I LOVE hosting Christmas. And I am so thankful that my extended family allows me that privilege. I am thankful that they all have been willing and able to come year after year so we could share the day together. I don’t take it for granted. I know my parents won’t always be able to travel. I know my BIL and SIL can get stationed so far away that it just doesn’t make a trip to MD possible.
About a month ago my youngest asked when we would see the Statue of Liberty again. We visited it a few years ago on our way to our Boston Vacation, and it has been a highlight memory of our youngest child ever since. He loves when we spot it on tv or in a picture somewhere. I replied, “Probably the next time we go to New York City.” To which he of course replied, “When can we go to New York City again?
It’s hard to believe that my youngest will be school age next year. Seriously, how did that happen? Sometimes when we drop the big kids off at their tutorial on “school at the building days” he will pause outside the Kindergarten room and tell me, “That’s where I go next year Momma and then you will be all alone and so sad.” And my heart kinda breaks a little. Because he is right.
It has been a very relaxing Christmas vacation at the circus house. My sister in law and her family came in to town the evening of the 23rd. We had too much fun making cupcakes for the kids for baby Jesus’ bday party on Christmas night. She is an awesome trooper. She happily obliged my request to roll out 19 baby Jesus figurines out of marshmallow fondant at 10:00pm. Seriously, worlds best sister in law.
I know it isn’t very seasonal to have 66 degree weather the night of winter solstice. But I gotta confess I didn’t mind it one bit as that was the evening I’d been planning to take the kids to see the lights at Brookside Gardens. I had never been but heard someone talking about them once. Unlike other light displays, this one you park and get out and walk. Which could be a hard sell for 4 kids on a cold winter night.
Dear Children of Mine,
10 years from now when you are wondering what in the world to get Mom for Christmas, I have an idea for you. So write it down and stick it away and remember it when your 19, 17, 16, and 13. All I want for Christmas, is you. It’s true… nothing wrapped under the tree could possible come close to time spent with you. So, if you really want to make my day, ask me if we can make sugar cookies together.
A traditional Christmas card will not be arriving in your mailbox this year from the circus fam, instead I give to you this greeting from me to you. I’ve thought a lot about what I want to say in this card. What image I want to share with you from my family to yours. We’ve had a lot of great moments this year. Many of them I’ve shared on here so I can look back and remember them in the years to come.
We are on break here at the circus. And I couldn’t be more excited about it. I have been looking forward to this week for ages. The week before Christmas. All I want to do is enjoy the kiddos and catch up on some house work. And bake. And do some shopping. And maybe see some friends. (ha, ha… can you tell I am an introvert? read over that list, when I proof read this and re read it, it made me laugh)…
We got our tree today!!!
We started decorating the house yesterday, but it wasn’t quite right without the tree. I don’t think our three year old remembers the Christmas tree b/c after we cut it down and tied it to our van he asked, “Can we keep it in our yard as our Christmas tree?” He had no idea it would go in the house. And then when we added lights, he was beyond excited.
The most favorite Christmas cookie for the circus fam to make is sugar cookies. Messiness + sugar = pure bliss for the circus crew!!
This year we enjoyed rolling and cutting the cookies with our cousin Eli.
It was also the first year that the youngest circus crew member got to participate in the cooking making fun. And by participate, I of course mean, eating.