Christmas is over now, the kids are enjoying the toys and games they received. It's a great feeling, not "be done" with Christmas as some would say, but rather to have accomplished Christmas. It takes planning, coordination with other family members, and more planning. But, having done it, it fills me with happiness to see my children excited and happy. It's great to watch their little imaginations at work, creating cities, acting out plot lines of good guys vs bad guys. It reminds me of the toys I would get lost in for hours when I was a kid. I love seeing the same reactions in them that I had at their age. It makes me a bit reminiscent ... and a bit jealous for that pure sense of wonder.
Both of my kids understand that Christmas isn't just about the toys though. It's Jesus' birthday, of course, but it's also about family, kindness, giving, and love. For the first time, this year, the boys seem to really "get" that. They cared what presents we put "from them." And they enjoyed other people's happiness when opening their gifts. Luke only asked "when do we get to open my presents" roughly 50 times...much better than the 100 or so last year!
