Carnival: My Best Christmas Present!

So many gifts came to mind as I read our topic for this blog. If I think back to my childhood, my first recollection would be my Madame Alexander doll. As I thought at the time I would grow up to be a ballerina, my grandparents gave me the Madame Alexander doll, “Elise” which was a ballerina. I have always treasured that doll and it still sits on a shelf in my room. My other most treasured Christmas presents were my “Eloise” books. I have the whole series, including a signed copy of the first one of the series by Kay Thompson, who wrote the books; and yes, I also have an Eloise doll, which sits with all my Eloise books. When my children were young, they would love to read them also. A special tradition which was always under our tree for as long as I can remember, were the many books that each year would be waiting to be read. Each year would be a new and special Christmas book, which were never wrapped, but stood so proudly to be the first gift to be seen, as my sister and I would sneak out at 5am to see if Santa arrived. We couldn’t open our presents right away, but when my family would awake, I would already be sitting in one of our fireside chairs reading my newest book. Since my children were born, it is a tradition which I carried on with them; a special Christmas book waiting under the tree for each one to find. Since I still have most of the books, one of which I think I got when I was about 2 years old (all having to do with Christmas), each year we bring out the past books received and place them around the tree, waiting for the newest book for Santa to bring. Although my 1st little grandson is just 2 months old, I have already bought his first Christmas book. Sorry I can’t reveal the title since my daughter reads my blogs! But you can guess that it will be quite special.
Although the many dolls and books which meant so much to me as a child and to my own children, I think nothing compares to the handmade little Christmas ornaments and decorations my children would make at school. Each one unique in their own creativity, they range from a tiny beaded wreath to a wreath made out of tissue paper and a paper plate, and of course those tiny framed handprints. One year my son Ryan’s (the artist in the family) class made little Christmas trees. They had to bring in little things to decorate their tree with, and of course Ryan being Ryan, his tree had to be unique. He managed to find tiny lights and hook them up to the tree with batteries attached. His little is still always placed on our coffee table with the lights still blinking. So each year when it is time to decorate the tree and take out the ornaments, there among them are my prized and favorite Christmas gifts – little gifts made with little fingers and a lot of love.