christmas eve

as i snuck back into my bedroom with strict instructions for michael to, "stay out!", i was taken back to my childhood. i smiled remembering mom closed up in her bedroom for the last few hours of christmas eve. she worked hard wrapping the final presents to go under the tree. i was always so lucky because when my presents were wrapped, i got to enter the secret lair and help wrap the boy's presents. those were great memory making times for me. just me and mom, sharing secrets and giggles over soon-to-be-enjoyed christmas presents. it really was a blast.

i also had, for as long as i can remember, had the distinct privilege of wrapping mom's gifts from daddy. man! i was so in the loop! i knew what everyone was getting before they did! :) yesterday i was talking to dad when he suddenly realized that i wouldn't be there for the wrapping! :) i'm not worried, i know he'll do fine.

i'm excited that tomorrow, michael and i will share our first christmas between just the two of us! i know we'll sleep late, then rise and open presents. we'll have a breakfast of pancakes and bacon and laze around doing nothing. the only thing i'll remember to do is give amy a call. talking to each other on christmas day has been a tradition for us for as long as i can remember. it will be a little strange to not be with mom and dad tomorrow, but i know they'll be thinking of us just as we'll be thinking of them.

i wish i could be there to see ellie really enjoy her unwrapping! i know she's going to have a blast! maybe someone there will video some footage and post it for far away auntie's to see...

right now, michael is working on our potjie-kos (little pot of food) for our christmas eve tradition. my mouth is already watering! he forgot that it takes a while to cook though, so it could be a late dinner. :)

merry christmas eve 2008