We started what I hope will become a new Bangsund Family tradition on Christmas - a new puzzle! Erik and I saw this Legend of Zelda themed puzzle online over a month ago. It was a must have. We weren't really sure when it would make an appearance, but the boys' restless behavior on Christmas told us it was time!
We all worked together on these 550 pieces, and it was epic. The only struggle was that both boys wanted to put together the Link (hero and all-around awesome green-clad character) pieces. Once we solved this issue by telling them to do it together, it went pretty well.
I also don't have a picture of the boys posing all dressed up for church. But I gave them their new slippers shortly before we left, so I have those pictures.
You can't tell, but they are Wookie-themed slippers - Star Wars - HUGE around here - the kids like it, too. ;-)
Also Wookie-themed, but slightly different. Oh, and Luke has tape on his toes because I'm fairly certain he broke one of them running through the house about a week before this shot was taken. Yep.
After this, we went to church with Grandma and Grandpa, ate a beautiful dinner at their place, and opened more presents. And I failed to take a single picture. Sometimes it's just nice to enjoy the moment. It was a lovely evening and we were blessed with lots of great gifts, including Storm Trooper Hanna Andersson jammies for the boys and a sewing machine for me!
Christmas morning, I was the first person up, around 6:15am. It took me about ten minutes to get the table set for our celebration. Chocolate birthday cake with peppermint frosting, worship packets, Christmas dishes, and the World Vision Gift Catalog to pick birthday presents for Jesus. This start to our Christmas morning celebration never disappoints. It is always cool.
Looking through the catalog, Luke piped up, "Mom! Look, you can give a sewing machine - just like you got from Grandma and Grandpa last night!" So I can, buddy. What a great idea. A sewing machine gifted to a woman in the third world provides a sustainable livelihood for her and her family. It's food. It's safety. It's well-being. It's perfect.
Paul picked a very cool water pump that is operated by foot, the pedals for which look a lot like an elliptical. I think Paul probably thought it just looked fun! But he was also jazzed to know that it would provide folks with clean water.
Erik picked $1,200 worth of medication for not nearly that much money. It's super cool to be able to pick gifts that match with our passions.
Meanwhile, Luke was quietly reading a page in his catalog that has always been there, but drew his attention this year. The page tells the story of a girl who gets trafficked. I didn't actually realize he was processing the story until he said, "This. I want to give this. Safety for a girl." When my boy read those three paragraphs, he immediately decided that he needed to do something about it. This is the man I pray that I am raising, a man of integrity who sees the injustice in the world and takes as much action as he possibly can. I have never been so moved by one of my boy's choices. I'm pretty sure at that age, I might have just ignored that page because it was terrible and sad and uncomfortable. Luke doesn't want to ignore it. He wants to help fix it. And that, friends, is awesome.
Once that sweet tradition was done, it was time for our gift giving to each other. Okay, here's the deal. While we were on vacation alone together at the cabin earlier in December, Erik and I completed a little online questionnaire about our love languages. You know, the way each of us communicates and receives love most effectively. So, quality time was my first love language, and receiving gifts was my second. Well, folks, let me just tell you that I knew about that secondary business and always thought that I should just pretend that wasn't a thing. Because it felt kinda selfish. But then we read more about it. It's not about big, expensive shiny things. In fact, those don't count unless there is time and thought behind them. Gifts matter when they say, "I've listened to you. I know what will delight you."
This is the part where my husband rocks. Erik will be the first to admit that coming up with gift ideas for his wife is hard. The ADD mind struggles to remember the conversation where the wife mentioned the thing that would delight her on Christmas morning. And people, I have let go of this business in a lot of ways. So, when Erik surprised me on Christmas morning with not one, but THREE thoughtful, meaningful gifts, I wept. For real. Wanna see what he got me?
That personalized glass ornament of a piano hanging from the lamp commemorates this year, the year I started lessons again and we got an acoustic piano. Cried when I opened that business. Did I mention that I started collecting the old style glass ornaments two years ago? And then there is the piano music...from Jane Austen movies...that I love. How awesome is my husband? Super awesome. He nailed this BIG time. I already knew that he loves me, but for whatever reason, when he buys me meaningful gifts, my heart sings.
And then the kids opened their gifts!
Paul got this Lego Dimensions thing in his stocking. He was pretty impressed.
Both boys got these cool Star Wars cups in their stockings.
We continued the tradition of giving each boy three gifts corresponding with their hearts (toy), souls, and minds...although I did cheat a bit this year.
Both boys received piano music this year as their soul gift...because music feeds the soul...right? Luke got music from "The Legend of Zelda" video games and Paul got music from Mario video games. They can't quite play them yet, but they LOVED listening to me pick my way through them. SO fun!
Paul got this robotic dinosaur as his "heart" gift. We were together in Kohl's at the very beginning of December when he spotted it. I don't think he ever thought I would actually get it for him.
And then Luke opened this Nerf blaster, something he saw and loved on the same Kohl's trip. I don't know if their love language is receiving gifts, but I LOVE paying attention and getting them at least one thing that shows I was listening. And folks, sometimes I'm sad that we never did Santa, but when it all comes down, I'm super glad my kids know that I know them and give them good gifts.
Then my mom came over and we had lazy brunch, followed by presents. Here she is opening the ornament that I made with the boys' picture. She's pretty thrilled.
Okay, so this past summer Luke read the ENTIRE Redwall series in three months. That's 22 books written on about a seventh grade reading level. He loved it. And my mom noticed. She bought him the first 12 books in the series and gave them to him on Christmas morning. He was beyond thrilled.
That stack of books has made for a VERY quiet Christmas break around here. Lovely gift, Oma!
Then the boys hugged Oma!
Christmas evening we enjoyed time at Uncle Bob and Aunt Cindy's but again I failed to take pictures. We had a great time catching up with family and laughing really hard at the crazy antics of gag gift boxes. So hilarious!
That's the Christmas business. I think I'll save the rest of vacation for another post. :-)
