Christmas + 11 = 12

We celebrated Christmas in Cashiers again this year with Annie, Poppy, Mamere, Papere and Aunt Allison.  (Graham and Bart stayed in NYC to celebrate their first Christmas together.)  Santa found us and somehow managed to fit a new 24" blue and red Scott bike in his sleigh for Thompson and William's "surprise" came in the form of a wii video console.  They were speechless.  There were several other fun gifts (e.g. Legos, card games, wii games, luggage accessories, Pictionary Jr.) with Annie and Poppy surprising the boys with new Wilson golf clubs.  With it being cold outside, the boys enjoyed practicing their putting skills in Annie and Poppy's foyer.

This Christmas also marks the first year we are celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas, a tradition Mamere and Papere started in the Harrelson family many years ago.  The 12 Days of Christmas refer to the period between Christmas and the Epiphany (January 5)...the days the Wise Men journeyed to Bethlehem to meet Jesus...and reminds us Christmas is more than just one day.  For the 11 days following Christmas Day (the 1st day of Christmas), a gift is given to someone.  Seeing presents they couldn't open and that remain under the tree intrigued the boys at first, and then they quickly got excited.  (And I can remember those same feelings as a young girl!)  They love looking under the tree each day to see which person (or persons) is receiving a gift.  And is warms my hear that Thompson has already started his working 12 Day of Christmas gift list for next year.