This past Christmas was very different for me to say the least. There is a list of differences that I have not had to deal with in the 36 Christmas's I have celebrated. The biggest was that I did not wake up or go to bed in Highland, IN. I have never spent a Christmas morning not waking up at my parents home. That was a big one. Another was that my dad was not here. Even to type it is crazy. But he was not here to wake us Christmas morning blaring some horrible Bruce Springsteen Christmas song. Yes I said that correct for the last 20 years he was up before me blaring his music excited to see us open gifts. Oh and it was always between 5 and 6 AM. I think last year we listened to it but it definitely was not blaring. I was sick on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I have never been sick on Christmas. I was not even able to celebrate with my family. My mom was in town for the holiday weekend staying at Jody's to watch Jack and Izzy enjoy the holiday. I saw nobody on Christmas day. That was a first for me. My wife was in the "region" to celebrate with her family. This was the first Christmas in 11 years that we did not see each other. There were lots of things this Christmas that were first for me or not like the past history or memory's that I remember. All that just helped add fuel the fire of my dislike for Christmas. I know this is my last year that I can express that dislike because I am going to be forced ( in a good way) to enjoy all holidays again.
This is what it is about, kids and their toys. This is Adelyn enjoying her large obnoxious space taking up toy we got her for Christmas. Hopefully big enough to make parents uncomfortable but kids happy.
The good news is that next years Christmas will be Lydia's first Christmas. She should be about 10 months old at that time. Probably just the right age to enjoy gifts, being afraid of santa, wanting to get into everything, and being as cute as I am. This is about how old Adelyn is this year and I didn't get to see her act a fool on Christmas. I can just imagine how much fun it could have been to watch. I remember Jack and Izzy at 10 months. It's going to fun again for me at Christmas and I can't wait. I mean we didn't even put a tree up this year. That won't fly for us next year. Next year we get to start our own traditions. Those things that I can remember doing every year like clock work can now be started with my family. That's going to be a big deal for us. I want to instill some traditions with Lydia so she can have those great years of memories that I have had over the years. I want her to know that no matter what happens through the year that on December 25th we are going to wake up at out house, the three of us, and enjoy some time together. That's not to say that Christmas day or Christmas eve may change from year to year with Sarah's family being in the "region' and my family being here in Indy. And if Sarah's dad and his wife ever move closer to us that will also change it. But we will always go to bed on 24th at our house and wake up the 25th at our house. That's the tradition I want to start. I am sure Sarah and Lydia will have others that will come up over the years but that one is going to start in one year! I can't wait to see that joy she is going to have for the holiday. I know that will make me feel like a kid again getting excited for the holiday. For me it is about the giving and celebration of family and I can't wait to share that with Lydia. I am not going to act like it means anything else for me because it doesn't. And it will not have to mean anything else for her. Just as long as she knows it means tradition and family.