Christmas Spirit

In the 10 or so years before Liv was born I hated Christmas. There was no joy for me.  No holiday magic.

Obviously I hadn't always feel this way. I have fond memories of Christmas Eve with my parents: mom's homemade potato soup, begging them to let me open "just one" gift, and when they gave in, begging for more, lying in my parents bed on Christmas Eve watching the Santa tracker, so I knew just when to be asleep by. And Christmas morning as a kid was always just a magical.

I also have fond memories of the holidays with my grandma (mom's mom), as well as my dad's side of the family. The whole gang together in my grandparents house. I loved it. My family has always meant the world to me.

However, when I got to middle school things began to change. I lost my grandma (mom's mom), an aunt, and an uncle all in less than 2 years. My grandparents took to retirement in a way I hope to some day - by traveling around the US, pulling their camper behind them. They spent the winters in Texas, summers in Iowa, visiting family on the trips back and forth. And then, when I was 14, my parents split up. The holidays I knew as a kid were over, and the joy I got from being with family with it.

That's not to say my parents didn't try, but all the potato soup and holiday lights did nothing.

Liv's birth in 2011 has changed my outlook on the holidays, and how can her excitement and joy in the magic not? Even if we are alone, just the 3 of us, Christmas is still the happiest time of year - and each year continues to get better.

We have a lot of activities planned (and some completed): holiday crafts, Christmas movies and specials, decorating the tree to Christmas music, baking, driving around to look at the lights, supper with Santa, and of course Christmas Eve with potato soup and a box filled with themed pj's and books, hot chocolate and popcorn for A Christmas Story.