A Little More Than Xs And Os

Wake up it's Christmas!

"Ohhhhh Adammmmm!" I hear my name called from down the hall. My eyes flutter open. The door flings open and Kelsey runs in and jumps on my bed. "Wake up it's Christmas, Adam!" She starts jumping up and down and finally I push her off. She hits the floor with a thud.

"Must you do that every year?" She asks, looking at me from the floor, pretending to be wounded.

"Must you do that every year?" I say, implying the jumping onto my bed and screaming in my ears. She crosses her arms and shrugs. "Okay, sorry for being in a good holiday spirit. Did Peyton not kiss you last night or something?"

On the contrary, my dear sister. "For your information, Peyton and I did kiss last night." She crosses her arms again, "Oh yeah, right after you saw How To Train Your Dragon 2." Dang she's good! "How'd you know? Anyways, it doesn't matter I still got at least two kisses yesterday." She rolls her eyes and walks out.

Trevor sent me at text at 5 A.M...What was he doing up so early? I open the text and read.

Adammmmm it's Christmas! Wake up!

I believe Kelsey beat him to it...even though she was an hour behind his alert.

Looking through my texts, I scroll and see that Peyton texted me two hours ago. I know Christmas is a special holiday, people, but why do you have to get up so early?

Guess what guess what guess what!!! It's Christmas, that's what! Merry Christmas Adam :)

How sweet. Bet you I can top it.

But then I realize I can't think of anything to type. So I call her instead.

"Hey." Peyton answers and I immediately smile. "Hey! Merry Christmas!"

I hear Taylor in the background and Peyton says "Hang on." I laugh a little, "What does she want?" Peyton doesn't answer for a few seconds. "Ohh! No, that was Caleb. And he was just trying to pester me."

It's times like that that make me wonder why her other brothers aren't there. Maybe they're all married.

"So...did you get my wake up text?" I grin, "Well I did get your text but Kelsey kinda best you and Trevor both to the wake up. Every year - and she never fails - she runs into my room, yells for me to get up and that it's Christmas and then jumps on my bed. What never fails is me shoving her to the floor."

Peyton laughs and then I hear a door bell ring on her side of the phone. "Ugh, more people." I chuckle and I hear her open the door.

Mom calls my name and tells me to come eat. "I have to go." Peyton responds quickly. "I'm not letting you go until you say something romantic." I can practically see her winking at me. I walk downstairs and think quick about what to say.

"I could serenade you." She laughs, "Okay, what song?"

I begin singing. "Baby you light up my world like--"

"No!" I burst out laughing. "Okay. I'll say something I mean. You ready?"

She still laughs, "Sure."

"Good morning beautiful, I love you, Merry Christmas." At that I hang up.

Ryan stares at me from the couch. "What?!" He just laughs.

******

After we have our Christmas meal - no, feast - Ryan screams, "Present time!" and runs to the boxes under the Christmas tree. All three of us can be such little kids sometimes. "Me first!" I yell to Ryan and push Kelsey out of the way.