December 23, 2008

The Reason For The Season

Christmas is a spectacular time for toddlers. No one without a two year old could possibly experience so much joy. We have a two year old and a five year old who are taking full advantage of the season and can hardly wait for snow.

Last week I took Philip on a walk. For a two year old, "walk" is an ambitious word. No nativity scene can be passed without full inspection, no manhole or water meter will avoid being jumped upon, and many are the pebbles and leaves that must be carted home.

It is sometimes very hard for me to take a deep breath, relax, and remember that half the fun of going somewhere is getting there, and the fun of the walk is what you discover along the way. The colder it is, the harder time I have relaxing, and when it is 25 degrees I have an especially challenging time. But we both enjoyed it - a little frozen mucus on the face is good for everybody.

Wrapping gifts is almost as exciting as opening them. "Me hep wif tape?" is quite possibly the world's cutest, most heart melting request, and certainly undeniable. You will think to yourself, as you are opening a lopsided, crinkled package on Christmas morning, that all that really matters is that it was wrapped with love.

Olivia can't even contain herself with wrapping gifts. When there are no more to be wrapped, we must find more! Every single member of our family will be opening at least three specially wrapped items from Olivia's toy chest. Mommy and Daddy get presents to wrap from stores, because that's what they are supposed to do, and five year olds get presents from their own toy chests, because where else are they supposed to get them? All of the toys will return to her chest in a few days, but its really all worth it because of the suspense when an older sibling opens a gift - its either a real gift or Ginger the Puppy!

Last of course, the Christmas lights on rooftops. They never lose their wonder - trips to the grocery store will be a constant babble of "Yights! Yights! Yed an Boo Yights!" Lights, lights, red and blue lights. But it's cuter when they say it.

Our yights didn't exactly make it this year. They're half up - stapled around the perimeter of the garage and duct taped to the bricks, but somehow the great electrical fuse managed to spoil that little endeavor. Maybe its for the best - who knows how many small children would end up being electricuted if there were actually yights to have the excitement of turning on every single night.

I remember decorating the tree several weeks ago and just wanting to freeze that moment in time - all the family crowded into one place, hanging twenty three years of memories on an artificial pine. Who cares if the Charlie Brown ornament got his head ripped off?

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