gifts...with meaning...with lessons? hmmm....

~Christmas Night~
While opening gifts this morning, i was in a fantasy world in my mind. (don't get all excited...it was only due to sleep deprivation/exhaustion) I was literally taking down the stockings and unwrapping lights off my tree in my head. (its sick, i know.)  My girls were like all giggly and spastic and unwrapping and squealing over gifts, and I was totally enjoying it, I was. Really.  But randomly I was also enjoying reaching over and pulling an ornament or 2 off the tree when no-one was looking. (dont shake your head at me...you thought of it too...i just acted on it!!) 
I feel a wee bit guilty. Just a wee bit.  teeny amount.  not even measurable.  But look, in all fairness, I feel like i have been decorating for Christmas forEVER!! It hasn't been that long, but i have been doing it for 3 months.  Sadly, just not my own home.  Mainly other clients homes. (which is my real job after all...)  and one which i loooovvvveeee!  the only problem is that when it came time for my own, i was fresh out of creativity...and inspiration...and motivation. sigh.  (note to self: decorate my house FIRST next year...like in October!) anyways...moving along...
All my peeps got many things they love today -and last night of course. I currently have 2 teen girls that are walking around in pj's and cowboy boots, wait!...5 minutes pass and they enter in a new robe, with a new outfit underneath, cowboy boots AND fun jewelry.  hold up!...as I make a final pass through the living room to find my bed,  i find them curled up in a ball on the couch sleeping,  in...yep, you guessed it - Cowboy boots, jewelry, robe, new outfit (good to see those pricey jeans on their bodies!!), and random bath and body products in their clutches.  So funny! makes me teary. a little weepy. and then sleepy...BUT i must say, i love this about kids!  You always know if they love what they got because they just put it on right then and there.  Doesn't matter what else is going on, or what time of day, or what they already had on...if they love it, they put it on, or put it together. period. it's like official love.  And its beauty for a mothers tired heart.

It is also joy to my heart when i see my niece literally squeal with delight over 5 pairs of  "cute" panties and an outfit!, or my nephew whisper to his mom with a sly smile..."did you see that BIG gift...it has my name on it!"...and then watch as he puts it together!  but the all time favorite gift of the night...well...just keep reading...

My brother.  There is no-one like him. Really. He is notorious for last minute shopping.  He's just kind of notorious in general if we're being honest. And we are...Like real honest around here!!
...Yesterday (Christmas Eve) at noon he called to ask what my girls would like for Christmas?

Me: uhm, you know we are doing Christmas in 3 hours right?
J: oh, yeah...phew, man i thought it was starting right now! Thank goodness!

Man wouldn't that be nice for all of us Mothers? Can you imagine? Gift time in 3 hours and you just started! LOL!...so anyways, i gave him a few ideas...clearly time was on his side (who knew?)  He finally shows up later with his gifts (gift cards-figures!) and we begin the festivities!  After all the gifts are opened, the ladies were watching the rain fall and chatting and my niece comes flying out the door and says...

"OMG!!  Guess what Uncle J just gave us for Christmas?  He gave us all $100 gift cards to Chick-fil-a!!  I cant believe it, this is the best gift ever."
Me and my sisters all look at each other, like what? then start talking over each other (we do that. its normal in my family. expected.) "no way."  "well, maybe."  "well, he would be the one to do something that random."
"no?" "yes."  "uh-uh, i don't know."
And then ..."Let me see the card."- this from my oldest sister, shes a smart one. always showing off!
we open the card and sure enough it says in his writing $100, so she pulls out the receipt and reads aloud "$10!!"  we all laugh. and were like wow that was funny.  but my niece, well she's not so humored, her shoulders are slumped, curious look on her face (angry little elf look)...turns and walks back to my bro.
She's back in 2 minutes with an update...(she had a silly smirk on her face! (side note: she's adorable! i love her!)
"Uncle J said he was just trying to teach us a lesson...you know what the lesson was?- that money doesn't buy happiness."
We all busted out laughing... because clearly, had you been in that room when 5 cousins all thought they received $100 GC's - you would have thought..."money may not buy happiness, but a gc to Chick-fil-a for $100 obviously bought a feeling so close, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference!"

I have a plaque in my kitchen that one of my artsy peeps(love her!) made me that says..."money can't by happiness, but it can buy marshmallows which is kinda the same thing!"
it sits by the coffee pot...next to the picture of my twin niece/nephew screaming as infants...its how i say good morning to myself everyday: Smile. Scream. Coffee.
Hey, everybody has their own morning routine. just sayin'...

xoxo~
P