Christmas means ....

...baking cookies, getting Christmas cards assembled and sent out, finding Christmas outfits for the kids, the annual Gingerbread House making party, at least one potluck at work, at least one kid singing at a school program, spending lunch hours shopping.

Worrying about who I've forgotten, trying hard to figure out gifts for the teachers and day care providers who I adore and am eternally grateful for - but can't seem to figure out a gift for to save my life.

Watching for boxes to be delivered so I can hide them before the kids see them. Finding a place in the house to hide the unwrapped presents. Looking FORWARD to the mail for once - because it comes with Christmas cards filled with photos and news from friends and family we don't see often enough.

More Christmas baking.

Getting a ham for Christmas day dinner. Running out to Target to search for a Santa Hat and antler ears because: "Mom I need 'em for school!" Running out of Christmas cards, running out of stamps. Another run to Target. Briefly contemplating just handing over my entire paycheck to Target all at once to save the effort of doing it bit by bit... it's all going there anyways.

Waking up in a cold sweat at 2am remembering I haven't given my friends at work a Christmas card and that I must get a gift for my wonderful boss.
Late nights sorting through presents trying to "even up" each child's gift pile.
More Christmas baking.

Mailing out presents to out-of-town family & friends a wee bit too late (sorry - try as I might I'm late EVERY year).

Sprinkling "Reindeer food" outside on Christmas Eve, then wrapping presents after the children are in bed until I nearly pass out from exhaustion. Carefully biting large "Santa bites" in the cookies and leaving partly eaten carrots outside (the flying reindeers eat only SOME of the carrots).

Early Christmas morning negotiations that the kids hold off ripping open all their presents until after we've groggily brushed teeth and found a glass of caffeine.

None of this is a complaint, honest.
It may be a hectic month filled with tons to do...but it's all magical and filled with joy.

I know Christmas is meant to be about Christ's birth. And every year we go to church Christmas Eve and I love the celebration of what is meant to be the REAL meaning of Christmas. But while the kids are young.. Christmas for me is much more about making a memorable time of year for them.