#holidsays

So we've done this thing every year since I was 5 were we leave carrots for Santa's reindeer along with cookies for Santa, and on Christmas morning the carrots are gone and the lawn is covered in chewed up bits of orange. I'd never really thought about it, but tonight I stood outside with my mom as she chewed up and spit out 5 or 6 carrots onto the lawn in the freezing cold. Not glamorous but definitely hilarious and very touching, realizing that she's been doing that since I was 5. Since I moved out I've come to realize how hard it is to be festive. The lights, cookies, perfectly wrapped gifts and the chewed up carrots on the lawn come from somewhere, and it's rarely easy or cheap or instantly gratifying. It's filled me with a new appreciation for everything my parents have ever done to make it such a special time for my family. So basically my parents are amazing and I'm so happy to be home. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, everyone. I hope you're spending it with people who like you enough to be willing to spit chewed up root vegetables all over the lawn every year for 15 years to make you smile while you proceed to not put two and two together for that entire length of time.