Natalie Joy

We opened our gifts on Christmas Eve after everyone had gone to bed, after we had become Santa and filled the stockings and built the toys.

We had a little nice moment ourselves and opened our gifts.

But then on Christmas morning, the way that I grew up is obviously it was me, my mom, my three siblings.

And like I woke up very early.

I was the youngest.

I was always like the most excited for Christmas.

And I remember I would wake up and be like, it's Christmas and like run into everyone's room.

Like everyone would come into the living room.

Bad breath, messy hair, PJs.

Everyone like finds their spot in the chair, on the couch, on the floor, wherever you're sitting.

Your stocking is waiting for you.

Everyone opens their stocking at once.

And then me as the elf or maybe my mom would pass out everyone's presents.

And then you would sit and it would open one at a time and you'd go around the room and everyone would like watch you open and be like, oh.

Oh, cute.

Cool.

And then it'd go to the next older sibling, whatever.

Then we'd make a big, beautiful breakfast, maybe mimosas once we got a little older, you know.

It was a whole beautiful morning.

Well, I woke up here.