A Very Earpy Christmas
By Wyatt Earp | December 26, 2008
Well, another Christmas has come and gone - and apparently, I have survived it. Of course, “surviving” Christmas with two boys and two new babies is about all you can hope for, so I guess we did okay.
We spent Christmas Eve at my brother-in-law’s house, where we had the traditional holiday meal: Chinese food. I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was damned good. The in-laws were good enough to take Kyle and Erik to Mass, while the missus and I kept Kevin and Julia home. Too many people, with too many snot-filled noses do not a happy baby make.
He didn’t know it yet, but Fish’s present came at 5pm. Cutting it close, but UPS delivered. I was pretty proud of myself this year. Fish desperately needed new skates, and I think these fit the bill.
We got the kids home by 8pm, and immediately shuffled them off to bed. Since Kyle and Erik share a room - for now - they stayed up talking until almost 9pm. It was irritating, but at least they’d sleep in on Christmas, right?
Wrong.
Kyle was up by 0630, and was told that he could not leave his room until 7am. That’s the rule every year, and it is unflinchingly rigid. At exactly 7am, he work Erik and they came bounding into our room. After the missus and I woke up, we woke Kevin and Julia and made our way to the danger zone - the Christmas tree.
What happened next was a foggy haze of ripped wrapping paper and shouts of, “Oh yeah!” I would have a better recollection, but I think the missus and I slept through most of it. Amongst the kids’ favorites this year were their hockey jerseys - Kyle got the Florida Panthers and Erik got the Phoenix Coyotes - and their Playmobil sets. Kyle got the Playmobil soccer stadium and Erik got the Playmobil police station.
When they finished destroying the living room, the wife and I had about an hour before our next task - surviving my mom and sister. They came over at about 0930, and brought with them the Nintendo Wii.
Ya know, I’ve never really seen my children jump up and down while dancing and yelling, “It’s a Wii! It’s a Wii!” but it was nice to see, anyway.
When they left, I spent the next few hours putting together every item Santa didn’t have time to complete beforehand. My pace was quick, and I had a lot of help - in the form of questions like, “Are you done yet, Dad?,” from the boys while they played Wii Sports. The second I finished my production assignments, I figured I could get a few winks before going to the in-laws’ for dinner. I went upstairs, told the wife to “hold my calls,” and . . . heard Kevin crying in his bedroom.
Dammit. No sleep for me.
When I got Kevin squared away it was time to get ready for Christmas dinner. I showered, shaved, and got dressed up with my Looney Tunes Christmas tie. We packed the clan into the Family Truckster for the ride to grandma’s house. We met my mom and sister there, since they didn’t have dinner plans. We had a terrific time, but nothing could beat my mother-in-law’s lasagna. I had two guilt-free helpings. I can burn it off later, but it is too good to pass up.
The highlight of the evening was a gift my in-laws’ found online: a Wyatt Earp Gun/Knife collectible set. Personally, I thought it was awesome:
All in all, it was a pretty good day.
Oh, and for all of you folks who think I am the same cad at home as I am on the blog, I wanted to brag about my gift to the missus. Nothing says, “Thank you for four healthy kids - and our first girl” like diamond earrings!
So, did you guys get anything good this year?
Topics: All About Wyatt, The Boys, The Girl |
December 26th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
My children got giant sticker books, beautiful Christmas outfits, a couple of games, and some wonderful books.
They also got a great Christmas dinner made by their mom.
I asked Bethany (age 3) what Christmas was about.
“Giving, sharing, and love.”
I asked her if she knew why hoping for a remembrance of Jesus and her response?
“So we can get presents!”
December 26th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
So glad you all had a wonderful day!
Can’t go wrong with lots of love and sharing, to and from the family.
December 26th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Kim - Did you get a new band castrator? Heh. I’m watching the Dirty Jobs marathon on Discovery and they showed that. Nice.
RT - And lasagna. Don’t forget the lasagna!
December 27th, 2008 at 2:03 am
My wife bought me one of the Evil Black Rifles. I also got a Mosin Nagant.
December 27th, 2008 at 5:20 am
We had 26 people over (I am from a BIG) family. There were 4 babies all of them cute, but the one and half year old had a melt down and had to leave early. My granddaughter (3 months old) was a perfect lady and the belle of the ball. I got a whopping big gift certificate from Borders (I love to read) and a hiking stick. Now if it would just quit raining for a nanosecond, I’m off to Mammoth Cave to try it out.
December 27th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Husband and I were actually up before the kids! Everybody got what the wanted: Husband got a nifty Braun shaver, Son got the video game he asked Santa for, and Daughter had a very Barbie Christmas.
A nice, quiet Christmas, just the four of us.
December 27th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I got a bulova watch, a diamond and emerald bracelet, and my favorite…a life-sized zombie prop.
December 27th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I got a 7 and a half pound poop maker. He came a couple weeks before Christmas, but it was the perfect gift from my wife.
December 27th, 2008 at 11:02 am
My Christmas was beautiful, but then different than yours in many respects - we are so old. Yours was wonderful to read about, thanks for the pictures. Happy New Year!
December 27th, 2008 at 11:35 am
We got pinkeye, ear infections and snot noses over here.
Well, the kids did at least. I’ve just got a lingering cold, because I am not rubbing my face incessantly and haven’t had an ear infection since I was four…
Sgt. Bones didn’t get anything. Presents or illnesses! He won’t pick a gift and he never catches ANYTHING.
Glad you had a good holiday there ^_^ Best wishes for a fabulous New Year!
December 27th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Like your gun/knife set,looks great,and a very nice personal gift, for the lady in your life. We had a quiet Christmas,good food,and a nice visit from our daughter and son-in law, and their yr. old French-Mastiff ( Beau). Have a Happy New Year.
December 28th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Rick - Mmm . . . evil . . .
Ky person - I got a GC to Barnes & Noble. Was ecstatic, because I only have three books in the “To Read” pile. Need some more.
GroovyVic - I wanted a Very barbie Christmas . . . starring Barbi Benton.
DL474 - I’m not gonna ask what you use that for!
Marvin - Congratulations, sir!!!
Earl - And to you and yours, sir!
Dorkelina - And to you, dear! Get healthy soon!
Diller - Quiet Christmas. I should be able to enjoy one of those in about, oh, 25 years.