We celebrated Christmas with Jared's family the Sunday before Christmas. It was a busy weekend leading up to our Christmas celebration. Jared and I were pretty tired, but we were looking forward to a wonderful night with family.
Jared's sister, Jennifer, and her family, Adam and Sam Henry, were in Gadsden for the weekend. Last year all three cousins, Morris, Thomas, and Sam Henry, got to play together, but this year it was different. Morris is 4 and Thomas and Sam Henry are both 1. To say that Grand and Pop's house was busy is an understatement. The house was a rockin'. The boys were chasing each other in circles through the den/kitchen/living room/dining room. The toy train was choo-chooing up and down the tracks. Jared and Adam were "shooting webs" and playing with the boys. It was a glorious kind of crazy. Not the crazy where you want to pull your hair out, the crazy where you know that life is good.
After playing, we all sat down together as a family. That is easier said than done when you have three children at the table. It didn't matter though. The hecticness was expected and it didn't ruin the moment. The boys and adults all ate quickly so that we could get to the most important event of the night, opening gifts.
All three children must have been really good this year. They each received tons of gifts. They were so happy and excited. I think they were also a little overwhelmed.
Earlier in the week, we had decided: if the children are behaving, if the weather isn't too cold, if we get done with dinner/gifts early enough... Tons of IF'S and ifs aren't easy with children. If all the IF's, fall into place, then the entire Gladden family will head to The Falls to enjoy the Christmas lights. Luckily, all the factors fell into place and we were off to The Falls.
We had a wonderful time: riding the train, strolling through the park, looking at animals, and visiting with friends and family. Morris has proudly announced it wasn't the gifts that was the best thing that night, it was the lights at The Falls.
How I view it... Gifts are important, especially to children who don't completely understand the Christmas Story. But our children, don't want/need anything. While they cherish the gifts and would be sad without them. Morris showed at 4, that it wasn't all about the gifts. Playing with his cousin and enjoying family time at The Falls was what he really loved.
Merry Gladden Family Christmas!
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