Chapter 21 Another Christmas

Chapter 21

For some reason this Christmas post reminded me of another Christmas about ten years ago, maybe eleven years ago. Andrew and Katie came home for Christmas, but the girls weren't born yet. Steven was still living at home, attending college.

This incident happened the morning after Christmas. I was in the kitchen fixing breakfast. Katie and Andrew had joined me.

Pretty soon in walked Steven wearing a T-shirt and boxer briefs. Andrew had given him a new fancy calculator. They're both math geeks, and Steven had been playing with it most of the night or possibly all night, knowing him.

Steven walked up to Andrew. "Look at what this can do." He proceeded to show Andrew what he'd figured out.

"Great, but dude, you're in your underwear," said Andrew.

He looked down. "Yeah but watch this." He continued showing Andrew the calculator functions.

Andrew watched the next function and commented on it, and then Steven went back to his room.

After Steven had left, Andrew said, "Mom, do something."

"What? Steven is Steven and all he sees right now is that calculator."

Before long Steven returned, his clothing had not changed. "Andrew, watch this."

"Dude, you're still in your underwear."

Steven, again, looked down, but continued to show the functions on this calculator.

I smiled at Katie. "Welcome to the family. You've been fully accepted as part of our family."

She gave Steven a hug. "I'm glad. I understand. My brother, John, is a lot like Steven."

Andrew's reply, "He's still in his underwear."

Andrew even as a young child would not consider leaving his room unless he was fully dressed. It's amazing how children from the same parents, brought up the same way, act differently.

*****

I'm going to add to this a little about Eleanor and Charlotte when they were here this Christmas. I forgot to mention the bubble bath.

Just so you know, even though I raised four boys, I fully embrace being a girly girl and actually enjoyed the role of the princess of the house.

Eleanor always takes her bath first. She noticed on the bathroom counter my assortment of bubble bath. She said to her mom, "I like bubble baths. Can I have some bubbles?"

Katie's response, "You need to ask Grandma. They're hers."

Right! Like I'm going to deny these girls anything.

She came to me, completely naked, and almost whispered, "Grandma, can I have a bubble bath?"

Andrew yelled, "Katie, naked baby in living room!"

Eleanor turned to her dad. "Daddy, I'm not naked. I'm asking Grandma if I can use her bubble bath."

With one big arm swoop Andrew grabbed up Eleanor and carried her to the bathroom. "You are naked."

I called after them. "Of course, you can use any bubble bath you want."

This was repeated for Charlotte, only she came and asked before she took her clothes off. It was also repeated every night they were at my house. I'm betting the next time they visit, it'll happen again. I'd better stock up on bubble bath.