If moments were ornaments...

...these would shine the brightest:

• Christmas Eve opening number at New Pointe. Trans Siberian Orchestra, eat your heart out. And the closing number. Little drummer boy, here’s to you.



• Talking with (unnamed friend) of my (unidentified offspring) and thinking, "This is a very cool (guy/girl), I hope (he/she) spends more time with my (unspecified offspring.) It’s complicated.



• Realizing that for five people whose main goal is enjoying their time together, Panic Room can be a great Christmas movie. I suppose for too many parents, it’s just a Christmas Eve reality.



• Christmas morning breakfast. Family. Crepes and eggs. Coffee. Smile.



• Settling down on the floor by the tree. Anticipation.



• Bestest Daughter opening her complete Friends DVD set. Her eyes and mouth were wide open, but no sound came out.



• The bewildered look on Bestest Son’s face for the time it took him to figure out it was not a cheap camera case, but a case holding the lock-picking set he had asked for.



• Realizing that Bestest Daughter had indeed found her way to Recognized Local Store and purchased the Specified Brand of a particular distillate for a father who would not indulge himself thus.



• Giving a DVD player, and receiving one, which oddly enough is still not excessive in our house.



• Understanding the thought and care that Bestest Son puts into his gift selection. He really wants you to like your gift.



• The satisfaction on Luvly’s face when she realized Daughter had been listening when she described a pair of boots. And watching the joy on Bestest Daughter’s face.



• My Mom being moved to tears by the sheer joy of spending an entire day with family.



• Gathering extended family around the table in a temporarily transformed coffee shop dining room. Where family gathers, there’s a sense of home.



• Living out the reason for the season. Peace in our home, goodwill to my family. It starts here.