HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS

Ahhh Christmas. I used to love this holiday when my children were still...well children. The excitement reflected in their eyes when they first came down the stairs on Christmas morning and saw all the gifts under the tree was so wonderful to observe. Suddenly all the time I spent elbowing through "purchase lusting" crowds and scanning sale sheets and getting up at the crack of dawn to save $20 off a Teddy Rukpin talking bear...seemed worth it! The screams of delight as they tore the wrapping paper off their gifts was music to my ears. We'd spend hours together playing with the new toys.

I've really missed those "spirits of Christmas past" the last few years. Both of my children are now fully grown and living on their own. Everyone still gathers at our house to celebrate the day and significant others are now included in our family time. It's sad to me though that I no longer feel the "thrill" of Christmas.

This year, because of money constraints we decided not to go the "retail" route for presents and determined instead that we would make all our gifts for each other. This was probably the best idea we've had in years. Oh, my daughter and I did some complaining about how much hassle and how much time we were having to put into making these gifts. But on Christmas morning...it was all worth it.

No one got up at the crack of dawn. That practice stopped many years ago, even before the kids left home. My son traveled 4 hours and stayed at our home Christmas Eve. My daughter lives about 5 miles away. We all gathered at the respectable hour of 11a.m. Donuts, bagels, juice and coffee were served as we sat in the livingroom ready to open gifts. My son went first...wonderful decorative jars filled with peanut butter cookies. I was starting to really feel excited! I gave each of my children the wine bottles with holes drilled in them and filled with lights and decorated with ribbons and small grape bunches, that I'd created. Ooooos and aaaahhhhhs insued. Homemade puzzles created by my hubby were opened next. Tye-dye shirts were handed out from my daughter. You could feel the excitement in the air now. This was FUN! My daughter had made a very special gift for me...an apron decorated with "NOM MAKER" in sparkling letters. Inside joke and it brought tears to my eyes! A couple of other gifts I'd created for each of my amazing children were distributed and each item was met with "WOWS" and "OMG-s".

Not a ton of money was spent on gifts this year. A lot to personal time and effort went into making the gifts. I had determined that I would NEVER do this again as Christmas morning approached...but after experiencing the joy and the comaraderie we all felt gathered around the tree as we were delighted by the creativity we'd all shown...I will definitely be making the gifts again next year. In fact I already have some ideas..............