Xmas '13 - Dancin' Around the Tree

And to all, a Good Night!

Do you hear what I hear?

 

I woke in the middle of the night. I'm thinking that it was somewhere close to 4am. I had to pee and was really thirsty. Still feeling at bit of angst, i decided to get up and head downstairs for a while. While there, I fetched all of Mindy's gift's and placed them in close proximity to the Xmas tree and just to the left of Bella's pile. I took a couple photos too. Still not sleepy, I headed to my computer where I did some wiring in my blog. Come 540am, I was finally sleepy enough that I thought I could go right to sleep again. I headed back upstairs and crawled into bed.

This time I slept until 8am. I was still the first one up. Downstairs, I started a pot of Starbucks. Decided to skip calisthenics. I planned to run, of course, but probably not until after gift opening. Mindy was up and downstairs around 830am, and my mom not too long after that. Mindy opened the front door and soon dad was there. He must've been parked just down the street waiting for a sign that we were indeed up. :)

The kids slept in until 9-930am. Before that, we sat around enjoying coffee and chit-chat. Mindy put both breakfast casseroles in the oven - strada and French toast. They needed to bake for at least 45 minutes. Once the kids joined us downstairs, the gift opening ceremonies began. The kids opened their gifts simultaneously. Jacob opened all of his in a hurry. By far, Bella's gifts were of more substance and size, but Mindy went to great lengths to make it look even both by size and numbers. After all, one can wrap a gift card in an enormous box if one chooses. :)
Jacob got phone accessories, a basketball, and gift cards. Bella got a couple American Girl Doll accessories, a new sled, a North Face jacket, and some clothes.

Mom & Dad went next. Santa got them both chocolates and gift cards/cash. Next up .... me. Mindy insisted. She'd already bought me the drum box way back in October. She's also bought me a new ski jacket which she wrapped. Other than that, I had no idea. Got some new PJs and socks, a yoga mat and a gift certificate for 5 sessions at Grow Yoga. I also got a 4-pack of Elf pint glasses along with a ten-pack of mini Jack Daniels bottles. There might've been a couple other things, too.

Mindy was last but not least. She made out. I made sure of that. From the kids, she got a custom photo calendar and Bear Paw boots (think Ugg). In addition, she got another Pandora bracelet with four or five charms, a robe and slippers, a couple Victoria Secret "sexies" as my mom calls them, and then two photo albums stuffed full of 400 photos from 2013. Lastly, she got matching ski and boot bags.

How many times have you heard a parent say they could've simply got their kid and empty box? Well, soon after Mindy opened the large box containing her ski luggage, Bella climbed into the box to play. The breakfast casseroles were finally ready. I had a small sliver of the strada ahead of my run. I headed out for a run around 1030am. It was pretty cold - only 19 degrees under partly cloudy skies. The roads were completely dry - clear. I ran only three miles but for some reason, the run was tough. I think it was strada. Aside from an occasional half banana, I don't typically eat anything ahead of a run. Or, maybe it was the drinking each night for the last 5 or 6. Either way, it took all the energy that I could muster.

Back at the house near 11am, I could finally enjoy some of both breakfast casseroles aplenty. I had a full slice of each as well as more coffee. Despite Mindy's insistence, both Mom & Dad declined the invite to join us at Gloria's place. Instead, they planned a visit to a few cemeteries visiting dead relatives. Dad's said many times, there he can sing Xmas carols at the top of his lungs without fear of critique. Mindy shared that we were expected around 1230pm, but it was already noon, there wasn't any way we'd be leaving any sooner than about 115pm.

While Mindy was in the shower, nephew Joe and Rick stopped by. They hung with us for about an hour. I headed off for a shower around 1245pm. Mom & Dad left shortly before we pulled out for Gloria's place. Made sure Dad knew we had the security system set so he could get Mom in the house later that afternoon. Again, we offered that he could drop her off at Gloria's but she said likely not. She and Gloria have never met. Not sure why Mom's being so shy.

With us in the Pilot, we had the pug. And in tow, we had a cooler with ice, soda, two plastic cups, a flask of Jack & Capt. Morgan. Oh, we also took along a cheese & veggie tray, as well as an assortment of Xmas cookies. I really wanted to make some balls - risotto or sauerkraut, but simply ran out of time and desire. Arrived near 130pm. As usual, I walked the pug out front before heading inside. She didn't disappoint. She took a dump before we headed in. It must be the smell of strange dogs that excites her sphincter.

Xmas greetings to all. The best way to spread Xmas cheer is to singing loud for all to hear. I was definitely feelin' the Xmas spirit, though I was a tad worried I smelt of beef & cheese. Thankfully, that awkward feelin' quickly abated after pouring a festive Jack & Coke. Yum!

Once all the family members arrive, a standing Thompson Xmas tradition is to stand hand in hand around the Xmas tree, and then, once Gloria slips on some of Bing's best, and dance triumphantly around the tree until near exhaustion. Fun-fun! Then, after dancing, it's time for spiked eggnog and the reading of the night before Xmas. Once that's in the bag, it really feels like Xmas.

Snacked on appetizers through the early afternoon. The Jack & Coke did little more than make me tired. Around 4pm the gift opening ceremony began, first with the wee ones. As the Thompson grandchildren get older, their Xmas piles are shrinking. Years past, it was difficult to navigate the downstairs with piles and piles of gifts in the way. It must've been the first Xmas we shared together when we literally filled Mindy's minivan front to back with the kids' haul.

Sometimes it seems the gifting will just never end. I think it was 6pm by the time it was all said and done. Right after all that Gloria sat out more food, adding ham and lasagna to the options. Like most, I was already full from the appetizers but ate a little more anyway. I think it was 630pm when we headed upstairs to play the lottery game - nothin' says Xmas like playin' the Ohio lottery game. We had a table full, and this year we even allowed Jacob into the fray. Anyone interested in playing was responsible for bringing $5 worth of instant lottery tickets. We set the timer for 1 minute and passed the dice around the table. Doubles you take possession of the ticket in question. Once the timer expires, the person last holding the ticket keeps it. Must've been at least 12 of us playing. It gets loud and exciting. Certainly a good activity after the sedentary feeding. :) I managed to snag four tickets. And after rubbing off the tickets, I'd won $19. Hooray!! I think we spent $15 between Mindy, me, and Jacob. Fun, though.

Now after 7pm, I thought we might leave for home. I was getting really tired. Nope! Time for dessert and then pictures. Jacob and I carried most of our stuff to the Pilot before dessert. Soon after dessert, Mindy declared that we were leaving. Gloria nixed that notion suggesting instead that it was family photo time. Hey, I understood the declaration. We'd be sorry 20-30 years from now if we didn't have the memories. We removed our coats and did the Xmas family photo shoot. Next year I'll take the tripod so we can get the entire group's photo. The past couple years we've done by divisions: kids, grand kids, boys, girls. Hey, it's Gloria's Xmas. She can call it how she wants it.

On the road for home by 805pm. Not bad. I told my mom we'd most likely be home near 8pm. I think we called that one. My mom was sitting quietly on the family room sofa watching The Bible on the History Channel when we arrived home. I'm thinking she'd been there for several hours. But hey, we offered that she come with us. Once we were settled, I poured a Xmas ale from the growler sitting out back on the deck and joined Mom watching The Bible. We called brother Glenn around 830-9pm ET. He was just putting the finishing touches on Xmas dinner, just he Stephen, and one of his pals. We passed the phone around. Talked for perhaps 20 minutes in total. We'll see Glenn in February in Tahoe.

We stayed up until 10pm. Mom peeled off for bed hoping to tune into The Bible from the guest room. She's definitely moved by the story, which is nice. I wasn't so sure that we get the H.C. via straight cable. Mindy and I headed to bed a few minutes later. After all, Thursday was another work day for me. Xmas was fun, but I was happy to put another one behind us. Good night waning Xmas moon!