Age 12

Sitting in the car after their trip to see Christmas lights, Temperance listened to the carols playing on the radio as Russ waited impatiently for the car to stop at the house. "Are you kids ready to get in there and open your Christmas Eve gift?" Matthew asked, smiling at the bright grin on his daughter's face, and the impatient glare from Russ. "I guess that means yes." He laughed at Christine, who smiled at him.

They climbed from the seat and ran toward the house the moment the car was put into park, and Temperance reached the door before Russ, hopping happily as she waited for their father to open the door. Matthew put the key in the lock and both kids tumbled into the foyer and raced for the tree, listening to their mother's laughter as they ran into the family room.

"You would think that they were still five years old." Christine laughed, hearing her daughter's laughter as they clamored under the tree for the one gift they could open.

"To me, they'll always be young and full of imagination." Matthew said, kissing his wife's head as they walked around the corner. "Alright, alright… quit your fighting for two minutes while I get my camera out." He said, laughing at the excitement in his children's eyes. His son a teenager, his daughter on the cusp of being a teenager. They were growing up so fast, he didn't want a moment to escape them.

He watched Temperance digging under the lights of the tree, only to come up with a rectangular box for herself, she handed a gift off to Russ, and waited anxiously. "Dad, you're taking forever!" She exclaimed, watching as Christine sat on the sofa, the lights of the Christmas tree reflecting on her skin, giving her a happy glow as she watched her children bicker over who was going to open their gift faster.

Matthew appeared around the corner and took pictures of the kids smiling brightly at the camera, telling them to pose just to irritate their already eager selves. "Dad! Come on!" Russ exclaimed with a laugh.

"Aright, open it up…" He said. "Just one tonight, then the rest in the morning." He said, but the kids were already pulling at the paper, sending it in all directions as Temperance held the toolbox she had revealed above her head.

"Awesome!" She exclaimed. "A toolbox! Thanks mom and dad!" She said excitedly, already playing with the latch on it, she completely missed the silence in the room as Russ and his parents exchanged looks, the set of blue gloves and scarf in his hand were obviously for Temperance, but he said nothing.

"Thanks for the gift, Mom and Dad." Russ said, watching as his sister gushed excitedly over what was obviously a gift intended for him. He didn't say a word, but hugged his mother anyway.

"You're a good boy, Russ." Christine said with a laugh.

"I'd do anything for my little sis." He said sincerely.

"I know you would." She whispered.

"What did you get, Russ?" Temperance asked standing up to hug her father, she glanced toward her brother.

"Oh, just some lousy gloves and a scarf. I bet the coolest gifts are going to be for tomorrow anyway."

"I don't know. This was a pretty cool gift." She grinned at her parents happily.

"Alright… who is ready for some Christmas Eve hot chocolate?" Matthew asked, clapping his hands.

"Me!" Temperance and Russ exclaimed, as the two of them took off running for the kitchen, as Matthew held out his hand for his wife, and hand in hand they walked toward the kitchen for their Christmas eve tradition.