Were a family band, and a rather big family, so we already own: a piano, a cocktail drum set, three trombones, three or four trumpets, two alto saxophones, a tenor saxophone, three clarinets, multiple woodblocks, a glockenspiel (great name, huh?), harmonicas galore, a coronet, and an upright bass. Despite the vastness of our instrument collection, the presents we opened today were all different and all instruments we didn’t already own!
From left to right: ukulele, thunder tube, double mijwiz, pan flute, thumb piano, bird whistle, frog tone block, ocarina, slide whistle, and xylophone.
Truly an impressive feat. The instruments were received with much excitement and rambunctious noise. The instruments don’t really belong to any member of the family, instead, they all belong to everyone.
Socks!Socks are another Christmas tradition in our family, but they’re always interesting, never lame or boring. Today they were incredibly festive and Christmas themed, incredibly appropriate!
Robin is my favorite superhero (outside of the Longbow Universe of course) and I have been wanting this set since I saw it in the Lego magazine. I was so thrilled with my gift that I built it immediately after I opened it, I didn’t even stop to take today’s picture!
As for everyone else, they got… …all this!
From left to right, Veronica now has a Spirograph, not just any Spirograph, but a Super Spirograph. It comes with a bunch of different pieces to make different designs.
Robert has a Hobbit clock, it shows times for breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies, lunch, afternoon tea, diner, and supper.
Christopher got a Metal Earth helicopter. In case you didn’t know, Metal Earth makes small models that come as flat sheets of metal with designs in them and perforations to fold them. You cut them out and then fold them into the model.
Anne got nail polish. I understand this is a good gifts for girls, but I don’t get it.
Nathaniel also got a Metal Earth kit. His was The Black Pearl, our first Metal Earth boat.
Jonathan received a pocket microscope. Now he can carry a microscope with him at all times for emergencies.
I got the Lego set (which I have talked about sufficiently).
Nicholas was given Gunslinger. It’s a cowboy themed card game. Now he has a nerd game too!
Mom gave herself a new pair of shoes. Another girl gift I don’t really get.
Obviously yesterday is what would be considered a “bigger” day, but we didn’t open the gifts until later. Nicholas and I were out working and we didn’t get home until 5:30. After we came home the family ate dinner, and then we had to clean up.
Now I don’t mind opening gifts late, but I think the suspense was getting to some of my younger siblings. Apparently Robert told Mom that we where just staying out so that everyone had to wait! He was joking of course, he knows we wouldn’t strain their curiosity intentionally. Plus, Nicholas doesn’t like to wait either.
When we did finally open the gifts and sate my siblings swelling thirst for satisfaction, we found that the day didn’t really have a theme, except perhaps that most of the gifts could be used by multiple people (what could be more glorious than ten big gifts that everyone can use!?).
Gifts from Dad to Jonathan (top row) and Nathaniel to Veronica (bottom row)
Dad and Mom got a set of rubber coated kitchen utensils to use with their brand new ceramic coated copper pots and pans (which they also got today)! Mom has wanted ceramic pans for a while as they work well for eggs, because they have a non-stick surface, but they don’t use Teflon which can peel off and prove detrimental to your health.
Nicholas got a new phone, because his phone has been dropping calls, no doubt due to the phone itself being dropped one too many times (admittedly the last time was my fault).
I own a sizable bottle cap collection, so I got a bottle cap dart game. It’s a large magnetic dart board in the shape of a bottle cap. The game also came with bottle caps to throw at the board, but I have cooler “darts” to use.
Jonathan got a Wii video game that Nicholas and I found at a garage sale for two dollars. The case actually had two games inside “Wii Sports Resort” and “Wii Sports.”
Nathaniel was given some sparring gear for him and the younger boys to use.
Anne received another video game, “Mario Kart Wii.” Nicholas and I also picked this game up, same garage sale, same price. This was quite the find since that game still sells for 30 – 40 dollars on ebay, even though it’s for an outdated system!
Christopher unwrapped the other set of sparring gear to use to battle Nathaniel.
Robert received an art pack and a sketch pad, because he is quite an art enthusiast.
Finally, Veronica opened (actually we opened from youngest to oldest last night, but who’s keeping track?) a cross stitch kit for an owl picture. This gift was perfect for her. She calls him Oliver the Unfinished Owl, but she’s been working on him all day and I think she’s almost finished!
Yesterday was actually Veronica’s day of Christmas. Veronica is the youngest in the family and only seven years old (so we had to appreciate the gifts no matter what :-). Hot Wheels cars are always appreciated actually, they are another family tradition, but this year they are even cooler than usual. “How?” you ask. How could these tiny toy cars possibly get any more impressive?! Simple, Hot Wheels has finally accomplished what I’ve said they should…they’ve designed their cars for Lego guys to ride on!
Lego meets Hot Wheels
First K’Nex is designed to work with Lego and now Hot Wheels! I can only say what my brother Nicholas said when he first saw the ride on Hot Wheels car at the auto parts store, “What a time to be alive.”
