Merry Christmas

 In a year of change, Christmas at the Heinisch home was no different.  For the first time in sixteen years all of six of us were not at home this morning.  Brett had to work at Storage Express last night and decided that he would rather take Sunday off so that he could have a three day weekend to come home.  We liked that plan as neither Doug nor I wanted him to drive home late Christmas Eve night only to head back early on the 26th.  It also allowed Brett to work at Bell Trace which he thoroughly enjoyed.  In addition to the bonus of overtime pay and visiting with his favorite residents on the holiday, he was a big help as well since he and his boss were the only two available in the afternoon to bag up meals for delivery.  He was tired by the end of the day, but said that it was well worth it.

Doug and I had always realized that there would be a time in our lives when not everyone would be available to open gifts with us on Christmas morning.  Thus, we just appreciated the fact that Cam, Cal and Meg were available.  We got a later start than usual, but by 10:30 a.m. everyone was opening their stockings.  Cam wasn't quite sure what to do with his snow brush, but once I explained that it wasn't a giant toothbrush or a toilet brush he caught on to what it was.  We spent the next hour or so unwrapping gifts and enjoying each other's reactions.  Cal loved the vintage Simpson shirt that he received as well as one with Patrick asking "Is Mayonnaise an Instrument."  Meg appreciated her new Converse shoes along with the Winnie the Pooh fanny pack that I found online through Box Lunch.  Cam had asked for a Lions jersey as his big gift of the season and made sure to post a picture on Instagram tagging David in it.  That led to several texts floating back and forth between the Bears and the Lions fans today.  Meg did a lot of the Christmas shopping this year and Doug put her in charge of picking out several of my gifts.  I loved everything that I received, but was especially appreciative of the new butterfly backpack and matching key chain wallet.  Doug didn't ask for very much this year, but did like the new Rutgers and Michigan State shirts.  Of course I picked out a new Ticket to Ride Nederlands to give him which we made sure to try out before the end of the evening.

We had Mostaccioli for Christmas dinner saving the ham for Sunday.  Doug also made Caesar salad, homemade bread and a new squash casserole recipe.  It was all delicious.  Nick joined us for our main meal and then he and Meg headed to Grandma's to visit with them for an hour or so.  Once they left for Goshen, Cam, Doug and I stopped by as well.  Cal had already visited them earlier in the day.  Our family gave Grandma a new FitBit like the one Meg, Cal and I have.  She love it.  Grandpa got golf balls for his trip to Florida, a new golf shirt, circus peanuts, an IU mask and the most important gift of all - a Bill Walton Back from the Dead biography.  Cameron picked that out as soon as the Maui classic was over knowing how much Grandpa loved him as an announcer.  The rest of the evening was a quiet one filled with games and the start of my new Walt Disney World puzzle.  It was a very nice Christmas celebration and we are all looking forward to a repeat of today on Sunday.