'Tis the season

I love Christmas. I love everything about it. The snow. The lights. The decorations. The music. The parties. The food. The 'pop over' visits. The time spent with friends. Family. Oh, how I love this time of the year.

I have not had much time to blog because I am preparing for this holiday. My daughter is too young to understand and is oblivious to the time of year but is, unfortunately, very aware of new teeth coming in, hence the reason I am so out of sorts lately.

If she takes after her mom she will love Christmas too. As I look ahead I envision tickets to The Nutcracker, my little girl in a ballerina dress and I imagine the look on her face when the dancers take to the stage. I have never seen The Nutcracer and I can't wait to share it with Marissa. It will be magical. Thank goodness I had a girl. Aiden would look pretty funny in a ballerina dress.

My son already has a passion for Christmas. Not only because of Santa but he loves the lights, the parties and the music as well. His favourite song right now is I'm Getting Nuttin' For Christmas by Rosie O'Donel and Smashmouth. He can't get enough, much to Marc's chagrin.

But we can never forget what is so special about this time of year that makes our hearts glow...the giving. I am trying to instill this in my children and not only make them appreciate all they have but to think of others as well.

A few weeks ago Aiden and I went shopping for Toy Mountain for the Orleans Festival Of Lights. As we chose a toy we talked about all the less fortunate, not just here in the city but in other places all over the world. He was so interested and empathetic about it he wanted to do something for the little kids that we talked about. So when we got home we went to the shop Unicef website and he carefully selected his gifts of toys, a mosquito net and 800 pencils for an entire school.

He was so happy. I told him it was what Christmas is all about, to give something and get nothing in return. He said " That's ok, mommy because I felt sad when you told me about those kids but now I feel happy". Get nothing in return? Let me re-think that.

Want to make your heart glow? Visit the Unicef site and shop,shop, shop!

Merry Christmas.

xo