Snooping Out Presents

Gracie bounced into the office, "Mommy, where are the presents?"

I glanced up from the computer screen, "What?" My brain flashed, replaying sounds from the past few minutes.... basement door opening... Caleb and Gracie whispering... hearing them trod down the steps.... They've been Snooping!! I jumped out the of chair and scootched my way between Gracie and the Christmas tree, "Caleb Wade!" I shouted with a smile.

Caleb poked his grinning face around the corner. "What?" He tried to be so innocent.

"Don't 'What' me, Mister!" I pulled the corners of my mouth down, along with the arch of my brows. "Your sister already gave you away" I motioned toward Gracie

Caleb, still smiling, giggled out, "Gracie! You're not supposed to tell."

"Caleb" I warned, trying not to smile, "Stay out of the presents!"

****
The next afternoon, Gracie walked into the kitchen carrying a folded polka dot robe. With a big smile on her face she asked, "Mommy, is this for me?"

I turned from the kitchen sink and spied the robe in Gracie's hands. "Caleb Wade!" I shouted. Caleb wasn't home but I knew he was the one to put the snooping into motion. I grabbed the robe from Gracie and told her to stay out of my room.

Gracie followed me down the hall, "But Caleb was digging in that box yesterday" referring to the box of unwrapped presents in my room.

I was so excited when I found Gracie that polka dot robe. I knew she would love it and anticipated the look on her face when she saw it Christmas morning. It really aggravated me that Caleb initiated the snooping and ruined my surprise... especially after I told him to stop snooping.

I tossed the robe in my bedroom and shut the door, "Stay out, Gracie!"

Gracie followed me back down to the kitchen and sat at the table while I finished dinner. A minute or so passed before Gracie softly spoke, "Thank you for the robe anyway, Mommy."

Her sweet words came from her heart and cut at me. For a second I wanted to burst into tears, but that was swallowed up with being mad at myself for getting upset with Gracie... ah, the emotions of PMS...

I walked over and cupped her little chin in my hand. "I know, Sweetie. I wanted it to be a surprise. You can have it Christmas."

Gracie smiled

****
The boys spent the weekend with their dad so I didn't have a chance to scold Caleb. The night after the Gracie snooping incident, I saw Caleb at the high school basketball game. I waved at him from across the gym, then sent him the following text message, "Ur in big trouble Mr"

I kept my eyes locked on Caleb until he looked up from his phone. He smiled and tossed his palms up in the air. I sent a text reply, "u knw y".... I figured I'd torture him for a few minutes and let him think he was in real trouble....

When there was a break in the game, Caleb walked over to my side of the gym. I tried not to smile as I told him about Gracie's robe, ending the story threatening to send all his presents back to Santa.

Caleb grinned big at his little sister, "Gracie, you're not supposed to let her know your spying"

hmmm... I'm gonna have to do a better job hiding presents next year.