This year something hit me hard. I really know now that you guys are getting older and I am acutely aware that the Christmas season we enjoy now is going to change as you both grow. A couple years back Christmas was filled with crafting, wrapping, and baking. Certainly these activities are still well enjoyed by you both but I detect a change in the excitement level.
Paper snowflake making just does not make you bounce off the walls the way it used to. One year Ben, you made paper snowflakes for hours. We covered the basement with them...this year you did it for a half hour before asking to stop.
Of course with this change in Benny brings change to Jack as well who this year mastered the art of snowflake making. It was very exciting to see you open each snowflake with excitement to see what you had created. You were also the one to roll about 50 shortbread cookies all by yourself...not bad for a five year old!
Perhaps this is where tradition takes over? What we used to do because it was beyond exciting becomes the things we do each year to carry on our own little unique set of Christmas rules and regulations. Yes, there is a movement towards the understanding of tradition and activities that occur each year as part of that. This brings some comfort because even if the uncontrollable excitement is gone I can handle it as long as we still retain the group spirit in making Christmas happen.
So this year I am totally sucking the marrow from each step of Christmas preparation so my barrel of memories of the two of you will be full full full. I have it all planned...paper snowflakes, foam houses (4 different varieties), baking, decorating, wrapping, Christmas bags for your school friends, gingerbread decorating party with your friends from the street, Play clay Christmas ornaments, foam ornaments...
Just promise you will let me do this for the years to come even if it does get a little lame. In exchange I will stop planning parties to decorate gingerbread ornaments well before you are fifteen years old...because that isn't cool right?
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