1) Firsts: Little Miss had no idea who Santa was, what a Christmas tree was, why people put up lights and decorations, or even what Christmas was (commercially or spiritually). Getting through these firsts makes me thankful to experience them with her and sad she hasn't had them before.
2) The Nativity Scene: I have an old nativity set made of plaster that my Mom hand painted way way some time ago in the past. I absolutely love it. We haven't set it up in a few years, but being as Little Miss had no idea what Christmas was, I decided that was a good place to start. We had a fun afternoon putting up the people, she asked questions about who they were and where they went, and we made an end table in the living room into the Nativity Scene.... on an extra Halloween spider web... I am resourceful and I didn't have Hay or anything else fancy. Of course, Little Miss's favorite piece was Baby Jesus. She still holds him and plays with the set.
3) Santa: This was tricky. When Little Miss asked Daddy who the man in the big red suit was, Daddy was astounded. He started to explain about Santa and his ways. Little Miss asked Me over dinner that night, "Mommy, When Santa comes can I show him my Baby Jesus?". No, I explained, because Santa only comes at night when good little girls are Sleeping. She thought about it a second... then asked "When Mommies and Daddies are sleeping too?" Yes, I answered (let me make it clear that I should have thought this through a little more at the time). Little Miss replied vehemently that she didn't want him to come and please please please would Daddy and I protect her... she didn't want any of his toys. Oops. Then came the next week of talking about "Magical Santa" and watching Rudolph, Frosty, Santa is Coming to Town, etc. Princess and Racer invited Little Miss to the mall to go see Papa. Auntie K and I devised a "walk by" of Santa... Little Miss was fine and agreed to take a picture after Racer and Princess did it first. Now, Santa is exciting and magical and eats cookies but only with chocolate milk because that is his favorite....
4) Holiday Singing: Little Miss's preschool class has been practicing a few songs to sing for the parents. The day before the performance, Little Miss came home with a 103 degree fever. She is over the fever now, but still fighting off the cold, and thus missed Friday's performance. She was very upset. Daddy and I let her sing for us, but it soon became apparent that she wasn't having any fun, just missing her classmates. Next year, Little Miss, there is always Next Year.
5) The Tree: I love Christmas trees. They are important to me. I was thrilled when Little Miss and I spent a few hours putting the ornaments on the tree, her eyes emitting the same love and sparkle of the tree as I was feeling. While I was explaining the ornaments, she picked up an old rocking horse that had my name on it, when I flipped it over it said 1983. I was moved, and told Little Miss that Grammy had given me this ornament when I was 4 years old. She held the little horse in wonder and said "You were 4 years old like I am 4 years old?". She lovingly put the little rocking horse at her eye level in the middle of the tree. It is her favorite, she tells everyone who comes in the house. She will sit and stare at the tree or make the bells ring or "dance" with the angels almost everyday. Having someone love the magic of a Christmas tree as much as me, Priceless.
Wonderfully priceless!
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