About 15 years ago, my husband and I made a decision regarding how we wanted to spend our Christmas holiday. I had two toddlers and he was working 3rd shift at the time and Christmas Day was a rushed, stressful time for us. So, we declared that Christmas Day would be a family day and we would remain at home. We respectfully declined all invitations from family and friends and reassured them that it wasn’t that we didn’t love them or appreciate their offer but we would be staying home for a low key day. (We see Al’s family on Christmas Eve and my family on a Saturday near Christmas to exchange gifts so staying home doesn’t mean that we don’t get together at all, just not on Christmas day too.)

No longer did we have to drag our kids away from their newly opened loot, dress them up in Holiday-wear and put up with the sounds of cranky, over-tired kids. Our Christmas mornings are now leisurely affairs often involving lots of coffee and lounging in flannels all day. It’s Heavenly!! Now that the kids are older, a little has changed but not much. Instead of getting up early to play with toys, they stay up late, then sleep the morning away, getting up in time for the ham dinner that I prepare. I still get up pretty early but lounge with a book or online enjoying the early morning peace and quiet.

This year, we’ve added 2 little girls to the crew.. Bella, who joined our family in June and just today, Chloe, who is snuggled up and snoozing right beside me. Once again, I’ve got lots to be thankful for and I’m so glad to have spent the day doing things that make me happy.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

kjcardoza on December 25th, 2007 | File Under Bella, Chloe, Family | -