Christmas 2015
Merry Christmas!
This morning started by us getting up late: 7:30. Xavier slept in, and really did not want to get up. We planned on going to church to worship the reason this great event of Christmas Day commemorates, so Xavier needed to have some running around time before being asked to sit still. 7:30 was as late as we dared let him sleep.
As we pulled into the garage after church, Aunt Chelle pulled up in the street. She brought gifts and food to further celebrate the Day. Rebecca had a feast planned and friends on their way; she even broke out the fancy China tableware and silver flatware.
On Christmas Eve, we Skyped with Rebecca's mom so she could enjoy Xavier opening the gift she sent him. It took some while to get the Skypes talking, but we did. The rest of the day, Xavier drove this and Aunt Kathy's gift all over the house.
Xavier spent many weekends while his mom was in Cheyenne using scissors and glue. He compiled a pictorial documentary of his life from the womb through his first birthday. As hinted by her expression, it deeply touched his mother's heart. Everyone gathered around to flip through the pages and remember some things nearly forgotten and to reminisce over Xavier's first year of life.
Xavier began an unpleasant habit a few weeks back: splashing bath water out of the tub. We figured if he had a new set of bath toys, it may help hold his attention and he would keep the water inside the tub. This pole uses a magnet to catch fish floating in the bubble bath.
Really having the hang of ripping paper off his gifts (he figured that out two days ago with Aunt Kathy's gift), Xavier was excited to get a new device with which to play with his Hot Wheels. Little did he know what else Grandpa Danny sent him!
There was a big squeal as soon as Mom shook the flattened tent so that it popped into shape! Xavier raced around the sofa to get to the tent, trying to crawl in even before Daddy could get it set into position.
Xavier has a strong penchant for music. Rebecca thought this toy would be fun for him. What we did not expect was this toy becoming the most prized gift of the day (at least to that point; Aunt Chelle's present still waited quietly behind the tree)
It took us nearly an hour and a half to get through Xavier's gifts. Being the only young grandson/nephew of the family, Xavier scored copious gifts this year. He wanted to play with the ones he opened while ignoring those still to get to.
I've never heard of nor seen this before: a child not ripping open a present then ravenously moving on to the next one. Feast preparations still had to be done, guests were arriving shortly, and Xavier still had gifts to open. We hurried him through the rest, almost forcing him to open his gifts so we could keep to the schedule!
At last we came to Aunt Chelle's gift, the one we thought would steal the day.
It did not disappoint (that is, until our guests arrived with small Caterpillar trucks for Xavier). We got the twenty-three feet of track set up in the basement. Now, it calls to him, and he runs over to grab a finger to pull a parent toward the basement door. "Down stairs" he asks with hopeful expectation. As soon as the door opens, he races down to play with his train and small trucks.
Merry Christmas to you all! Christ our Savior is Born!