Christmas through your eyes (written in January finished in April!)

Christmas has always been a big deal to me.  I love the memories that flood back when I listen to certain Christmas albums, smell certain smells, string lights around the tree, place precious ornaments evenly among the branches.  It is such a special time with family and a time of year I look forward to always.  It's magical and this year I experienced that in a new way through your beautiful blue eyes and the excitement in both your and Marcel's shrieks and gasps at all the beautiful lights that flood the lawns and storefronts. "CHRISTMAS! LOOK MOM!"

Watching Polar Express!

The month was full of wintery, Christmas fun and watching you take it all in was so special to me.  We walked through Cosley Zoo to see the lights, drove around many neighborhoods checking out all the lights (and even stumbled upon one with music to go along with the flashing lights!!), headed to the Christmas Market for hot chocolate and delicious German food, enjoyed a beautifully done Christmas Eve service at Willow Creek, and enjoyed a lot of family time full of leisurely days just being together. 

It was almost too much fun picking out the perfect gifts for the two of you and wrapping them up, each in their own specific paper to be placed under the tree on the night before Christmas Eve.  I have always loved the anticipation of Christmas morning, and always woke up far too early to separate and distribute all the presents for my brother and sisters, waiting patiently until the rest of the family stumbled down the stairs.  This time I had the anticipation of watching you discover each little thing stuffed inside your velvet stockings and slowly passing out the gifts and opening each one with great excitement and care.  It was such a special morning.

The weeks leading up to Christmas day we explained thoroughly the greatest gift Christmas has to offer, the birth of our Savior.  You would explain to anyone that would listen that it was Jesus' birthday, and each time it made me so proud.  I was thankful you understood the truth of the season, and had fun watching you also get swept up in the fun of it.  You would exclaim, "Santa is coming soon!  Mom, is it in two hours?  He's going to check his list and then sneak in.  Is he coming now?"  And with each present we would pick out and carefully wrap together you would say ever so sweetly, "Mom, I think they are really going to love it!"  It is such a joyous time of the year, and as much as I have always loved Christmas, my love for it grew far more than I could have imagined this year with the two of you to share it with!