Getting in the Spirit

Here it is almost Christmas again, and here I am not feeling much in the spirit.  I mean, I am excited for the kids, I am looking forward to Christmas Eve with my side of the family, and Christmas day with my husband's side, but I really want Christmas morning at our house to be something to look forward to.  We usually get up, open gifts, scarf down some food and we all need to be dressed and out the door to pick up my bonus kids and its off we go from there! So that is my plan this year, taking it slow and making Christmas morning our own special time.

I tend to feel a little down around the holidays and we usually don't have much money to put into it. I really don't care about the money and the gifts.  I'm feeling a much deeper appreciation this year for the little things.  As long as I can get some things for the kids, I'm good.

I am excited about a few last minute plans that I think will make the biggest impressions.  My kids will be spending some time with my mom and step dad tomorrow while my husband and I finish up shopping and having an anniversary dinner.  I'm bringing the dough ornaments the kids made so that they can decorate them with paint and glitter with the help of Grammy and Pappi.  Grammy's going to make sugar cookies and they will decorate those and I'm sure eat way more than enough.  THAT is what they will remember, not whatever toy they opened.  It will create excitement WITH memories, not just empty excitement.

I'm going to start making biscuits and gravy every Christmas morning (a favorite from my dad's side of the family) and have some time to just hang out in our jammies and enjoy each other as a family before our travels for the day.  We can create our own traditions as we go.  I want to have a fire in the fireplace, I want to watch my kids play with their new toys.  I want to relax and enjoy the moment.  I am not a fan of rushing around anymore.  I feel that is what I have done for years, I just want to slow down and smell the flowers (or maybe sip the hot chocolate).

I want the kids to grow up and have special traditions to remember or even carry on with their own families in later years.

Once I put some thought into this, I've felt a little more in the spirit of things.  I was really hoping for a tree this year and it didn't work out, I think that's what put a damper on my Christmas mood.  We didn't get to look through all the ornaments that hold their own meanings and make the tree all pretty, lighting it up every night. There's always next year for that, but I must say it bummed me out way more than I thought it would.

So here is looking forward to a relaxing, loving Christmas.