Christmas Makes Me Happy (Liam's Words)

I let my children go to bed watching television.  Go ahead and judge.  This "habit" started over a year ago when life was pretty much upside down and it was all I could do to get everyone to bed by myself, on time and without them crying.  Sometimes you just do what you have to do! The timer is set for 30 minutes and they know that's all they get.  I personally don't think there's anything wrong with it but I know many don't agree.  I'm just thankful they go to bed independently. It makes my life a lot easier! Anyhow...Sara really isn't picky about her bedtime show... usually it's whatever is on Disney Junior at the time... Liam, on the other hand is a WHOLE different story.  His bedtime ritual has become nothing short of a one-act play.  We use Netflix in his room so whoever takes him in his room at bedtime knows that you are going to have to hold him, get Netflix loaded and he has to point to what he wants to watch on the screen.  Now... he knows that he can take up a lot of time with these "pointing" shenanigans.  And he enjoys it.  He gets this huge grin on his face. When Stan takes him to pick his show, he purposefully holds him out away from the TV just far enough so that he can point, but can't make contact with the actual screen. This just makes him giggle and say "Me touch it Stan, me touch it", knowing it's all part of a glorious game that he has invented.  And eventually, he moves him close enough to touch. Then and only then can he actually get in his bed.. with confidence. Because HE made a MAJOR decision. Sometimes I run in like a crazy person and I say "I want to point!  I want to point!" and it just makes him nuts.  A happy, excited nuts, but nuts all the same.  A few nights ago, Stan took him to bed and went through all the usual silliness as I finished drying Sara's hair and got her into bed.  By the time I got in his room, he was already in bed and was watching "Santa Buddies" also known as the "Santa doddie movie"... It's his current fave!  Anyhow, I crawled up on his bed with him for my nighttime hugs and he sweetly whispered to me with such excitement on his face "Watch Mommy.  Santa Claus."  His eyes were lit up, even in the dark, as he watched Santa and one of the dogs walking through the snow.  Then he said "Christmas makes me happy".  My eyes welled up with happy tears.  Christmas is my favorite time of year.  Stan and I have already done a lot of Christmas shopping and begun to plan out the Christmas decorations for the house.  These years pass by so quickly...The years filled with the true "magic" of Christmas through children's eyes.  I guess what made it so sweet to me is that he wasn't even old enough to remember last Christmas.  He was only 18 months old.  Yet, he somehow already knows that it "makes him happy".  I left his room and walked out on the back porch where Stan was, wiping my tear-stained face.  All I could say was "That boy just melts my heart".   Here's to those sweet moments and the feeling of just knowing deep inside what makes us happy, no matter how old or young we are.