My girls are at that magical age.  That age when they are old enough to understand the magic of Christmas and not too old to stop believing.  Few things in this world are more special than experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child.  Their thrill seeing Santa at the mall.  Their love of only the tackiest of decorations.  Their anticipation as the 25th approaches.  Their simple joy in all things holiday.  

This year my girls are overwhelmed with Christmas spirit.  It pours out of them so strongly that they can barely contain themselves.  At times their excitement is a bit too much for me to handle.  This week I wrapped gifts to ship out of town.  The phone rang; I stepped away.  Big mistake.  Jaley stepped right in and unwrapped all of the gifts.  I guess it was her test run for Christmas morning.  All systems go; she can rip wrapping paper with the best of them.  She didn’t even care that the gifts weren’t for her.  She just loved opening the boxes.  

At other times, this excitement is just too funny for words.  Last week we were singing along to Jingle Bells in the car.  Sarah was belting it out at the top of her lungs.  “Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way.  Oh let’s run, it is to slide, on a One, Hole Broken Sleigh. Hey!”  Her lyrics made me laugh so hard I peed my pants (though after having two kids that happens more often than it should).  She didn’t care if she had the words right or wrong.  She was having a great time.  If a one holed broken sleigh pulled up, I bet she wouldn’t care.  She would run and slide right along.  

Mostly, their excitement makes the whole season more fun.  It is downright contagious.  I am singing more carols and putting up more lights. What the heck, it’s Christmas time.  Their belief in Christmas magic won’t last forever, I better enjoy it now.  

Gigi appears every Friday on TriangleMom2Mom. Read more about Gigi at her blog Stroller Lane.