“Last week, in a California kindergarten class, children sat at their tables working on on a project.  A 5 year old girl worked away with a few other classmates and a “Helper Mom” at her table.  The Helper Mom asked the children what Christmas was all about.  The children answered with excitement…”presents!” and “Santa” and “toys”….that’s what you would expect out of a bunch of 5 year olds, right?

The 5 year old girl stopped everyone and said, “No, Christmas isn’t about presents…it’s Jesus’ birthday!”

The Helper-Mom was kind enough to share this story with the 5 year old’s mother the next day. You can imagine the joy that filled the mother’s heart when she heard the story (and the tears that filled her eyes).

It’s easy to get worked up in the craziness that this time of year brings.  Shopping, parties, wrapping, lights, trees, ornaments, food, drinks, travel…..but, look how easy it is to bring us right back to the meaning of Christmas.  It starts in a kindergarten class with 1 little girl.

Pick out Christmas tree while toddler is safely buckled in stroller

Get toddler in the mood by going to a Christmas lights show (house lights perform to Christmas music).

Once tree is safely indoors, ask toddler for help getting the lights on the tree.

(These are my favorite!)

Ask toddler to check every single bulb to make sure they are all working.

The lights are working…time to put them on the tree.

Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah….please, just say one of them!  I am not sure I can take “Happy Holidays” anymore.   Holiday party…holiday tree…holiday cards…holiday dresses….seriously people.   Next thing you know, we are going to have “holiday egg hunts” instead of “Easter egg hunts” and while we are at it, let’s ditch “Independence Day”—we can call it “a day to watch fireworks.”

I will step down from my soap-box now, but please - go forth, and wish someone a Happy Hanukkah or a Merry Christmas.  I bet you will make someone’s day (it certainly would make my day!)

I gave him the kitchen timer the other day and he thought he won the baby lottery.

Caught again on camera

I took him to the zoo a few weeks ago.  It was probably his 9th or 10th visit to our zoo, but it is “The World Famous San Diego Zoo” — and we have annual passes.  He isn’t allowed to get tired of it!  We stopped by the kids’ petting area where he found a very strange looking “dog.”

He really wasn’t too sure about the goat. I think he tried to charge one of them, but I grabbed him before he could get into a headbutting war with a goat (they can be feisty little critters, you know.)

On the other side of the “chained area” is where the sheep can sleep, eat, rest, etc.  The picture is blurry because the boy was shaking the crap out of the chain & shreaking loudly. I think he liked it better than any of the animals we saw.

I think breakfast is his favorite (and biggest) meal of the day.  He’s a growing boy, right? (Just like his Daddy)