Yesterday was mostly chill. I had a mini fuss when Eldest Child told me that I ruined the surprise of a gift when I could tell what it was from the package. I left the room and had my feelings. I’m over being told I’m ruining Christmas.

But we shook it off. She apologized and said she was trying to be funny.

It was a nice day. We walked around the neighborhood and delivered cookies to our neighbors. We cuddled and spent time together. Noah cooked lots of delicious food.

Today has been great. It’s not 9am yet. Our present pile was…. way bigger than I thought it would be when I was shopping. Eep. But more than half of what anyone got for Christmas was clothes. The kids have been genuinely having a hard time with not having enough winter clothes. They have about four pairs of long pants each. So now they each have a full week of winter clothes and Future Middle Child has a warm coat. They’ve been telling me that they don’t like having to wear three sweaters to be warm.

There was one doll in the bunch because EC has been having a hard time with the way FMC has possession of every doll in the house and they are nasty and refuse to share. So EC got a god damn doll. FMC just about burst into tears.

Noah and I talked to them about how this is one of those times when they are acting like it is mean and unfair for anyone but them to get a good thing. Is that a way they truly want to act? I also whispered in their ear that if they are sweet and generous and they give their sister a couple of weeks to enjoy her new toy… has she ever been a jerk about sharing?! They acknowledged that no she really hasn’t. She’s super kind.

So FMC shook off their upset in just a few minutes. I thought that was incredibly well done of them. It’s hard feeling left out. It’s hard feeling like someone else gets the good stuff.

But EC was elated over every present of clothing and FMC tossed things aside with near contempt.

Sigh.

They are both very excited about the stack of books we acquired. Quite a few kid books that are continuations of series we are reading.

Noah and I each got mostly practical gifts. He got a gravy separator, cookbooks, and a microphone he needs for work. All things he asked for. In his stocking he got a fur jock strap and possum fur nipple warmers because that has been an ongoing joke in our relationship for about 9 years. And he got bath supplies. And food.

I got two cute outfits from Trashy Diva from Santa, bath stuff, lids for Tupperware (all of our stuff is 30+ years old and in the past 6 months we’ve had all the lids break), a couple of neat books, a pretty mug, and a tray that will make eating in bed easier during the postpartum time.

Mostly very practical and/or consumable stuff. Perfect.

Each kid got a puzzle and FMC got a copy of the game Operation. So not an excessively toy heavy Christmas. They did get Shopkins in their stockings to go with their socks and underwear and bath bombs.

I have this weird obsession with Christmas presents being mostly functional/consumable. Food. Clothes that are necessary (ok, what I got isn’t NECESSARY but the dress and the shirt are both highly nursing compatible and I’m starting to run low on clothes that make my boobs accessible so they aren’t completely unnecessary either)- mostly socks and underwear and warm stuff. Books. Necessary work/school stuff. (FMC got a bunch of Spanish language learning books.)

We will watch The Trolls and the Christmas Express today because we haven’t yet. Dinner is pre-cooked.

It’s going to be a great day. 😀