Christmas 2013

If I had one select word to describe Christmas 2013 it would be 'blessed.'  Because we were healthy, enjoyed good food, were able to spend time with our families, were fortunate enough to be able to buy presents for our children, and were lucky to have a kitchen to bake cookies in with my daughters.  Blessed, indeed. 

If I had to select a second word it would be 'exhausted.'  Because Christmas is hard work.  Between decorating, baking, class parties, working some, shopping, wrapping, recitals, and everything else that falls on mom's shoulders to make Christmas the most wonderful time of year for her family.   But I'm not here to complain - because, honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I will let pictures do most of the talking in this post.  Because I don't think I could ever come up with the adjectives to describe the magic of it all:

There wasn't a single Christmas song on the radio that put me in the spirit until I was at church on Christmas Eve and singing 'O Come All Ye Faithful' with my family. 

And I could never write down for the girls what it means to be able to spend Christmas with all 4 of their grandparents and a great-grandma.  That's something that they can only hold as special and I'm just glad I took the pictures that they can one day cherish.

 It seems silly to write how technology has helped build the anticipation of Santa's arrival, but tracking his progress around the world has become a Christmas Eve tradition for our family.  Trying to write about it just doesn't capture the buzz of energy that comes with sitting in front of the computer watching the rolling count of presents being delivered around the globe.

 And what really can be said about the tradition of making reindeer food and sprinkling it on the lawn on Christmas Eve that a picture just can't say better?

I'm not sure there is a word that could describe the genuine thrill of realizing Santa did actually come and bring presents.

 As much as I could try, I would not be able to paint the picture in words of pure joy and excitement on the girls' faces when they open up a present.  I do not take for granted that they are both energetic, bubbly girls, who I hope never enter the phase of 'the half-smile-and-polite-tiny-thank-you 'when they open up a gift.  I always try to capture their expressions and not the gifts, because that is the gift in my opinion.     

'Oops!' is the only word I have for now realizing that the only Christmas pictures I took that have Tom in them are when he is in the background.  Except this one on Christmas morning.  Sorry, honey!

 But it's only fair, I guess, because rarely do I make it on the other side of the lens myself.  I made him take a picture of me and the girls when they woke Christmas morning so they can see that their mom isn't so completely vain that she wouldn't capture a memory for them while she is in her pj's. 

And when it was all said and done on Christmas night at bedtime, Emily asked me if Christmas was all done.  And when I said yes, she told me, "Okay, we do it again tomorrow."  I'd do it all over again, too babe. 
 Blessed, indeed......

Fun and Christmasy Things

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! 

Last week, the third graders had their poetry recital.  They each had to select a poem, memorize, and recite it in front of their families on Wednesday morning for a grade.  Casey was nervous and thought if she picked a short poem she'd have an easier time remembering it.  Her teacher was on to her and knows her potential should aim a little higher, so she made Casey pick 2 short poems to recite.  She did very well and we were proud of her :)

Thursday was both girls' holiday class parties.  I was smart this time and signed up to bring and run the same game at both parties.  I learned my lesson at Emily's Halloween party - I do not like crafts; I'm much happier doing games.  I made this one up and it was a hit at both parties.  Even better - it couldn't have been easier.  It's loosely based on corn hole and all I needed was to wrap an empty box, add ribbon across the top to make it a little harder and more fun and to buy plastic ornaments from the Target dollar bin.  Easy, fun, not much of a time commitment, no clean-up.  For a day, I considered myself a genius.

 

 

Friday was supposed to be the girls' last day of school, but we played hooky to go downtown with friends to see The Nutcracker and have lunch.  I think there were over 20 of us moms and daughters and was a fun, Christmasy thing to do.  Casey seemed to enjoy the performance, but it did not catch Emily's attention for very long, so she and I hung out outside the auditorium and walked around.  I was prepared for this and spent too much time worrying about this before hand.  Casey was fine and Emily and I were fine entertaining ourselves with counting city Metro buses and looking at the Christmas trees around the Aronoff Center.  A friendly usher did offer us the private VIP corporate viewing suite to watch the second act since it was not in use.  So we were able to watch some of the show in the comfort of big leather chairs and the freedom for Emily to move around and talk without us bothering anyone else.  Sweet hookup :)

My iphone camera really let me down.  Just a few of the kids who were part of our group.

By this time, Emily was done with the pictures I was taking.  I think Casey is eating her 8th candy cane.

Only part of our group (we never did get an entire group picture)

Today, we took the girls to EnterTRAINment Junction here in West Chester.  We used to go downtown to see the Duke Energy holiday trains until the exhibit was moved to the Cincinnati Museum Center.  We followed them there one year and hated the experience.  It just isn't fun and Christmasy anymore at it's new location.  Although we miss the festiveness of downtown, now our tradition is to stay close to home and enjoy finding all the miniature Santas scattered about the world's largest indoor train exhibit (I think I read that in a brochure today).



 Not only are there trains there, but Mrs. & Mr. Claus is there as well, so it really becomes a one-stop fun, Christmasy thing for us.  On the record, in the year 2013 at the age of 5-1/2, for the very first time on her own, Emily sat on Santa's lap.  And little sister was actually excited for it!  Last year she wouldn't go within 20 feet of Santa.  When we got in (the very long) line, she wanted to back out, but by the time we got to Mrs. Claus and her sugar cookies, Emily was gearing up to go toe-to-toe with the big guy. 

Emily greeted Mrs. Claus by saying Merry Christmas :)

I couldn't resist Mrs. Claus' spices in her (adorable) kitchen

Casey on the other hand, said she was opting out of it this year but she wouldn't come clean on why.  After some coaxing, with her arms crossed across her chest, she finally said, and I quote, "Fine, mom.  I just feel like I'm a little too old to sit on his lap.  I'm just probably having a mid-life crisis or something."  Tom and I were dying laughing.  The cool thing about seeing Santa here is, when it's your turn, you have a private audience with him.  No screaming, whining kids and exhausted parents escalating the chaos of the scene.  It was Santa, the 4 of us and a helper behind a camera.  Santa addressed Emily first and she answered with a big hug.  Then he told Casey to have a seat on his knee and it turns out she couldn't say no to him :)  When they were done telling him what they wanted, Santa asked Emily to stand right by him as he was looking for something in his pocket.  Then he gave her her very own sleigh bell from his sleigh.  And she was over the moon. 

She greeted him by saying, "Nice to meet you."

First time on Santa's lap

Casey overcame her mid-life crisis!  ;)

Genuine smiles
 

Personally, I think Santa is thinking, "You want WHAT?" here.

Santa is giving Emily a special sleigh bell.  (I'm not sure every kid got one of these :)

I later asked Casey if she was upset that Emily got a jingle bell and she didn't and she said, "No, that's okay.  Emily got a special bell because she has a special syndrome."  I wasn't sure what to do with that statement.  Should I probe deeper to find out if Casey has some buried resentment or encourage her to open up to me about why it's okay for Emily to get special treatment, but I decided to just let it go.  Casey seemed to be happy for Emily and her special jingle bell and, instead, I told her I was proud of her that she was glad her sister got something special for her first time sitting on Santa's lap.   
 

Sleigh bell in hand.