Insert theme song from Rocky here.

***if you are new to the blog, or unfamiliar with the Lawrence Family tradition of the Almond Box and want to read the back story to fully understand the annual Almond Box posts, click the tag labeled The Box at the end of the post *****


A few packages arrived in the mail yesterday afternoon.

Presents!
Ok, I know I'd just said I would be selfish to ask for anything more, today, but I did ask for these.

Also, I don't turn presents away.

Everyone had just gotten up from their naps, so Aaron played Santa and passed out the gifts. We opened a bunch of lovely gifts from my sister Amy's family. My favorite is the puppet theater backdrop. The girls are thrilled to have a venue for their performances, and I know this will get a lot of use by my preschoolers, as well. Also, the running sweatband (that I'm wearing in the video) has a "super mom" logo on it that makes me laugh, because I feel like anything BUT a "super mom" when I abandon my family to go running. I've been wanting one of these bands for awhile, and it is a much needed addition to my running "gear" (scroll down to winter warrior video if you haven't seen it, yet.) Thanks, Oelrichs!

Anyway, there were many many other gifts to open and it was like Christmas morning all over again! I was helping Corbin take the packaging off his new truck, when Aaron plopped what appeared to be a very heavy, yet VERY familiar wrapped present next to me.


I didn't even see who's name was on the tag, but I froze.
Stunned.
Then I smiled.


"I know what that is, Aaron."

"What? That present? It's heavy. It's for you."


"That is the Almond Box."


He said, "no way, you can't tell. It's wrapped!"


But I KNEW. All of the Lawrence Kids know. The distict not-quite-square shape, the spongy feel of the thick thick cardboard, the rounded worn edges.

Aaron had some technical difficulties when video recording the opening of the gift, but it's just as well, as I'm pretty sure I sounded like a spoiled little brat when I squealed, "Eat that suckahs!" or something similar to my siblings.

My parents have never mailed the Almond Box. It has always been wrapped on Christmas Eve, and opened on Christmas Morning. For 30 years. The Christmas after I was married, I made up new rules when I launched my campaign, and declared a "must be present to win" stipulation. I thought it would increase my odds of receiving the Almond Box, since my brother and his wife are always in Utah Christmas morning. Instead, I drastically DEcreased them, since I have only been home on Christmas morning twice since then, and one of those years, the box went to Aaron. I am never 'present to win', dangit!

The familar shaped present sat on my living room floor, and I was near certain that it was what I hoped it was. If I made up the rules 10 years ago, why can't someone else change them? "must be present to win" wasn't working out so well anymore, anyway, since my parents were out of town on Christmas for 3 out of the last 6 years.

Did they really change the rules, and decide to MAIL the Almond Box TO it's recipient?

Bah ba ba bah bah ba baaaaaaaaaa!

YES!
Yes they did! Booyah! Pictured above is the REAL DEAL.

The other new rule my parents have come up with, this year, is that from now on, each recipient holds the responsibility of choosing who gets the Box the following year.

I feel so powerful. Now, I promised myself after last week's confessional, that I try to I'd keep the Big Brother refrences to a minimum. I'm failing to keep that promise, as

I can't help but refer to my nonbox-holding brothers and sisters and husband as the "Have Nots", this week.

Dear Have Nots,
Better luck next year. Let this turn of events remind you that even though this precious box has not had my name on it since 1997, and it would have been another easy year to gift the box to another child, Mom and Dad just couldn't live a lie anymore. They slapped my name on that bad boy and sent it in the mail as a reminder to everyone that I always have been and forever will be Mom and Dad's favorite child. And also that I am the best. ever.

King me,

Meg Almond Box winner 2010

Inside, was another surprise. A real gift! Usually the Almond Box holds something unexciting or lame, like underwear or socks. But my gift was way better than the norm (should I really expect anything less? I mean, I am the favorite and all).

I was incredibly touched to find Grandma Lawrences antique pressing iron inside.
I must say, I admire it almost as much as I admire seeing my name written on the Almond Box.

Aaron laughed and said he's never seen me look so happy while holding an iron.

I reminded him, that according to the new rules, he'd better start kissing up to me a little more, or that box is sure to say someone else's name on it, come Christmas.

He made up for his snarky comment and for not actually recording the fabulous grand opening the Box, by catching this little snippet of the Box and I snuggling on the sofa.

I was a little (very) emotional, and unshowered.

For your viewing pleasure:

Wow.

The Almond Box. Mine, at last.

Just an hour before the package arrived, I'd said that 'it would be selfish to ask for anything more' on this perfect Tuesday.

it managed to get even more perfect!

Lucky Me.

Thanks Mom and Dad! I Love you!