It’s the first of December, twenty four days until Christmas. Actually, I look at it as twenty one days until my daughter’s birthday; she’ll be turning three. Then after all the wrapping paper is picked up and thrown away, the dishes are picked up, the table and cabinets are cleared of food, it’s time to play with all the toys my daughter got for her birthday. Same thing goes for Christmas day. What? So, I may have picked out a few toys that I wanted to play with too! Like the kitchen set; which I stood next to for three hours on black Friday last year just so I could save fifty dollars. My sister, Jaci, was a few feet away from me, waiting on a Princess table and chairs; she thought it would go great with the kitchen set.

I went overboard on the accessories for the kitchen set, but she still plays with it. And as for the Princess table, it still comes in handy, especially during the holidays. This year I didn’t overdo it, I made sure I didn’t.

My daughter gave me a reason to like Christmas again. I didn’t enjoy it growing up. My parents never really explained to us children the real reason behind Christmas. I grew up resenting Christmas due to the fact that I never got anything, but my sisters did. I didn’t realize the true meaning of Christmas until my daughter was born. I think she was my gift. It was like my eyes were opened and I began to really understand. I actually got into the Christmas spirit after that. I really had a reason to love Christmas. I had someone to share the joys of the holiday with; someone to explain what Christmas is all about. I decorate the outside with lights and put up the tree. And even though I’m terrible at gift wrapping, I wrap all the presents and place them under the tree, then hang the stockings and stuff them. I mostly just spoil the kids with toys and candy.

On my daughter’s first Christmas we were at my brother’s house, his wife read the Christmas story to the kids. I thought it would be a wonderful tradition to continue doing with my daughter and the rest of the kids each Christmas.

Another tradition that my Grandmother and I have been doing for a few years now, is that we bake a bunch of cookies and candy, package it up, and send to each the fire house and the hospice house.

Do you have any Christmas traditions?