Twas the Night before Christmas

The Magic

The advent calendar read Dec. 18^th, the list was complete, the stockings virtually stuffed, the gifts finished, wrapped, and already packed into the sleigh for transport to Utah’s mountain majesty when it dawned on me…the Christmas magic. For now, I am the mother of a daughter who gets it. Who knows Santa, the elves and all about the reindeer. Who is so invested, that we find ourselves having long discussions about the victimized children inhabiting homes without chimneys (ours being one of them.) Who has been just about as nice as her gigantic and dramatic three year old spirit can muster. The Christmas magic. If I don’t make it magic, no one will…

Panic ensued, catalogs re-opened, budget be darned we had magic to make. Gratefully, wisdom prevailed and the spending spree barely curbed with the realization that magic is relative. And magic to her 3ft, 3 year old frame is glitter, light and sugar. Where it might take more to mystify my 6ft, 30 year old perspective, hers is still quite fresh, quite easily impressed, totally and utterly wowed by a lollipop.

the First Gifts of Christmas

So we held firm and hit the bullseye!

E’s prized gift – a lollipop big enough to cover every inch of her face in red, sticky, holiday bliss. Followed closely by the candy necklace the elves left next to her bed (they must have tiptoed across the ceiling with their pointy little shoes she surmised in awe.)

JE’s prized gift – a wooden bench just her size. A throne for small royalty made by a dear and generous friend.

My prized gift – a snuggie, in pink. Which was immediately adopted as an integral piece of my wardrobe.

L’s prized gift – the usual movie candy…boxed lemon heads and hot tamales (which Miss Ev later swallowed, gasping – ‘I just swallowed that hot hot tomato whole…it slithered all the way down with my slippery apple juice.’)

A thorough inspection of St. Nick's cookie crumbs.

Thrilled on her Throne

Christmas Eve Pageantry

Angels heard on High

Kidnapped, the baby Jesus gets a gentle kiss from Cindy Lou Who

The Cow,

and other barnyard animals

SLC

SLC

And all that Jazz

Deck the Halls with

Little Girlies

Golly what a Guy

Man vs. Crab on date night.

Man vs. Toddler trying to sleep in

Man serving eggnogs all around

Man with his girlies.

We love you man.

Christmas Visits

To Will and Jane's for a cozy fire, a winter's meal, and Mar's signature tea service.

To Gram and Papa's for train riding, piano playing, merry making, Christmas caroling, and plenty of tutus twirling.

White Christmas

Well, its official, we’ve gone to the other side and find ourselves softened by our time in California and ill-equipped for a truly white Christmas. We consider loafers (over flip flops) our winter shoes, we packed denim jackets and don’t even own socks. Ev in her grandmother’s mittens, scarf and hat and JE with grandpa’s gloves on her feet loved the snow none the less. Whatever we lack in equipment, we certainly make up in enthusiasm.