Christmas: Phase Three

Christmas at our house progresses in three phases.

One: Preparation….months of preparation.  Shopping for that perfect little thing that will light up the eyes of each child, decking the halls and celebrating with friends.

Two: The celebration.  It starts Christmas Eve and goes through Christmas night.  We eat, we play games, we open gifts….it’s endless fun.

Three:  I stay in my recliner for three days straight while the kids play with their new toys.

I’m not exaggerating.  I plopped in my recliner late Christmas night and I am just beginning to get up.  Around 4:00 this afternoon someone asked me, “What’s for dinner?”  This was an indication that the leftovers were running low and I might have to come out of hibernation.

As long as I was planning to sit there, I spent Sunday playing the new Nancy Drew computer game that Grace gave to Patience for Christmas.  The older kids and I played it all day, each on our own computers.  I played because they need to know that Mom can keep up with their mad detective skills.  I finished the game before everyone else….yes I did.  But I’d never gloat about it.  I simply stood behind them while they played and asked if they needed any help from the person that already finished the game.

We’ve invited some friends over for New Year’s Eve, so I may have to venture out tomorrow.  Our party guests might expect food.  I’m thinking of getting some sparkling cider to ring in the new year.  I saw a really cute blog post somewhere about dipping the rims of champagne glasses in sprinkles.  I like sprinkles, so I may have to try it.  Sprinkles make me feel all little girly and mischievous.

That’s it.  I’m going to get up tomorrow and go to the grocery store for sparkling cider and sprinkles.

Phase three of Christmas is officially over.