The EYES have it!: Day 339 ~ Nick at Night

December 5, 2014

My Instead: I had St. Nick night for my grandson Tyler and also for Danny (for the first time). Danny is my new grandson since my daughter Robin was granted guardianship of him in September. My other two grandchildren, Abbey and Andy, enjoyed St. Nick that evening without spending the night.

Those who know about St. Nick know that he fills children’s stockings in the wee hours of the morning on December 6^th. My plans to have my grandkids overnight on the fifth to discover their filled stockings the next morning on the sixth did not pan out. Oh well. Let’s just do on the eve!

I picked up my grandson Tyler and my newest grandson Danny from their basketball game just in time. Because I had nothing to feed them at home, we made a quick stop to McDonald’s for a few burgers and fries. I know what you’re thinking…what kind of a home-cookin’ grandma you’re not! Hey, it’s Christmas and I’m very busy doing my creative thing. Like a wise friend (Janet, you know who you are) once told me…I have other strengths!

The boys and I hung out until Tyler fell asleep on the couch and Danny was still bouncing off the walls. Time to head to bed…or to floor because that’s where they slept in the toy room. That’s when I got busy getting the “stuff” out of my car, wrapping each thing (yes, I do that), and stuffing the stockings. Lights out. Job done. St. Nick is tired.

Somebody knocked at my door at 4:30 in the AM. Tyler. Seriously? I told him to go back to bed…it wasn’t time yet. I got up about 5:45 to start the St. Nick proceedings. They were both still snoozing, but woke up pretty easily when they remembered what was in store for them…even at ages 11 and 12.

After going through the drudgery of picture taking, they began to open their stocking stuffers. I felt like I was part of a Chinese water torture without the water. They questioned me about every item they opened. Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth! I guess it goes with the age. And I AM guilty of always encouraging them to THINK and QUESTION. They were on it! I think St. Nick may have paid his last visit to these guys. Maybe next year they can help me to prepare St. Nick’s stockings for their younger cousins. Now there’s an idea. I only hope I can remember it when next year’s event rolls around. Perhaps then they will learn to appreciate what they’ve had and also learn the joy of giving.

After gathering up their treasures, their coats, and their school things, we rushed out the door (well, Tyler and I did…Danny took a while). We made it back to their house just in time for them to catch the bus. Do all St. Nicks have to go through this?

Then there were Abbey and Andy, my 6 and 2-year-old. Another trip to the store became part of my already busy day...gotta purchase more stocking stuffers! My daughter-in-law Shaundra dropped them off with perfect timing...I had just finished wrapping and stuffing. Shaundra left to get a little work done and the kids and I enjoyed St. Nick night, part II. Their ages provided a little bit more fun and a lot less interrogation. Abbey did ask an innocent question about how St. Nick got here and I quenched her curiosity.

The three of us had a fun night on my new air mattress (alias trampoline) until their mom came to rescue them from spending the night. They’re not too keen on being away from her at bedtime. That’s okay...time spent is the only stocking stuffer that Grandma wants.