Chris' Christmas Eve

Gretl needed to wait a full week before the men would buy their tree. Luckily, she and her siblings were busy completing their reading and writing assignments and the older children had final exams to take.

The weekend had arrived and the family eagerly anticipated a visit from the Kellers. They hadn't seen Chris since he was baptized. They arrived shortly before lunch. It may have been cold but the children rushed outside to greet them. Maria and Georg waited in the doorway.

Maria greeted them. "I'm so glad you came. And your timing is perfect; Chris should be awake very soon."

Chris may have heard new voices; he woke up almost immediately. Maria took him from his cradle and passed him off to Claire's waiting arms.

"He must eat well. His little cheeks are so much fuller."

Chris was staring at her face. "Yes Chris, I'm talking about you."

Annie and Harold each held him and he stared at them too. Maria took him and placed him back in the cradle. Katia had announced lunch was ready. By midafternoon, their visit concluded with a promise from Claire they would visit again.

On Sunday morning, Gretl announced. "We have only one more day to wait until Stefan and Phillip buy our Christmas tree.

Georg commented to Maria. "She's really excited about our tree."

"All of them are, they're eager for Christmas Eve to come so they can see Chris' reaction to the tree all lit up and his gifts."

The family found things to do that day to make it go by faster. And it did. On Monday morning the house was rather quiet. The children had nowhere to go; they still lay snug in their beds. Maria, with Chris in her arms, followed Georg downstairs. The baby slept in his cradle while Maria had breakfast with Georg and the four men.

Stefan and Phillip both said their goodbyes to Georg and the others before departing to bring all the Christmas decorations they had found in the attic to the family room. They both knew the children would be anxious to watch them decorate the tree as soon as they brought it home. They had assessed the living room and had determined what size tree they needed to buy. Maria had asked for it to be placed in front of the large picture window.

It was a very cold morning, Maria and Georg said their usual goodbyes inside. Georg left on a happy note.

"I'll be anxious to see our tree when we come home."

"And our children will be eager to show you what I'm sure will be a beautifully decorated tree."

Georg quickly kissed Maria again before he exited the house. Maria hurried to the front window to watch the car leave. It wasn't very long before the children came down for breakfast. Their jibber-jabber told her they were excited about their tree.

"Are Stefan and Phillip going to buy our tree today?"

"Yes, Marta that's the plan. I believe they will go to the tree lot as soon as it opens."

Liesl followed with this. "As soon as we finish eating, let's go up and make our beds so we can watch them bring it inside."

Maria watched the others eagerly follow Liesl. She wondered if they would be sad when the day came when she left home to pursue her dream. Liesl's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

"Let's sing Christmas carols while we wait for Stefan and Phillip to return with our tree."

And once again her siblings were eager to comply. They sang all the Christmas carols they knew before singing a fun song, O Christmas Tree.

Kurt had stopped singing to look out the front window. He saw the truck arrive. He interrupted.

"They're here, everyone."

Stefan and Phillip immediately began to pull the tree from the back of the truck. They could see all the children watching them. They both waived.

The two men carried a large tree which was already attached to its tree stand with the bowl for water towards the house. Friedrich and Kurt hurried to the front door. Friedrich held the outside door open as they carefully brought it into the vestibule. Kurt did the same for the door into the family room. Maria helped them locate the center of the window.

Gretl appeared to be inspecting the tree before she spoke. "Even without its decorations, our tree is beautiful."

"Phillip and I are glad you like it. Soon it will be the prettiest tree ever. It will take us a while to attach the strands of lights. We've already checked them to be sure all the bulbs light up."

The children sat on the rug to watch. Kurt and Friedrich had moved some chairs to face the tree. Even Katia had come to watch. She and Liesl had taken a seat in one of them. Maria had heard Chris stir. She went to the cradle and found him awake.

"Do you want to watch too?"

His answer was to stare at her. "Alright, you can sit with me."

She sat with him on her lap leaning against her. Liesl smiled when she saw her mom sit with Chris on her lap.

"I think Chris knows something is going on. I'm so glad he is awake more during the day."

"I think he does too." She hugged him a little tighter. And he made those cute baby noises which delighted Maria.

It took the two men about an hour to attach all the lights. Their next task was to hang all the delicate glass ornaments. They found the tree limbs' spacing allowed each to be seen. That task also took about an hour; the men wanted be sure each one was firmly attached. Now they were ready to hang the tinsel.

"Everyone can help us. Take a single strand of tinsel and find the center; then place it near the tip of a limb. And like the attendant told us, it will hang loose and shimmer."

Maria remained seated with Chris on her lap. They watched. The two men were responsible for the highest branches. The others hung strands of tinsel on the branches each could reach with ease. Soon they were finished.

The group stood back and admired it. Gretl announced. "It's even more beautiful that I thought it would be. I can't wait for Daddy to come."

"He's sure to agree with you. I think Chris is hungry." Maria didn't want to embarrass the boys by saying he was rooting for his food source. "We'll be in the telephone room. Your dad put a comfortable chair in there for me to use."

Chris never took long to eat. Within fifteen minutes he was back in his cradle. She went on to the dining room to eat lunch with everyone. They returned to the family room and engaged in quiet games as they eagerly waited for Georg to come home. Gretl was constantly looking out the window for him. And Maria lost count as to how many times she asked. "Is it all most time for Daddy to come home?"

Finally Maria was able to tell her. "I think it will be soon. You should stand in front of the window and watch for the car."

And that's what she did. She saw Erwin stop the car and let her dad and Sidney out. He drove around back to the garage. Gretl made a bee-line for the door; she was in the vestibule when he came in."

"Daddy, Daddy, come see our tree. It so beautiful even without the lights lit."

She took his hand and pulled him along. "You're mighty pleased Gretl; I can hardly wait to see it."

It warmed Georg's heart to see Gretl so happy. "My goodness, it's a Christmas tree masterpiece. It's exactly as the Christmas tree lot attendant described."

Soon the others had gathered around him. The phrase he heard repeated was, "I can't wait for Chris to see it with all the lights lit."

Everyone knew that would not happen until tomorrow afternoon. They really wanted the evening to pass quickly. First they sat around the dinner table conversing long after the meal was over. Then a rousing game of Christmas charades ended the evening. It was later than usual when the family called it a night. Georg and Maria found no child reading when they made the rounds to say goodnight. They knew the night would pass quicker if they went right to sleep.

The couple didn't go to bed right away. Maria knew Chris would need to eat soon. They sat close on the settee. "You know, sweetheart, we have seven very special children. I know they heard about Santa Claus from their friends. Neither Marta nor Gretl asked to go sit on his lap. Did the children ever write letters to the Christ Child?"

"I don't really know. I was at sea many times in the month of December. And you know there were a couple years without hardly any celebration. Last year, you my sweet wife was able to change that. You're ideas gave the children a wonderful celebration."

"Georg, it was a wonderful time for me too. Now our children want to make it a special time for Chris. Audrey has told me more than once; she has never seen children who love a new baby as much as ours do Chris."

"And Chris is stirring. After you feed him, it will be our time. Then we can get some sleep."

"Yes, and he's beginning to give me almost four hours of sleep at night."

Their married activity did help them sleep and Chris did sleep four hours. Neither Maria nor Georg slept long after that feeding. They too were excited. And as expected, the children woke early. And they were extremely excited.

The couple heard from multiple children. "I'm so glad Christmas Eve has arrived."

Liesl had a reminder. "You do remember, we must do everything when Chris is awake." She saw them nod.

Like last night's dinner, breakfast was also full of conversation. Katia had remembered how much the children had enjoyed frosting cookies last year. As she and Liesl were clearing the table she spoke.

"As soon as these dishes are washed and dried, I have a surprise for you. I've been baking. I have several tins full of cookies to be frosted."

The children were anxious to begin. Louisa spoke. "Brigitta and I can help dry the dishes so we can begin soon."

It still amazed Maria that the children were eager to do domestic work. And that they did it willingly and with smiles on their faces. Soon they were eagerly at work frosting all the cookies.

When they had finished, they spent the remainder of the morning coloring pages from a coloring book which told the Christmas story. Like in their old house, they found a place to display them. The morning had passed; it was now lunch time.

After lunch Brigitta asked. "Can we take a walk? It's a bright sunny afternoon."

"Of course we can. Chris will be warm in his buggy with his heavy blue blanket covering him."

The children ran off to get ready. In moments, they stood near the door with their coats on. Maria placed Chris in the buggy and tucked his blue blanket around him. Georg and Sidney easily lifted the buggy down the three steps. And Marta asked. "May I push him, Mommy?"

Maria smiled. "I believe Chris would be happy if his big sister would push."

Marta returned her smile. It may have been larger than usual; she saw her mommy hook her arm under her daddy's. They were walking arm in arm.

Marta didn't walk very fast, so their walk was a leisurely stroll. No one minded; they knew when they returned their Christmas Eve celebration would begin. When they approached the house, Chris had begun to fuss.

Maria talked to him. "We'll be inside soon and mommy can feed you."

When she lifted him from the buggy, she found that eating wasn't his only need. Rather than alerting everyone to his stinky diaper she immediately took him upstairs to change him. Liesl and Louisa suspected the reason for their mom's quick trip upstairs. They held giggly smiles but didn't say a word.

When she and Chris returned to the family room, Maria didn't hesitate to announce. "Chris has on a clean diaper and also has a full tummy. He's also wide awake and ready to celebrate his first Christmas."

"Can we Daddy?"

"Of course we can, Gretl." They exchanged big smiles. He continued. "Austria as we knew it may no longer exist but I want us to carry-on one of its traditions, the singing of, Silent Night."

Louisa added quickly. "May I accompanying you on the guitar?"

His eyes got big but a smile filled his face. "I'd be delighted, Louisa."

Louisa was prepared; the guitar was within her reach. She knew to strum the first chords and pause. She and her dad began the hymn as if they had practiced together. By the end of the first verse, everyone was singing with them.

Now Stefan plugged in the lights. Maria noticed Chris' head had turned slightly. But it was Gretl who spoke.

"Look everyone, Chris is looking at our tree. I think he likes it."

"I think so too. Let's sit in front of it and open all his gifts."

Their dad sat on the floor with them. Maria sat on a low stool so she could have a lap for Chris. She held him tight as he leaned against her chest. The children opened his gifts one at a time. They went in birth order, starting with Gretl.

She talked to him. "Chris, these are your Christmas presents. Are you ready to see your gifts?"

He stared at her. Gretl was so engaged with unwrapping his gift she didn't notice the ends of his mouth had turned up slightly. And neither did anyone else.

Gretl held the small stuffed giraffe for him to see. He moved his arm in an attempt to bat it. Gretl taped the toy against his fist. He opened it and was able to grab the toy. He immediately brought it towards his face.

"Now we see for ourselves why Audrey told me he needed soft toys."

"Mommy, now he won't let go of it."

"I'm sure he will when he sees Marta's gift."

Maria was right. As soon as Marta waived the clown for him to see, he dropped the giraffe. It was a little large for him to grasp. "Soon, Chris you will be big enough to hold it."

And it was the same for Brigitta when he saw the tiny teddy bear. But the gift Kurt unwrapped brought his biggest reaction.

Kurt shook two of his four blocks close to him so he could hear the bell inside jingle. Kurt had a reaction to what he saw. "Chris smiled at me."

"Did he really?"

"He did Maria. I saw it too."

Maria twisted so she could see his face. Kurt had continued to shake the blocks and Chris continued to smile.

"Chris has given us all a Christmas present. I know I'll never forget the day when he first smiled."

"I believe all of us will remember. Louisa, it's your turn to open another gift for Chris."

She quickly tore the paper off and dangled the baby shoes in front of him and commented. "Soon Chris you will be big enough to wear these." And Chris smiled.

He also smiled when Friedrich unwrapped the box with his practical gifts, his new clothes. He asked.

"Can Chris wear one of his new outfits tomorrow?"

"Of course he can. One has long sleeves and the legs cover his feet."

"And I'll be sure the two heaters are full of wood chips to help keep the room warm." Phillip added.

There was one more gift to unwrap. Liesl did the honors. "Chris, this is your large blanket to put over the rug so you can move all around and learn how to roll over."

His dad commented. "Chris seemed to understand you Liesl. I not only saw another smile, I also so him wiggle in your mom's arms. Something tells me, he will learn that skill very quickly."

Chris soon needed to be fed again. This time he fell asleep. The family enjoyed a simple meal. Katia and Liesl had been preparing a feast for tomorrow similar to the one served on Thanksgiving.

The tree stayed lit the remainder of the day. Now everyone was looking forward to visiting with the Lewis family on Christmas Day. Stefan was the last to leave the family room that night. He unplugged the lights.