Christmas: Part 2 of 2

This year's Hamilton Family Christmas felt a lot like the Christmases I remember when I was growing up. The last decade or so has been very mellow when it comes to gift-giving with my family. With eight hard-working adult siblings and a set of parents who want nothing more than for us to give to people who really need it, the pile of presents under the tree has gotten skimpy. This isn't to say that Christmas is all about presents or that the time we spend together during the holidays isn't fun. But now with growing nieces and nephews, I was reminded this December of what it felt like to be a kid at Christmas.

One of the things we were pretty good at was planning every minute of the weekend so that no one got too bored. We spent one freezing night looking at lights in the park two blocks from my parents' house. I don't think Canon knew what to do.

During the day, we spent as much time as possible outside, though the weather kept us in and out in shifts. Barry joined us on Christmas Eve, and the real fun began. If there was ever a lull in the events of the day, Barry was there to wrestle, spin, or tackle any child in sight.

After a Christmas Eve service at church and a trip around some of the shadier areas of town to view some Christmas lights, we made it back to the house for dinner. Of course, we couldn't end the night without first making cookies for Santa. Amelia and Kaden were definitely the most productive cookie makers. Canon showed absolutely no interest, and Ceil's energy was focused on sneaking spoonfuls of icing to eat. By the end of the night, I'd say Santa was able to get his sugar-fix at our house.

Because my little brother's family recently moved to Kentucky, and his work schedule did not afford them the time to travel to and from Greenville, we made the most of their absence on Skype. They "called" us Christmas Eve night, and we were all able to see and talk to the Robert Hamilton's during their family Christmas. It kind of felt like one of those holiday commercials where long-distance families chat through the computer. Technology truly is amazing!

Christmas morning was as exciting as I remember it as a child. Just like when I was a little girl, I was the first person awake, or at least out of bed. Kaden, in the room next door, was the perfect little boy as he sat in his bed talking to himself until someone came to get him. To relive some childhood moments, I got up and went to wake up my big brother on Christmas morning. He was as happy as I remember him being back then! Once the present-opening began, I remembered that I was a parent, not a participant. Canon was only interested in the presents that other people were opening and spent the first part of the morning fussing - quite obnoxiously - about wanting to take his cousins' toys. At one point, we had Ceil open his presents for him in the hopes that he would try to steal his own gifts.

We eventually got him to enjoy some of his own things. This is a Rody that MyGoo and doc gave him. He had more fun falling off of it than bouncing on it!

By the end of the weekend, everyone was friends again, and the parents were more relaxed. This is a typical scene during dinner time. While the adults ate at the dining room table, the kids watched various Christmas movies in the den. Don't worry . . . Amelia was in charge. She's a very responsible six-year-old.

Merry Christmas!