Mom's Top Ten (actually 11) Christmas Memories from 2014

11. Can I add an 11th? The boys were so excited to put up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving! They were literally running around the house putting their trees up in their rooms or helping with other tasks. Digging through the gigantic boxes for ornaments and helping test the strands Christmas lights.  Fletcher woke up the day after Thanksgiving and said “It’s Christmas!!!” because to him, Christmas begins when we put the decorations up.  I don’t do a lot of things well as a mother, but I’m pleased that we have set aside the whole month of December to ‘celebrate’ Christmas and that has made a lasting impression on them!

10. Seeing the Yuletide christmas concert through the eyes of a child! Fletcher asking about the puppet Santa, “How did he do that?” “He was REAL!” “He even wiggled!” Fighting the boys to all wear their matching outfits. The oldest put up the biggest fight! Striped socks hanging over the edge of the chairs in the Circle Theatre. Eating Candy Cane Cookies at intermission. Walking around the corner as we were leaving to see the Christmas lights on the Circle. Griffin & Fletcher reviewing it at breakfast the next morning saying, “That Opera Lady didn’t know how to sing ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’” then imitating her operatic singing style! :)

9.  Making Christmas cookies, and more Christmas cookies and more Christmas cookies! And then inviting the neighborhood kids to help us make cookies. There was flour EVERYWHERE! And the look in their eyes when we invited them to join us making cookies. Then on little boy asked Carter, ‘Won’t your dad be mad about all this mess?” and Carter answered, “Nope!”  Hosting a cookie party for several of our school friends and their moms the afternoon before the last day of school. Decorating cookies with Shannon down at the lake the weekend before Christmas.

8.Fletcher’s preschool Christmas program. Seeing him sing all the words and trying not to smile wearing his cute red sweater.

7. Serving together at the Lord’s Pantry food pantry downtown. Praying together before the shoppers came in “Give us this day, our daily bread.”.... grateful for our many blessings. Griffin saying in the car on the way there, “I feel sorry for the people who live in these houses.” Carter totally stepping up to hand out treat bags to the kids with cheer and hospitality.

6. Going to the Children’s museum one afternoon after school for an hour before they closed and getting to see Santa without a wait! And riding the carol-sel - because they played Christmas carols as they rode it!

5. Going to the lake the weekend before Christmas and decorating the house for Christmas, going for a walk in the woods, the boys wearing their hunting garb, surprising Creepy, Sandy and Shannon and Creepy saying, “I wouldn’t be more surprised if I woke up with my face sewn to the carpet!” :) Sitting by the fire, watching Christmas movies and icing Christmas cookies with Shannon - and eating a ton of cookies before dinner!

4.Reading Christmas stories by the fire several evenings before bedtime. And peppermint hot cocoa overflowing in Santa cups with a straw all month long!

3.The boys having a “sleep over” as they camped out on the floor in front of the fire and underneath the Christmas tree and slept there all night! And another night had a "Christmas Music Dance Party!" (Why they take their shirts off for dance parties is another blog for another time! )

2. Seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child! Hearing them discuss things like “Sam on the bus said that Santa’s not real!” and another chiming in, “Oh, well, Santa’s real. Isn’t he, Mom?” or Asking Griffin asking why Santa only brings toys for their stockings and Fletcher answering “Because that’s what the elves make!”  Their excitement and anticipation increasing each day in the month of December and countless requests of “Can we open presents now?” on Christmas eve!!  How they each decorated their own mini Christmas trees in their rooms and enjoying the colorful glow of Christmas lights at bedtime each night. Reading Christmas stories for bedtime!  Leaving cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. Christmas themed Jammies!  And Then Kiefer excitedly going to bed as soon as we asked him to on Christmas Eve and falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow so he could fall asleep fast Christmas eve and Carter saying he was going to stay up to listen for reindeer bells, and then everyone else agreeing, “Yea, I’m going to listen too!” Even Kiefer said, “I’m going to listen in my sleep!” Yes, the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child!

1. Happy boyz on Christmas morning!! Numerous surprises and “Oh, that’s just what I wanted!” or “How did you know that’s what I wanted?” or “I got it!!!!” as they excitedly unwrapped the one thing they were really hoping they would get.  Being able to give them a special Christmas was all the gift I wanted.  Even if it only lasted 15 minutes!  The memories will last a lifetime! For me, and them, I hope!  Later that afternoon Kiefer said, “This was the best Christmas of my life!”  That makes it all worthwhile!