…
…
SMACK!
What's going on?
"Mommy! Dad! Wake UP!"
Beneath the covers, I feel Cat kick me hard in the calf.
I groan and squint to see my youngest son bouncing between Cat and I.
"Corey…we told you to wait for Christmas until a decent hour this year…" I say.
"I did!"
"No it's notttt…" Cat grumbled, then plopped into her pillow.
I blindly reach for my phone.
6:30.
Right on the dot.
"Corey! What are you doing?" I hear Kevin hiss.
"Nothing!" Corey yelped.
"Don't wake them up! It's still early!"
"We're already up." Cat and I both say, our voices muffled by our pillows.
"Oh…really?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah." Cat mumbled.
"Can we start Christmas?" Corey asked.
I can see his smile thru my shut eyes and my pillow.
Cat ran her foot gently over my leg.
"Sure buddy. Give us a few minutes to get dressed please. We'll be right out."
"Ok!"
I felt him hop off the bed.
"WOO HOO! CHRISTMAS!"
"Shut the door behind you Kevin honey." Cat called out.
"Ok Mom."
Clunk.
"Uhhhhh…" Cat moaned. "What time is it?"
"6:30." I say.
"That's the latest they've ever gotten up on Christmas since they…were little." Cat yawned, then rolled and put her arms around me.
"I guess we should be grateful." I joke.
Cat smiled and curled next to me.
I quickly kiss her and give her a hug.
"Merry Christmas babe."
"Merry Christmas…I can't wait until we can wait with Christmas." She moaned.
I grudgingly swing to my feet.
Cat grudgingly did the same, then pulled her tank top down far enough so she could slip a bra on.
I threw on pajama pants and a t-shirt.
We meet at the door and kiss again before opening it.
…
The living room is lit softly by the Christmas tree.
Cat grabbed my arm and stifled a laugh as Corey is just staring at the tree, as if it would come alive at any moment.
My eyes move to the couch.
Kevin's texting someone.
I smile to myself.
Then his eyes find me, and the phone disappears.
"Is Syd up?" I ask.
Kevin nodded and gestured towards the kitchen.
Cat walks with me, and the light quickly appears.
She dimmed them.
She's happy with little to no light.
"Hey Sydney." Cat said softly.
She turned in her Deka shorts and t-shirt and smiled.
"Hi. I'm making us coffee."
"Aww…" Cat smiled, then walked over to hug her.
"Mind if I hit the lights?" I ask.
She nodded just as Cat hugged her.
I turn and flip on the light.
Syd is taller than her mom.
It's really not close. Sydney is 5'5. Cat's 5'2.
Sydney smiled as Cat let go, then turned to the coffee maker.
Beep beep beep.
Sydney grabbed the coffee cup for the Couric and handed it to her mom.
"I'll start on yours Dad." She said quietly.
"Nah, it's good. I got it. Have you got some?" I asked as she turned to the machine.
She turned back to face me, holding a cup filled to the brim with what looks like hot chocolate.
"That answers that." I smile.
She looked down and away, looking satisfied.
"I'll be in there in a bit Syddo."
"Ok daddy."
She walks towards the living room, and over her shoulder I see Cat hug Corey.
I choose French Vanilla and set a cup under the machine.
"Ok…now that everyone is awake, who wants to go running?" I joke, sneaking behind the couch.
My joke is met with a collective moan.
Cat plopped her head onto Corey's shoulder.
"Ok, ok. Bad joke. I get the point. How about what's under the tree?"
Kevin and Corey jumped like they got shocked.
"PLEAAAAAAASSSSSEEE!"
"Sure. Youngest to oldest as normal." Cat said.
I glance at Sydney.
She's settled into her "I don't like this, but I know the drill" face.
Beep Beep Beep.
I walk over and retrieve my coffee, then sit next to Sydney as Corey is choosing between presents.
"Ooh! Santa gave me this one!" He beamed, then decided.
Sydney and I glance at one another.
I bribed her with $100 to play along with Corey and pretend Santa is still real.
Kevin figured out this summer, and honestly, I don't think he's over the shock.
He's playing along too, without the bribe.
As I said, good kid.
"YES!" he yelled.
I smile.
It's a remote controlled helicopter. He's been talking about it for weeks.
"Me next." Kevin said happily, as Corey sat on his mom's lap, smiling from ear to ear.
He's going to be happy about this one too.
He picked the big present first.
The small box.
The game shaped present.
"Aww! No way!" he looked up at me.
"Santa overruled your mom and I. He said you earned it." I say.
Cat barely smirked at me.
Actually, I overruled her.
It's the new Rush Of Duty game. It's M for Mature, and you have to be over 18 to buy it.
Cat didn't want him having it at 12. I showed her that they have settings for younger kids, and she gave in.
"Sydney. You're up." Cat smiled.
Corey's already bouncing in anticipation for his next gift.
I gently motion for him to calm down, just as Cat grabbed his bouncing leg.
"Only one from Santa…aww man!" She said, sounding very convincing.
The boys and Cat all laughed.
"What'd you do Sydney?" I ask, then unable to hold back my laugh.
"Nothing…WHOA!" She yelped.
A rare showing of extreme happiness from her.
She lives on the cool end of the emotional scale. Never high or low.
She tore into the box, showing a Mucchi purse.
Kevin's gaze tightens as Corey gets bored and starts going for more presents.
"A purse?" he asked.
"Yup. Apparently I was wrong. He decided to go high dollar for you." I tease.
She smiled.
"Corey! Easy bud." I tell him.
"I know I know daddy…"
"Just saying bud. Didn't mean to jump on ya." I say softly.
He grabbed the next present and tore off the paper.
"Yay!" He smiled.
Again, another video game.
In a way, it's sad how powerful those things are to the boys.
But thankfully we're done with them.
Kevin was next up.
"Corey! Look!"
Corey turned from his game and saw the brand new football.
"Cool! We have a football again!"
"Please don't overfill it with air please." Cat smiled gently at Corey, then giving him a squeeze.
"We won't."
I told them to call me or Mom outside any time they filled it up again.
Corey went for his last Santa present.
"A glove!"
I smile.
"Yeah buddy. You're starting tee ball in March."
Corey can't hide his excitement.
Kevin can't either. But that makes sense because he was really good last year and has had Rafael taking him to the pitching machines near the baseball fields and practicing for months.
Cat and I have been wondering if we stumbled into an athlete. I know I'm the least athletic person around, and Cat's agile and has a good build.
Maybe it's my Dad's blood. He was all state quarterback back in the 70's.
I blink and Kevin has his last Santa gift.
This time he didn't say anything, but his face lit up.
It's a hat.
When he and his friends hang at the mall, almost all the guys wear hats. Usually Matt let Kevin borrow one of his hats.
Not anymore.
One of the times Matt was here, Jade snuck into his room and wrote down the type and size of every hat for Cat and I.
Kevin smiled and put it on.
"I'm so wearing this over to Aunt Jade's today."
"Cool." Cat smiled, and then sipped her coffee.
"And now…you guy can get mad at us!" I joke.
All the kids laugh.
They know the drill about Cat and I's presents.
One is here for each of them.
The other is at Jade's, and when we go over later, we'll have our normal meal and open more presents.
"Who goes first?" Corey asked.
He wants to open his NOW.
"I think your sister should go." Cat said.
"That's not fair! She's older and got the nicest gift!" kevin blurted out.
I immediately look to him and give him a soft glare.
I told the kids last night no fighting over presents.
He knows that now he's last.
He quickly looked away.
"That's ok." Sydney smiled. "I can wait."
"Ok. Go ahead Corey." I say, leaning back into the couch and wraping my arm around Sydney.
"Thanks." I give her a light hug.
"No problem daddy." She quietly replied back.
Corey's face is the picture of shock.
He knows better than to say anything.
It's the worst present you can give a kid his age.
Clothes.
It's silly, since it's not like my mom bought terrible clothes like she did for me. But that was before she retired and became cool and knew all the cool trends for kids.
Kevin tore his open too, and he also got clothes.
He hugged his mom, since those are the t-shirts he wanted.
Corey is back to playing with his game box.
Sydney handed me her drink and sauntered over to pick up her last gift.
…
"Boots!"
Then she whipped to face Cat.
"Mommy! How'd you know?"
"I saw a lot of teen girls at my concerts this fall wearing boots. Then when I picked you up from the mall a few times your friends were wearing them. Didn't want you to be left out."
Sydney burst into a huge smile and walked over and hugged Cat.
Corey, not wanting to be left out, hugged Mom from the other side.
I smile, just in time for Kevin to plop next to me and say "Thanks Dad."
"No problem Kevin. You pumped for baseball?"
"You have no idea. I wanna hit .400. it hasn't been done in over 60 years." He smiled.
"Professionally. I'm pretty sure you did better than that last year."
"But what about curveballs? I was texting coach a day or two ago, and he said that some kids would be throwing curveballs and changeups!"
I give him a funny look.
"They'll mess up their arm. And it won't be like a curveball in your video game. It probably won't break much."
"What about changeups?"
I glance up to see Corey coming for his hug.
I pull him in and smile.
"What are you talking about?" He asked quietly.
"Baseball buddy. And changeups are just a slow fastball."
Kevin let me go and looked astonished. "Slow?"
"Yup."
A devious look spread across his face.
"Why…would anybody throw a slow and straight pitch?"
Corey shrugged.
I smile.
"So you can hit your home run this year."
He had a laser beam bounce off the wall last year. It might have gone 250 feet if the fence hadn't stopped it dead.
Both boys beamed.
"Now go hop into the shower guys. We'll do your stockings before we go to Jade's." I say.
"Ok!" Both boys hop up, Corey giving me a extra hug then racing upstairs behind Kevin.
I look to Cat talking to Sydney in a serious tone.
I…should probably—
"Robbie, please come here." Cat said just as I was about to refill my coffee.
I turn and walk back.
"Yeah?"
"Sydney here is worried." Cat began.
"About what?" I ask.
Sydney looks at her feet.
"She's worried that her friends have more than one pair of boots."
I smile, and Cat winks at me.
That's Jade and Beck's present.
"Don't worry about it Syddo. Boots season begins around concert season. We'll get you another pair or two if you want."
She shyly looked up and smiled.
"Hey." Cat smiled, hugging her around the shoulder. "Smile."
"I am."
"We're not going to laugh at you sweetheart. You can always be you here." Cat said softly.
"Exactly. No need to be all quiet and passive. If you want something, it's home. Go get it." I add on.
She suddenly hugged Mom tightly and hopped up and basically tackled me.
"Ahh!" I joke at the sudden and tight hug.
"Better?" She smiled.
"Yeah. Now—"
"I know the drill. Shower, then stockings." She smiled and ran up the stairs.
I look to Cat, who is surrounded by wrapping paper.
"I'll take the first shower. You come with me and watch TV." I say.
She smiled and allowed me to pull her to her feet.
"Will you get the trash please?" She asked.
"Of course." I smile.
I grab my clothes out of my closet and able over to the master bathroom.
One of the awesome things about this house is that it has a tankless water heater.
Well…two actually.
One for Cat and I's bathroom, and one for the rest of the house.
The kids always say our shower is "Too Hot."
Cat and I firmly believe that there is no such thing, until you get burned.
103 degree water is helpful to wake you up and loosen your muscles.
It's sad how creaky you are in your 30's.
Gosh, I remember when Sydney was a baby. Cramming myself next to her crib because I was scared to death of her dying.
I could never do that now without needing a 8 hour surgery to loosen me back up.
Something else that's nice is how to temperature in the room automatically adjusts once you turn off the water, so you don't get that "OH MY GOD IT'S COLD" feeling.
But that's just our bathroom. The kids still get that wonderful feeling.
I open the bathroom dor and smile at Cat, who's adorably wrapped up under the covers.
"Comfy?"
She turned and smiled. "Yep yep."
"Sorry to end it by getting out." I say.
"No problem. Jadey texted me."
"What'd she say?"
"Ellie and Matty don't want to put on normal clothes. She sent out a message to me and Tori saying that the kids will still be in pajamas."
"Being stubborn I see." I smile.
"Uh huh. I was about to tell the kids. But maybe you can do it…" She smiled and poked me.
I laugh.
"…Sure."
"YAY! Love you!"
I scoop her up and kiss her.
"I hope that's not the only reason." I tease.
She shook her head, then ambled off to the bathroom.
I slip into the house and creep upstairs.
"Guys, I'm coming up the stairs!' I call out softly.
They hate my quiet feet, and I hate scaring them badly.
Suddenly Corey comes running, clad in only his underwear.
"Yeah daddy?"
I smirk. "You can go put pants on. It's not that urgent."
Poof.
He's gone.
"What goes on?" Sydney asked.
"Hold on. Your brother is changing. Where is Kevin?"
"Singing in the shower."
We both go quiet enough to hear the sound of him singing.
I laugh quietly, then Corey's footsteps come back.
"Dude!" I say suddenly.
He's in jean and a polo.
"What? Do I look ok?"
"Yeah. When'd you start dressing yourself so easily?"
"Sissy helped me." He pointed to Sydney, who is still in her doorway wrapped in her towel.
"Thanks Syd."
"No problem. What's up?" She asked.
"Ellie and Matt don't want to get out of their pajamas. So they'll be in them when we go over."
"Aww man." Syd frowned.
Corey let out a yelp of glee, then fled the room.
"Sorry sweetie."
"it's ok. Thanks for telling me. Do you know where my hair dryer is?" She asked.
I shrugged. "Can't find it?
Bang Bang.
That's Corey and the bathroom door.
They share a bathroom.
Sydney gets her own because she's a girl.
The boys don't like that, but tough for them.
"Nope."
"I'll go borrow your mom's spare and bring it up. I'll leave it at the door then knock once ok?"
I know she doesn't like me coming into her room much.
"Thanks." She smiled.
"Be right back."
The gentle thud of the door as I walked downstairs made me smile.
I didn't have a sister, so this is really my first experience with a teenage girl.
Cat said she wasn't as private with her mom and dad. But then again her family was a bit weird.
Syd is totally normal. She has her odd moments, but you have you work to get them.
Very rarely she's in such a good mood she just bounces around all day.
Those are fun days though.
I grab Cat's spare hair dryer out of her dresser and hear her singing "teenage Dream" by Katy Perry.
"Nice singing!" I call out.
"Shut up!" She giggled.
I smile and walk back upstairs, place the hair accessory at the foot of the door and knock once, then walk back down.
"Thanks Dad!" I hear her call out.
"No problem." I say to thin air.
Thud.
I quickly gather up the trash by the Christmas tree and take it out to the trash cans.
By the time I get back, all the kids are sitting on the couch.
Sydney and Kevin are on opposite sides, but both are texting.
Corey is in the middle and looking at a book.
I smile and move to open the door to the bedroom, but it opens to Cat, ready to go.
"Oh, hey!" I say.
"Hi." Cat smiled. "We ready for stockings?"
"Yup."
"Yay!" The kids cheer.
I turn and see all three moving towards them.
This is also the fun part for cat and i.
We filled the other one's stocking, and we don't know what is in ours.
I follow suit with the kids and take mine off the hook.
Kevin let off a cheer.
He got two pear store music cards and a fun pack of candy.
"No candy until after we get back…" Cat said, distracted by her stocking.
"Woo hoo!" Corey cheered.
He got a gift card for a book at the book store he loves and candy too.
…
I turn to Cat and smile.
"You're the best."
She looked up and smiled.
She knew I love go kart racing with the kids.
So she bought a pass for 4 hours of go karts at the local track a few miles away.
She also got me a gift card for some nice clothes and a bottle of cologne she likes.
I turn and see Sydney has gotten her stuff out, and was typically silent.
She got 2 music cards, a $200 shopping spree at Canadian apparel and two packs of gum.
She doesn't really do much candy.
"Thanks daddy!" Corey suddenly said, then hugged me.
"Merry Christmas bud."
"Thank you." I hear Kevin said.
I look up and smile at him.
Then cat wrapped her arms around me and kissed me cheek.
"Thank you too."
I got her a 4 person pass to a day spa, along with some bath stuff and a bag of bibble.
"BIBBLE!" Kevin yelped, causing al three kids to jump to their feet.
They all inherited their mother's love for the stuff.
"After…we get back we may get some out ok?"
"Ok!" The boys chime in.
"C'mon. let's go." Cat said.
Everybody got up and traipsed to the door.
I lock it behind us and hop into the front seat.
The 5 minute drive to Jade is quiet and filled mostly by texting from Cat, Sydney and Kevin.
I pull up behind Beck's car and stop.
The kids pile out and race to the door.
We would tell them to stop, but I'm glad they're excited.
As Cat and I get to the open door, we hear cheering and Jade say "Hey!"
We both smile and slip in to see Ellie and Sydney hugging, Matt smiling and looking at Corey, and Kevin looking up at Beck.
"Hey you guys!" Jade beamed, suddenly appearing.
"Hey!" Cat and I both say.
Jade and Cat hugged, then Jade gave me a squeeze.
"Merry Christmas." I say.
"Merry Christmas. When did yours get up?" Jade asked.
I see beck look to us and smile.
"6:30."
"Lucky." Jade grumbled.
"Huh?" I say.
Beck walked over and hugged Cat.
"Matt was up at 4:45."
"What about Ellie?" I ask.
"She slept until 9." Jade smiled.
"Nice. Long day already?" I ask Matt, who is approaching.
He shook his head, then hugged Cat.
"Why'd you get up so early?" Cat asked kindly.
"It's Christmas. You have to get up early."
"No you don't." Jade, Beck, Cat and I all say at the same time.
Matt smiled.
"Hey Matt! What'd you get?" Kevin suddenly asked.
"Follow me!" he said.
The boys all trampled upstairs.
"Uncle Robbie." Ellie smiled.
"Hey Ellie. Merry Christmas." I say.
"You too."
I turn to Sydney. "Did the boys get you up?" I ask.
She nodded.
"When?" Cat asked.
"3:30."
My jaw dropped, and I hear Cat make a exasperated noise.
"Really?" Jade asked.
Ellie is looking at her like she's some sort of higher being.
"I did what you said and let them play NextBox." Sydney began, looking at me. "I tried to hold them off as long as I could, but then they just ran away into your room."
"It's ok." Cat said.
"Thanks for trying. You tired?"
On cue, she yawned.
"No…not really. The coffee woke me up."
"I can tell." Beck joked.
"That yawn doesn't count." Ellie said.
Sydney smiled at her.
Got her back.
"There's coffee in the kitchen if you need it."
Poof.
Girls are gone.
"So…are Tori and Andre coming?" Cat asked.
Jade nodded. "With Olivia."
Ooh!
"Really?" I say.
"Good thing we brought her presents here." Cat said.
Jade smiled.
"Did I hear Olivia?" Ellie said quickly, appearing with a cup of coffee.
"Yep. She's coming any minute no—"
Beeeep.
That's the door.
Both girls immediately dash to the door.
Us adults take the long way around the stairs.
Andre has the diaper bag over his shoulder, and Tori has her.
Ellie and Sydney are both beaming.
"Hiiii!" Ellie smiled.
Olivia clearly slept well. She's got her eyes open and is grabbing for the girls.
Sydney waved and Ellie made a funny face.
Olivia giggled and kicked her feet.
"You can take her. Fine with me." Tori smiled gently.
Sydney immediately stepped forward and scooped Olivia up.
"Oh my gosh you're so big!" She beamed, and then kissed her cheek.
"Those cheeks are adorable!" Ellie gushed.
Olivia giggled again.
"Hi." Beck said to Andre and Tori.
"Hey!" Tori smiled.
"Merry Christmas." Andre smiled.
"We have everyone's gifts in the car." Tori added on.
"We'll get them later." I say.
"How is she?" Cat asked.
"She's great! Slept until 7 today."
"She pulled a Sydney." I immediately say.
Everyone laughed, which made Sydney look up.
"What?"
"On your first Christmas, your gift to your mom and I was a full night's sleep. Olivia did the same today." I say.
"Good Girl!" Jade smiled.
Ellie and Sydney came to stand with us.
Cat tickled Olivia's tummy, and she squirmed and giggled.
Then she burped.
"EEPPP!"
Both girls cringed, while Cat and Jade laughed.
"Sorry." Tori said.
"It's all good!" Beck said.
"C'mon. Sit down." Jade waved at everyone.
Cat ended up with Olivia on the couch.
"Can you go tell the boys that they need to stay upstairs if they want to be loud?" I asked Sydney and Ellie.
"Sure thing." Ellie said.
Both girls ran upstairs.
"How are you holding up?" I ask Tori and Andre.
"Pretty good. Starting to get more sleep." Tori said.
"I don't need much sleep. So I'm good." Andre smiled.
Thump thump thump.
Girls are back.
I glance up to see the girls.
And Corey?
What's he doing here?
"What's up bud?" I say.
"Hi Corey!" Tori smiled.
Andre gave him a fist pound and Corey hugged Tori.
"I heard Olivia was here. So I wanted to come say hi."
"Aww. That's thoughtful of you baby." Cat smiled.
Corey immediately gave Cat a look.
"Sorry." She apologized.
"Umm…"
"What's up man?" Jade smiled at him.
He's nervous.
Why?
"Can…can I hold her for a second?"
"Uhh…sure!" Tori said, looking at Cat and I, clearly taken aback.
"Why buddy?"
"I haven't gotten to hold her yet. Kevin and Matt did when we saw her last time. But I haven't yet." He said, sounding very sad.
"Aww…we didn't mean that bud." I say.
Jade has melted into a puddle.
Beck and Andre look like they feel bad.
"C'mere. Sit here." Cat smiled.
Corey sat next to her and smiled at Olivia.
Olivia is still looking at Cat.
"Hold your hands so that you support her head and body ok?" Tori said, demonstrating the proper technique.
Corey stared at Tori's hands, then copied her position.
"Like this?"
Cat smiled and handed him Olivia.
"Ooh!" he jumped, clearly not expecting it so soon.
Quickly, Olivia giggled.
"Hi! I'm Corey." He smiled.
She giggled again and kicked her feet.
"What'd I do?" he asked Mom.
"Nothing." Cat said.
"She likes you." Tori smiled.
I glance back to Cat, and she's clearly on the verge of crying.
Her baby is holding a baby.
I wrap my arm around Cat and squeeze her.
She grabbed onto my hand tightly.
"Can I set her bottom on my lap and use my hand to play with her?" He asked.
Tori nodded, and Corey gently set her down and removed his hand.
I look to Andre, who mouthed "He's good!" to me.
I smile and nod.
Tori discreetly catches a picture.
Corey softly rubs the top of her head, then freezes his arm and gazes at her shirt.
"This is a cool shirt!" He said.
"Thanks. Very Christmas-y." tori smiled.
"Ahh!" he suddenly yelped.
Olivia giggled.
She got her hand on his wrist and has it in her grasp.
"Uhhh…should I make her let go?" he asked.
"Not if you don't want to." Beck said.
I look around for the girls and find them past Beck.
They're both smiling happily.
I give them a thumbs up, and they both nod and wave.
I look back when Olivia giggled again.
"She really likes you Corey." Tori smiled.
"What do you think about a job Corey?" Andre joked.
Everyone laughed.
Then Olivia giggled, causing everyone to laugh again.