Christmas 2008

It is a wonderful Christmas morning in the Sampson home. We have Tiffany's family visiting with us. Janelle and her children arrived a few days ago. Her husband, Ed, flew in yesterday. Last night we had a fondue and gormet dinner, with a chocolate fountain as an extra treat for the kiddies (all 9 of them). Sydney gave a wonderful dinner prayer that made sure the "Guest of Honor" was a part of our Christmas festivities.

After dinner we gathered around the Christmas tree and read Luke 2. Then everyone opened one present from their secret Santa. I got Wii Carnival Games. Tiff scored with a copy of The Four Agreements and The Last Lecture. After that we listened to Christmas music, hung out, and made trips to the chocolate fountain again (and again and again). The younger kiddies tracked Santa's progress on the NORAD web site.

The Montenegro family came by with their two dozen kids (alright let's be fair, they only have one dozen kids, and one of them was adopted). They sang Christmas carols to us and hung around for a little while.

Ed and I took on Janelle and Tiff in Wii bowling. It is always a lot of fun when adults play video games.

As things settled down our children tucked into bed and Janelle's family gathered around the Christmas tree and read stories together before falling asleep in front of the tree (which meant Santa REALLY had to tip toe around to drop the gifts off). As they fell asleep I baked an apple pie so it could cool off in time to be enjoyed. Tiff and I stayed up till about 1:00 a.m. taking care of things before I about passed out from exhaustion.

We woke up this morning just before 7:00 a.m. and came down to open our presents. Everyone seemed to have a great time. When the gifts wer all unwrapped Tiffany started baking crepes for everyone. Daryl and I took off at about 9:45 a.m. to give my friend Gary his car back. Gary had loaned it to us while my truck had its fuel pump replaced. Daryl was just sick he had to follow me in the Porsche while I drove Gary's Pathfinder back to his house.

It is coming up on noon right now and everyone is taking turns playing Wii, X-Box, and snacking. I am hoping someone will join me for a run sometime today. It is a little overcast so I may choose to hit the gym instead. All in all it has been a wonderful Christmas 2008.

Tiffany replies

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper

2. Real tree or artificial? Real, but I have given in to the fake thing

3. When do you put up the tree? Monday after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? right after Christmas

5. Do you like eggnog? no

7. The hardest person to buy for? since I love shopping sooo much and spend soooo much time doing it I can always come up with something for everyone

8. Easiest person to buy for? my girls

9. Do you have a Nativity Scene? ya the best Fontanini (I love collecting the whole village)

10. Mail or Christmas cards? I don't get the question but I do send cards in hopes I will hear
back from everyone

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? disco light

12. Best Christmas gift you ever received? ijoy massage chair (best gift I have ever received)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas presents? Oct

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? peanut butter fudge

16. Lights on the tree? yes the prelit fake thing

17. Favorite Christmas Song? Oh, Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home until the day after, then traveling to a great family reunion

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes

20. What's on the top of the tree? Lighted star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? both

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? All the fattening treats people bring when I'm trying to be good.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Started collecting ornaments from the 14 countries I have visited

24. Favorite Christmas Dinner? cooking with the little pans. a tradition we brought back from Holland

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I already got my present. All my siblings are coming to the reunion

26. Who is your favorite Christmas Character? bimbi

27. Who is most likely to respond to this? Katie

28. Who is least likely to respond to this? any of my siblings

29. What is your favorite Christmas CD? "It's A Beautiful Christmas" with classic hits by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Doris Day, Jonny Mathis and more

Santa Run

My nine year old, my seven year old, my three year old, and I ran the Opportunity Village Santa Run 5K yesterday (ok, the three year old rode in the stroller, I am not sadistic). The run happens in downtown Vegas every year. It is an annual attempt to break the world record for the most Santa's in one place at one time. Last year our entire family ran it (the photo from last year is below) and we broke the record, but it was broken again a few weeks later in Great Britan.

This year we had more participants than last year, but I have no idea if we broke the record again or not. The girls did great. We carried bells with us. I strapped a boom box to the stroller and played Christmas music throughout our run. People started running with us, commenting on how they appreciated the music. My daughters complaned the entire last mile that they would not be able to make it to the end, but as soon as it we crossed the finish line my girls begged me to take them on a walk of the Freemont Street Experience to gather all the freebie gifts and handouts that were available from all the sponsors of the event (as well as go into the blow up jump house that was set up on the Strip). They had a great time. Guess they had a few miles left in them after all.

It was a wonderful experience.