Let it snow

Christmas is one of my favourite times of year especially now I am fortunate enough to be able to share it with little ones. I am loving everything about the festivities, quite possibly more than ever before, as the children are just ‘getting it’ so much now.

 

My son had his pre-school concert held in the nursery and he was a very special reindeer. My husband, my daughter and I went to watch on Tuesday and, after I got over the huge desire to just blubber overtaken by emotion of 26 mini people all sitting so beautifully in their haphazard costumes with varying degrees of confusion on their faces, watched with pride and amazement at their combined courage and talent. My son had a very important line, addressing Father Christmas, he said ‘We can get you out. Hold onto our antlers’ and then with his fellow reindeer, he pulled FC out of the chimney where he had been stuck throughout the play. A stunning rendition of ‘The Reindeer Cokey’ followed in which antlers and hoofs were put in and out and my heart broke for a minute or two as I watched my little man dancing his little reindeer legs off.

 

I had witnessed the rehearsal on the Monday complete with my daughter as my regular day to help in my son’s class normally coincides with my daughter’s morning in playgroup but, as that has now finished for the holiday, she spent the full session in with us. She loved every minute and I could feel her radiating ‘I am so grown up now’ joy for hours after! It also meant that when we watched the play for real, she knew the songs and clapped and sung along pointing with pride at her big brother all the way through.

 

We have visited several grottos as I not-so-secretly love this as much as the kids and if we meet a particularly good Santa, then I can allow myself to be convinced and swept up in the fantastical magic along with the intended believers. Today we accidentally visited another grotto whilst meeting friends in the snow for a final pre - Christmas catch up. There he was, sitting in his glory and it didn’t take much before we were in the surprisingly short queue eager to be introduced. He was by far the best so far and chatted happily, addressing each of the four children by their names, discussing his Christmas Eve wishes and even answering my questions regarding what would be the best course of action should he get stuck up the chimney. The kids clearly adored every moment and he gave them the gift of Christmas magic that they will remember way beyond their childhood.