The Christmas guys in my family....

Leo is my Christmas boy.  He's like his Grandpa.  He was beside himself with excitement going to get our Christmas tree (well, er, trees---we got two).  He took it very seriously, examining each one, commenting on height, branches, fullness, etc. before moving on, remembering each one with his little steel trap mind.  Eventually he proclaimed, "perfect, this is the one." 

It was wonderful. 

Owen chose not to accompany us....I wanted to protest but he was adamant and didn't seem to regret it so it was the just the three of us---which is always fun for a change.  Then we picked out a little tree for my mantel.  Leo carried his choice throughout the store, only letting me hold it while he got into the van---and even then turning and saying, "Mo-oooom, you should use TWO hands to hold that."  oops...o.k. Leo....my Christmas boy.  He has decided that we will decorate the tree on Tuesday so Aunt Debbie can be with us.

I told Leo how proud his Grandpa would be of him. Then I asked him if he remembered Grandpa from before he got confused----before his brain was upside down as Owen would say.  He said he did and I hugged him and kissed him and we talked a bit about how  much Grandpa loved the holidays.....and that his favorite train was the New York Central.

Thank you Leo.....you just made the holidays for me.

My father would always simmer a cast iron pot full of water, cloves and cinnamon sticks on the stove throughout the holidays.  Now I have his cast iron pot and I do the same....it smells like the holidays with my Dad....