All is Revealed

I was very excited to get my sister's gift to her. I'd been keeping this secret for an awful long time. She had the lid but her dish came up missing after a family celebration. For two years, she has hoped for its safe return, no questions asked. Hope springs eternal. 

So...no Andrew, this did not turn out like an O. Henry story. She opened the box, was gobsmacked, leaped to her feet, went straight to her cupboard to grab the lid, and lo...it was a perfect fit. 

(that was actually my big fear...that the lid would be slightly different.)

 She had the picture on the family facebook page within minutes. So. That was happy. 

Last night was happy too, up at the top of a snow covered hill, inside a toasty warm wood heated kitchen. The lanterns glowed from their corners and the rockers had been pulled from the living room next to the wood stove. 

The kids burst out the door and quickly took gifts and warm pans, fresh from the oven and wrapped in thick towels. Rudy was delighted to see a package with his name on it. So much excitement. Even one of the older boys had to be scolded by his mother for 'snooping'. 

We enjoyed a leisurely supper, stretching it out just a little to pique the excitement, and then they were turned loose. 

It was over in the matter of minutes. They separated out two packages that were specifically for the younger two. David loves horses, and so we bought him a Schleich horse and a picture book of horses. There was a ball and a pull toy that was a line of ducks that quacked as it rolled along. 

Rudy got a box with his own ball and a school bus that was a toy, but also played a game with the kids asking for them to find letters. He started school this year. He also got a letter picture book. He loved that school bus. 

 Steve would have glowed with happiness to see them going through that box of books. It really does tickle me to watch how excitedly they sort through books. In fact, Andy was engrossed in one of them before the excitement even died down. He was anxious to learn The Secret of the White Tail Deer. A book about turkeys lay on his lap. 

We played several games of Shut the Box. I think they will love that. 

I had come across a book called 'Old Bear'. A large teddy bear held the book on his lap. They loved that bear. He passed from child to child, hugged and studied, his soft fur marveled at. 

There is something quite magical about sitting in a warm kitchen by a large woodstove, watching the kids all playing, from the oldest to the youngest. There was plenty of chatter as they all examined everything. The air was filled with the sound of happy farting. (They all got cans of flarp). When the first flarp fart was released, I saw Mattie's shocked face as she stared around trying to figure out who'd made that horribly rude sound. She was much relieved to discover that the sound did not come from one of her children, and burst out laughing. 

Except for the two youngest, there was no squabbling at all. They passed the things around agreeably chattering, and everyone seemed to gravitate towards something. Of course, David screamed like crazy because he wanted Rudy's school bus and Rudy howled because he was still playing with it. Two year olds are not so patient about waiting their turn. 

 Mattie said, "They will read those books and I will enjoy the peace and quiet." Levi watched Rudy playing with the perplexus ball and said, "He will sit there for the longest time trying to work that out." 

We watched them, as we drank coffee and chattered about this thing or that, and in that way, three hours flew by, the keywound clock ticking off the seconds from its place on the wall.  It was a contented ride down their hill and back home, the snow flying in the dark. 

I love that celebration.