This is late (why do I even say this anymore, it should just be assumed that I’m always about 2 months behind…), but I wanted to make sure I got a chance to archive the first holiday season that Milo could really participate in.  As someone FREAKING LOVES CHRISTMAS, I cannot tell you how much more magical it was for me (and I think everyone else in the family) to see it all through a child’s eyes.  I can’t think of anything that makes a family seem MORE like a family than having small children around.

As I mentioned above, I pretty much start anticipating the entire holiday season in, oh, say, September.  The first sign of cooler weather triggers my desire to sip pumpkin or mint cocoa by a fire, wrap things, and smell pine 24/7.  Thanksgiving is like the kick off, and as soon as we got home from Chicago this year, we ran out and cut down our Christmas Tree and set the radio dial to 102.1 – the 24 hour Christmas station.  The tree was up and decorated before December even began because, damnit, I want to milk every moment of holiday cheer out the season that I can.

All the ornament should hang in one place, not evenly distributed over the tree the way Mom wants.

Without snow or really any indication that it was, in fact, December, we made sure to get out to lots of different holiday events, most of which Milo seemed to really enjoy.  I imagine that bringing a load of children to the Holidazzle Parade or Macy’s 8th floor Elf Land would not be quite as magical, so I feel really glad that we are getting a chance to milk the 2:1 parent to child ratio for all it is worth.  Fortunately, Milo doesn’t need siblings of our own, because we’ve got friends with kids!  All the fun, none of the work.  :)

Dashing through the (lack of) snow, in a (two reindeer) open sleigh, over the "parking lot" we go...

Laughing all the way!

We talked a lot about Santa this year.  I know that some people don’t do the Santa thing, but whatever.  I love Santa.  And for the record, I totally think he in exists.  Mostly because, why not ya know?  Couldn’t we all stand more magic and generosity in our lives?  I maintain that I heard hooves on the roof above my bedroom when I was 13 (please note, at that age I OBVIOUSLY knew that a jolly old man did not come down my chimney), and my brothers concur.  I’m a believer and I hope Milo can be a believer too.  At least for a while.  So we talked about Santa.  And as it happens, we seem to have done a really good job of it because Milo is still spotting Santas everywhere.  David the Gnome = Santa, old black lady janitor at daycare with santa hat on = Santa!, Target deli employees wearing white chefs hats and red shirts = SANTA!!   Unfortunately…

An actual Santa = T.E.R.R.I.F.Y.I.N.G.

Like last year, we had both sides of our immediate family down to our place for a few days over Christmas.  This works because 1) no one is our immediate families is crazy, and 2) our wonderful neighbor lends us their house while they are with family over the holidays so, between the two houses, everyone has an actual bed and a little bit of quiet space.  Pat and I do a big soup dinner on the 23rd, Pat’s folks do their traditional Christmas Eve dinner (AMAZING french onion soup, cesear salad, prime rib, twice baked potatoes, and veggies), and my folks do their traditional Christmas Day dinner (which is basically Thanksgiving 2.0 and every bit as good).  There are lots of pies, cookies, banana bread, beers, and napping.  Auntie Catie read Milo every book in the whole house, Uncle Billy’s beard warranted frequent touching, and Uncle C.J. and his dog, Hugh, provide near constant babytainment.  Meanwhile the Grandparents fill in any left over minute with hugs and shoulder rides.  It is not a bad deal to be the only grandchild on either side of the family.  We put the finishing touches of the christmasing of the house in the week before everyone came, so our Christmas Eve looked like this:

Just waiting for people to come sit down and become uncomfortably full

My 2011 Christmas Crafting. A hanging centerpiece above the table.

And of course, the head of the table...

And in addition to all this eating, there were, of course, presents.  So many presents.  So presents that my present to Milo was a new playroom downstairs (for yet another post) in which to put them all.  The most wonderful part about watching Milo opening gifts was that, every time he would rip off the paper and see whatever the gift was, he would go “oooooohh WOOOOOW!”  Such joy.  It didn’t matter if it was socks or a play kitchen.  He went right to work playing with everything and is still going strong today.  Milo and Pat have been particularly fond of the train table.  Milo likes to stack things on it.  Pat likes to build crazy extravagant train loops after Milo goes to bed.  Milo also enjoys making “soup” in the sink of his play kitchen (making soup entails putting everything you can fit in the sink and stirring vigorously).

I'm not sure I'm doing this the right way...

But I'm SURE I'm using this the right way!

It was, as always, a wonderful chance to get to spend time with our families and remind ourselves of how fortunate we are to come from such good stock.  After everyone headed back to their respective homes on the 26th, Pat and Milo and I bundled up for a nice quiet walk to sort of unwind from the flurry of the weekend.  “Bundled Up” requires air quotes, because it was about 55 degrees in the shade and the most mild post-Christmas day I can remember.  We walked through the Reservoir Woods up in Roseville and smelled the dirt and looked at birds and ate snacks.

Will walk for Crunchies

Always gleeful for a ridealong.

As if to wrap up our holiday weekend, when we turned back towards the car on a different trail we found this little pine all dressed up for Christmas.  It was sitting there snowless and sparkly and just perfect in every way.

I love you little tree. And little boy. And husband.

Advertisement