Christmas was really magical for us. We decided that this year we would try new things. We tried to better think of those around us and their needs this Christmas instead of our own. We shoveled the snow off of people's driveways on Christmas Day, and even went to sing songs for an assisted living home. On Christmas Eve we went to Midnight Mass where we listened to music and the lessons prepared by the Reverend and other leaders of the Presbyterian Church near our house. It was really neat to listen to the music that they prepared to help us remember the true spirit of Christmas. The next morning we woke up to a white Christmas. Which was really fun, since it hasn't snowed much at all the last month.
At about 12 o'clock we were finally able to start opening our presents from Santa. Everyone was so excited to see what was left in their stockings this year.
One of the traditions that Santa has done the last two years is he folds money into shapes that represent what happened in the last year, or is going to happen by next Christmas. This year, mine was shaped like a butterfly since I will be spreading my wings and leaving home to go to college next year.
Christmas was very different for us this year. My parents tell us that they give Santa a budget every year, and that Santa has to be limited in what he can give us. Earlier this year we all pitched in money for us to go to Disneyland, which made the "Santa Budget" be smaller for us this year. So we decided that Santa would only give us stockings, and that we would all pick a family member to buy presents for this year. It was simple, but so much fun! We loved to see the gifts that people found, as well as every one's faces when opening their gifts.
Our big surprise this year was a family trip to Mexico which the whole family got from Santa. We are so excited to go, since most of us have never been out of the country before.
Happy Holidays! Love you all: Morg & Syd
