Best Christmas Ever

Like it is for many people, December is a super busy month for us. The boys perform in the church program, there's a taekwondo test, my grades are due, we're preparing for the church choral program, plus all the normal busyness of the season. The one thing missing from the season? Snow. I really want to change my banner photo, but I can't. It sort of looks like March outside. Craziness.

One thing that has been weird for me this season is scrapbooking. To put the tree up, we have to move the easy chair I normally scrap in. I've discovered I've had a hard time scrapping when I'm not in my normal seat. Go figure.

So recently, my scrapbooking has consisted of planning and idea generating. Christmas itself has given me plenty of ideas. Even though we got to bed last night at 11:30 after attending the candlelight service (Derick and I were singing), the boys woke up at 6 A.M. ready for gifts. Boy did they have fun. After Dominic opened one gift, he wandered over to Derick and me, let out a big sigh, and said, "Best Christmas Ever." I'm not even sure what he opened.

His words made me pull out some paper and list why this could be the best Christmas ever. Here's a few:

1. Lola at our feet.
2. A bucket full of Little Miss Matched socks.
3. The family jog in the afternoon.
4. Lego Ninjago for each boy.
5. The Zombies wearing Santa hats in Plants Versus Zombies.
6. The sound of Lego sorting and hummed Christmas carols in the boys' rooms.


7. The boys in Dominic's room, playing games with their newly constructed Legos.
8. Me hiding by their door and tossing in a shrieking Angry Bird.

One of my favorite books is Little House on the Prairie. I don't remember which one it was, but I know in one book two sisters (Carrie and Laura?) talked about how Christmas gets better each year. I sort of feel that way. I know Christmas can be a melancholy season for some--one friend of mine who recently lost her mother, for one--but it's also a season to reflect on the great gifts we have been given, not all of which cost money and many of which are human (or in the case of Lola, canine).

Merry Christmas to everyone, and a blessed New Year.