Unintended Favorites

Everybody has their favorite Christmas decorations they look forward to taking out of the attic each year.  For me those include the very special nativity scene my grandmother made for my mother.  I love it because it’s the nativity I grew up with, and I can remember standing on my tiptoes and staring for hours at beautiful Mary dressed in blue, baby Jesus in his manger, and all the other pieces.  Its particularly meaningful to me as a grown up because the ceramic pieces were painted by my grandmother’s somewhat haphazard hand.  Like me, she just wasn’t a particularly careful crafter!  I love that this did not stop her, however.  There are also some extra special ornaments that I look forward to seeing every year.

Mr. Trouble on Feet has bonded with these tiny stuffed animals. They even have a special seat to eat with us at the table.  I’m not sure where they came from. I’ve had them for a really long time, before I had kids I’m pretty sure.  Every year they get loved and played with, and quite frankly I am surprised they haven’t gotten lost yet.  Somehow they always make it back into the box at the end of the Christmas season.  Last year two of my students gave me a little red piano ornament that plays music.  Actually, it loudly plays music.  Mr. Trouble on Feet latched onto it immediately.  It spent some time last year in the doll house and then all over our house.  He was so thrilled to find it in a box this season, and he transports it to whatever room he’s in and turns it on for background music.  It goes to bed with him at night, and in the morning, I always know he’s awake when I hear the red piano come down the stairs.

I love how kids always attach themselves to the toys you so often would least expect them to like.  I’m pretty sure these Christmas items will hold a special place in his memories for years to come.