The Nightmare Before Christmas - Just Keepin' It Real

This is one of those "I'm just keepin' it real" posts. (I actually wrote this awhile ago, but debated about posting it and thusly having it on permanent record, but I know this is one of those stories that I'll want to remember in the future, so here it is.)  We started this Christmas tradition (that I hold very near and dear to my heart) before Cole was two, and have done it every year since.  On the day that we get our Christmas tree, we give each of the boys a gift of new Christmas pjs, a Christmas ornament, and a Christmas book.  They hang their ornaments on the tree, wear their new pjs to bed, and we read their new books to them before they fall asleep.  Then that night while they're dreaming of sugar plums dancing in their heads (and how wonderful their mother is), Chad and I decorate the house so that upon waking up, they find that Christmas came during their sleep.  How wonderful and magical is that!  It's how I like to kick off the beginning of the holiday season.   (And it's also a bonus for Chad and I in that we can decorate much faster without the help of tiny, not so helpful hands.)   You can probably imagine how excited and warm and fuzzy this tradition makes me feel - sooooo excited and warm and fuzzy - I just love it!   You can also probably imagine how sad I was this year when my boys opened their gifts and then immediately started complaining that they didn't get toys.  My Christmas spirit (and my spirit in general) was crushed!  There was a lot of trauma-drama that ensued (mostly caused by me, trying to feverishly and passionately impress upon them the importance of being grateful), and lets just say that gratitude has become a new object lesson in our house.  (In fairness to Caden, he was delighted by everything, so my disgruntled rant pertains strictly to Cole and Chase.)

Here are this year's Christmas ornaments.  Aren't they adorable!  What little boy wouldn't want to get an ornament like this, disguised in a package that appears to be a more appealing gift - such as a toy - and then immediately be instructed to place said ornament on the tree and never touch it again!  Come on!  That sounds great!

Here are my little Christmas angels in their jammies, reading their books.  They look super happy, but they weren't.  Apparently pajamas and books, much like ornaments they can't play with, are not that appealing to boys.  I don't get it.  I love pajamas and books...why wouldn't anyone else?

Even though I wasn't overcome with a deep sense of love at the time of this incident, I do love this picture of their adorable faces.  How could I stay mad at these little pumpkins?

Lessons I've learned for next year:
- do not wrap ornaments, books, and pjs in packaging that looks like it might contain a toy.  Next year (if I recover from their lack of thankfulness by then to resume this tradition), ornaments, pjs, and books will be placed on their pillows, without wrapping or packaging of any kind.
- do not expect my boys to be excited by the things that excite me.  They are boys.  I am a girl.  This is a distinction that I must and will come to terms with.  Any minute now.
- do continue to teach them to be appreciative for all their blessings in life.  Our mantra for next year - have an attitude of gratitude!

Here's hoping the lessons that I've learned, and the lessons that I'm trying to teach them will result in an entirely different blog post about our Christmas kick-off next year.

One last thing, as of the official posting of this story, my Christmas spirit has returned in full force, and I am no longer tempted to inform them that Santa isn't real, and that I am the one that buys them their gifts.