It has now been five full days since I took “Christmas” down. It took me all day. And as usual it left me feeling dismally wistful. However, a few years ago I discovered somewhat of an antidote for the empty feelings that tend to come directly following the inevitable removal of all things special and magical in our home. There are two things, really. One is meaningful and significant, the other is simply an indulgence designed to distract my mind from the melancholy. First I go through a planning and goal setting session in my brain and write down some things I want to and think I can realistically improve in myself and in my family. I’m sure everyone does that. No big deal. Then…I make something:).
Here is what I came up with this year:
A wreath for the rest of the winter.
Fun details.
And now that I have partaken of my post-Christmas blues antidote (and subjected you all to my indulgence), I can freely write about and post pictures of the wonderful Christmas we had without feeling the twinges of sadness I would have three+ days ago. So here we go!
We started out our Christmas Eve with a delicious meal that consisted of an assortment of dishes representing different aspects of our family heritage. This has become a much anticipated tradition. (My personal favorite item on the menu is Gyoza.)
After dinner is cleaned up we move on to pajama opening.
Here Emery is testing out his new nighttime duds. Yup, this shirt cozies up to his face just fine:).
While the boys are putting on their new pajamas (which are always somehow super exciting), we light all the candles on the main floor and turn out the lights, so that the next portion of our evening is lit only by candlelight and the Christmas lights. It creates a sort of sacred ambiance to the evening, which I love.
Once everyone is somewhat settled down and ready to be calm for a few minutes, we read the scripture story of Jesus’ birth, watch a special movie (this year we watched the new Nativity film that the Church put out), sing Christmas hymns by the piano, and finally end with family prayer.
And then…
It’s time for Seth and I to commence our 5 hours of preparing for Christmas morning. It is always slightly painful to wake up the next morning.
Everything ready to go, at 1:30 a.m.
One final look at the tree, in all its glory:)
And a very few short hours later, it is time to allow the hooligans out…
Seth was feeling extra festive this year:).
The boys thought it was the greatest thing ever.
Perfect punching opportunities, obviously.
Emery was just disturbed.
Stockings.
Cute, happy boys.
Seth changed out of his frightening outfit so Emery could focus on discovering his stocking and giant elephant seat.
Fun gift opening. I love how such small things will make them so happy. (Joseph wore these white basketball shorts for the next 5 days.)
Ashton felt so honored to have received a Dad-designed BYU hoodie.
One of my favorite things about Christmas morning is to watch the boys treat each other so remarkably well. Each of them had made sure to buy one another a gift, and they were all so gracious as they opened them. It was most rewarding as a mommy to witness. How I wish we had more days like that!
BYU notebooks from Ashton.
Now, Emery’s gift opening evolved gradually as the morning continued. He started out requiring a lot of help in knowing exactly what was going on and why he ought to be excited. Here’s his first present.
And here is one towards the end. Such independence:).
And appropriate excitement:).
And now for my favorite gift opening moment of the day…
Talmage decided to give Seth a very special gift this year, carefully selecting the wording to be and look just right. For weeks he couldn’t wait for him to open it and see it. This little moment packed a powerful punch. And made my heart so happy<3.
Anyone who really knows Seth, knows how perfectly this “award” fits him.
Even though there are, thank goodness, no pictures of me opening presents, I was greatly showered upon with love from my boys. And Seth simply spoiled me, again. I felt so blessed.
And after gift opening…the LONG awaited breakfast. For Talmage, there is no other meal out of the entire year that compares to this one. Rice pudding is his happiness elixir, and he typically only gets it twice a year (we also have it Easter morning). We also served cinnamon rolls, sausages, and Marja Purro (Finish breakfast pudding).
After breakfast we simply enjoyed a quiet and joyful day at home. No fighting, just peace. And time for moments like this…*sigh*.
We also enjoyed visits from Grandparents, a yummy Christmas Dinner, basketball at the church, and finally a quickly inhaled spice cream cake to cap off a beautiful, wonderful Christmas day.
I just love Christmas. And every year when it comes time to take it all down, I experience such a dichotomous feeling of both emptiness and hope. No matter how fun the day ends up being, I always feel as if I didn’t do enough, didn’t make it memorable or special enough, didn’t help the kids connect with Christ as much as I probably could have. Those thoughts leave me with a feeling of regret and little sadness. But then there is the comforting assurance creating space in my heart that there will always be next year. Christmas will come again and I will have another chance to make next year a little better than this year. And that brings me hope. It’s kind of like my weekly Sabbath experience. As Saturday night comes to a close and Sunday morning greets my typically tired mind, I inevitably have feelings of regret and some sadness as I recall my many mistakes of the preceding week. So much I should not have done/thought/said. So much more I could have filled my life with, so much more I could have done for others! And yet, each week I feel the hope and assurance from a loving Father in Heaven that there is always another day, another week. I can always start again and do better. And it is all, all of it…Christmas Day and the promise of weekly, even daily forgiveness…because of Christ. What a beautiful, magical gift.
So, until next year…
O Come, let us adore Him.