The Best Christmas Ever!

The Best Christmas Ever

By Allan Olson

“This is going to be the best Christmas ever,” Abigail exclaimed one day just over a week ago. Alivia echoed that sentiment, repeating the same exact words. No, they didn’t get to unwrap a present early or anything of the sort. I simply told them that they would get some ice cream that night.

So with that opening statement, was it the best Christmas ever? I don’t know, but as far Christmases go, it was still a lot of fun – and definitely very filling.

We started our Christmas on Thursday night when a last-minute gift idea for my wife (a pie plate) turned into a situation where Abigail and I were making a pie and we needed a pie plate, so mom got to unwrap the first present.

Keeping in the spirit of things, Abigail quickly ran to the tree for another present for mom. Surprisingly, she didn’t go for one of her own. I made her take it back, and we continued making pies for my siblings.

Now the majority of the presents had been wrapped and under the tree for at least a week, and not one of them suffered any “accidental” tears from our children trying to figure them out. Of course, the girls’ presents were the last to be wrapped (in just the last couple of days), so perhaps that might have helped.

Since we left town for the weekend, we had our family Christmas on Friday morning. As per tradition, the Christmas stockings were first. With the excitement over the small trinkets in those stockings, a person would have thought they were filled with the best toys in the world. Of course, maybe to them, they were. I mean, who doesn’t want a Hot Wheels car or plane for Christmas.

With the stockings out of the way, we let them have at their presents, and with a flourish of wrapping paper they were open. Abigail, ever thoughtful, was quick to grab a garbage bag and start the cleanup process.

The remainder of the morning was mostly spent packing for our noon departure. However, we did find time to try out the new games. I managed to lose a game of Battleship to Nikolai. I had only two shots left to sink his last ship, but he beat me to it. My wife and the kids played a game of I Spy (Marcus’ new game), and they all managed to lose to the youngest, Alivia, who quickly got the hang of the game.

We hit the road 10 minutes prior to our anticipated departure time, with a van full of kids, goodies and other stuff needed for the long weekend. Our first Christmas party started at 6 p.m. in International Falls, and we had some other stops to make.

We arrived in plenty of time to get some visiting done, and to smell the wonderful aroma of the food being prepared. We left that first Christmas about 8:30 p.m. and made it to our home for the next three nights – my parents house in Lake of the Woods.

On Christmas Eve day, the cousins were all excited about being together and playing (that was Nikolai’s Christmas wish – to play with his cousins, and with one of the cousins at our home for this week, that gift continues). Several of us headed to the woods to take a look at my dad’s latest project.

The first location required a lot of walking, but surprisingly there were no complaints, but rather much laughter, shouting and yelling with excitement. The second location was accessible by a vehicle, thanks to the lack of snow and dry ground. Since my brother had his Polaris Ranger along, I gave all five kids that were with a ride through the woods, over trees, up a ditch and all around. They didn’t mind the bumpy ride at all, which made it more enjoyable for me.

Nikolai got the longest ride, going with my brother back to my parents’ – about five miles in the cold. His grin was plastered to his face and his legs were frozen, but he said it was “awesome.”

That evening, gifts were exchanged again. While I think all the gifts over the weekend were well received, the most memorable was a giant stuffed green M&M Alivia got from her cousin.

Another notable present was one my niece got from her grandparents. She opened it, and I had the camera ready (per mom’s request). She shouted in delight. The present was a hat, but not just any old hat. It was a penguin-looking hat. She absolutely loved it.

I also got my most-desired Christmas wish – fishing (perhaps Santa is real, since I got my wish). My oldest brother and I ventured out on the ice for just over an hour. I landed three and missed a few. He landed one and also missed a few. It was truly a Christmas to remember.

We spent Christmas Day visiting, eating and playing Euchre with my wife’s family, like we have for as long as we’ve been together.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas with family and friends, and I wish you all a safe, prosperous and Happy New Year!

Thanks for reading, and remember to watch out for those school buses. As always, feel free to drop us a line and/or a photo, and have a great week. For more of my columns visit http://allan-crazykids.blogspot.com