Dear Ellie,
This has by far been my best Christmas season ever. Watching the magic through yours and
Will’s eyes is indescribable.
Final Thought: Remember that Christmas is not just a
day. It’s a feeling, it’s the act
of giving, and it’s a fundamental part of our faith. Always let that true and pure spirit shine through no matter
what time of year.
How we got into the spirit in the final weeks leading up to
Christmas:
1.
Daddy’s work organizes a children’s Christmas
party every year. Santa visits
after we eat pizza (and Will still cries every time he sees the big guy).
There is a huge arts and crafts room
(where you made reindeer food)
and a movie area in the projection room (playing
all of the holiday’s best films).
Daddy’s work also does a very formal party for the adults (it’s always
fun to add sparkle to your outfit this time of year). You and Will slept over your Mimi and Poppy’s so that we
could stay out late. We had the
best time dancing into the late hours!
2.
Gram Bubbles came to visit! She is a part of our Christmas
traditions and has been since 1999- we love having her here with us!
3.
We rode the Polar Express Train Ride and then
had our Christmas at Mimi’s celebrating a little early with Ryan and Samantha.
(Aunt Sammy’s family lives in Ohio so they need to get on the road a bit
earlier to make it there for Christmas Eve). You love all the characters that come through the train car…
Will doesn’t (he cried and made sure each one left through the door and wasn’t
coming back).
Because Mimi and
Poppy’s big gift is our Disney trip, we get three gifts to open each. Your favorite was the slinky… all of
$3!
The day couldn’t have been
more perfect- a delicious dinner and the best company (with the game of
Pictionary during appetizers as well as a Steelers win to get the team into the
play-offs so Daddy was super-happy!).
4.
There was another Polar Express at the library
that we did for the first time this year.
We listened to the book, made a craft, hopped on the trolley around the
block where Santa was waiting for us in the local theatre (and yes Will cried
while sitting on the big guy’s lap).
5.
Your school put on its annual Christmas
Program. You sang songs and Santa
stopped by. But the best part was
that you got to be Mary in the mini-play… that’s what I was when I was around
your age. You played the part so
perfectly- gentle and sweet! I
teared up when I saw you all dressed up.
6.
And of course, Griz “hung” around the whole month. There were a few moments of parenting failure regarding him…
the first is when I made him zip line on a candy cane down the kitchen lamp
wire (from other people’s vantage point though, it looked like Griz committed
suicide). The second is when I hid
Griz around the shower nozzle (thinking he would make bath time easier since
you cry in the bathtub when we wash our hair). But when you found him, you were very concerned that Griz
would see you naked (because I made him unintentionally to be a Peeping Tom).
The third is when we had a few friends over for dinner and I had a couple
glasses of wine and couldn’t find Griz the next morning. You and I were both shocked (after two
hours of looking) where he ended up- upside down tied to your closet shelf (I’m
still not sure why I chose that place as you rarely go into your closet because
you don’t wear dresses!). And the
fourth is when Griz was hanging upside down above your bed from your ceiling
fan. You woke up at midnight
scared to death so you slept in our room for the rest of the night! And a couple of times I tried to be
creative with marshmallows (having Griz build a “snowman” or lifting
“weights”), our cat would eat and steal them creating a very chaotic Elf
scene.
Griz did have two big hits-
he asked you to play Tic-Tac-Toe and when he went fishing.
7.
Christmas Eve is a tradition. 4pm Mass and then back to our house for pizza and the Christmas Vacation movie with Mimi, Poppy, and Gram Bubbles. It’s always a night filled with
anticipation and excitement!
Of course, Christmas Day was amazing too. Notice though that the emphasis was
never on the presents in our blogs this month. Yes, you got some incredible gifts but we gave some pretty
cool ones too. But the time we
spent preparing, getting excited, spending time with loved ones- that’s what
counts!
Never forget that there is always enchantment during
Christmas Ellie, no matter your age.
Merry Christmas my Love!
Mom
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