When I was a kid my parents always went all out for Christmas. As a result, I have dozens of memories of large family gatherings, visits from Santa, oohing at the nativity scene and Santa’s village my parents painted and set up (and tried not to break), singing Las Posadas and eating more tamales than one can count.

As an adult I became pretty lazy about the holidays. Some of it had to do with associating the days on/after Christmas with the passing of my grandparents. And some was just being burnt out from finals and a busy fall quarter.

Now that I have my own little family, I realize I need to step up my game. I want Xavi to look forward to singing carols in English and Spanish while Grandpa Charlie strums the guitar.

I want him to be excited when Santa Claus shows up to the Christmas Eve party.

I want to see his eyes light up with awe and elaborate light displays and rush to play with the new toys Sean and I picked out.

I can’t wait for those moments, but for now Christmas is just awesome even if he almost sleeps through Santa’s visit.

Merry Christmas from our family!