Seeing it their way

I love this time of year, I always have. There were a few years right before Lily came along that it lost a little of it's sparkle but it never disappeared entirely.

Now having the girls it is better than it has ever been. Seeing their excitement build as the day gets closer and closer is fabulous. Little things can set them off. Each morning when they open another door on their advent calendars and then realise just how few are left, or driving past a house adorned with ornaments and lights, spotting Santa from across the crowded mall or sometimes one of them will just mention Christmas and the other ones face just lights up.

Even though the big one is now a non believer she is still having the best time ever. Last year was a hard one for her. She had to deal with the truth. She is too smart to pull the wool over her eyes. She has a math and science mind and frankly, the facts just don't add up to her. She has picked apart every single aspect of the fable and finds it hard that anyone can believe in it all, "it's just not possible, no one can do all of that and there is no such thing as magic" and " if Santa makes the gifts in his workshop why do they have made in China printed on the box or the clothes have tags that say the Gap?" (yes, little smarty pants indeed!)

She is enjoying seeing Rosie get all caught up in the brilliance of the season. Each morning she dutifully helps Rosie out with her advent calendars and when Rosie can't find Squirty Smurfy Murphy, Lily leads her around suggesting she look in certain places so that she will spot him. Last night after Rosie went to bed she asked if she could set Elfie up for the evening.

Oh the fun of it all. Even Smarty Pants hasn't figured out that there are gifts hidden all over the place. Thank. Goodness.

One day last week Lily went to the mail box and there was a package addressed to them. I have never seen her do the funny little dance that she did when she pulled it out and saw the names, Rosie and I are still mimicking her today. It was a classic. The gifts are put away until Christmas. No gifts are put under our tree until after the girls have gone to bed on Christmas eve. That's how it was when I grew up. Nothing appeared until after Father Christmas had been.

The girls have seen Santa twice. Last week we took them to get their photos taken and told them both to wear whatever they wanted. I really don't care if they are in "Christmas" clothes or not I like to see them, being them. Rosie chose pants and Lily chose a fancy dress and globs of jewellry.

This is the photo from Jacob's phone. THe one we bought was much better but this is easier to get to.


Today we fell upon Santa at a park. It was a gorgeous Christmas themed park and Santa was there in a really lovely setting so we went to visit him again. This Santa was really nice. He actually asked the girls what they wanted. I thought all Santa's do that but now it is more about get the shot and collect the money. BTW, Rosie wants a dog!


Just 7 more sleeps and he'll be here.