A few things that stood out this December:

1. My son had his first real snow experience at the beginning of this month. Even though he’s two, last year it seemed to only snow while he was sleeping, and be mush or practically gone by the time he was awake. It was lovely to see how happy he was to be in it; he didn’t mind it swirling around his face or getting in his eyes. When I first took him out in it he walked back and forth saying quietly and happily, “‘No, ‘no.”

2. I was sick with various things pretty much all month, and the week before Christmas my husband and I had strep, while my son also had a double ear infection and possibly strep through. So that was just loads of fun. Being sick and on various antibiotics, especially during the part of the year where you’re supposed to relax and enjoy time with family, has worn me out. I’ve been drinking lots of hot tea with local honey.

3. We don’t do a big Christmas morning just the three of us, and we also don’t do Santa. Last Christmas, I made us each a stocking, and on a quiet morning around Christmas, when we’ll have time to spend at least a few hours together (even if it’s not on Christmas day), we look in our stockings. We try to get (or make, in my case) little gifts for each other that are not super expensive, but still fun. My husband and I get each other mostly a bit of candy and a small gift or two, if that, and for our son we usually base his little gifts on his latest interests or something he needs. This year I crocheted him a toy snake using this pattern here, and we got him a lollipop – of the kind that he always reaches for in the grocery store check out line. My husband also got him a little train set, and his little face was so excited when he saw it.