Christmas and the aftermath

Jeff and I awoke at 5:30 to be certain that we arrived as the children awakened, so they did not have to wait to start the Christmas. We ended up not getting over there until 7:00.  We figured that the boys would have been up at the very least a half an hour waiting for us.  When we got there Diz had not awakened...miracles really do happen.  We were greeting by a pajamed Bean wishing us Merry Christmas.  I let the dogs out, Jeff settled in and just a few minutes later Diz awoke.  We brought over several cups of coffee for Jeff as the kids haven't a coffee pot and Jeff is hardly human without a constant infusion of caffeine. Bean read name tags and Diz passed them out.  We then took turns opening gifts with everyone watching one another and taking time to really enjoy each gift.  Then about noon Neil and Charissa put on some breakfast rolls. We continued enjoying one an other's gifts, and eventually after breakfast Diz went down for his nap.  I was stunned.  Bean got to open the rest of his gifts as did Neil and Rissy.  It was just nice.  

After Diz awakened he opened the rest of his gifts and saved the biggest for last.  Odd for a three year old I thought.  When he did open it he declared "I asked Santa for him"! It was a mechanical Triceratops.  Charissa hoped that her second child would be in to something OTHER than dinosaurs, but with Beans influence he didn't stand a chance!  

Bean was so taken by these Cube World things we got him that we were pleasantly surprised.

I loved watching Rissy watch Neil open her favorite gift to him, a pair of Nike tennis shoes and shirt that he can design himself.  How cool is that!

I liked watching Rissy open her "Kalika" bracelet from Hawaii.  We just knew it would be a hit.  She is so gracious!

Neil was excited about the snowboarding package we gave them for Christmas.

Jeff was excited for his Nitrox class.  This will allow him to be under water for much longer.

As for me, I was delighted with all my gifts, but grateful that I felt better emotionally than yesterday.  Amazing what 6 hours sleep with only 3 night sweats will do for your psyche.  I loved watching the children...all four of them.

Charissa and Neil prepared a lovely Christmas Dinner with ham, potatoes, rolls, pasta for she and I, two kinds of Jell-o, one especially for her Dad.  Neil was too nauseous to eat anything, and while we felt bad for him it didn't stop the rest of us devouring dinner. 

Throughout the day we had phone visits with Amy, Vickie,and Dad.  We gave Amy her gift verbally.  She has wanted an Alaskan Cruise for years and years.  We are arranging that this year for her.

We went home that night and fell in to bed with the Christmas glow embedded in our thoughts.  I thought about how truly blessed we are, a nice way to fall asleep!