Glad Tidings of Joy

It's Christmas Eve day, I'm watching the kids play in the backyard while my wife gets things together in preparation for our Christmas Eve and for our drive to Roseville tomorrow am. We'd considered going up today but there are limited accommodations and the bottom line for me is a strong desire for the kids to have a Christmas morning in our new home, in familiar surroundings, and with no distractions from the magic of Santa Claus having visited the night before.



(i just smashed my finger fixing the plastic sink in their playhouse for my daughter. Parenting is loaded w/these moments)



Tonight I'll read them 'The Night Before Christmas'. I'll be one of the few traditions I have to pass down to them. The best part being that I'll be read to them from the very same book that my Father read to my brother and I for the bulk of our childhood. And I'm not talking about a different copy of the same book. It's THE very same copy. My older brother had it and used it to read to his children and passed it down to me once mine were born. The first two years of their lives, we read a few pages but there was minimally interested. This year they're 2+ years old, understand (somewhat) the Santa Claus visit and are excitedly awaiting his visit. The book has been on the mantle, awaiting this evening's annual reading, and they've been pointing to and asking about it in anticipation. Their's on only surpassed by my own. I hope we make it all the way through it this year.



This is one of the first times in many years that I've felt so detached from the holiday season. I guess a new job, moving again, renting while selling a home and all the related tasks and adjustments have kept me from focusing on it beyond the kids. I told my wife last night that I felt sad when reflecting on the many years prior and the excitement we had in what we did for each other. The events of the past year have taken their toll on us and we're both running on empty, short-fused and tense. It'll be one of the things I'll be working on in the coming year, and hopefully by next December the house in EDH will be sold, we'll be unpacked and well settled in, we'll be back in sharp, in sync and doing things for each other again for the holidays.



(My daughter just brought me an imaginary cappuccino. Yum!)



The last thing I have to say, having just looked at the name of this entry, is that it sounds like a product endorsement for several cleansing products. It's not. it's just a title. So have a happy holiday everybody, and be of good Cheer™.