Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve started at the cabin in Pioneer. It was pouring rain, which sucked for packing the car and driving home. We were in the car by 10am and home by 2pm. We stopped at our house to unpack the car, then drove down to my parents’ house for Christmas Eve. We went to the two crazy blocks of lights early, right as it was it was getting dark, but there were still so many people there!
We had a lamb stew for dinner and then headed home around 7pm. The kids were pretty tired, so they were asleep by 9-10pm. I stayed up too late folding laundry and watching TV. Luckily we weren’t up until 8:30 the next morning! Woot!
Christmas Day
Christmas Day we headed to my in-laws’ house by 9:30. At this house both kids got their biggest gifts, the 11yo got a PS5 and the 14yo got Tyler the Creator tickets. The 11yo was so overwhelmed he just stood up and walked away for several seconds. The 14yo actually cried.
We finished opening gifts at the IL’s, then I went for a very short (very awful) run, where I at least ran into my good friend from the dojo, which made it feel worth it. We had homemade pizza for lunch, then we headed back to our house to shower (me) and set up the PS5 (husband, and then me and husband, because we had to reorganize and rewire the whole TV stand). We were at my parents’ house by 3:30 and the kids were opening presents by 3:45. We also got my parents a few things and they got us stuff.
I got my parents tickets to see a live reading of Airplane and a discussion with Albert Brooks at SF SketchFest (both in mid-January), plus an orchid LEGO set for my mom (from the 14yo) and a Warriors bobble head for my dad (from the 11yo).
They got me a Whirlipop popcorn pot (mine is a mess) and a bidet toilet seat (which took me ALL DAY to install today, like SEVEN HOURS).
After presents, we watched Red One, because we don’t have Prime Streaming anymore (but my parents do) and it’s the kind of movie my parents enjoy. And they did! And so did pretty much everyone else, so it was a good choice.
We went back home after the movie and found that our internet was not working great and none of the games had downloaded on the PS5. This was a big disappointment for the males on our family. But we made it to bed and the big day was officially over.
It sounds like a nice Christmas! I love that the kids loved their gifts so much. Unlike a certain member of my family, but let’s not get into that…
I wonder what it would be like to always have people outside your house gawking at your lights??? I mean, I guess they like that or they wouldn’t put them up.
I hope the games have downloaded to the PS5!!!!!
Man, I don’t know what I’d do if my kids were so unhappy with their gifts. My son has had years where he is disillusioned at the end of it, because presents were a BIG thing for him for a long time, but he never outwardly expressed disappointment in his actual gifts. He was just a little jerk for several days. ;D As for the house with the lights, it’s two blocks that are so crazy decorated every year that people come from all over the Bay Area. It just happens to be near where my parents live (and where I work). It’s crazy, and we go every year.
Sounds like a lovely holiday and happy children. Joy to you all.
And joy to you and yours. I hope you’re having a nice holiday with your family.