Christmas Day Recap

In the morning when Little One woke up, She came into my room where Miss and I were waiting for Her. 
LO: "OK. Guys. Let's. Get. Ready!"
C: "Good morning sweetie! It's Christmas! Yay! Should we go see if Santa came?!"
LO: "Whoa. Hol' on mom, hol' on! First have to get ready mom! First lets get dressed!" 
C: "O...K.  Ok, well sure.  But you know honey, since it's Christmas, it's ok to stay in our jammies if you want!" 
LO : "Oh mom no TANK you! (looking at Her beloved PJ's as if they were raggedy scraps) not like THIS! Mommy the kids will NOT be 'cited 'bout mine jammies. (heading to Her room and flinging open the dress-up armoire) I NEED be a princess ball-er-een-a.  Christmas, yes, but first need to get mine ball-er-eena clothes on! Case I see some kids, like mine friends, or maybe MOM! Maybe might see SANTA ok!"

She proceeds to choose Her very favorite, sparkly blue tutu, and spends a good couple of minutes in the closet deliberating over just the right top to go with it.  She runs to the bathroom to choose a matching headband (er, crown)  and slips Her pink beads around Her neck.  She sits down hurriedly at Her little vanity table and rakes the play brush through Her tangles. She pats a powder puff all over Her face, takes a quick, close glance in the mirror, then snaps the vanity lid shut and stands at attention before me.

"Oh-Kay! Done.  Let's go!"

I explain to Her that unlike the scene from the Polar Express we saw at Sea World, which I'm guessing She has based Her expectations on, there will not in fact be throngs of children and Santa in his sleigh awaiting Her this morning.  Just us. 

"B-but.  But I thought today I can see Santa?"

"No, sweetie.  We saw Santa before Christmas, remember?  He already came last night.  Right now he's probably back at home resting after delivering all those presents."

"Waita minute. Santa....came?  Lets...go...have...CHRISTMAS!"

We race into the living room where She spies Little Miss's bear from Santa and swoops it up squealing, "Oh mine gosh! It's just what I wanted!"

No, no, the other one! That's Little Miss's present from Santa!  She goes to the giant pink one. 

"Oh mine gosh! It's just what I wanted!!!!  And LOOK Missy! Santa came for you fweetie! Look he brought you for this little cute bear! It's just what we wanted!!!" 

The morning then dissolved into a sea of red and green paper with waves of shiny ribbon.  Little Miss's favorite part, bar none, was the wrapping paper, and trying very hard to eat it.  ALL. 

Little One especially loved the part where She got to bestow upon us the gifts She had chosen for us at Her school shopping day, and the ornament She made for us in class. 

She had a very special present from Her grandparents this year-  BALLET LESSONS! 

We gave Her shoes to go with it, which She wore all day.  She is beyond excited. 
We are excited for Her too.  J and I both love the idea of giving experiences rather than things.  This year I gave him piano lessons and he gave me unlimited yoga at the studio (aah, the gift of sanity). 
After a big breakfast Little One and I started a new tradition. 
We talked about the fact that some kids did not get lots of toys and presents.  I asked Her if She thought that since we had so many new things to play with now, She might want to put some of Her older toys and books into a big box to give to some of those kids.  Little One was all about it.  She was very sweet making sure for instance that the stuffed dogs all went together since they are a family and would miss each other if we split them up.  In the end we had a nice box full of donations and room on the shelves for new gifts to sit neatly. 
Then we got out the new stamp set and markers She got from an aunt and together made thank-you cards for all the generous friends and family that sent us gifts.  We read some new books and the girls got tucked in for a nice long nap.  Tonight we are fixing a big tofurky dinner and might even watch a Christmas movie before bedtime! 


This morning Little One asked why Santa didn't bring Teddies for J and I.  He remembered both girls and even the dogs!  I explained to Her that Santa only comes for children.  Some things are just for grown-ups, like using the sharp scissors or lighting the candles.  But some things are just for kids. 
Which is fair, right?  And true. 
But really it's an easier explanation than telling Her the truth. 
Which is, of course, that some gifts are things we can hug or rattle or read; things to use.  Some are things we do; ballet lessons or piano classes.  And some are even less tangible than that.  Seeing my girls sharing toys and giggling, sitting with J's arm around my waist and calling family all over the country so Little One could jump and exclaim over the magic of the morning- it's hard to tie a big red bow around all that.  But, oh mine gosh.  It's exactly what I wanted.