Christmas Morning in the Balthrop House (and thoughts on a present)
There is something magical about Christmas morning. If you are a Christan, it is the day that God came to Earth as a baby. The Messiah has been born, and Salvation has come at last.
If it is 7:01 A.M., and you are a Kindergartner named Simon, it means that Santa arrived sometime last night and it's time to go look in his stocking. For reasons known only to a small boy, he did not want to go out into the living room himself and confirm the arrival of the gifts. Mama or Papa had to come too (to make sure it was safe.)
Simon had to demonstrate to Miles how to look in your stocking and pull out each item and stare in wonder. At 2 1/2, Miles does not have the wisdom or patience of his big brother, and so dumped out his stocking and began playing with the dinosaurs and play-dough at once.
Sylvia was happy with all her gifts. This was my year to hear "her wish is my command", and I started sometime in August grabbing little things here and there. She had much under the tree to love: The complete Black Adder (on sale last August), the blu-ray of the Extended LotR trillogy (on-sale Black Friday), a rice steamer, and a pair of Marx Brothers movie collections (I grabbed one, and Susan grabbed the other).
As for me, my stocking contained an Irish soap and a Peacock (this year's "animal that would have paid homage to the Christ Child if only it were possible for it to get there in time") Sylvia explained that my big present was only ordered on Friday, and thus will not arrive until sometime next week.
What is that big present? A new Weather Station. Those of you who have known me since Elementary school know that I am a weather geek. Several years ago, I had limited success with a couple of stations made by LaCrosse, so I researched the matter carefully, and after discovering that we could not afford the best one available (the Davis VantageVue), the next one down was the Ambient Weather 2080.
I have been investigating since early summer how to mount a new station on the roof. I have come to the conclusion that it should go on the over the garage in a mount currently being occupied by a Dish Network dish. I just pray the station's 330 ft range can reach to my office, otherwise the station and software will end up on the boy's computer in the playroom (in the "Parents" partition). I will alert everyone when station KTXPLANO13 is once again active on the Weather Underground for viewing the weather at my house.
Sylvia is an introvert by nature. With the house about to be overrun by family and well wishers, she has escaped for a 30 minute break of peace and quiet somewhere. The boys are content, and no food that is cooking can be ruined by asking Alan to do something with it.
Time for a shower and some table setup before Ellen and Sivi's family arrives. I am blessed today. The updated "greed list" will appear later today. Merry Christmas.
If it is 7:01 A.M., and you are a Kindergartner named Simon, it means that Santa arrived sometime last night and it's time to go look in his stocking. For reasons known only to a small boy, he did not want to go out into the living room himself and confirm the arrival of the gifts. Mama or Papa had to come too (to make sure it was safe.)
Simon had to demonstrate to Miles how to look in your stocking and pull out each item and stare in wonder. At 2 1/2, Miles does not have the wisdom or patience of his big brother, and so dumped out his stocking and began playing with the dinosaurs and play-dough at once.
Sylvia was happy with all her gifts. This was my year to hear "her wish is my command", and I started sometime in August grabbing little things here and there. She had much under the tree to love: The complete Black Adder (on sale last August), the blu-ray of the Extended LotR trillogy (on-sale Black Friday), a rice steamer, and a pair of Marx Brothers movie collections (I grabbed one, and Susan grabbed the other).
As for me, my stocking contained an Irish soap and a Peacock (this year's "animal that would have paid homage to the Christ Child if only it were possible for it to get there in time") Sylvia explained that my big present was only ordered on Friday, and thus will not arrive until sometime next week.
What is that big present? A new Weather Station. Those of you who have known me since Elementary school know that I am a weather geek. Several years ago, I had limited success with a couple of stations made by LaCrosse, so I researched the matter carefully, and after discovering that we could not afford the best one available (the Davis VantageVue), the next one down was the Ambient Weather 2080.
I have been investigating since early summer how to mount a new station on the roof. I have come to the conclusion that it should go on the over the garage in a mount currently being occupied by a Dish Network dish. I just pray the station's 330 ft range can reach to my office, otherwise the station and software will end up on the boy's computer in the playroom (in the "Parents" partition). I will alert everyone when station KTXPLANO13 is once again active on the Weather Underground for viewing the weather at my house.
Sylvia is an introvert by nature. With the house about to be overrun by family and well wishers, she has escaped for a 30 minute break of peace and quiet somewhere. The boys are content, and no food that is cooking can be ruined by asking Alan to do something with it.
Time for a shower and some table setup before Ellen and Sivi's family arrives. I am blessed today. The updated "greed list" will appear later today. Merry Christmas.