Christmas Wonderment

My favorite part of Christmas are the looks of pure joy and excitement that crosses a child's (or anyone's) face when that perfect present, the one they've been wishing for FOREVER but never believed they would actually receive, is opened.
It's pure magic in a world that sees too little.
Giving someone that feeling of happiness and wonderment combined is the reason I dive into the Christmas Foray.
I'm so lucky I was able to see and experience that for another year.
X was superkid yesterday.
HE woke up at 7am like we talked about, immediately woke me up, and started tearing at his stocking, but then came the shocker: I had promised he would be opening presents by 8am and he was giving everybody an hour to get themselves together.
Merry Christmas to the adults. My parents and grandparents appreciate that hour and everybody started the day a whole lot happier and awake than we usually do.
And yes, Virginia, X had the childhood glow of Christmas wonderment all day after he opened his Xbox 360 with Kinects, which I have to say, is some damn cool technology.
And I was able to catch it on my cameras!

We had a great family breakfast here before starting a day full of family Christmas tree hopping. We went to Jon's parent's next so X and Zariah (a niece) could open up presents from Meme and Grandpa, but since Carter and Alexis were at another set of Grandparent's house we said we'd come back later to see them open up theirs.
Then we went to my parent's home for our immediate families' Christmas.
Was that ever chaos with three very excited boys: X opening and handing out presents, Pierce tearing open his stuff, and Preston just knowing it was excitement time, climbing on and in boxes.
Then it was family dinner where my brother and Grace finally made it, but we had to run back to Jon's parent's real quick when C and Lex arrived.
There we had another Christmas, mostly for Lex, where we got to see those excited, amazed childhood faces again.
Lexi has had a rough couple of months. She's living with J's parents now, and like any 11 year old, she's had mean, grouchy, angry flashes. This year she refused to write a Christmas list with X and I, but Meme finally got one out of her. She got a pink MP3 player, 4G with a touch screen and a nintendo DSiXL, which plays games but also takes pictures that you can write on and record.
Again, I got to see that face I love so much.
I also love to see how unexpected presents just catapults an okay day into a great one and how that feeling can last at least for the week and hopefully become a good memory that can be reflected upon during difficult times.
That's one of the reason why these traditions are so important. When I felt lost or unloved as a child, I remember I could always think about camping or Christmas or broom hockey, but then since they were traditions, I could also look forward to them too.
It added a sense of comfort that I knew I'd be doing something I loved sometime soon with people I love.
Of course, no day can be perfect, and in my haste of making sure everyone had a present, who did I overlook?
The most important people, of course: my mom and my mom-in-law didn't get hand made jewelry, but certainly should.
And then I was left empty-handed wondering what would be perfect to get all the unsung heros in my life. These are the people who jump to my assistance without being asked,  who set up the generator while I'm at the hospital when the power goes out so I can have oxygen or keep my bills out of my mind and collections by advocating for me tirelessly.
There are quite a few of these people. They're the best people, the ones who do what they do out of the love and kindness in their hearts without ever seeking credit.
Actually, they hide from credit. That's why few of these acts are ever mentioned.
How do you pick a gift for someone whose come to your rescue and saved your life?

I'll let you know when I get the answer. Until then, Happy holidays.