Christmas Gift

Christmas Party of Two

I sighed in frustration again as I tried to get the stubborn CD player to work. I had brought some of my classic Christmas songs over, but I haven't been able to play them yet today because Ivans CD player is almost older then my CDs. I glared at the small sliver device as I tried to figure out what was wrong with it. After hitting the bittons on the front mutipul times and not getting any results I flipped the thing over. I opened the back latched to make sure I wasn't hallucinating earlier and their were, in fact, two AA batteries in it. Seeing as their were some I flipped it back over.

"Vanya! It won't work!" I shouted in the direction of the kitchen.

"The batteries are old. You may have to change them." I heard his response.

"Seriously?!" I shouted again, a bit more angry this time. "You couldn't have told me that twenty minutes ago?"

"Nyte. This kept you busy while I finished making lunch and the pop corn." He said with an amused smile as he carried a bowl of pop corn and a large plate of sandwiches into the living room.

I huffed in annoyance as I changed out the batteries. Once a set of fresh batteried where in it started playing the first song; Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer. I laughed happily in victory when the song started playing. A bright smile stretched across my face as I sat down at the small coffee table to enjoy my lunch. Ivan rolled his eyes at my childish behavior, but did nothing to stop me from celebrating my small victory.

"So why did I need to make pop corn to decorate the tree?" Ivan asked before taking a bite of his sandwich.

"Because, it's traditional in my country. Even though most of my people have moved on to electric lights and glass ornaments, don't get me wrong I do have lots of those my self, I still like to keep a strand of popcorn and cranberry garland. It reminds me of the past." I told him as I rolled one of the red berries on the table.

After chopping down the tree we had to drag it back home. Which made getting home take longer then either of us had though. By the time we got home it was well past dark, so we were both pretty tired. After getting the tree up and eating some dinner we called it a night. We decided we'd decorate the tree the next day.

We both woke up pretty late this morning. Luckily I had woken up earlier then he did, so I was able to hid my morning sickness from him this time. Which I was thankful for because I don't think the 'I ate something weird' trick would work twice in a row. Since I had woken up first I decided I'd make breakfast. Afterwards we trimmed the tree and got it all ready for decorating. It took most of the morning since we had cut and clean up the trimmings. Now the tree was ready and all we had to do was make the garland and decorate the tree.

"If you're worried about how to make one, don't be. I'll show you." I told him as I watched Snow Pea play with the berry that fell off the table. I picked up up and set her on my lap with a small laugh.

"I thought we were only making one?" He said questionly.

"Well, I'd normally only make one, but since I'm with someone this year I figured we'd each make one." I told him with a small blush that I tried to keep hidden by looking down at the ball of fluff on my lap.

"I think that sounds nice." He told me. "So, how do you make one?"

"It's super easy." I said picking up one of the threads I've already prepared. "First you pick your pattern. I like doing one berry for every two popcorn. Stick the thread through the thickest part of the popcorn so it doesn't break. Then take the berry and carefully hold it while you poke it with the needle. You don't want any more juice to squirt everywhere then necessary." I told him with a small giggle. He nodded as he mimicked what I was doing. "Then repeat all the steps untill you have a garland. I already measured the thread, so all we have to do is make the garland." I said holding up the start of mine to show him. "It's gonna take a while, just so you know. That's why I wanted us to start so early. We still have the ginger bread house to make, the Christmas movie, and our Christmas Eve dinner. Oh, and decorating the tree."