Thanksgiving. And the Jolly Old Elf Himself. As Well As Some Magic.

Thanksgiving came with a little bit of ceremony.  Mostly in the actual foods that were prepared and the setting up of tables, and finally the watching of "While You Were Sleeping" while the big stuff was in the oven and it wasn't quite time to start the little stuff yet.

That's a big part of Thanksgiving ceremony, "While You Were Sleeping."

Cali learned how to make a Dutch Apple Pie.  Cas learned what it was to make pumpkin pies with Grandpa Dick and why that's a treat.

Our house was full to the brink.

 I posted this picture of Casidee on my Instagram:

And then this happened:

The yelling didn't start until the playing cards came out.

Slapjack for the younger crowd and nertz for the older and slightly more violent crowd.

And we may have come out of the experience with a broken stair banister, but you can't have family holidays be all good, right?  If that's the worst then all is well.

And then it happened.

December is here and I hardly even had time to realize it.  It takes me by surprise every year.

We kicked December off last night with Cali and Tayler's choir singing at our City Hall for the lighting of the city's lights.

And a visit with the Jolly Old Elf himself.  Cali asked for Monster High dolls.  Tayler for earmuffs.  Blue ones.

And it struck me, with the growing of my Circus, how very little time I have left for Christmas to be full of magic.

It will be always be magical.

But it changes from magic and wonder to a more specific awareness of giving and love, which is not bad, it's really very good, but I realize how little time I have left with the added bonus of a child's magic and wonder at it all.

Though when it's all said and done I suppose it's the awareness of giving and love that creates the magic for children, and whether they realize it or not, that will always be there, so we'll lose nothing in the growing of our children, the reason for it all will just change.

And that, perhaps, might be even a little better.

To have the magic with a purpose instead.

Santa at City Hall

The lighting of the lights at our little City Hall is a grand event indeed.

Choirs sing, Santa visits, there are poinsettias everywhere, and Christmas trees and a little snow village complete with a moving train.

I have to say, I'm pretty proud of these kids and the effort they put into being in choir.  The choir practices before school two mornings a week so these kids are getting up early to get ready, get their chores done, and walk in the cold to school.

They're always so excited about choir when it comes around every year.

Last night was just a sneak peak of what they've been working on.  We'll get their full musical repertoire next week when they have their official concert.

And then there's always the dreaded Santa visit.

Dreaded because Santa has already secured his gifts for the kids and he's just hoping that what they ask for is what he has "made" for them.

Luckily Santa was in sync with the kids this year and wasn't too far off with what they were asking for.

I love Christmas and the magic and joy that it brings to the center of our lives.

Christmas with kids can be the most magical and joyful time of all.  It never ceases to amaze me how big their hearts are.

I welcome this holiday season.