The Richardsons

Video #36

"Merry Christmas! Today is Christmas Day! I couldn't sleep at all last night so here I am at 5 in the morning. Christmas Day is a celebration for a whole day, while Christmas Eve is only the nighttime. Everybody celebrates this time of year differently, and whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just winter break in general. This is a time of celebration and or relaxation, so take this time to finally breathe and just destress."

Normally, my parents wake us up when the sun rises which is about 6 in the morning. Today is a cold day, and I grab a robe and throw it over my Kingdom Hearts t shirt. I go down the stairs and find cousin Jordan drinking a thing of hot sweet tea. Sophie follows suit and slides down the stairs.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Aunt Eliza and Uncle David are right behind her.

"Sophie Cornelia Van! Stop that immature behavior, you're gonna get hurt!"

And soon enough, everybody follows suit.

The holiday music starts and we all just hug each other and start handing out presents.

This time it is immediate family presents. I wrapped everything as quickly as I could a few nights before and trust me, my work is not the best, but hey, effort counts?

Everybody was joyous and happy as they received their presents, even Alexa was happy with what everybody gets her. Even though she can be a brat, if you give her something that she really really really really wants then she'll like you and be in a good mood, unless somebody spills a drink on her, even water.

What did I get?

From Mom aka "Yvonne" from Russia, I got a new controller, a 1,000 page coloring book, a poetry book, and a 1 year subscription to Hayden's Book Club, which is an online book store that you can buy books and even rent movies and TV shows. I might use this to actually watch anime legally since Adrian and Cassie and I were all planning on starting some series.

Dad got me a book of dad's jokes, a coffee mug that says "What? Just because I'm the youngest doesn't mean I don't drink coffee", a new laptop with good fixings, and decorative stickers all around to decorate.

And Alexa got me a pair of AirPods in black, a new case, an ice cream stuffed animal, and finally, the best and most expensive thing that I could ask for, a bunch of clothes from mykawsiination.com. She even wrote an angry note saying "YOU'RE PAYING ME BACK FOR THIS!"

Oh, I already did. I smirked at her and she got shocked.

"MOM! KAT'S BEING SUSPICIOUS!"

"Stop ruining the mood! It's Christmas not Alexa day! That was October 20th, October 20th."

Alexa sighed and collapsed dramatically on the floor.

Sometimes, Alexa does her best to try and ruin the mood of holidays, but she can get put in her place a lot. A LOT. That's why I give all of my weird gifts to Alexa, so that my mother or father wouldn't get weirded out by what I buy. Also, to get revenge on my sister at times. Not like revenge revenge, but like a playful revenge. It's how us siblings fight.

After everybody hugs each other, everybody gathers around and we have a Christmas lunch even with appetizers. But this is later in the day, during the morning, we have a Christmas style buffet, with eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, oatmeal, toast. I take a little bit of everything on the table.

Christmas goes by since it's so fun. Dancing, singing, a celebration. Family moments like this bring everybody together, even in such a tight knit family like mine.

Remember, be grateful for who you have in your family and who's with you. Tell them I love you at least once. Not everybody has a family with them. Some have left them and others have left their families.