Making Memories
Lately I’ve been trying to stay in the moment when I’m with Kennedy. I’m trying to not think about the laundry or the dishes or what it is that I haven’t done yet. I’m trying to make memories with her.
I have some really great early memories of my Mom. I remember she would bring me a treat every afternoon when she would pick me up from daycare. It might have been some gum or a small can of juice or it could have been a little toy, it didn’t matter because she always brought me something and it made me feel incredibly special. I also remember playing hide-n-seek with her in the house I grew up in. I remember we had a large (or so seemed) china cabinet in our kitchen and my Mom hiding on the other side of it and scaring me and making me howl with laughter. Those are not large moments in the grand scheme of things and those moments could have easily not happened if my Mom had decided to do the laundry instead.
I adore this time of year. I love it for all of the real reasons we celebrate and all of the commercial reasons we celebrate. I love the nativity scenes and the advent messages at church. I love the smells and lights and the over all sense of warmth (even though here in the south, it’s an actual warmth). I love buying the gifts, receiving gifts (my husband has really outdone himself this year!), wrapping presents and hiding them from sneaky people in my house. I love addressing Christmas cards and getting the cards in the mail. I seriously LOVE this time of year.
With all of this in mind I had set out to make sure that I made some serious memories with Kennedy this year. She gets that it’s Christmas and has developed a serious affinity for Santa and Rudolph. She’s watched the Rudolph claymation special no less that 10 times this season. She even chose a Rudolph ornament for our tree over a Thomas the Train. That is a BIG deal.
As per our tradition, we drove to the mall closest to where my Mom lives to see Santa. Jason has no real desire to stand in line to see Santa with us, so I enjoy getting to share it with my Mom. On Wednesday we left and drove the hour long drive to get to the mall. We met my Mom and then Kennedy got a private session with Santa. I didn’t pay extra or make a reservation. I just took her before school gets out on a school day in the morning to a mall that doesn’t have a HUGE city feeding into it. The Santa is great. So, Kennedy goes over to him, sits in his lap like they’ve been best friends forever and then they began to chat. I was too far away to hear exactly what was being discussed, but that’s okay. It was Kennedy’s time with Santa. I heard her ask him where Rudolph was and if he would come to her house. I know she told Santa she wanted toys for Christmas and that she had been a good girl. We didn’t get a great picture because she was so start struck. She just wanted to sit and chat. And he indulged her and chatted with her and then read her a story. Kennedy might not remember this memory but watching the absolute joy in her eyes is something I won’t forget.
After that Kennedy took a ride on the malls train with my Mom. It’s a trackless train that rides along the whole mall. She loves it and watching her and my Mom just belly laugh while they are on it together makes it even better. The conductor even drove close to me so I could get this blurry picture.
Today we are headed to make another memory with Micah and Heather. And next week after school gets out I’m going to do my best to spoil my girl with a ton of Christmas memories. Making presents for our neighbors and her teachers. Playdates with special friends. Gingerbread houses and hot chocolate. It’s all about making memories.
