We had a little Christmas "scrimmage" today...you know, practice for the big day! We will be meeting up with my 'rents in Lancaster for Christmas, and we didn't want to be dragging gifts back and forth across the country, so my parents had some of theirs sent here. We will be leaving here before lunch on the 24th so our Christmas morning will have to be earlier that day. I decided to let them open their presents from my parents today so they could have a little more time to play with them before we leave...also it gives me a little more peace! Both kids got chairs from Pottery Barn. K seems to like her big brother's more than hers, so thankfully Riley said she can sit in his anytime she wants! Right now they are both sitting in their chairs (side by side), eating popcorn and watching a movie...so cute!
Riley also scored a Matchbox Pirate Ship. This thing is pretty cool - it goes on land or water and you can create 30+ ships out of it. Riley loves to build and create things so this gift is perfect.
I've been working with Riley on showing thanks to others. He's learned to look at someone in the eye to say thank you. To act appreciative whether he likes the gift or not as well as whether he already has one or not. He's also getting better at accepting compliments. We've been practicing every week. Today he asked to call his Nanny & Pappy right away to tell them how much he loved his new chair and his pirate ship.
Since we're heading out before Christmas, I told Riley that I asked Santa if he could bring our presents a day early for us. After we viewed a personalized video message from Santa online, I told Riley that Santa must be willing to bring our gifts early since he said Riley was being a good boy. The things you have to tell your kid just to keep the spirit of Santa alive!
I am happy that Riley has a very good idea about what Christmas is about this year. My parents sent the kids the Veggie Tales movie, "Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving" a few weeks back. It helped illustrate that Santa is based on a real person and we should give to others because God gave us the best gift of all on Christmas. Today after Riley came home from school, he told me that he knows the real meaning of Christmas. I asked him what he thought it was and he replied that it's about baby Jesus not about presents! My heart swelled with joy. He was telling me without being prompted! He also told me that at school he was offered a book as a gift, but turned it down because he has lots of books at home and needs to start to give stuff away to make room for the new stuff from his family! I love the fact that he's not obsessed with having it all! He chose to ask Santa only for 3 things this year.
I think living in the situation we've been in for the past 4 months has helped him be grateful for what we have. I never once heard him complain that we didn't have a tree this year, or that we didn't make cookies, or didn't have a train running around under our tree! He's just rolled with it...This past year has helped mold him into a more flexible person. As long as he has his family, he's happy. Isn't that what it's all about. Being content with what we have and loving those around us?
Happy Early Christmas!
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