smoaksignal

Well, the paper ripped, bows flew and boxes piled up, but phase one of Christmas is done. I am ready to hunt down the person who persuaded the toy industry to use plastic-coated wire and twist-tie all the toys into the packaging. I often wonder if it is done by machine or by workers. Either way, I can't help but think that factory workers compete to see how many ways they can twist these wires to make the toy permanently attached to its cardboard panorama. They probably laugh to themselves as they think of the tortured kids waiting impatiently for their toy that stubbornly clings to the packaging. They laugh their evil laugh as they picture the red-faced parents, who bite their tongues to prevent inappropriate words from coming out of their mouths, futilely attempt to free the toy with soar, burning finger tips worn down by pinching and twisting wire. Oh, how they snicker and jest at our expense! O.k., it's a bit overboard and a pair of tin snips removes them in seconds, but it is an absurd packaging process. By the way, if you don't know what tin snips are, it probably means you don't have any.

More importantly, we got to be together. We got a great Christmas present as Jennifer was scheduled to work her normal 12 hour shift, but she was able to work a half shift and not go in until 1:00 in the afternoon. We got to do Christmas morning together and she even got to say hi to her extended family at a midday get-together. Having her home was a great gift. Jacob finished up the 12 days of Christmas. His "iElf" told most of the story over nine days and on the tenth day, the "iElf" who Jacob named Jingle Bells, reviewed all of the lessons we had learned from the days prior by singing to ho down music. 

It was quite terrible from the musical stand point, but Jacob enjoyed it. As part of the 12 Days of Christmas, that left us with Day 11 on Christmas Eve. Jingle Bells the elf went back to the North Pole so we read how the angels told the shepherds of the birth in nearby Bethlehem and they went to see. We also read about three wise men from far away spotting the star and how they headed out to Jerussalem. So, we left it there and went to bed and on Christmas morning, baby Jesus was in the manger and we read about the shepherds spreading the word and the wise men giving Jesus three gifts. Santa brings our kids three gifts to remind them of this. Jacob blew out the candle on Jesus' birthday cake after we sang happy birthday. He brought the baby Jesus over from the stable and pretended it was baby Jesus who blew the candle out. It was a great morning to spend time together and with God. 

The next phase of Christmas will start soon as we meet more family we have not seen yet. But we are prepared with sharp tin snips and hopefully some rest.