Christmas For The Duttons

Just in time for the Holidays....well, let's just say that I am very early for this year. I thought I would post some pics to show how Christmas was celebrated Sammy-style. We started with the tree. We waited for the little dude to go to sleep and erected our Target-bought pre-lit tree with back-to-basics red decorations. I think it turned out nicely and Sam definitely liked the ornaments and bright lights. With this step out of the way...we actually started with Christmas which came in four phases this year. Christmas 1.0 came the weekend before Christmas when my family came to Rancho Duttonero for some food, fun, and presents.

Sam loved all the attention from his Grandma Linda, Grandpa Charlie, Aunt Regina, Uncle Stevie, and Aunt Rebecca. He made sure to spread the wealth when opening presents.

He would tear a piece of wrapping paper and carry it to one of us before tearing off another piece. Needless to say, it took some time for Sam to get to the point of opening each package.

But sure enough, he eventually did figure it out. REMOVE PAPER...RECEIVE GIFT...simple process really.

Christmas 2.0 came on the 23rd of Duttonember (Festivus) and what a day it was. We all opened gifts. Tiffy opened gifts, I opened gifts, and Sam opened gifts. Sam fell in love with his Sesame Street Workbench. This tool bench is so cool. They definitely didn't have toys like this when I was a kid. What's even better is that now Sam uses his tools instead of trying to use mine.

The kid loves tools like screwdrivers and drills...but they don't make the safest toys.

Christmas 3.0 came on Christmas EVE in WV where Tiffy's entire family gathered for an evening of holiday festivities and making an appearance at the event was the Claus himself. Poor Old Saint Nick...he wore his traditional red instead of the camo...what was he thinking?...don't ask!!

Christmas 4.0 came...well...on Christmas at the Meadow's. Grandma Karen and Grandpa Calvin welcomed Duttons (The, Tiffy, Sammy) and Meadows (Chuck, Marlena, David, and the new bundle of joy Alana) to their house Christmas morning for presents and waffles....mmm....waffles. You just don't mess with traditions. For you see, the simplest things in life are the best. Like family, food, fun, and gag gifts!

This is Sam's Uncle Chuck. He is the same Chuck who once wrapped up the pieces of my tail lights when Tiffy got rear-ended in my car. A brilliant standard for holiday mischief...until I returned the favor a few years later when Chucky, his Grand Vitara, some icy roads, and a telephone pole were the ingredients in quite an eventful trip to work. Turn-about is fair play.

All in all, Christmas was good this year. I even found myself referring to it less as Giftmas (my non-religous oriented, all-inclusive, winter holiday) this time around. Perhaps it is the softening that is happening in my old age or perhaps there is another reason why Christmas seemed to mean so much more this year...I wonder what that could be?!