christmas has always been magical for me. i'm not sure i even remember the year i stopped believing in santa. probably because it didn't matter to me. no magic was taken away, and i went on loving the holiday the same as before. i attribute it to my parents, especially my mom. our home was so magical during christmastime and nostalgic memories come flooding back every time i think about all the fun we had growing up. i didn't think christmas as a kid (or teenager for that matter!) could ever be beat.
and then i had kids of my own.
it seems like every christmas just gets more magical. the older they get and the more kids we throw into the mix, the better the morning. man, it just reinforces my love for this time in my life and makes me wish i could press pause and keep things just the way they are.
i had zac wake finn up christmas morning because i couldn't handle the anticipation! i was so excited to see his reaction when he saw that santa brought him the tractor he's had his eye on for months. his initial reaction was sort of a let down hahaha. he just came down, still half asleep and stared at his pile for a while. didn't say one word! i guess we should let him wake up on his own from now on? ;) finally we pointed out his tractor and he got a little excited. then he noticed the horn (trumpet) and he said, "oh my gosh! and a horn, too?" that was definitely one of my favorite line of the morning. such wide-eyed innocence and amazement. how did santa know?! ;)
lance woke sam up about a half hour later before he missed out on all the fun. he didn't notice a single thing when he walked in the room, all he cared about was grandma. he frantically searched the room, whining "grandma, grandma!" the kid sure loves his grandma, what can i say?! i told him to come check out his stocking because there was something in it i knew he would love - a new gray bunny. his other bunny retired to the top shelf of a closet a month or two ago. we had a slight scare when the bunny almost went missing. it is the nastiest looking thing you've ever seen, but is filled with so many memories. sammy boy sure loves his bunny and i would be so sad if we actually did lose it, so i hid it. like any good mom would do, right? anyhow, when i found another one while out christmas shopping, i knew i had to get it. i was so excited to see his reaction, and it did not disappoint! he excitedly grabbed it then bounced on back to his spot next to grandma, bunny in hand with the most adorable expression you've ever seen - beaming with happiness and joy. that's what makes christmas so magical.
the rest of the day was spent opening gifts, playing with toys, cooking, eating delicious food (if i do say so myself), watching in amazement as the snow kept coming down outside (we haven't had snow all month long, and i think the last white christmas we had was six years ago! talk about magical!!) and spending time with those we love most. lance's family is all in town so it has been so nice to catch up and spend time together. it is so fun watching finn and sam interact with jett and shaya. two 2-year-olds under the same roof makes for some interesting times. a lot of "don't push/don't hit/don't do that/go to time-out"'s haha but i am glad they are getting to know one another and making memories with their cousins. i sure wish they lived closer.
and i certainly appreciate that both our families are willing to come together on christmas so that we don't have to be torn between the two. i can't imagine not celebrating christmas with my mom. my kids love her just as much as they love me and lance, and i know it makes the holiday even more special having her there. zac and alicia came over as well, which meant the only people not in attendance were grandpa jimbob and jeff and wendy.
as the day came to an end, i couldn't help but wish that it would last just a little longer. even though we celebrate christmas all month long, there is just something so unique about the one day. the 25th. such a special holiday, celebrating such a special and important person. through all the stress and chaos, and errand running, and hosting, and shopping and good times spent with family and friends, i am so grateful to know the reason for the season - celebrating the birth of that tiny babe born in bethlehem all those years ago, and the gift he has given each one of us. he is the gift. hope it was as merry for you as it was for me. :)
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