Monday, December 29, 2008

Christmas Wrap-Up

I don't even know where to begin. Perhaps you would like to hear about the fact that the kids were so excited by the sheer number of gifts under the tree that they were up and down all night wondering, "Is it time to get up yet?" We are talking at 2:00 a.m., again at 4:30, and finally at 5:45. Apparently at some point I had told them that I would NOT get out of bed before 6:00; I heard them all wake, and Steve kept poking me, and the very second the clock ticked over to 6:00, Eli popped up and sang, "Merry Christmas, it's time to get up!" Just to be naughty, then, I made them ALL wait in the bedroom while I went out and started to coffee and stood outside having a veeeeerry leisurely smoke while the dog went potty. The absolute amazement when they walked out into the living room was definitely a sight to see.


Maybe instead you would like to know that after we got done setting the "Santa" gifts out under the tree on Christmas Eve, I sat there and cried like a baby, completely at a loss for words. Or that even later that afternoon when April called me, I was still in a daze and could not form a coherent sentence to save my life. The things sent were nothing short of a miracle; there were toys (to the person who sent the Nerf dart guns: you will be pleased to know that the boys have delighted in shooting darts at this snowman we have hanging on the wall, laughing hysterically every time they hit it because then it appears as if he has a tiny orange penis. Perhaps I should be more strict about stuff like that, but since I thought it was funny as well, hard to do. We are a simple family, easily amused), there were games (dude. Man Bites Dog is THE funniest game in the world, hands down. As is Scattergories, because I read so much and am so nerdy that I kick.ass. at. it.), there was jewelry...the list goes on.

So a special, huge, heartfelt thanks goes out to Mr. Lady AND to April for ensuring that we had such a wonderful Christmas. I believe it was Mr. Lady's idea, and she harnessed her powers for good to convince people I don't even know to send us things. April was, I think, sort of the liaison as well, since she knows me so well. I am not sure how many of you want to remain anonymous, so perhaps I won't mention any other names, but thank you all, so much. Also, there are many who I couldn't name if I tried, as there were no names provided. So thank you for the lovely earrings, and the gift cards, and the necklace for Hannah with the beautiful star on it. Thank you for the tent, and the BOOKS (how did you know that Calvin and Hobbes AND Ripley's Believe It Or Not would be huge hits at my house?), and the yummy foot scrub stuff that makes my feet look so pretty. Thank you for the marshmallow shooters and the Nerf football and the Frisbee, for the aforementioned Nerf dart guns and the Iron Man Robot. The trucks and cars for Owen, the really neat puzzles for him, the t-shirts for Eli and the Tommy Hilfiger boxer shorts ( he told me to specifically mention those, because he said he feels like a real man when he wears them), the journal and the cross-stitch kit for Hannah. Thank you SO much for the gift cards and, yes, the money, because for the first time in a long time we have a full fridge. April and someone else helped pay for Sam's spiffy new glasses (which are SO cute, and thank you Jebus he can SEE!), someone else some new clothes for Hanna, and in fact all the kids got new clothes AND shoes. Sam got the coveted Easy Bake Oven, and all of it-ALL of it-was paid for by all of you.

I know I have missed a lot of you, left a lot of you out, and please forgive me. Please forgive me for being, still, so stunned and grateful at the generosity of strangers, the willingness of people to organize this whole event and make sure we were taken car of. And yes, taken care of in the material sense, but also on a much more fundamental level than that. The simple act of gifts sent nurtured my spirit, that part of me which has seen a lot of the really unsavory aspects o human nature over the last year. Thank you all for reminding me that for every really, really crappy, lowlife human being out there, there are ten to make up for it. Thank you for making my family and I feel so loved and yes, special, cherished, pampered. I truly don't have any more words now than when I started, so please, accept this as the genuine thank you it is.

18 comments:

Kori said...

He always provide one way or anoher through someone or another. So glad your Christmas was wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Mwah! Big ol' kisses to you!

April said...

Okay, the only reason I'm not a bawling mess right now is because I was stuffing my mouth while reading this.
Sweetie, it's a gift for ME (and I think I can speak for everyone else) to be able to truly help make a difference in your lives. Not just for the material things, but knowing that YOU can feel our love.
And I do love you.

FreedomFirst said...

Wow! I'm so glad that so many people responded. (Grins :D))))))))

Glad you had a Merry Christmas!

GypsiAdventure said...

I'm so glad everyone enjoyed and was delighted with their gifts! Miracles come at the most unexpected of times...
~K

Jennifer said...

Wow--that's great Kori!! It sounds like you had an amazing Christmas and that you have some amazing readers and friends!!

I love Scattergories--I wish there were a way to play it online w/ you!

Unknown said...

How great and so glad that ti went so miraculously well and that everyone had such an amazing time! You are amazing and all I can thinknowis how muchI smiled and loved reading this post...

Hugs,
G

PS: Save me Jebus...one of DH's and I's fave sayings...LOL!

Rachael said...

It's to bad I didn't have April's foresight to stuff my face before starting to read, because I am crying enough for me AND her. I am so, so glad that you and your kids had such an AMAZING Christmas! It sounds absolutely incredible. This is exactly the kind of story that gives me so much faith in people. Also, Scattergories is my FAVORITE game.

Julie@My5monkeys said...

glad that you had a wonderful christmas.

Anonymous said...

I just wish I could have been there to dry your tears and give you all a big hug. I would have thrown in some Rocky Mountain Chocolate too, but I think you got your fair share of sweets eh? MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HERE'S TO 2009 ROCKING!!!!

Anonymous said...

I've been waiting for this particular post for weeks! SO glad it was a great holiday for all of you, and thanks for writing this up -- as far as I'm concerned, this post was the best gift I got all season long.

Mama Smurf said...

My heart is jumping up and down and doing somersaults for you and your kids. So happy.

PS...Calvin & Hobbs is my kids' FAVORITE! (And mine)

Anonymous said...

I'm happy that it was a good day for you. I hope you all love everything and remember that we love you.

Sunshine said...

I hope the "bling" shirt fit Hannah, pop me an email if it didn't.

And a big pile of unexpected gifts is so damn exciting I would have gotten out of bed at ass-thirty in the morning too!!!

Anonymous said...

This is so great. I cried my eyes out reading this - I'm so happy for your family, and that you had a good Christmas. You SO deserve it!!

Mr Lady said...

What XBox said. Also, people rock. A whole, whole lot. And you do, too.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad that you all had a nice Christmas! It was the least we could do to help you out!

That Mr. Lady is too awesome for words!

BusyDad said...

Awesomeness begets awesomeness. Now that's a vicious cycle that I don't mind starting off the new year with. It started with you, Kori. If you weren't the good person that you are, this would never have sparked like this.