Kids Journal - 12/26/03

December 26, 2003

Well, yesterday was Christmas. Its probably the last Christmas that both of you will have that Santa Claus magic associated with it. DC, to be honest, you're probably already past believing in Santa Claus, but you hide it well. And Gabe, you are full blown into it.

For Christmas Eve we drove down to John and Irene's house. This year there was only Mom and Dad, John and Irene, Laura, Catherine and Merrill, and our family.

Gabe, you spent the early part of the evening getting golf lessons from Grampa. I'm so glad you two can share that time together because he's getting older and probably won't be around for many more years. His Parkinsons disease is taking its toll and he'll be less and less likely to be able to interact with you in a way that you can appreciate at your age. So, the fact that you were able to get out there and hit some golf balls with him in John's front yard meant a lot to me and my Dad.

DC, you spent time with the girls, but I think you were a little bored, since there weren't any kids around your age.

We ate dinner and performed our Christmas holiday tradition of blessing the tree, singing carols, kneeling at the nativity scene by family while the others pray over you and getting in a circle and wishing each other Merry Christmas.

It turns out this has been a Bauer family tradition for over 50 years. Amazing. We'll continue it with our family as you get older.

That evening we went over to the chapel (as you may remember, John's house is next to a Catholic retreat center) and celebrated Christmas mass.

DC, you were getting an allergic reaction to Mulligan, Irene's dog, so Mom gave you Benadryl. You were knocked out for most of the mass and slept in Mom's lap.

Gabe, you were in charge of the big flashlight and lit the way from John's house on our walk over to the chapel. You were so cute. You felt a great obligation to handle the flashlight correctly and guide us.

After mass we left and went home. On the drive home you, Gabe, were very concerned over whether you'd be on Santa's good or naughty list. You and DC have been fighting more lately and you actually wrote a letter to Santa asking that you not be on the naughty list for fighting with DC and that, if you were on the good list, Santa would get you two Play Station 2 games and a Backyard sport computer game. Dea, knowing that this was one of the last years you'll believe in Santa, made sure I fulfilled your request.

So you got two Play Station 2 games and Backyard Soccer. When we got home Gabe you were just bustling with anticipation. It was very cute. After we tucked both of you in bed Dea and I went to the bedroom and wrapped Santa's presents.

As we were about to come out Gabe bolted out from the back of the house (almost catching us) and Dea asked what you were doing up. You responded "I thought I heard a clatter." It was so funny. I never heard the word clatter used in a real sentence, only in the Twas the Night Before Christmas story. After we got you back into bed, we put the presents out, ate the cookies, drank the milk and went to bed.

One of the gifts Mommy got for you, Gabe, was a drum set. I used to have a drum set in high-school and college. I eventually had to sell it in order to buy food. So, Dea thought it'd be cute if you got your own drum set. You love it and everyone, including DC, plays it often.

Gabe, you also got some sports clothes and some pirate toys, which you like after watching the film Pirates of the Caribbean.

DC, you got a lot of clothes and jewelry and a password journal 2. You were very excited. We have so much fun together.

You know how seeing you grow into a woman can be concerning to your poor old Dad, so you play it up. Its a funny joke we have between us. You have my exact sense of humor so you and I find the same things funny.

Gabe is getting there with the sense of humor, but he's not there yet.

Later on Christmas, Mommy made this great meal and we had Nonny and Poppi come over with Trisha and her 6'8", 21 yr old son Patrick (nice kid). Later Mark, Lorna, Billy and Danielle came over, which was fun. Delie and DJ couldn't make it because Delie's family is in town, but they came over Christmas Eve morning to exchange gifts with you and us with Caleb.

All in all it was a great, fun holiday.

I love you both very much!

Dad

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