Usually, decorating the Christmas tree is my responsibility (although my husband does all the heavy lifting.) This holiday season, my son Luke, has joined me in stringing up the lights (which takes MUCH more time with a 4-year old "helping!") With the Nutcracker playing on our home stereo, he and Emma tried their best to hang ornaments. They ended up in two clusters near the bottom of the tree (about the hand-level of my youngsters.)
I quickly learned to set aside the breakable ornaments after having to clean up a lot of glass and wipe away even more tears. From now on, we only buy the unbreakable ornaments!
My favorite ornaments, are the ones Luke made in preschool (isn't that always the case?!)
This is also the first year that we had the opportunity to take really good photos of Luke and Emma sitting on Santa Clause's lap. Two years ago, when Emma was just an infant, she was happily sleeping in her little red fleece in Santa's arms while Luke was red-eyed from crying and trying to escape the big elf.
Last year, Luke was pals with Santa, but the one photo we had the chance to snap showed Emma in mid-squirm doing her best to wiggle off that big, red lap. This year, they not only sat on Santa's lap, but returned for high-fives and hugs on several occasions (that could have been partially motivated by the basket of chocolate at Santa's feet.)
Our house is just dripping in holiday spirit. In addition to all the decorations, Luke is practicing for his holiday concert, so he's often belting out very loud, somewhat off-pitch Christmas carols. Emma is trying to follow, but usually changing the words. Oh, I love this time of the year!
Happy holidays, Cecily
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