December 24, 2010- All together...

     Finally, all of my boys are back together again in a home of our own. We haven’t spent even a minute with everyone in one place in more than a couple of weeks now, and it feels good. And it’s the first Christmas Eve I’d had with my boys spending the night and waking with mom in over three years. During the last few years, I always had to be prepared to take care of the holiday stuff before or after Christmas when it was my weekend with the kids. Usually, we headed up to Roi with “Santa’s Pack” on my back. Last year, I sent my suitcase of goodies up a day or two early, and it ended up sitting in a wooden and metal crate outside the terminal until my boyfriend was able to pick it up for us, and some little “Roi Rat” friends chewed right though the canvas bag, my oldest boy’s stocking, and finally left only the wrapper of a whole bar of chocolate that Santa had delivered to me early, so I could celebrate the holiday with my children. It was hectic and complicated at times, but always worth it for my babies. This year, I was able to put all the presents under a real tree again and led them through all our family Christmas Eve traditions that we had not always been able to complete in years past.

     First, everyone opened one present, picked out by the kids for Christmas Eve.

Youngest to oldest, one at a time, is the tradition from my Grandmother’s generation to now.  That way, we can enjoy everyone’s presents with them, and we all experience the excitement and joy that comes with both giving and receiving.  Next, we decorated the sugar cookies for Santa, put out 9 baby carrots for the reindeer and sprinkled Magic Reindeer Food on the front lawn and sidewalk (which consists of Quaker oats, sugar, red and green sprinkles so the reindeer can see it lit up by Rudolph’s nose), before getting ready for bed and reading “Polar Express” to wind down for sleepy time.  My oldest was out as soon as his head hit the pillow, but the youngest wouldn’t sit still (as usual), and was still chatting as I was trying to leave the room after our usual prayer time and mom’s songs sung just for her boys.  “Mom, I hope Santa brings me something tonight. I hope I’ve been good.” “Oh, don’t worry about that, son. Just get some sleep now.” “Okay.”  What a darling! This is what makes Christmas worthwhile, the innocence of children and the magic they bring to the holiday season.  Merry Christmas or as they say in Hawaii, Mele Kalikimaka!