It feels like forever since I posted here! I have been ridiculously busy (well, it's December, haven't we all?). I can't believe Christmas is less than a week away. It's a little surreal. I've been anticipating it this year, trying to be ready before the day of, trying to be organized and all of that, but to my intense chagrin, I am none of the above. I just got home from buying mountains of stocking stuffers, and I don't think I have everything I need for everyone just yet. Not that it's that big of a deal, but, the perfectionist in me just wants everything I want. I know that if certain things don't make their way under the tree this year, it will be alright. The world will not end. The kids will still be happy. We will all be together, and that's the greatest gift of all.
This Christmas is extra special for me this year (and for all of us). I'm sure I have mentioned before that my sister moved in with us this August, and this is our first Christmas morning together since we were kids. I'm so excited! I find that I have to stop and pinch myself once in a while (figuratively...I wouldn't actually pinch myself...ouch!) so that I know all the amazing things in my life are actually real. Things I have wanted for so long are finally happening, and the payoff is fantastic. I love that both my girls get the whole Christmas thing now, I love that this will be my eleventh Christmas with my husband, and we are still crazy about each other, I love that I have so many people to see and so many things to do this holiday season. It's going to be a mad rush until the new year now, but it's so worth it. We'll be traveling and traveling and visiting, eating, cooking, laughing, not sleeping...but it will be worth every single moment. These are the kinds of times that create memories that last forever. I feel a stupid lot of stress about everything, but at the same time, I am elated about every single thing happening right now. I love Christmas!
Some of my most vivid and special memories happened at Christmas. I remember my mom always picking out the cutest Charlie Brown Christmas trees, and the whole family taking a day to decorate it while we listened to her favorite Christmas music (Neil Diamond...a tradition I continue because I love it). I remember huge family gatherings at Grandma's house, and later at my aunts' houses with all of my cousins and it being crazy hectic to get us all in the same room for a picture. I remember the huge stockings my mom made for our family - my sister still has hers and it's hanging up next to the tree. I remember the smell of her baking, and condensed milk, and candied fruit, sugar and chocolate. I remember quiche and mimosas for breakfast (of course, we kids just had orange juice), and there always being one special thing under the tree that stayed unwrapped for us to find right away. I remember my mom's laughter as she lived Christmas spirit through the whole season. This time of year is the stuff that makes all that warmth continue to live on in us. This time of year is where some of my most poignant memories have been formed, and I hope to give the same thing to my own kids now.
I hope my kids will remember Christmas as the time when we saw everyone; the time when we made a point to spend quality time with the people we love, with family, friends and each other. I want them to remember the sound of Neil Diamond blaring as we drink hot chocolate and decorate the tree. I hope they remember smiles, laughter, the smell of turkey and baking gingerbread men. I hope they remember the love that drips from each moment of Christmas.
I hope you create some special memories this Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone!
