What I learned this holiday season

Anticipation is a lot of the fun
I want to spend more time in church
My daughter loves songs, and singing, especially Jingle Bells
My husband can rock a stocking
My parents are thoughtful, thorough, and full of love
Our little street is perfect for us, right now
Snowmen are magical
Nothing gets my son to bed (and asleep) faster than the prospect of Santa's arrival
Wrapping presents with my husband late on Christmas Eve while watching Men in Black 3 and
having a Chocolate Bock is some of the most fun I've had
I am ok with half-finished paper chains hanging from the curtain rod
Homemade sparkly cat ornaments made from pipe cleaners are enough for the cat
One Santa gift and one mom and dad gift each plus a Santa stocking are probably plenty for my kids,
when added to the generous and thoughtful gifts sent by friends and family
Otherwise Christmas morning becomes an all day affair
In Owen's words at 5 pm "That was a short morning"
Simple can be better, especially concerning holiday meals
I love my mom's holiday ham
Watching my husband change a doll into a tutu, a tiara, and dancing shoes made my heart swell
Watching him install endless batteries and set up Cranky the crane did too
The best part of Christmas is slowing down and focusing on family; we are about to enjoy the gift of a week together, may we truly spend it on the kids

Things to make time for next year:

Naples Island (Long Beach) canal light displays and boat parade?
Rose parade float construction

Looking forward to:

watching kids play with new toys
snow day - Frazier Park/Mount Pinos
dot paint thank you notes
noon year's day celebration

Holiday Checklist

We have:

taken family pictures
visited tree festival
celebrated holiday season with neighbors
made a paper chain with red and green paper
put up outdoor lights
started opening one (or two) holiday books per day (our version of an advent calendar)
picked a tree
decorated a tree
sent round one of cards
made peppermint brownies
assembled and decorated our first Gingerbread house
made and wrapped gifts
opened gifts from Uncle Dave and Tia Jean
put up silver tree in kids' room
shopped
gone to see lights
watched holiday shows
made hot chocolate
tried eggnog (with peppermint sprinkles) (both kids loved it)
decorated cookies with Uncle Dave
gone ice skating
painted trees and a menorah
sang lots of carols (Frosty the Snowman is a favorite)
read The Polar Express (twice)
wrote a letter to Santa
visited Santa and took pictures with Santa
given cookies to garbage and recycling truck drivers
invited kids friends to Reindeer Rendezvous party to make reindeer food
hung ten cards on front door (that's what we've received so far)
had Christmas pajamas delivered magically via pillowcase
received (and eaten) yummy cookies from Amy next door
discussed whether we had replied to Santa's email asking about Owen's vegetable intake


We have not:

gone to see Grandpa play organ at the Vespers service
gone sledding
played in the snow
tried skiing
make snow
eaten snow
eaten yellow snow (jk)
snowshoed
gone to walk and see lights at Wakefield
held our Reindeer Rendezvous party
made Christmas Candy (O remembers pretzel sticks dipped in white chocolate and decorated with sprinkles)
emailed Santa

winterlight

it is quiet.
a cup of deep dark blood-red wine is in my cup
a cold wind blows

i am shaky
the waves of nausea have passed
i think

owen breathes in sleep
a winter's nap in the dim room
softly lit
4 spotlights, a colored string,
and
an angel

had a solitary hour at the mall today
it was bustling
with holiday fun and joy

shoppers, workers, a full parking lot
but in Newtown
and all across the land

tears fall
20 tiny souls lost
6 big souls too

and those two* parents.
thank goodness they are not
bearing witness to what has been done

*At the time of this writing, some details were fuzzy. I did not think the father had survived the incident.