Christmas 2011

Well another Christmas has come and gone and this one had a very different ring to it. The bells that rung this year came in the shape of a permanent teaching job! Yeah! Christmas was extra special this year. This adds to making Christmas that much better for me. As an only child, Christmas was a time of year that I was able to relish in because, after all, it was all about me under the tree (give or take one or two gifts for my parents).

Once my parents separated, Christmas no longer had a ring to it. Although they both still tried to make it about me and both tried to make it a special day, it was at that point that I realized that it was nothing without family. It took years for me to ever like Christmas again, let alone love it. Once I had my own home and someone to share it with, I began to like it again. However, I still didn't love it the way I used to. For the last 5 years I have gotten to share Christmas with a full family again. Meghan has made them exactly what they were meant to be, all about family.

This Christmas has been no different in providing great moments with Meghan than the last 4. This Christmas season started with moments of Meg trying to tell us that she did not believe in Santa. She was adamant that she did not believe. Of course this came on the cusp of a meltdown so it was typical of her "woe is me" moments. While waiting for the arrival of Santa Meg had particular trouble this year in determining what she wanted to ask Santa for. Barbie was a common request, but there wasn't much specific. She would not go and see Santa...noooo way! That dude freaks her out. I mean really, why do we put so much faith in a guy that bring us presents and freaks us out at the same time? It's a wonder we don't have more early non believers.

As Christmas approaches we go shopping for the special cookies and carrots for the Christmas Eve visit from Santa and his boys (even though nature proves that reindeer with antlers at this time of year are females). We set it all up, she goes to bed early, and we wait for her to wake on Christmas morning. Now this girl is much like her father, doesn't get excited about much. Christmas morning, not any different. She bumps her bum down the stairs and says...yeah! presents with a smile on her face. Not the overwhelming SANTA CAME that I was looking for, but for Meg's standards, it will do. Santa had left Meghan a plethora of Barbie gifts including the Barbie Camper Van and Barbie laptop. She's in love.

Through modern technology we got to Skype with my Mom in Scotland so that she could watch Meg open her gifts that she had sent. That would have been great when I was a kid! This of course makes my mother's whole Christmas.

This little girl held her own the whole day. She didn't gripe, whine or complain the whole day. She wasn't too happy about having to eat Christmas dinner, but of course, no dinner, no presents from Grandma and Grandpa and the Uncles. Needless to say she got her presents. The days after Christmas day, however, melt down city. Who can blame her! I get a little post Turkey blahs myself.

All in all, a great Christmas was had by all! Love ya Meg.