I’ve decided that for moms, Christmas is just like planning a wedding. Every year. I mean, think about it. It takes coordination and spreadsheets (you should see the “Christmas” folder in my google docs), internet research, stress, blood, sweat and tears (and money, lots of money)…just for one day. And then it’s over. Until next year.
But it’s worth it, right? It must be, or the whole thing wouldn’t have hung in there for 2000 years. Despite all the craziness, Christmas 2010 was a great one for us. Here are a few of the highlights.
— Kate’s Christmas list. I came into the living room one afternoon to find Kate with legal-size pad of paper, filling every square centimeter with all of her heart’s desires in 8 pt font. Then she tore it in pieces to distribute to various family members. I think that was her version of my google doc planning instruments.
— Our Advent calendar. I wrote about how creating this thing kept me up at night, and really, keeping up with a daily treat or activity wasn’t all that easy for me this year, but having an Advent calendar got us all in the spirit. We did and saw a number of things that we probably wouldn’t have otherwise… it was almost a binding contract. If the Advent calendar says we have to get in our jammies and drive around looking at Christmas lights, then that’s what we’re going to do (even if no one’s in the mood and it’s cold and the kids are tired, we have to do it, dammit.)
— Santa. We visited a couple of “Santas” this year… one Kate bought, I think, but the other she determined was a fake, although she was slightly perplexed by how he knew her name. It didn’t occur to her that we live in a *very* small town. Anyway, I kept waiting for her to ask the big question about the reality of Santa, and although that didn’t happen this year, I know the days of her believing are limited. I need to give props to Joshua, however, because he totally played along when Kate started talking Santa at our grandma’s house on Christmas day. I think Jenny & I were both holding our breaths!
— Christmas Eve service. Sam is not… hmm, how should I say this… very good at doing the whole church thing. He was noisy and crazy during the calm and serene candlelight service, but I couldn’t help but get a kick out of him. He was in such a happy mood and was being so funny. When the priest rang the bells in the middle of the service, Sam shouted out “Time to go home!” as though the school bell had sounded. He and I had to bow out about 2/3 of the way through the service, but hanging out with him in the church basement was just as special to me as sitting in a pew.
— Christmas morning. Sam is in the habit of waking up between ? and §, and Christmas morning was no exception. His bedroom doors open up into the living room, so he saw what was under the tree right away. I think I’ll always remember him opening the door to Kate’s room and saying “Kate, it’s time for presents!!”
Really, the whole season was full of memories. At 2.5 and 6.5, our kids are at such good ages for Christmas joy. I kept trying to remind myself to commit everything I could to memory, because I know these are the days we’ll look back on wistfully.
What were your favorite holiday memories this year?
My Christmas memory this year was simply being with my family.
Nothing better.
Glad yours was happy.
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I love this post! I was definitely holding my breath about Joshua spilling the Santa beans, b/c I had forgotten to give him the standard lecture about it beforehand. and then I almost spilled them myself when I started to tell Anna how Joshua caught us wrapping presents when he came downstairs after bedtime to tell us how he had to puke. But I stopped myself by saying, “oh this story is not appropriate for little ears.” and Kate came back with “Oh, well there’s 3 pairs of little ears right here!” She meant herself, Jonah, and Joshua. 🙂 It was so cute.
My fave memory is of Sophie running back and forth to the tree between presents to get more. She always said “Let’s find one for Joshua!” before she looked for her own. It was too sweet.
And of course, having a sweet fresh baby at Christmas!
Enjoyed all of the family’s children at Christmas- 2 new ones this year- Lily and Jonah. Sammy told me about his mommy’s making me hot chocolate- very cute giving away a secret. I was happy that my four oldest who love to read at bedtime liked their reading pillows that I gave them, and I think the next two down would like one,too, so that goes on birthday lists.Christmas with our mothers was great. A happy celebration of Christ’s birth… let’s do it again next year!
Josie was STOKED Santa came to visit, even though she did not sit on his lap, he knew EVERYTHING she wanted and she was pleased! She was able to get a VReader this year, thanks to a VERY kind elf, and let me tell you…she played with that for hours!! She got a tent so there for she eats and watches her Vreader in her tent for hours on end, and yes…she even falls asleep with the reader which is awesome!!
I think we should get a day off after the Christmas Holiday, just to recover! I actually got one becuase of snowocalypse! My boys, Colin, his brother and father, went to Williamsburg for the week after Christmas, while I went back to work! Traitors.