happy new year!!!

I am trying to catch my breath from the holidays, all in all it was pretty nice with the exception of my 2 youngest waking up on Christmas morning sick, we had a great time.
We started a new family tradition this year... starting early in December, i bought a basket, and some "hay". Each night we would sit at the tree and talk about how we were getting the basket ready for Jesus' birthday, and we would each tell of one nice thing we did for someone and then place a small handfull of hay into the basket. We prepared that basket for a few weeks, filling it with love and kindness (the hay) and building up to the big night. Well by the time Christmas Eve got here, the kids 9, 4, 3, were so excited, and could not wait until in the morning to see if the Baby Jesus would be in the basket... so on Christmas morning they rushed in to the tree and were just jumping up and down saying "He's here... He's in the basket!!!" They came and woke us up, and exclaimed that the Baby Jesus was in the basket and we had to come see. Seeing them get so excited over a simple demonstration of what Christmas should focus on, really was so beautiful! They did not ask about Santa Claus, or their presents or any of that, they just wanted to see if the Baby Jesus came or not. So after that we all sat around the tree and I read a story to them... The First Christmas, beautifully written and illustrated, and they sat just enamored and passed the little doll i had wrapped in swaddling clothes around each taking turns and telling Him Happy Birthday. I seriously got so choked up i could not make it all the way thru the story... We want our kids to focus on the real meaning of Christmas, Jesus... and I think that this year we really got their attention and made it something they will remember and look forward to each year!
This coming year i am resolving to make more special memories like that one, just taking a little extra time and effort to really make their world a more beautiful and meaningful place.