Finding inspiration on what to write about doesn’t always come easy or naturally, but at this time of year it’s difficult not to want to share the thoughts and newest memories surrounding the most obvious of events – Christmas.

Every year, as the girls get older, the magic only seems to grow.  Not necessarily related to the wonder of Santa, Rosie our Elf, or any of the other curious, magical happenings, but because as the girls grow, so too does their excitement and involvement in all of the things I myself get admittedly over-hyped for.  They are more capable in the kitchen when it comes to baking and decorating.  They wrapped all of the presents this year.  They legit helped with all of the decorating, shopping, planning, prepping and organizing that is required when it comes to the big day and all of the surrounding events (not that I mean to speak for her but I am fairly confident that Alison is perhaps most proud and even a little giddy at Audrey’s affinity for making to do lists this year).  They even took to a budget this year and were very conscious of their spending and requests to the big man.   Aging up of course starts to bring some of the questions I’ve dreaded how to answer, but it seems we got ourselves another full year of keeping all that stuff alive – not that it’s what makes the season, but it certainly is a component I admittedly enjoy hanging onto.

The lead up to our Christmas always starts on whichever weekend falls closest to the first of December, which is when I am permitted to break out the decorations, trim up the tree, and start the regular rotation of holiday bangers.  It takes us a solid day, but at the end of it our house has transformed and the countdown officially begins.   When the girls were born we did away with traditional advent calendars in exchange for daily ‘mail boxes’ curated with crafts, activities, and the occasional treat.  It makes each morning in December something of a surprise, and not just for the girls…I love me a good surprise and/or mystery.  Focussing this year on hand made gifts, this year Nora committed to making a new pair of earrings every day for Alison to discover as she opened the door for her daily delivery.  It was a beautiful gesture that truly made the experience one of a kind and full of love.

The notion of handmade or more accurately – made from the heart gifts – extended beyond the advent and under the tree, as the girls were very much committed to making their gifts ahead of finding them in a store.  Each made their Mom and I slideshow to highlight the things they have learned from us and the reasons they are grateful being a part of this special family.  They also took note throughout the morning that apparently it is now my thing that I cry – weep – on Christmas Day.  They aren’t wrong.  Between the slideshows, the cards, and the donations they made in my name to both the Girls at Bat and Second Harvest foundations, it was a total Niagara Falls situation for this guy.  What gets to me is that these things that they do and create are just because they feel they have to or that they ‘should’, it’s because that’s genuinely what they want to do with their time and those are the first gifts they think of.  When asked what their highlights were at the end of the day, neither of them went on to list the things that came from Santa, but rather what came from their sibling.  Go ahead and cue the waterworks again.

Of course mail boxes and gifts aren’t really what gets me excited throughout the month of December; I’m more drawn to all of the tangentially related fanfare that comes with the Christmas season.  The food, the people, the lights, the music, and, of course – the movies.  It’s a short window to be able squeeze in all of the hits, but we somehow manage to do it every year.  From classics like Rudolph and Charlie Brown, to more modern fare like Elf and The Christmas Chronicles, there is no shortage of sappy, feel good content to get us through each Daddy-Daughter movie night and family weekend viewing experience throughout the whole month.  Starting with The Nightmare Before Christmas and culminating in How The Grinch Stole Christmas, my cinematic needs are satiated just to the right point of fatigue by the time December 26th arrives.

Movies aside, I also won’t deny my penchant for the music.  Say what you will about Mariah Carey, but I find my toes a tappin’ each and every time that song comes on (my guess is that most of you do to, if you’re open to admitting it).  Best of all, however – better than any radio station or turntable can offer – comes from a tradition that sparked in our home 4-year ago now.  I speak, of course, of The Carollers.

Around the third Saturday of every December, a troupe of unbelievably talented carollers enters our home and regales us with the most angelic and joyful of experiences.  It is impossible not to smile from the heart when your living room is filled with pitch perfect renditions of holiday classics, an experience that can only be heightened when taken in surrounded by beautiful company.  With neighbours, friends and family gathered around the fire. hot apple cider at the ready, and a feast of cheeses, meats and sweets all set out, there is really nothing comparable when you take in the whole scene.   I am grateful that this experience has happened as often as it has, and I am hopeful it will only continue with each passing year.

Yes, the whole Christmas season is one filled with things I enjoy – expressions of love and gratitude, gestures of care and appreciation, a showcase of food, art and entertainment, all wrapped in a sense of magic and wonder that reminds me it’s ok that I’m still a kid.  As tired as I am at the end of it all, I am sad that it seems to build so slow and end so quickly; and that precisely why writing thoughts like these down is so important to me.  The day may be over and the month may be ending, but these memories I will have forever, and that is the best gift of all.