That's Christmas to me

 

The heady scents of fir trees and Greek Christmas cookies, hundreds of colored lights, wreaths, garland, and decorations for the Christmas season, fill every corner of our house. The conversations all lead back to Christmas and how many days are left, or in Orion's case, how many sleeps. The excitement was tangible. This is what I love about Christmas.

 Apollo and Orion are at the perfect age to fully embrace the spirit of Christmas and this has renewed my love for the holidays. To watch the magic of Christmas unfold through their eyes is an amazing blessing for me.

Thanks to technology, websites, and apps, we were able to mold the experience to our benefit. I found a Santa website that informed Apollo that he was almost on Santa's nice list...almost. Orion was fully vested in the nice list as he has no malice in him, only the occasional white lie. Apollo however, sure enjoys pestering Orion and pushing every button he can to elicit an adverse reaction. For the most part, Apollo did try to work his way off the naughty list. He knew that he was teetering on the edge and would slip back and forth regularly. I was thoroughly entertained with the torment and internal conflict it created for him as he struggled to be just a little bit better.

  Many of our friends with young children have an "Elf-on-a-shelf" to aid in the magic of the holidays. Not our home. When you have a house full of naughty boys, you end up with a Grinch. Our Grinch is mischievous and likes to make messes, however, if the boys manage to do good deeds throughout the day, making the Grinch's heart grow three sizes, he would leave them a little gift or treat. Each morning, I would hear Orion's feet hit the floor and he would dash through the house looking for the Grinch. Each morning was a new wave of excitement as they discovered what the Grinch did while we slept. Only one morning was met with tears (Orion's), when the grinch decided to bring pajamas instead of toys. I convinced Orion that they were not nice enough the previous day and that they would need to try a little harder if he wanted to get toys again. The plan worked.

  Apollo explained to us at Thanksgiving dinner, his favorite part of Christmas. It wasn't the presents. It wasn't the treats, nor the time off of school, not even receiving his favorite toy that he wanted on Christmas morning. For him, it is the anticipation; The building excitement that increases every day the closer it gets to Christmas, climaxing the night before as he struggles to fall asleep, as his heart races, waiting for Santa to arrive. It is so powerful for him, that it fills our home with the Christmas spirit.

We pulled out the hide-a-bed near the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, set up the laptop with the NORAD Santa Tracker website streaming, and talked about the birth of Christ, Santa, flying reindeer, and all things Christmas. I felt the spirit of Christmas stronger that night than I have in many years. 

When I thought that things could not get any more perfect, Apollo announces, "I love you mama and dada!"
"I love you too!" Orion agreed, "I love everyone!"
"Yeah, I love everyone too!" Apollo reiterated, "and I love Santa, and our Grinch, and Jesus too!"
And in his own little sarcastic icing on the cake Apollo finished with a squeaky voice, "God bless us, everyone!"