I really want to sit down and write a post or posts about all our Christmas activities and celebrations, but right now the fun and excitement of the last few weeks are just a blur. I'll admit I'm still exhausted from said fun and excitement and feeling a little twitchy over the tornado of toys that has gone through our house. So perhaps when I've had a chance to recover and organize, I will have more to say about the magic and craziness that was this holiday season.
Mostly what I hope I remember is that this is the Christmas where the boys both really "got it". The past few years, when they were babies and toddlers, I had fun dressing them up in Christmas pajamas and buying them gifts. I dragged them to see Santa and suffered through the consequences of keeping them up too late at too many holiday parties. I tried my best to engage them in decorating the tree, making cookies and unwrapping their presents, but always ended up doing 95% of it myself.
This year, for the first time, both kids really understood and enjoyed the entire season. They were thrilled to wake up every morning and find out what sort of silliness our elf, Jingle, had gotten himself into while we were sleeping and to whisper secrets for Santa to him at night before bed. They loved all the special ways we celebrated throughout the month with friends and family. They made it through two visits with Santa that didn't involve any tears. They had fun decorating our gingerbread house, baking cookies and watching Frosty and The Grinch. They learned the words to "Jingle Bells", "Rudolph", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "Frosty the Snowman". They spent the drive home on Christmas Eve scanning the sky for Santa's sleigh and leaped out of bed at 5:30 am to see if he really came. They shrieked with delight and lit up with joy over surprises big and small.
It was a Christmas where our house was filled with the magic of the season.
We are right there with you. This was the year!!! I'm so glad that it was awesome for your boys as well. Unfortunately, I am also right there with you on the tornado of toys......
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about the "getting it" this year aspect. I'm glad you were all able to make the most of this magical holiday!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like Christmas was a magical time for your family! I love the elf idea. How fun!
ReplyDeleteHow super fun is that! I love that your boys joined in the fun this time around. And I totally feel you on the post-holiday "blur." I just can't make myself sit down and sort through photos and thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSO wonderful!!! Those are the best Christmas memories. My 4 year old was really in to it this year, much more than last year. This of course is counterbalanced by the 8 and 11 year olds starting to "outgrow" the magic but still playing along. :( They grow up too fast!
ReplyDeleteThis post makes my heart swell. You know I love the season, and this makes me excited for next year already!!!
ReplyDeleteAww! That's really fantastic that they both "got it" this year. :) What a special Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThis post makes me so excited for Christmases to come. This year, we rejoiced in our little one really getting into opening his gifts...though we're still in the "ohhh, wrapping paper (who cares about the present)" stage. I certainly don't want to rush the time, but I very much look forward to a few years from now when we'll be in the "getting it" phase. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is really in response to your Post Adoption Stories tab. Thank you. I always think it is helpful for people to hear that things aren't always sunshine and rainbows with adoption. I wandered over from a.e.i.o. and I hope I'm not crossing any lines with that comment, but I really do appreciate that you shared your truth. When I brought my son home from Vietnam I expected the fairytale but got more of a fire drill and I wished that more people had been forthcoming with their real experiences.
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