I caught the bug...

...the Christmas bug that is. It's funny how I was thinking this past weekend about how NOT in the Christmas mood I was. Even yesterday driving the boy to school I thought about the fact that I didn't want to listen to Christmas music (I know, Jodi, I should be shot for such a remark!) then I began thinking through what we wanted to get the kids and our trip and such. The more I thought and the more I emailed my mothers (ensuring duplicates are not purchased) the more I got excited. It's different this year though - I'm excited about our kids getting excited about Christmas. They are going to LOVE what their beloved grandparents have found - and knowing that makes me excitedly anxious. I want the kids to truly experience this season with all of their senses. I love that the boy says "It's a Christmas Tree!" at least once every half hour. I love that he tells it goodbye. I love that we chose to decorate sparsely so the tree is something exciting instead of a point of contention. I don't care if he touches it or moves around the things within his reach. My biggest desire is for them to begin to understand the real meaning of this season. I figure it won't be too hard since the boy loves birthdays and breaks into the birthday song at random times. To help begin to put the story in their heads, I borrowed an idea from a friend: The Little People Nativity Set. It's one they can touch and play with. I want them to know that Jesus isn't off-limits or just nice to look at. I want them to know that Jesus wants to be a part of their life - good, bad, and everything in between. I want them to know that He can go anywhere they do and withstand whatever they put Him through. So while there are lights and Santa and more they will experience this holiday, right now I'm most excited about getting the nativity set out of the car and sharing my most prized possession with our children.