Merry and Bright (and silly, of course)!

Now that it's come and gone, I can say that Christmas 2018 pleasingly mixed some familiar traditions with a few updated twists on the classics. For example, this was obviously the first year we had to actually perform a retrieval operation in order to bring the college son home for the holidays. Then he ended up being responsible for one of those "new favorites", when he requested that we watch Frozen (DVRd during Thanksgiving, during a brief span of temporarily-free movie channels) on the 24th, rather than one of our customary choices (Grinch, Peanuts, Muppets--all of which are much-loved...but also viewed approximately a million times...each).

As we gathered on the family room couches, snuggled under warm blankets, laughing at the onscreen antics (and--mostly successfully--forcibly restraining oneself from singing along. You're welcome, child!), Derek noted, "I think we should do this every year, now! It totally counts as a holiday movie!" (Apparently, "containing a lot of snow" is the only criteria one needs. Eh, fair enough...if they're willing to tolerate a Disney princess flick...repeatedly...then who am I to argue?)

With regards to the gift-giving component of our festivities, as the kids have gotten older, it's become increasingly difficult to figure out what to get them on my own. Long gone are the simpler days when it was easy to tell which toy they wanted; therefore we've resorted to including them in the same process Husband and I use for each other--namely, asking for a specific list of items. Hey, it might take some of the...magical Santa surprise...out of Christmas morning...but it also relieves a great deal of the potential shopping stress...and at least you receive what you actually want, right?

So, Husband and Riley each requested a "non-blue hooded sweatshirt" (since oddly enough the only other ones they already own happen to be that color): Kohl's sale, check. Both the boys struggled to come up with anything else for a while, but finally Derek asked for a couple of new titles for his PS4, and a long-sleeved shirt for those balmy SC "Winter" days. I took care of the games myself, but Riley decided that he'd pick out the clothing for his bro.

Which is how he and I ended up at Fleet Feet, since each of us had won a gift certificate from a recent 5K, and they were expiring at the end of the month anyway. And, in what instantly became a part of WestEnders Family Lore, we found a really nice Nike dry fit quarter-zip, originally extremely overpriced (in my opinion, anyway) at $65, but currently located on the clearance rack for 25% off, which after applying our reward money came to a total of (drum roll) NINE DOLLARS. Riley proceeded to derive waaaayyy too much glee out of teasing his sibling over the next several days, about the "cheap gift", and how proud he was for obtaining it. So I'm not sure what Derek was expecting, with all the misleading information Riley fed him leading up to Christmas--but when he finally got his hands on his new apparel, it's safe to say that any misgivings he might have been harboring were safely dispelled.

Meanwhile, Riley himself did some research (naturally) and selected two paperbacks from the popular line of "[fill-in-the-blank] for dummies" that he wanted to add to his collection: (are you ready for this?) Thermodynamics...and Alternative Energy. You know, so he could have a little light reading over his vacation. Sheesh. Oh, and he emailed me the links so I could quickly and easily purchase them on Amazon. (I just...I can't even with this kid...)

As for myself, my wishes ran toward the practical (removable seat covers for the Subaru, to protect from passengers who are sweaty, or dirty, or sunscreen-covered, or what have you) and the healthy (a pillow that, when plugged in, delivers a heated massage sensation to wherever you apply it--such as my perennially cranky neck and shoulder region).

And then...there was the Elf usually known as "Derek", who decided this year that he'd do some of his own recon, and come up with something special for each of us. Thus Riley came to possess Pittsburgh Penguins slippers (because Derek admitted he was stumped as to what else to purchase)...I was able to add a University of South Carolina ornament (which we'd been conspicuously lacking) to ye olde tannenbaum...and Husband somehow became the proud owner of...a decorative, inflatable, Christmas NARWHAL. (Because really, what says "deck the halls" better than a fun, candy cane colored sea creature? Please don't answer that...)

Clearly, the boy knows his dad well, because Husband could not possibly have been more delighted, and immediately texted photographic evidence of himself with his new blow-up pet to both of his best buds (who quickly conceded that he had, in fact, won Christmas. Bunch of big honking gooberheads, ALL of them, I tell ya...).

So there you have it--a pretty cool yule for 2018 is in the books. Now Derek can plop himself in front of the TV and manipulate some virtual soccer and basketball players...Riley can learn more about the topics he thinks he might want to study when he reaches college age in a few years...I can spend some relaxing time having my on-call massager work out the knots in my back...and Husband can....I don't know, perhaps sample his bounty of unique snacks while lounging in his warm hoodie and gazing upon a cheerful ocean pal? Anyway, I'd call it a Christmas that is not likely to be soon forgotten, that's for sure.

And now, we commence packing for Maryland, and the next set of adventures. Whoo hoo!