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    See More:   Family Holidays & Celebrations Parenting

    Last Modified: Sep 24, 2018 by Tara Ziegmont 6 Comments

    The Magic of Christmas

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    I looked at my blog today and realized that I hadn't posted anything in six days. Christmas sorta got away from me.

    I guess that's just how it goes when you're a grown up.

    Between the decorating, the eating, the crying, the shopping, and the cleaning, I scarcely had time to sleep. No matter how busy I felt, I hope to commit to memory the effervescent 2-year-old running around and around my house for 72 hours.

    Christmas was every bit as magical as I'd hoped.

    On Christmas Eve, Joe and I ran around like crazy people cleaning and cooking - and still ended up serving dinner two hours later than we'd planned. We cut a lot of the things we'd planned to make (live and learn), but the things we did make were superb. The meal (which I'll post later on today or tomorrow) was delicious.

    After dinner, an overly tired 2-year-old opened two presents from Joe and I - new pajamas and a plush Eebee doll - and sprinkled Reindeer Food on the front yard.

    A little girl holding a stuffed toyPin

    And then, she seemed to suddenly understand that it was time for Santa to come. She was overcome with emotion, and it wasn't eager anticipation. She was full of apprehension replaced quickly by panic.

    For Grace, Santa coming meant that a strange man would be sneaking into her house while she slept. She was suddenly not okay with that. She trembled and cried. She jumped up onto my lap (while I was sitting on the toilet)  and said she didn't want any presents.

    She clutched my neck and wailed, completely distraught and terrified.

    No Santa! No Santa! My not want any presents!

    It was heartbreaking, especially knowing how excited she'd been all week.

    My little sister, hearing the commotion, appeared in the bathroom and asked if Mrs. Santa could come instead. Grace thought that would be okay, and my sister called Mrs. Santa on the phone. Fortunately, Mrs. Santa answers the same phone number as our older sister, and she was available to talk.

    Mrs. Santa promised that she'd come to our house instead of Big Santa. Grace asked whether she liked white milk or chocolate milk, and they talked about cookies and what Grace was hoping Mrs. Santa would bring to her - a rubber duckie and a train.

    Grace breathed a big shaky sigh and said good night to Mrs. Santa.

    Grace and Joe put out the cookies and milk Grace had promised to Mrs. Santa, and they counted out enough baby carrots for all of the reindeer. Grace went to bed.

    In the morning, Grace found crumbs and a thank you note where the cookies and milk had been.

    A little girl looking at the note from SantaPin

    Where she spread the reindeer food, only leftovers and reindeer poop remained.

    What is reindeer food?

    Mix 2 parts whole oats with 1 part silver glitter. Sprinkle in front of your house on Christmas to attract the reindeer and ensure they stop by.

    A close up of reindeer pop in the snowPin

    And in the living room, a Momma rubber duck sitting happily atop a big pile of presents, all wrapped in paper Grace had never seen before that moment.

    My mom always wrapped our presents from Santa in paper we'd never seen before. Joe and I will continue that tradition with our very observant tot.

    Lots of presents to openPin

    The present opening commenced. Books, rubber duckie, rubber stamps, games. It was perfect because she played with many of them presents for a couple of minutes before moving on to the next. All three of us had fun as Grace opened her presents.

    After she'd opened all of the others, Joe gave her the first package containing Thomas the Train.

    A small child opening Christmas giftsPin

    It's Thomas! It's Thomas!

    After she opened all of the Thomas packages, we began putting tracks together. There were trains and tracks and buildings everywhere.

    A little girl playing with trainsPin

    Before we could get the tracks together, my parents and little sister arrived. We ate French Toast Casserole and opened more presents.

    Grace has a good memory. She remembered playing with this guitar months ago in Target. It's my 'tar, Mommy! My 'tar! she squealed as soon as she'd ripped off enough paper to see the photo. She danced and sang Smashmouth songs.

    A little girl opening Christmas presentsPin

    The present opening continued, and Grace was excited. This is what you get if you ask to see her excited face. (That's a watermelon-shaped puzzle, by the way.)

    A little girl opening Christmas presentsPin

    There should be a picture of my excited face here. I've been wanting this 3 crock Crock Pot for some months, and my mom and sister gave it to Joe and me for Christmas. It was a complete surprise, and it's box was an instant hit with Gracie Anna.

    A little girl hiding in a big boxPin

    Before she'd finished opening presents from Grandma and Aunt Amanda, Grace got more presents from PopPop and Nana. She was very excited.

    A little girl opening Christmas presentsPin

    A little girl opening Christmas presentsPin

    I love that she's so musical. Grace already had a recorder, piano, xylophone, drums, and assorted maracas and percussion instruments. This Christmas added a preschooler's guitar and electronic fiddle.  Could this picture be any cuter?

    A little girl opening Christmas presentsPin

    Christmas was a messy endeavor that required not one but two wardrobe changes. I have no idea what was going on in the next picture, but Grace is wearing PopPop's hat and an as-yet-unnamed face. It looks a bit like mischievous face to me, but I can't be sure.

    A little girl opening Christmas presentsPin

    I should've taken a picture of her fast asleep at 7pm, but I didn't. I'm not sure what I was thinking.

    This was definitely our best Christmas so far. It was magical, and not just for Gracie.

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    1. Kristen says

      December 28, 2009 at 8:07 pm

      Merry Christmas, Tara! It looks like it was quite the success at your house. I love the Mrs Santa story 🙂

      Reply
    2. TheAngelForever says

      December 29, 2009 at 2:57 pm

      My little guy was with me when I bought a lot of our Chanukah presents. The poor kid was so upset that he could not have his guitar now. Of course, it was the first item we gave him. Does Grace like the Text and Learn? JSL loves it. He calls it his Pupberry!

      Reply
    3. FeelsLikeHomeBlog says

      December 29, 2009 at 5:35 pm

      That's so cute! Grace hasn't really gotten into it yet. I'm not all that familiar with it; it was a gift from Joe's aunt. There was just so much that she hasn't really checked it all out yet.

      Reply
    4. TheAngelForever says

      December 29, 2009 at 10:57 pm

      My little guy was with me when I bought a lot of our Chanukah presents. The poor kid was so upset that he could not have his guitar now. Of course, it was the first item we gave him. Does Grace like the Text and Learn? JSL loves it. He calls it his Pupberry!

      Reply
    5. FeelsLikeHomeBlog says

      December 30, 2009 at 1:35 am

      That's so cute! Grace hasn't really gotten into it yet. I'm not all that familiar with it; it was a gift from Joe's aunt. There was just so much that she hasn't really checked it all out yet.

      Reply

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