on christmas day in the morning (and late afternoon)

December 25, 2006 | Filed Under ordinary 

of the 365 days in the year, jude chooses this morning to sleep a wee bit longer (past eight o’clock!). eventually we sent henry in to wake him up.

they suck on tootsie rolls and peel foil from chocolates while examining the deliberate crumbs on the cookie plate. they exchange exclamations over the bilibos of each other, the new markers, notebooks, personal packs of gum. they blow up and bounce on the new whoopie cushion. shrieks fill the house. ernie showers (ritualistically). i make coffee and start a load of diapers (?). ho, ho, ho.

the Christmas Story is read. jude drools chocolate on my hand. henry leads in a singing of happy birthday, Dear Jesus. presents are opened. everyone smiles.

later, dinner and i stand in the kitchen and try to figure what should be done first with this mysterious turkey. after much calculating and a few helpful telephone calls, everything is hot and on the table at once.

three cheers for mothers and sisters and daughters everywhere who made (make?) these kinds of feasts on a regular basis. amazement given. everyone is starving because all that has been eaten today, due to botched breakfast planning, are cookies, chocolates, and leftover pizza. we eat and play and finish the day with books piled high on the bed. the day, gone too fast, “as Christmas always does” ernie says, when we realize that it’s well after five o’clock.

and all the bells on earth shall ring,
on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
and all the bells on earth shall ring,
on Christmas Day in the morning.

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