Holidays

These two.

I love the traditions, the events, the lights and decorations, the sounds of Christmas, but I find myself falling out of love by the time Christmas actually arrives.  Our two little munchkins are our gifts, even when they're a little rotten.  I want to soak up every minute of the new-ness that they are seeing in Christmas right now, and it seems that so much of the other junk gets in the way. I want to sing Jingle Bells with Cameron and giggle as he tries to follow along. I want to buy silly matching Christmas pajamas for them to wear on Christmas Eve.  I want to teach him the pieces and people of the nativity scene that was passed on to me by my Grandmother.

We're not canceling Christmas, but we're going to try a new twist. If our kids receive gifts all year long and they know nothing but a blessed life, then why does our house need to look like Santa threw up this time of year?

It doesn't.

If we start a twist on tradition this year, then maybe they'll never know any other way?  Then perhaps we'll prevent them from only seeing visions of presents in their precious heads. 

I don't want to be scrooge and not participate or tell Grandparents people that we won't be receiving gifts, BUT we are very lucky and very loved and sometimes it can all become too much.
We have to want to maintain the meaning of Christmas in our home, it's so important. 

Here's to a lighter, leaner Christmas filled with stronger moments.

Here's to keeping it simple.

Here's to spreading Joy.

Here's to Jingle Bells and cookies with Santa.

Here's to this kind of magic and preserving it for as long as possible.