7:30 Christmas Morning

I'm awake. I intended to sleep in but my bladder had other plans and then my brain decided to agree. So I'm at my computer with the lights of the Christmas tree shining in the corner. I've spent Christmas without my family before but I'm feeling a little extra moody (sad really) and poor Branden has had to deal with me. When I was home, this was about the time that we'd finish opening gifts.

My parents never let us open anything the night before- something that Branden and I disagree about for our family. Christmas Eve was reserved for a dinner together and watching George C. Scott in A Christmas Carol. I remember begging to be allowed to open "Just one gift" but my parents always held their ground.

We were under strict orders not to wake our parents before 6 AM Christmas morning. I know we didn't always all cram into the same room to sleep- sometimes we did- but it seems that we always woke very early Christmas morning and ended up in the same room feeding off each others' excitement. At 6:00 on the dot the oldest child would go to wake Mom and Dad while the rest of us wrapped ourselves in blankets and lined up in age order. We had to wait for Dad to turn on the Christmas tree lights and he never failed to tell us that we should just go back to bed because Santa didn't come. Of course, Santa never actually forgot us.

After we'd seen our Santa gifts and our stockings had been explored, Dad began handing out gifts one at a time and we waited for each to be opened and shown off before the next was unwrapped. I loved to see my siblings open the gifts I'd so carefully selected for them. I feel the waiting and watching helped make things more about the giving than the getting. We didn't just rip into things, we took the time to appreciate the work that went into each gift and had the chance to talk and laugh in the meantime. That time also sparked some long-standing family jokes. (It's a... SWEATER!)

When every gift was out from under the tree the real mess began. Toys were removed from boxes and little parts and pieces were scattered around the living room. Despite Mom's instructions not to eat any candy before breakfast, chocolate made it into almost every mouth and wrappers scattered about with the toys. This was our time for chaos: when everyone wanted to look at and show off everything in the room. And then it was time for breakfast.

When we were young, Allan had a book called Daddy Makes the Best Spaghetti. Well, I disagree, Daddy makes the best breakfast! Eggs and bacon and fried potatoes and hot chocolate- actually, the hot chocolate was Mom's contribution- and all the best breakfast items made just for us on Christmas morning. Don't get me wrong, he made breakfast many other days of the year as well but Christmas... It was the one meal we were sure to eat. Our stockings were filled with candy,microwave popcorn, beef jerky, cans of olives and packets of nuts. (I STILL want those things in my stocking.) With all that to eat, we didn't necessarily have another full meal that day. Oh, my mom tried to get us to eat something else but let's just say it's a good thing breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

We spent the day watching new movies and playing new games. Maybe we'd go sledding on brand new sleds or just go outside and play in the snow. Maybe we'd even go out to a movie or go visit a sibling who'd celebrated Christmas morning with their own family. The rest of the day was a blur of candy and fun with a nap or two thrown in for good measure.

7:30 AM was my true Christmas Day. After the gifts were unwrapped but before we had scattered to whatever activities we were going to do that day. When everyone was happy and there was a kind of peaceful chaos. I am hoping to have that again one day with my very own family. In the mean time, I hope you and yours enjoy your own 7:30 Christmas Morning feeling no matter what time of the day it arrives. Merry Christmas!