By Christopher Stevens
Traditionally, children wake up early on Christmas to rip the wrap and play with the new toys. But, without the lure of the new toy, some BYU students find it difficult roll out of bed.
In his youth, James Hexberg, 26, a senior from Compton, Calif., majoring in accounting, would wake his parents up early on Christmas morning to open presents. However, now the roles are reversed and his parents have to wake him up Christmas morning.
'I don''t wake up early because I don''t get toys anymore,' he said. 'Socks just aren''t exciting.'
In his youth Hexberg tossed and turned in anticipation of being able to ride a new GT Performer bicycle in the morning.
'When I was younger my parents made a rule that I couldn''t wake them up until after six, because one year I woke them up really early,' he said.
On Christmas Eve he''d lie in bed waiting for the light coming through the crack under the door to turn off, which meant his parents had finished putting out the presents and had gone to bed.
'A few minutes after the lights went out I''d sneak down the stairs hoping to get a peek at the new bike I asked Santa for.'
He never did get a new bike from Santa, but he said he opened plenty of fun toys.
Jason Soares, 23, a junior from Ogden, majoring in agriculture, said his little brothers wake him up early on Christmas.
During his mission to Florida, he actually missed having his little brothers around to jump on his bed and pull at his pajamas to get him out of bed.
'Christmas wasn''t the same without my little brothers,' Soares said. 'Kids make Christmas more exciting.'
The best Christmas gift he got on his mission was from the mission president.
'He gave us permission to sleep in on Christmas, if we wanted to,' Soares said. 'So far it''s been the only Christmas I''ve slept in on.'
His brothers want him out of bed because no one in the family can open up presents until everyone has gathered around the Christmas tree.
'I like sleeping in, but seeing my excited brothers is worth the early morning wake-up call,' Soares said.
Michelle Stephens, 22, a senior from Bellevue, Wash., majoring in biology, said her family started a new tradition a few years ago.
'My family still wakes up early on Christmas, but it isn''t to open presents. We deliver a Christmas meal to shut-ins through the Meals-on-Wheels program.'
Stephens'' family arrives at the volunteer center early on Christmas morning to put together the meals and deliver them to the elderly.
The first time she volunteered she could not believe how many people were there to share the Christmas spirit to those less fortunate. Hundreds of families donate their time and services so thousands of people don''t go without a Christmas meal, she said.
'It''s neat to see their faces brighten up when they answer the door,' Stephens said. 'They''re all so grateful for the short visit we offer.'