Merry Christmas

Here we are finally, Christmas Eve. One of my favorite days of the year. I always looked forward to this day when I was little. The anticipation of Christmas morning with an abundance of gifts under the tree. My parents weren’t made of money growing up, but boy did they ever make Christmas good for my sister and I. I had never seen so many presents in my life as I did under our tree growing up. They would come out so far from the tree that you couldn’t even touch the tree. It would take us most of the morning to get through everything. It was as if it was never ending. Now as an adult, I know there is more to Christmas than just gifts, but as a kid it’s hard to see it any other way.

I feel very fortunate that I am able to do the same for my children. Now, we aren’t to the point of that many gifts just yet, but I enjoy shopping and buying for them so much already. You don’t realize until you have kids of your own what you are missing out on.

Just the other day, my mom was over baking cookies with me and she mentioned how much she misses Christmas morning with us as kids – which is what sparked me to write this post. I want her to experience that again through my kids, so in a year or two when it’s really exciting for the boys, I want my Mom to share in that excitement all over again. You don’t realize how much things change as your grow up not only for you but for your parents as well.

I am trying to set traditions as an adult that I want to keep in the family – like baking cookies with my Mom.  That was something that I always enjoyed growing up – so I want to continue that with her. Reading a Christmas story; watching a Christmas movie; buying a special ornament for the tree each year. Just last night we drove around and looked at Christmas lights. It’s these little things that mean so much and I am so thankful to have my own family to share these memories with.

There’s a lot that goes into Christmas. From shopping, buying and wrapping gifts, cooking and cleaning to entertain the family, but in the end it’s all worth it. I enjoy every bit of it and I don’t ever see it getting old.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!