December 25, 2014. 9:35 p.m.
Well, Christmas is officially over. I've been home for about an hour now, and I am exhausted. As I sit here on my couch, surrounded by cool presents and watching Home Alone, I've been reflecting on how Christmas has changed since I was a kid.
There are moments when I miss the magic of Christmas only children can have. I remember being so excited for Santa to come that I could lay awake in my room for hours, trying my hardest to hear even the slightest creak of a board or a jingle of a bell. See, we didn't have a chimney, so that only way he was getting into my house was the front door.
I would set my alarm for 4:00 in the morning, and when that thing went off, I was instantly awake. My eyes would pop open, I'd sit up in bed and be ready to go. Until I was 7, I shared a room with my sister, so she would wake up to my alarm. She's 8 years old than I am, but they humored the idea of Santa for me.
I couldn't wait to go downstairs and see what Santa had brought me. I'd run into my parents room in my pajamas and jump on their bed. They'd make me wait until they got up, went downstairs and checked everything out. I'd sit at the top of the stairs, straining to see even a glimpse of what awaited me.
When they gave the okay, I'd sprint downstairs and immediately find my stocking and all of my presents. Ones from Santa were never wrapped, Santa didn't have time to wrap presents. We'd spend time checking out all of those presents, and then pass out my parents' presents, and unwrap them all.
That day was magical. It was filled with fun and laughter.
It's amazing how different it is as an adult.
I stayed the night at my parents house because I didn't want to wake up at my house on Christmas by myself (in the guest bedroom, no less). I slept in until 8:00, which is the latest I've woken up on Christmas, ever. Went downstairs, ate breakfast, helped make Christmas dinner. We watched a Christmas movie, putzed around the house, and had a very low-key morning. Then, chaos happened.
Noon rolled around and my siblings arrived with their families. I've the only one that's not married with children, so when they came around, it began a zoo. Seven children, four adults, plus me and my parents and my grandpa and aunt and two dogs, chaos.
It was a day filled with good food, awesome presents, fun games and memories made. There are more of us now, our family of five has expanded to include nine more, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Everyone in one spot, getting along (which is saying something with a family of hotheaded, stubborn people) and having fun, enjoying spending time together for the holiday.
Christmas is my favorite holiday of all because it's a time that we can get together with the ones we love and just spend time together. I loved Christmas as a kid, but it's more special as an adult because I can appreciate all the little things of the day - seeing my nephew freak out about his presents, watching my dad build a hockey table with my 4-year-ld nephew, watching my nieces sit together and giggle over something silly, watching my siblings actually get along, playing a game where we can all genuinely laugh together and have fun, it's just amazing.
I love Christmas. I love my crazy family. Life is good.
"This is probably the best Christmas we've ever had" - my dad. Yes Dad, I think that too.
