When I got up the next morning, it was Christmas Day. It was early and none of my family was up yet, so I just laid in bed. I know it was only 7:00, but I was too excited to go back to sleep for a bit longer. I wish I could sneak downstairs to see what I got, but I knew I might have to wait. I remember when Dad and I used to get up at this hour to open gifts every year when we lived on our own. That was always fun. I miss that. I also remember we always make yummy gingerbread pancakes that Mom and Dad first made when we had our first Christmas as a family. That's what he told me. I don't know what time Sharon and Dawn get up to open presents when they were still in California. I don't know if they get up early, too. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't.
At 7:30 am, I decided to get up and tipped-toed downstairs. I'm just dying to open gifts when everyone gets up. I'm patient, but I'm just thrilled about this. Honestly, I am. Christmas is my number one favorite holiday. I'm just glad Grandma Verna is with us for Christmas. Let's just say that she's my favorite present this year. That part is true. I would like her to stay with us for good.
I was watching my new Cam Geary movie in the living room, but I didn't want to put it too loud while they're sleeping. Then, I could hear someone coming downstairs while I was still watching it.
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart," smiled Dad.
"Merry Christmas," I said.
"Have you been up for awhile?" asked Dad.
"Yeah. I was up since 7:00 am. I was so excited Christmas Day is finally here that I couldn't go back to sleep," I said. "Is everyone else still in bed?"
"They are," replied Dad.
"Oh. I don't know what time Sharon and Dawn get up when they were still living in California," I said.
"Neither do I," said Dad.
"Grandma celebrates with Tina and Bob and now, she's glad this is her first Christmas here with us since Mom was alive after she discovered she had cancer," I said.
"That's true," agreed Dad. "She hasn't been here for years since then."
"At least she's here now," I said.
"I agree with you," said Dad.
"I can't wait to open gifts as soon as everyone else get up," I said.
"Same here," said Dad. "I'm just watching my new movie."
"Oh, good," said Dad.
"I didn't want to put too loud," I said.
"That's alright," said Dad. "I'm making gingerbread pancakes for the two of us."
"Sweet. Just like we used to make when we lived on our own," I said.
"That's right," said Dad.
"I remember having those," I said. "They were the best."
"I'll make some for the others when they get up. I'll just do regular pancakes for Sharon, Jeff, and Dawn," said Dad.
"Okay," I said.
"Since it's Christmas, we can eat it over here while you continue watching your movie," said Dad.
"Really?" I asked. "Sweet."
This was unusual because he doesn't let me do that while I was growing up, especially while he was strict.
The pancakes were ready in no time. And, they were good. We had it on the tv tray. I love gingerbread pancakes at this time of the year. Sometimes we have them all winter long. Cool, huh? We were already done with breakfast when Grandma Verna came down. The movie had just ended, too.
"Am I smelling gingerbread pancakes?" asked Grandma Verna.
"Yes," I said. "Dad planned to make more when the rest of the crew get up."
"Oh, I see you had fun without me, " said Grandma Verna.
"Yep," I laughed softly at that joke.
"I'll make more for you," said Dad.
"Okay. Thank you," smiled Grandma Verna.
"No problem," said Dad.
He was making more when the others got up.
"Merry Christmas," said Dad.
"Merry Christmas," said Sharon.
"I'm making gingerbread pancakes. I'll make regular ones for you, Dawn, and Jeff," said Dad.
"That's okay. Gingerbread pancakes look really good," said Sharon.
"I make them every Christmas and we'd have it all winter," said Dad.
"You bet even when we lived on Bradford Court. He and Mom first made them together when she was alive and she just had gotten cancer back then," I said.
"That sounded really nice," said Sharon.
"It really does," said Dad.
After we had breakfast and after we got dressed, the doorbell rang and I went to the door. Sharon's parents were over to spend the day with us. I love them.
I was in my Christmas plaid dress like I did last night. I put on one of my new Christmas earrings. I picked out the trees style to match my dress. And, the curls were kind of messy again, so I had to fix them before I came down.
"You look nice in your dress," commented Pop-Pop.
"Thanks," I said. "I had it on during the Christmas party last night."
We started to open them a few minutes later. After Jeff had his turn, it was my turn. I got a new necklace with Cam Geary's face on it. That was different.
"I had a little help from the Willis girls," said Dawn.
"I love it. Thank you so much," I smiled.
Dad bought me a bracelet with my name on it. It was a cool gift. Sharon got me an ornament with a girl sewing. Sweet! Sewing is one of my favorite hobbies. You should see what Grandma Verna got me. It was a very nice scrapbook with Mom in it. I loved it. Jeff got me more headbands. Carlos got me a Stoneybrook High School sweatshirt with his basketball team on the back with his autograph. Don't I have one of my best siblings or what? I also got a shirt that has I Love New York City from him.
"Awesome! Thanks," I said.
"Stacey told me it was a nice idea for Christmas, so when she went to her father's a few weeks ago, she picked it out and brought it back with her and gave it to me," said Carlos.
"I like the idea of that," I said.
Pop-Pop and Granny both gave me a box of hot chocolate mix. Yum. I love hot chocolate during the winter. It keeps you warm. After we did gifts under the tree, it was time to get gifts from the stockings. We did it in the same order. We were done after that. Then, at Noon, we started cooking ham for lunch. Carlos, Dawn, and I were setting the table. Jeff barely helps out while he's here since he visits and Sharon don't expect him to do anything.
Marci, Kathi, and Patti came over during that time. We were planning to eat in the living room while the adults stay at the table. We do that often. I don't mind since I love being with all of my siblings. Jeff's heading back to California tomorrow and Dawn would be going there, too and will be back the night before we go back to school after vacation. She's looking forward to spend the rest of the vacation with her father.
At 12:45 pm, the doorbell rang as I went to answer. It was the girls' grandfather.
"Hi, Merry Christmas," I said.
"Merry Christmas. The girls knew you couldn't come over, so I came over to give you the gifts from me and Ginny," said Jeffrey.
"Sweet," I said.
"If you want to open them now, you can," said Jeffrey.
"Go ahead," said Dad.
That's what I did and it was a nice sweater with Santa and a nice pair of new blue jeans.
"Awesome! Thank you," I said as I hugged him.
"That's very nice," said Dad.
"I got the girls like that, too, only Kayla has Elves while Kaylee has Snowman," said Jeffrey.
"Very cool," I said. "Tell Ginny that I said thank you."
"I will," said Jeffrey.
The ham was ready before 2:00 pm since it takes awhile to cook. I like meat sandwiches at night for dinner. Granny and Pop-Pop stayed until after dinner. I'm glad Marci, Patti, and Kathi get to stay over tonight.
"I had a great Christmas, Dad," I said.
"I'm glad," smiled Dad.
I hugged him tightly.
"Thanks for everything," I said.
"No problem," said Sharon.
"We plan to go hang out at my house," said Patti.
"I think so, too," I said.
"We plan to do that instead of having it at mine," said Marci.
Patti was having a sleep over at her house, so we plan to drop our things.
We went to bed at ten after a long day, but we didn't care. It was still a fun holiday.