Memoirs of a Mumfirst: Christmas Eve

With out a doubt I would have to say that Christmas Eve is my most favourite day of the year. The anticipation and excitement of the day is all empowering. The exhilaration and expectation etched on children’s faces is priceless. I simply adore it. Now that I have children in my life I love it even more. In addition, every year I look forward to the hustle and bustle that comes with last minute shopping – as much as I try with all my might to have every present wrapped and accounted for I almost always fail. There is always someone left to buy for (usually my dad).

Christmas Eve this year was technically a ‘work’ day being a Monday and all, but there was no way on this earth I was working on Christmas Eve. There was simply too much to do. I had people to see, laybys to pick up, toys to assemble and presents to wrap and all before 5.00pm when it comes time to head out to our usual Christmas Eve get together.

Being a ‘work’ day Trevor had to work but Kindy was open so I seized the rare opportunity to have the children ‘minded’ for a few hours while I attended to the things I had to get done. I’m so glad I did - there was no way I could have braved the shops with the two children in tow…absolutely no way!

When Trevor returned home from work we hopped straight on to the fun stuff – attending to the assembling of toys. I made a point this year of taking things out of packets where I could to make it easier for the kids on Christmas day (damn Fisher Price and its wire ties on toys). I assembled her little dolls pram and twin babies; the school bus wooden toy box and my favourite – the little red wagon; just like the old school ones. My father in law was roped in to assembling Byron’s bike a few days ago which meant no hiding required as there was no way Byron would see it at Grandma’s house.

After a few little screw mishaps with the wagon (which required some unassembly and reassembly in some parts – not my fault of course!) all was ready to go. I rushed back to kindy and picked the kids up but not before strategically placing Christmas presents over the house to avoid discovery. My bedroom was the main port of call.

After picking up the kids we ducked out to do some last minute bread and milk shopping because in my haste I had forgotten the basic staples of life. Later that afternoon we watched some Christmas shows on TV, listened to some Carols and just generally relished the excitement that comes with Christmas Eve. Byron was super excited about what the evening would hold. Lily just went along for the ride.

As the evening rolled in we got ready and headed out to the usual Christmas Eve bash we attend every year with mum and her partner and his family. It’s kind of a long standing ritual now (although next year it will not be the case as mum and her partner are heading over to Europe for Christmas *sob sob* but that’s a whole other story).

So began the company, presents and delectable food…

Our Christmas Eve get together is all about the kids. My mum’s partner has 3 grandchildren similar in age to my two so he makes a point of it being about the children which I simply love. There is nothing more beautiful then seeing the joy and magic etched on children’s faces which happens (I think) more on Christmas Eve then at any other time of the year. The kids had a blast and were of course spoilt rotten!

By the time we made it home the kids were all tuckered out and ready for bed. Sadly, there were no biscuits or beer for Santa this year – ratty children didn’t allow for that (next year in the new house there will be bigger and better things). After my munchkins were tucked in bed I popped the Corals by Candlelight on TV, plopped on the floor and continued my last minute preparations for Christmas. I placed the gifts just so under the tree or in this case around the lounge room) in preparation for the morning. After I’m done with the final preparations I love to sit back, turn off the lights and watch the tree lights if only for a few minutes, and that is what I did this year, following which I headed to bed at what could nearly be described as Christmas morning, for dreams of Santa and magic.