Christmas Past

As inspired by Mama Nash, a blog I stumbled upon quite awhile ago and enjoy reading as her style and wit are endearing: Tell me, what will you remember about Christmas this year?

Lucy:

There are so many things I will remember about this Christmas....so many things I will remember and think of fondly for years to come because of you

I will remember this Christmas because you were as excited about Baby Jesus as you were about Santa

I will remember this Christmas because we stayed home and celebrated as a family of three

I will remember this Christmas because of Peter the Elf on the Shelf and how you came tearing down the stairs every morning to find him....and would screech with delight when you spotted him

I will remember this Christmas because you wrote your first letter to Santa and he wrote back

I will remember this Christmas because you me baked and decorate cookies....and you ate least 5 heaping spoons of frosting before I realized what you were doing....never mind the countless scoops of raw cookie dough you ingested while I wasn't looking....and the M&Ms you kept picking out of the cookies...and the Hershey Kisses you pulled off the peanut blossom cookies....

I will remember this Christmas because on Christmas morning, you were hopping around the room so excitedly you fell into the tree...and Daddy managed to snap a picture just as it happened

I will remember this Christmas because when we went to the Live Nativity in Rockport, all you wanted to do was see Baby Jesus....and you were worried he would be cold

I will remember this Christmas because you learned the words to Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frost the Snowman....and you sang them over and over with more enthusiasm with each rendition

I will remember this Christmas because all you wanted was animals....when asked by anyone what you wanted for Christmas, you replied simply and honestly, animals. Your love for animals (except turkeys) is so endearing Lucy, I hope you never lose that

I will remember this Christmas because when you descended the stairs on Christmas Morning and saw the Lion and Tiger staring back at you, you simply said Oh, Hello....and then sank down between the two of them and gave them their first hugs

I will remember this Christmas because on Christmas Day, it took hours to open your gifts - not because there were so many but because you kept stopping to stand back and say This all for Lucy? I so lucky Mama! and then you would giggle and grin and spend the next 30 minutes looking at the books you just opened, playing with a toy you opened or taking inventory of the animals you received

I will remember this Christmas because when we put you to bed on Christmas Eve and explained Peter the Elf would be going back to the North Pole with Santa, we had to get you out of bed, take you down stairs and stood in front of the tree for 10 minutes saying good bye to Peter the Elf

I will remember this Christmas because even Daddy and I grew attached to Peter the Elf....and we miss him

I will remember this Christmas because when we asked you what you were going to name your Lion and Tiger, you said Peter....both of them we asked? Yeah you replied....and when I asked you how you would know which Peter was which, you looked at me and said quite simply because one is a Tiger and one is a Lion Mama! Peter the Lion and Peter the Tiger...! Silly Mama!

I will remmebr this Christmas because of our ride on the Polar Express....and even though you came face to face with Santa, you did not loose your cool - you were more impressed with your bell than you were with meeting Santa

I will remember this Christmas because you said good morning to the tree every day as we made out way to the table for breakfast....and each night as you went up to bed, you bid the tree a good night....and you were genuinely sad when we took it down

I will remember this Christmas because as we dumped the reindeer food in the back yard for Santa's crew and set out cookies for Santa himself, you declared it necessary to test the cookies to make sure they were good enough for Santa

I will remember this Christmas because you were concerned about the lack of snow...not for Santa's sake but Frosty's....how could Frosty come to life with no snow you asked....Even if he has the hat, you observed, what about his body....

I will remember this Christmas because as we were making gifts for the endless list of Aunts and Uncles, you looked at me and said Mama! I love doing stickers for everyone....Aunt Lis, Auntie Cheetie, Noni, Papa, Mama, Daddy, Nanny Cynthia, Auntie Mike, Uncle Win...EVERYONE! and you declared it with such love and enthusiasm it made me tear up a bit....you made over 25 ornaments and never complained once...you put as much love and attention into the last one as you did the first one...

I will remember this Christmas because of your marvel, awe, love, and respect for Santa and Baby Jesus...

I will remember this Christmas because when you said Santa, you said Baby Jesus in the same breath

I will remember this Christmas Lucy Ellen because of you and your Dad...because you both bring me so much love, happiness, joy ...which makes up for the gray hair and extra pounds you've both given me...



Maria the Mum