Adam's Christmas 2009

Jenn didn't tell the full version of how Christmas morning played out. We were both up around 4:00 and eventually decided to do Christmas early. So we went out, looked at our piles of presents and were getting ready to start Christmas when we realized the camera battery was dead. We couldn't do Christmas morning without pictures, so we were forced to go back to bed. :(

The REAL Christmas morning was awesome! My stocking was full of Slim Jims and Snickers, which are old traditions for me; and some tools, which have been a new tradition for us. Plus a bunch of other candies and trading cards. Miscellaneous gifts included a puzzle, a Hickory Farms meat and cheese set, an Axe deodorant and bodywash set, a Carl's Jr. gift card, a Luigi figurine, an air horn (Jenn is quite the masochist), and two additions to my Christmas stuffed animal collection being a stuffed bear and stuffed Mickey Mouse.

The main gift I got wasn't a surprise to me in the same way the Pokemon game wasn't a surprise for Jenn. She got me New Super Mario Bros. Wii. I told her how I looked forward to playing a new, classic-style Mario game on Christmas, the way I used to as a child. Weeks before Christmas, I harassed her until she confirmed she did get it for me.

I also got Sam & Max: Season One, another Wii game. Clothing-wise, I got a Jack Skellington baseball cap, and a t-shirt with the Atari logo and the word "Atari" written in Japanese under it. Very, very cool!

She also got me a new pocket knife. People commented on the large size of my knife last year, this year, it was even bigger. My mom actually helped Jenn pick it out. It's all black, and the blade has a gray and black camo print on it. It's friggin' sharp too. I really like it. So I have received a knife every Christmas Jenn and I have been married. She must trust me a lot.

But the most surprising, and one of the coolest gifts I got was a letter from Santa, written by Dr. Pepper. This was a promotional item Dr. Pepper did for only one year, in 1961. I like Dr. Pepper, I collect vintage Dr. Pepper stuff, and I love Christmas. So this was a perfect addition to my collection.




After our Christmas morning, we went to my parents' house again for Christmas breakfast. Once again, we invited Ken to join us, which he did. As always, the house was filled with a thin layer of smoke from all of the food being cooked.

Then came family present time. I had left the room, but when I returned, Jenn informed me that Jon had a gift for me. Wow, Jon got me a gift? And no one else? Jon? Really? He even wrote the tag himself! My parents bought something for all of their grandchildren, so they got to open theirs first. All the while, I'm wondering what the heck Jon could have given me! After the grandkids were done, everyone agreed that I should open my gift from Jon. So I did, and it was... a box of used wrapping paper!

Argh! How quickly you forget the tricks played from the year before! Last year, Mike took all of the used wrapping paper and stuffed it in a box, then marked it "To: Guy, From: Kalli". This year, he did the same. But he used the wrapping paper from Christmas Eve so he would have time to properly wrap it, and let Jon write the tag. I was fooled. And we all had a good laugh.

Then it was time for my parents to open their gifts from their kids. Jenn and I... well, more accurately, Jenn gave them a portrait (commissioned by my mom). For those who haven't seen it yet, here it is:


She used this picture and updated it a little. Jenn is incredible with her art. It's simply amazing. We also gave an 8x10 of this to each of my siblings.

From my siblings, we received: the game Killer Bunnies (yes, Kenworthys, now we have our own); the game Sequence; a Cinemark gift card; and a homemade decorative shelf. All great stuff!

And from my parents... well... I really didn't think they could top the extravagance of the last two years, but they did. Along with some Disney mugs and a well-written poem by them, they gave money. I won't say how much, but it was more than they spent on us last year, or the year before. I have no words to say but thank you.

I would also like to thank Bishop Belliston and the ward for their help this Christmas. Thanks to their help, Jenn and I were able to get us each a new pair of shoes. That may sound trivial to some, but we don't have much. Our Christmas was made possible by donations, and increasing our credit card debt. Every little thing we get is a blessing. And to have the ability to walk into a store and buy something like a new pair of shoes was such a great feeling. For that moment, we felt normal. We were able to do something normal people do. When normal people need something, they go out and get it. When we need something, we simply go without.

So thank you, everyone! Thanks for your donations, your gifts, your cookies and peanut brittle. We appreciate it all. But most of all, I am thankful to the real Santa Claus, my Heavenly Father.