Breaking down Christmas morning

It's already been stated here that Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve (day) are the two best days of the whole year. However, the best two hours of the year are, undoubtedly, the ones spent opening presents on Christmas morning. When we were growing up, the rule was we could not get up on 12/25 until 6 AM. Each year our brother would wake us up around 5:15 and we would go into the bathroom. He would sit on the toilet (lid down) and we would sit on the edge of the bathtub. For the next 45 minutes, he would read Christmas books to us. Santa Mouse was always our favorite.

With our own kids, the rule started out being 6 AM. Each year, however, the starting time has been pushed back -- if only by a bit. This year 6:45 was a time we all could agree upon. The tradition is Our Parents come over and watch the kids open the presents. Our Mom sits on the floor with the kids, as does The Wife. We play the role of Bill Simmons and ply Our Dad with coffee, while also manning the HD video camera.

It sounds corny, but the best part about Christmas is truly giving, not receiving. Undoubtedly, that's partly because as adults most of us buy stuff we want 12 months a year. For kids, no such luck. But there is no replacement for watching the kids' faces shine as they open their stuff.

With all that in mind, let's break down the Christmas haul.

The Wife

What she asked for: Nothing (she never does).

Good stuff she got: A North Face Jacket (on of those beautiful shiny black ones), a beefy Ann Taylor gift card.

Our favorite thing she got: A 6 month pass to the car wash, allowing her unlimited car washes.

Much needed gift: Rubber spatulas and spoons (so she will stop scratching out state of the art cooking pans the one day a week we get a night off from cooking)

The Playmaker's Sister

What she asked for: New Uggs, new cell phone, gift cards to Pink. (We have no idea what the hell Pink is. Honest.)

Good stuff she got: New Uggs, new cell phone (from Sprint, with unlimited texting. Smell ya later, Verizon), gift card to Pink, books.

Thank goodness for Aunts: Last year her aunt got her Uggs. This year she gave The Playmaker's Sister her first North Face.

Just call us Scrooge: To get her out of her Verizon contract, it cost us $175. One relative gave her a $50 bill for Christmas. We scooped the dead president right up and put it into Our Wallet.

The Pit Master/Head Ball Coach

What we asked for: Nothing. (Though we jokingly spent the Advent season "asking" for FOUR iPads.)

Our Method: We usually buy stuff for ourselves and give it to The Wife, who then tells the kids, "I bought some really good stuff for Daddy this year!"

What we bought for ourself: Official 76er shorts (to hump the treadmill), a Bobby Flay cookbook, a new All-Clad cooking pan (see above note of rubber spoons/spatulas), a Mitchell & Ness throwback Eagles hat from the Buddy Ryan era.

What we got that we didn't buy for ourself: A new belt, Phillies boxer shorts, a Phillies golf jacket, a Roy Halladay no-hitter portrait, a leaf blower and plain-ole cash.

Bonus: While getting The Wife a North Face, we also got one for ourself. No one knows it yet, however, as we don't want to break it out until January.

The Playmaker

What he asked for: A your-name Eagles throw back jersey from the Buddy Ryan era, a Mike Schmidt jersey, a Phillies lunchbox and Wii NFL Training Camp.

Good stuff he got: See above, as he got all of it. (The Wii NFL game came from, you guessed it, his aunt.)

Stuff he got that he didn't ask for: Official New Jersey Nets shorts (Never forget, we are the NETS this season!), a Michigan football jacket, a Phillies wallet, a 76ers shooting shirt, a Phillies baseball rope necklace, books.

So that's the scoop. From November through New Years is our most favorite time of the year. (Even better than our two week trip into The Basement.) Can't wait to do it again less than 11 months.