A List of Favorite Christmas Memories (from 2019)

In our home, the holidays came and went so fast that I never had a chance to write a post about them.  Still, seeing that our Christmas tree is still up (I know, I know--having a live tree in the home is a fire hazard), I thought I could get away with writing one post about Christmas 2019 before the memories were lost forever.  Plus, I just learned that people tend to be the most depressed in the month of January.  Why?  Because we're still lamenting the fun we had at Christmas, in addition to the bills we have to pay after overspending.

So, while it seems obnoxious for me to post about Christmas three weeks after it's over, consider this post, instead, a therapy session--a pick-me-up, if you will, to counter the most depressing day of the year, Blue Monday (said to fall on the third Monday of January each year).

Christmas 2019 was spectacular.  First, we had a chance to go to Walt Disney World and Universal Studies in early December, which were decorated magnificently for the holidays.  (What better way to begin celebrating than with family, fun, and fireworks!) 

When we came home, it was "go time."  There were only two weeks left to pick out our Christmas tree, decorate, buy gifts, wrap, send out cards, and begin attending holiday parties.  Thankfully for us, we used our Halloween costumes to make Christmas cards this year, and we made sure to schedule our photo session before our vacation; here's what some of our pictures looked like...

The message on our Christmas cards stated very simply: "Merry Christmas, Happy St. Patrick's Day, and May all Your Teeth be White."  My husband, of course, was the tooth fairy, but later my mom thought we could have gotten away with saying he was dressed as an angel!!

A week before Christmas, Little Lewie then surprised me by saying he needed to write his letter to Santa.  (I wasn't sure if he believed anymore.)  "Okay," I said casually. "Would you like me to get the special "Santa" stationary?" 

He wrote out his letter (always straight to the point), and then mentioned the gifts he was asking for..."Mommy, I asked for a $50 Visa Gift Card to buy games, but I only need $25.  I asked for $50, so you could have the other $25."   I was speechless.  That's my Lewie--always thinking about others besides himself.

Family, of course, is what really makes the holiday special.  Aunty Irene, my mom's sister, came up from Delaware, to spend a full week with us.  The weekend before Christmas, we went to see "A Christmas Story" live on stage.  It made us laugh just as much as the original movie from 1983.

Their younger sister, Aunty Kiki, also came to sleep over for two nights.  With a full house, we got out our board games and had a few fun nights playing games like Uno Attack, Gas Out, and Slapzie.  Of course, we also exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve, attended mid-night mass, and saw each other on Christmas morning for breakfast. 

On Christmas day, it was time to go visit my husband's family and Little Lewie's four cousins (Sarah, Brooklynn, Lily, and Elijah).   Our Cub Scout pack had just finished playing the "Oven Mitt Christmas Game," and I decided to see how it would work with the kiddos.  I saw the original Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine in a store and decided this would be a fun gift for everyone to share.  I wrapped it up twice with wrapping paper and then brought two oven mitts and two dice.  For anyone that has never played before, the object of the game is to try and be the first one to unwrap the present using the oven mitts.  However, when the person after you rolls a double, you have to stop trying to open the gift and pass it along to the next person that rolled the double.  Then, that person has to pass the gift along to the next person by him or her that rolled the double.  The game continues until someone can actually unwrap the gift. 

The game was a success and so was the gift!  The girls spent hours afterwards taking turns and making everyone snow-cones. 

Christmas morning, before visiting the cousins, was special, too.  Santa, as usual, came with a variety of gifts.  Some were from Lewie's list, but some were useful items that Lewie had been requesting all year long--an alarm clock, a music stand, a bluetooth speaker...

Finally, if this year's Christmas hadn't been memorable enough, we also had a few milestones that led us into the celebration.  First, Lewie had the honor of being asked to read for this year's Children's Christmas Mass.  In years past, children didn't actually "read" at the mass; they just put Christmas ornaments on the tree.  This year, however, our new priest called for students to read, and Lewie was selected.  He did an AMAZING job.

The very next day after the mass, Lewie performed in his first Christmas concert.  The Chorus (required by all fifth graders) went first followed by band (which was optional).  Lewie played the trumpet, and although the stands hid his face from view, we certainly knew he could play those songs.  He had been practicing them for weeks, plus he played a private concert for the two aunts in our family.

Yes, this past year's Christmas was an exciting whirlwind of family, fun, entertainment, gifts, and milestones.  It's hard to believe we fit everything into one month, and while it was very busy, I wouldn't have changed a thing. 

Now that a brand new year and decade has begun, and life has slowed down a bit, I pray on the ultimate message the season brings: "Peace on earth and good-will to men."