Confession Number 69: The Tale of Two Christmases

Christmas, for us, is a whirlwind time with family that we don't get to see often enough.  Some years we have  spent more time on the road than we do actually relaxing around the Christmas tree, but we love every minute of it.  The last few years we have settled into a Christmas routine that, for right now, is working for everyone involved.  We leave on the 23rd to travel to see my sisters in Enid.  My mom comes up on the 24th.  After opening presents on Christmas morning we drive to Texas to see Dustin's folks and spend Christmas evening, again, opening presents.  The drive is a bit long, but as long as there isn't a snow and ice storm that gets in our way, it is a welcome break between the sessions of tearing open gifts and allows KJ (and whoever is the privileged passenger) to take a much needed nap. 

The two experiences couldn't be further apart from each other in how they are handled and it is really quite nice that they each have their traditions and nuances.  On my side, Kennedy is the 8th of 9 grandchildren for my mom.  We don't see all of them each year, and their ages range from 17 to 3, but anytime you get a group of kids together you are going to have a bit of chaos.....

Kennedy is the only grandchild on Dustin's side (for a few more months) so, there, things are a tad calmer....

Because of it being Christmas morning and the arrival of Santa, things are off to an early start in Enid....

I have to say, this year wasn't so bad.  It was a little after 7:30 when everyone woke up for good.  Notice our nephew, Justus, sleeping in the chair in the background.  I think he moved in to check his loot around 2 am.  In years past the kids (our nieces and nephews) would wake us up in the 6ish range.  I have a feeling those years are in our near future with Miss Kennedy. 

The Matthews celebration happens much later in the evening, after a yummy Mexican dinner.  Usually with the sights and sounds of a football game in the background...

With so many kids, once we start opening presents, the wrapping paper starts flying and parents are doing well to know what their kids received until they start yelling that something isn't being packed up for the trip home.  Thank yous are yelled out across the room and one present might not have all the tape ripped off before they start digging in to the next one.  Again, this has gotten much better in recent years, as the other kids have gotten older.  Finally, once clean up begins, Kennedy gets to play with a present or two before they are packed up and sent to the car....

Later that night is much more calm and organized.  Aunt Mallory, as Santa's helper, makes each person a stack and we take turns opening gifts and offering proper gratitude....

Needless to say, each experience is totally it's own.  And it is perfect.  Kennedy spends the first couple of days of our vacation playing hard and going fast.  She has so much to do and so many people to command around it isn't even funny.  Then the last couple of days she gets to rest, have some KJ time (which she needs) and gets the undivided attention of her Texas family.  The first is hectic and a ton of fun, the second is relaxing and restfull.  It is the perfect combination and I wouldn't change it for the world!