules, isn't it? I enjoyed chatting with my parents, playing Ogre with my brother, and doing the Christmas program that my family has done every year since 1968. It's a great reminded about the reason for Christmas and that it is just one part of Christendom.

Tuesday was Angel's family's Christmas party and again, we chatted played games, and enjoyed family. I consider myself very blessed to get along with my in-laws and enjoy their company as much as my own family. I get a find of trill watching Angel and her sisters open their gifts from Grandma Nae as Nae has very good taste and a good eye for size and style. This year they got very fuzzy, very swanky jackets. Both Monday and Tuesday we got home well past the kids bedtime and had to carry them up to bed asleep. They handled everything pretty well, although Tigger is still struggling with his potty training.

Christmas morning, I opened by eyes to my children and wife asking if I was ready to go open presents. Normally I'm up pretty early, but for some reason I was still sound asleep when they were ready to go. Angel had done some work on the kids play room and so they got to see the changes and additions there. Like my father, I handed out gifts for the kids and Angel to open. We enjoyed ourselves until noon when we went to my Grandmother's for dinner. It was particularly nice because those that hadn't been able to come on Monday were there, so we had all of my siblings, spouses, and children there. We came home after chatting and some simple celebrations and put the kids to bed early (since they were up late the two nights before). Angel and I played some games with her Leeroy and his wife (online) and then called it a night since I had to come into work today.

All in all, we saw lots of family in just the right doses and in just the right settings to have a lot of fun. I do feel truly blessed to have the family that I do.