Last night we began our first Hampton Christmas Tradition: The Eve of Christmas Eve Hot Cocoa Walk. Lainey got a new wagon which we decorated with evergreen garland, battery-operated Christmas lights and a “Merry Christmas” poster. We filled the wagon with a boom box blaring Christmas music, fake snowballs and a Santa hat-adorned baby. Then, we filled a big carafe with hot cocoa and brought along some styrofoam cups. We walked through the neighborhood as a family, knocking on doors of our friends, passing out cocoa and singing along to the music. It was fabulous…pure fabulous. There wasn’t one neighbor who didn’t BEAM with happiness when they opened the door. Brandyn said, “You are OBSESSED with Christmas!” That I am, my friend. That, I am.

…one of the big kids. She got to watch a movie, nestled right between Brandyn and his friends at his sleepover last night. She kept looking over at Brandyn like she was saying, “Thank you for letting me be a part of this.” He even went to his bedroom to get an old Nintento Gameboy for her to use when they all played video games. He didn’t want her to feel left out. Thank you, Big Brother.

He went to Hallmark on his own and picked this out. It’s her first Christmas, and he wanted her to have an ornament…what a thoughtful daddy.