Our First VIennese Christmas

Christmas morning for us this year was the magical stuff of childhood.  All of us were giddy with excitement as we snuggled together in bed, (for maybe a minute or two) speculating about the arrival of Santa and whether there would be any new presents under the tree.  Eventually, we couldn't stand it anymore and ran together out to the living room where there were gifts overflowing and new dollies sitting under the tree.  Because I didn't have the heart to make the girls wait around for breakfast without opening any gifts, we let them open presents from each other first.  Bailey picked out a glittery flying pig ornament for Audrey, a Christmassy ring and stick-on earrings, temporary tattoos and a little stuffed horse on a keychain for her school backpack.  Audrey got Bailey a monstrous playdough kit that makes cupcakes and ice cream. (can you tell who took her shopping? Next year Mama's enforcing a price limit)

Luckily, though, ripping open the playdough was enough of a distraction for me to whip up some biscuits and gravy for breakfast.  This is old-school traditional Gamelin family fare on Christmas morning and I could not believe how long we stayed at the table trying to get the girls to finish eating.  There were mounds of presents waiting in the next room.  If that's not motivation to stuff your gob, I don't know what is.

After what felt like hours lingering at the breakfast table, the girls finally set to work, opening presents.  A good number were from John and I, but it was really nice to have so many gifts under the tree from family too, wrapping everybody into our Christmas celebration.  The girls got lots of books and art supplies, movies, new figurines for their wonderful land of make believe.  The big one for Audrey...the one I could tell she was waiting for...was the only thing she's really ever asked for as a gift.  This is the first year she has voluntarily requested anything for Christmas: "A dog who can walk and talk, but isn't real.  Who's white and has a leash."  This might sound random, but her best friend back home has a FurReal dog (on a leash, who can be 'walked' around the house) and she wanted one too.  Audrey got one strip of wrapping paper off the box, realized what was inside, shrieked in excitement, jumped up and down flapping her hands and then refused to take the rest of the paper off the box because she was so nervously excited.

Um, that dog was worth it.

And because Audrey got one, Bailey got a dog too.  Her's doesn't walk (thank God!) but he does make noise--he came with a vet bag full of equipment to take care of him.  He sneezes (good Lord!), barks and makes chewing noises when you feed him a bone.  Pretty ridiculous stuff, but the girls love it, of course. 

After all the gifts were unwrapped, several of them already busted open and being played with, John rolled out the big kahuna; the doll mansion that is taller than either of the girls.  Obviously, much elation occurred...and thank goodness there was a place for all those new figurines to live.  The girls haven't really stopped playing with their dollhouse since.

The rest of our day was gloriously lazy, spent playing with all the exciting new things in the house, smelling and eventually getting to dig in to the turkey.  We were planning on having friends over for dinner, but they wound up with sick kiddos.  Never let it be said that the four of us can't manage a festive feast, however!  I indulged in some Christmas poppers from the British market in our neighborhood; we ate dinner wearing paper crowns and laughing over the other cheesy contents--conversation starters like "what kind of pizza topping best fits your personality?".  Cheese.  Definitely cheese.   

After dinner there were mincemeat tarts, fruitcake, Christmas cookies and marshmallows...and John trying to figure out how to video chat on his new iPad.  We spent the evening watching new movies (Brave!) and chatting with family in between.  It might not have been a traditional Christmas, but it was filled with new wonderful ways to celebrate together. 

I struggled a lot this year with our seeming unchecked consumerism, feeling the need to teach my kids that it isn't all about presents--that the American ideal of excess is flawed.  I might regret it some day, but this year we chose to sweep that all aside--to allow some excess and magic into our celebrating.  We wanted the girls to have it at least this once, and especially while we are so far away from our family.  It's indisputable that the magic of the day was palpable--one I hope our girls will be able to remember.