'is Christmas over yet??'

The above title is quoted, from only moments ago, from a friend of mine. I could have been the one saying it. I will say, thank goodness, christmas is only one day!
There is no way I can type this and not make it sound dreay, however I will try.
Actually, this christmas was alot better than previous christmases. Caleb was here for the morning this year. Alternate years he spends the morning with his dad. Caleb was up at 5.20 this morning! He went to the clock in the kitchen to see what the time was - because I complained, and for some reason he thought he would be justified if he told me the time. Walking past the kitchen, he fails to even notice the presents under the tree. I ask him, 'has santa been?' Caleb has no idea. again he runs off (cuz Caleb runs everywhere- true)and on site of the mountain of goodies, he yells madly. and he starts bringing presents into me. It is time to get up. I try to put it off as long as possible, but my mum remains fixed to her bed and she is quite happy to remain there. So, the crazy present opening frenzy begins. Paper and packaging abounds.

Flashback: the night before I spent hours readying everything for the morning. I had to wait till at least 9.30, because Caleb would not sleep. I wrap, I stick. I search for all the presents I have hidden around the house. I have to be creative with hiding spots. My car. In fact the present I left in my car is still there. Caleb is an only child, therefore I am allowed to spoil him. Well, that is my excuse anyway. I wonder what I will say when he is a teenager.
During my exciting time wrapping presents, I get distracted by the internet - as usual. but now I get drawn into watching some silly indi movie about a teenager who is discovering he is gay. He rebells, but then he flows with his confusing adolescent feelings and ends up doing it with the guy he initially beat up for being gay. Yes, it is on SBS, and yes it is foreign, and you are right, it is not very christmasy. I never see the end(whether his parents accept him), and I hate when that happens. it will now haunt me for all time, because you never know what will happen in these foreign films.

Morning time. Caleb wants me to open all the packaging of every toy he gets. And this is a slow process. Anyone who has children will understand this. I am boring myself.
This year we got the Wii. Yay! I like it. and there is other stuff, but the Wii is the best.
Caleb does not want food, he is heady with the thrill of new stuff! There is no time to eat.
We rush, rush, rush over to my brothers and his brood - my nieces and his wonderful patient wife - and my friend, who I never get to really talk to these days.
Presents galore - and partly crying, and sometimes smiling, but always sweet, little nieces enjoying the glories of christmas, and despairing of ever being able to play with the exact toy they want to play with.(the hardship of having siblings)
Caleb gets the coolest present I have ever seen or heard of. and I can't even mention it, cuz no one is meant to know about this thing.
Once we spoil their neat and tidy house, we leave - in fact we speed off! We have the goods - HaHa.
We have to get back to the Mother! and for lunch. Yay! we are eating prawns, the only thing Caleb eats all day - unless his dad manages to get food in his mouth. yeah, good luck to you.
Despite Caleb's not wanting food, he does have a good day, and that is what makes my day.
Lunch is fantastic. The red always helps! and especially if you don't need to drive anywhere, and you don't have a child later on in the day.
Later Caleb is whisked away, by you know who, and even the Mother goes out. Aaarh. Peace for a time. I also get to mess around on the Wii without any interference.
And I'm not even going to start about the reasons why christmas and I don't get along. Just to say, christmas and I have difficulties, yet we get on, and we find a happy compromise. We lower our expectations, and show respect for each other.
Christmas, you big merry Christmas, you.




btw, the tree is up there, because the dogs were eating it and the decorations. There was a great fear they would bury themselves under the toppled tree - not that they would care. They would just eat themselves free.