The greatest presents EVER

I picked the kids up at around 7 Christmas Eve. We went to my uncle's house for a family gathering which, I must say, is always nice. On the way, I gave the kids a few little instructions: Take your shoes off immediately when you get in the door. Give everyone a hug and tell them Merry Christmas. Eat whatever you want, you don't have to ask, but finish it please. And make sure you tell everyone you love them before you leave. They did everything I asked and more. They make it so nice to be able to enjoy gatherings like that.

Liam wanted a drink so I went to help him, but he was already ahead of me. He got to the table with many choices and asked permission to have pineapple juice. With all the other options I couldn't complain about pineapple juice at all. "That's fine buddy, you can have whatever you want."

He grabbed a wine glass for it.

"Don't push your luck! Get a plastic cup."

He just grinned at me.



Christmas morning Alex woke me up and I asked if Santa had been there. "Yes Daddy, but he only brought very small presents."

"That's ok sweetheart. Sometimes there are fantastic things in those small packages. Go wake your brother and you can open them all."

It turned out that she had been up since 7. Looking at the time on my phone it was 8:30 and she hadn't made a peep for the past hour and a half. That in and of itself may qualify her for best daughter in the world.

She brought a groggy yet smiling Liam down the stairs who I greeted with a "Merry Christmas!" He continued to grin and both quickly moved to get me my presents before they would open their's. I got just what I had asked for, but didn't realize what I truly wanted would come after the presents were all unwrapped.

After they both opened their DS's, Liam opened his N-Strike Longshot Nerf Gun, and Alex found her tiny iPod shuffle she asked me if she could call her mom.

"Of course you can call your mom sweetheart. You know you can always call her."

Then I overheard this:

"Hello? Mommy... Merry Christmas!... Mommy, I just wanted you to know that Santa came here and he brought us a whole bunch of presents. They were all small, but they were the GREATEST PRESENTS EVER!"


I think you can see I got exactly what I wanted for Christmas

...in my two small packages. Thanks Santa.