It's Christmas Time!

Matt has been walking around saying "It's Christmas time!" He has told me what he wants Santa to bring him (Hot Wheel Cars). He points out every Santa he sees (cuts out in windows, in ads, the Santa decorations we have). He is singing Christmas songs. He knows that Christmas is coming in a few weeks. He is beyond exciting about Christmas and Santa.

This is the first year he has reached this level of understanding of Christmas.

A few years ago, he thought the UPS driver was this Santa Claus guy we were telling him about because the UPS driver brought the boxes of gifts from our far flung family. Not a bad guess. At that point, Matt also became entranced with the decorated Christmas tree and our various Christmas figures: Victorian Carolers and Santa in his workshop. He gave himself the job of turning on the tree and figures. He named our boy caroler Steve. We never did figure out why or who he was naming the caroler after, but the caroler remains Steve to this day. (Sadly, the female caroler tumbled out of the attic last year and broke, so Steve is singing on his own now.)

Last year, we didn't put the gifts under the tree until after Matt went to bed on Christmas Eve. We are blessed with generous family and friends. We had a lot of packages under the tree. When he ran out of his room Christmas morning, he luckily dashed acrossed the kitchen to wake us up. I was so happy to be able to witness his awed expression when he ran into the living room and saw the tree. "Santa came," he whispered.

This year, he is anticipating Santa's arrival. He is talking about Santa coming. He is singing about Santa coming. He is seeing Santa everywhere.

It's Christmas time. And we know who is going to be one excited boy on Christmas morning!