What Christmas Means to Me

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. That is because for as far back as I can remember, it didn't matter what was going on, my entire family took a time out and spent days together. I grew up cherishing the time with my family, and now, years later and a mother myself, I still love the fact that my family stops everything and gets together. Even better is having a family of my own to watch the magic of Christmas come alive.

Seeing Christmas through my children's eyes transports me straight back to my childhood. Creeping out of bed at 5 in the morning, careful not to wake my parents, sneaking in to look under the tree and make sure Santa hadn't judged me too naughty that year, and the feeling of joy when I realized he hadn't. My children are now my world and I love making their holidays special. I think I am still the first one up on Christmas morning; I still get that feeling of excitement in the pit of my stomach that doesn't allow me to sleep. Only now it is there because I can't wait to see my children's faces light up when they see Santa has come to our house.

We always tell our extended families that we will be over to see them on Christmas day, but that we will not rush our children through their Christmas morning. We spend as much time as the kids want unwrapping and playing with their new toys, and then we spend the rest of the day with our parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. We always have a huge Christmas dinner; I love the smell of a ham cooking in the oven.