The holiday season means different things to different people. Some celebrate the December holidays with family and or friends while others can't wait until January comes. Some wait all year to celebrate and others can not wait until Jan 2. Some try to relive or recreate childhood memories and family traditions while others choose or need to forget those moments of their life.
As a child, Christmas and New year's meant presents, snow, and birthdays. We had our family tradition for Christmas of Midnight mass and then open the gifts late in the night (because Santa visits while we were at mass). The anticipation of Christmas involved putting up the tree and stockings and counting down with the advent calendar. Christmas morning would come and we'd all wake up close to noon (because we'd be up til 2 opening gifts). Christmas dinner was small and just my immediate family. But it was special and celebrated with champagne and birthday cake.
As a parent, the same feeling of anticipation is present except the joy comes from the happiness and awe of my kids. We put up our tree soon after Thanksgiving and Evan assisted on putting up the non-breakable ornaments. And it was with squeals of delight from Haley as her first vision of the tree that made us smile that we were successful in decorating the tree. It was the many different routes home to check out the different lights in different neighborhoods that brought big eyes of wonderment in the kids' eyes. It was our visit to the mall to see Santa and have Evan burst with glee at seeing Santa and Haley's admiration of Santa from afar that told us that this Christmas was going to be great for everyone.
Santa came to our house and brought toys for the kids and jewelry for me :) Dan got a lot of Star Wars stuff and fun toys to keep him and Evan entertained. But the winner of the gifts for Evan were the golf bag from mom & dad and a real child's guitar! For one week straight, Evan thanked us everyday, several times a day for the golf bag. Now he has a bag for the clubs he got for his birthday from my uncle. And yes, those clubs are used at the driving range on the small bucket! (click for photo) The guitar is a bit loud but allows Evan to express himself creatively in a way he hasn't done yet.
Haley got a baby doll and doll's stroller from Santa (plus another baby doll from grandma). And she also got a little people's doll house... and what fun it is to see Haley play mommy to her babies. She puts the blankie on the babies, feeds the babies and even gives them a bath. I watch her play and think how her imagination keeps her entertained playing mommy...she's such a girl!! Her other major gift was from Dan's brother and his family. They gave her an animated rocking horse. Unfortunately, the animation is a bit too real for her liking...which causes fear in her eyes. So for now, we use it as our new baby gate. The horse is used as a barrier to keep Haley off the stairs while we are all downstairs... perhaps not the right thing to do, but it works... and keeps Evan busy because he loves to ride it.. and play his guitar at the same time.
Check out the photos from December.... click HERE
Happy New Year !!
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