I have always grown up with St. Nick’s.  A little treat or something to help get through the beginning of the winter blaahs, and always something for me, an anxious person, to open up a few weeks before the Christmas season really kicks into gear.

Well, St. Nick got in town a bit before his regularly scheduled programming.

This past weekend, Sam and I ventured up home, with his mom Sara in tow, for the annual cookie bake.  Mind you, we have baked over two thousand cookies some years, so this annual event is huge.  It’s a cute way for the family to get together, try new recipes, and create memories.  I loved having Sam included again this year and the addition of Sara.  That meant there were over a dozen people jammed into my grandmother’s house, but it was so much fun.

Ashley and I acting goofy for the camera.

After cooking like crazy (and me playing with my cousin’s children) we went to my house for some gift giving.  Sam couldn’t make any of my family’s holiday days, so we created a way for him to get his gifts by getting him to my house earlier.  He got a few great gifts — and by that, I mean he made out like a bandit.  He left my house with two six packs of beer, a gift card for tickets to any Brewers game, a new Aaron Rodgers shirt, and a digital camera.  Considering it was from all of my family for both his birthday and Christmas, I think he fared well.

My family even extended out to me — I got a Starbuck’s gift card, cute Starbuck’s ornaments, and a cute stocking from my mother.  Plus, my sister Tracy started in on the craftiness of this Christmas by getting us cute holiday cheer.

I also got into the gift giving mood by getting Sam his St. Nicks gifts early.  I found him a Lego man keychain that doubles as a flashlight.  There is a long story behind us and Legos, so finding this guy on sale from Urban Outfitters was amazing.  After I already had this idea in place, more things fell into place.  I scored a Ripon College can coozie from an alumni event (thanks Rusty!), got him his favorite chapstick to get him through the winter months, and then found another great gift courtesy of Urban Outfitters.  The Stanley flasks that are usually around $30 were on sale for a fraction of the price, so I scooped it up and put it in some wrapping paper.  I was done.

Mind you, that while I was preparing all of this I kept pestering Sam about how excited I was for St. Nick’s and how big it is in my family.  Also keep in mind that these are little things.  Like, I maaaybe spent $20 total on Sam’s gift.  So I was hoping for a cute little…something.

(Also note, that I was afraid that Sam would forget so I got myself a cute waterbottle from Starbucks a few weeks earlier.)

Of course, he forgot.  Or kinda forgot.  See, my “big” Christmas present arrived and Sam kind of kept taunting me with it all day long.  I didn’t know if we were giving gifts or not, so I left them in Madison.  Sam had my gift along with him the entire day.  After pouting (I will admit it) about not getting a St. Nick’s gift of my own and Sam already receiving his Christmas gift from me (seeing Manchester United back in July) he ran to the car and gave me this:

Only the best comes in blue and white.

…and inside was this…

Symbol of infinite love.

It’s bee one of the best, most surprising, Christmas presents I have ever received.  I thanked Sam so much and was very happy St. Nick stopped by my house early.