Hope and I spent some time this evening watching videos of the kids when they were little . . . Hope was especially little. It was our first Christmas in HB, 1995.
You can not believe the chaos that ensued at the Roderick house on that special Christmas morning. Nana and Grandpa Roderick joined us for all the festivities and rituals that had been perfected over the years.
The girls are required to line up in their order of birth, youngest to oldest, at the top of the stairs. No peeking. Our tree is located in the living room so they must form their line in our bedroom until we have the camera and lighting just right. Then they proceed to the Christmas domain at the foot of the landing.
They come clattering down the stairs and start looking for the wrapped presents under the artificial Christmas tree (we chopped our own tree in Oregon for $4.00, so in California we went fake to save money). We strive for turn taking, which rarely happens, for the unwrapping to begin. Paper flies, squeals emerge, boxes are tossed, ribbons are flung, messes are made. Cries of glee spring forth as the anticipated gift is revealed. It all take about 30 seconds, give or take a few minutes.
After this activity is complete we travel to the family room, where Santa Claus has left his deposits right next to the fireplace and the craziness repeats itself. Kelsey tries to be the mature young lady. Addison is running the show. Shae is excited about every gift she has opened. Hope is more interested in opening all gifts so she can rip off the paper.
What really gets Hope and I as we watched this video was the tiny voices of our kids. They are so familiar yet forgotten. We sat together and just smiled as we listened and enjoyed those melodious sounds. Hope watches what her sisters put her through and just laughs and laughs. I am sure she is plotting something big for future use.
Did I mention this ritual continues every year? The girls wouldn't have it any other way. Even when we are out of town we make the tradition happen. A small sidebar, on Christmas Eve the girls are allowed one present to open that Scott and I have already selected. Holiday pajamas. Every year.
We love a Roderick Christmas.
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