May your day be filled with joy, love, peace and a tiny little piece of something very special.

Last year he wrote everyone a letter as part of their gift.  I will pull mine out and read it again, I actually keep it in my camera bag.  I wonder how long I will do that for?

My mom has not even read hers.  She couldn’t read it last year.  I told her to look at it as her gift from him this year. Then the tears rolled down our cheeks as they seems to have been on and off this past month.

To see his handwriting, he was here just not so long ago but it feels like forever since we’ve embraced.

Last week, Jen and I ran in the wee hours of the morning and then went to put a few Christmas ornaments up on his tree at Lake Calhoun.

I know he would love that, although, I know he would think that I should have put up more than three, he likes lots of lights and ornaments ; )

We now have to set another plate for Christmas dinner.  He doesn’t like sitting much but he doesn’t eat or say much either…perfect company.

And BTW, anyone have any idea what shade of lip gloss Justin wears?

I really like it.

Looking at it, you really have no idea where it was taken.

What I see is my Dad, my son and my lovely brother.

This photo will always remind me of how this Christmas seemed just a little different than the rest.

What this photo doesn’t tell you, is that my brother just gave my dad the greatest gift in the world by going to Christmas Eve mass with him.  That gift elicited tears of joy from my father before, during and after church.

It cost nothing and he didn’t even burst into flame!  I did have my camera there just in case he would.  How cool would that be?

Adam and I gave CT a simple sweatshirt.  He didn’t ask for it.  It wasn’t anything particularly amazing but he loved it non the less.  As we sat at the table Christmas morning he thanked me for the sweatshirt, for about the fifth time.  He was truly grateful for this gift and wanted me to know how grateful he was.  At nine, we saw it.  He was honestly grateful.  Not just telling us thank you because he knows he has too.

Tears rolled down my cheeks at the table as we passed the rolls.  His gift to me…his honest gratitude.

And the last of the gifts that made a difference this year were the letters.  My dad hand wrote letters to everyone and so did Nana and Papa.

Nana and Papa wrote each person a Christmas note that reminded us of our own unique special gifts and just how much they appreciate them.

PJ’s read:  A purposeful disposition, physical strength, an organized mind, an enterprising spirit and the love of her family.

CT’s read:  A very warm heart, a sound body for sports, creativity in thought, inventiveness and the love of his family.

KP’s read:  Big eyes and a smiling face, fast afoot, powers of concentration, the will to help and the love of his family.

These are gifts that maybe only an adult can love, but as an adult I must say, the generousity of thought and love that went on this year was amazing.

We needed a little something to do, so I told the kids I would take them to see Santa.  Thinking by 3:30 pm all the littles would be home taking an afternoon nap and we could just breeze right in and lay it on down for Santa.

Well, not exactly.  There was eerily NO ONE in line but swarms of people everywhere.  So we walked up to the two Santa gate keepers at the head table.  Quickly we find out that there was a 5 1/2 hour wait.  When asked when the best time to see Santa would be, gate keeper number one says to me, “Well, that would be November 15!”  I almost kicked her in the teeth, smart ass, happy holidays, whore.  Oh goodness, did I just say that, sorry I digress.

We (ok…I) come to determine that Santa is so not worth that, so I gave them each a quarter to put in the gumball machine and the nod to take a quick tour through Build A Bear first.

We zip through the store and hit the wall of gumballs.  I realize KP is digging through his filled pockets (there are always treasures in there) to get at his quarter and there is something blocking his fat little fist from making it to the bottom.  He pulls something out, something I have never seen before.

When questioned about it, his first instinct is to lie, tell me it’s his, he found it, he brought it from home, some strange man in a red suit gave it to him.  After a few more questions he comes clean and tells me he lifted it from Build A Bear.  Swift, fast and undetected…it is truly a gift and not a good one (he does it at preschool all the time, we now pat him down before he leaves).

This photo is us marching him back into the store so he can return stolen goods (see right hand).

My life in crime

The hat pictured above is a Christmas present for my chemo loving, hair falling out dad.

I started it a while ago.  As I was knitting it the first time, Jen looked at it over coffee with my running group and asked who it was for and what it was, because it was SOOOO big that it certainly could not be a hat.

So my second swing at it was going alright. But, as I was finishing it up last night, I began to wonder why it was not bigger and how on earth it was going to fit on his head.

Then I realized, I missed a whole section, THE BODY.

He’s getting it anyway…my dying father will LOVE it, because I made it.

I am usually really good about capturing events with my camera but this time I don’t have a lot to show for myself.  This might be my favorite of the few I have.  Or this.  I don’t know, there are a few others but I was just too busy drinking Old Fashions to remember.

Anyway.  This Soiree, that brought some of our closest and dearest people together for one night, to drink till they were silly, eat till they were full and just plain old enjoy each others company while in cocktail dresses, was a success in so many ways.

Most of all, it reminds me how lucky I am to be surround by so many wonderful people.

Cheers!

Yesterday CT asked me if I thought Santa actually went to Nana and Papa’s house too.  I looked at him, knowing the power I had in my hand to dash all belief he may still cling to and asked him what he thought.

He said, “Well, I don’t think he does.  Their gifts are always in Creative Kidstuff wrapping paper.”