© 2005 Paula J. Schmitt, All Rights Reserved.

I just love the holidays. There is something magical about this time when you have little boys. I don’t know what it is. Could it be the pitter patter of my angel’s footsteps (more like the sound of a buffalo stampede, but ok)? Could it be the way my boys’ eyes twinkle and their loving smiles (this usually only occurs when they want something, but no biggie)? Or could it be the way they say, “I Love You, Mommy” that just sets my heart a flutter?

I couldn’t imagine the holidays without my boys. Take for example the month of February when, ahhhh, love is in the air. The Valentine cards we fill out for friends at school - Mooommmmmmyyy, do I haaaaaaave to do this again this year? The sweet chocolates, my personal favorite -oh, you say you are missing some pieces from your Whitman's sampler? Well, uh, I have no idea which one of your brothers would have taken them.

Come March we wear our green for St. Patty’s Day. This is requisite as the boys are part Irish from their daddy’s side of the family. While green is not my best color, I love to become Irish myself on this day as I magically turn into the Julia Childs of my own kitchen. The children follow their noses to the delicious aroma and rush to see what Mommy is preparing for their supper. My youngest takes one look at the half cooked corn beef brisket and announces, “I’m going to McDonald’s for dinner tonight. I hear they have green Chicken Nuggets.” That’s when my middle son begins checking out the cabbage and poking it with a fork, “I’m going with you.”

Then spring is in the air and Easter arrives. Such a lovely season! It’s time for that big, old, floppy bunny to come fill our baskets with goodies and my house with that damned plastic grass that still shows up in October. I remember when my oldest son began to ask questions about the big, old floppy bunny. “Mommy, how does the Easter bunny know which candy I like?” Ahem. “Well, it’s like this my darling. The Easter bunny is a very smart bunny ... he thinks just like your Mommy.” Enough said.

In the summertime, we all look forward to the very colorful (and very loud) 4th of July celebration. This is a fabulous time of year to be outside with the family as long as you don’t mind the bugs and intense sweating that attracts them. We love to be patriotic, play with sparklers and have a barbecue, although I usually spend most of my time hoping the boys don't burn themselves and that my husband doesn't burn the chicken - both Independence Day traditions in our home.

Summer passes in a haze of sweat and mosquito bites and soon we are all looking forward to the creepy holiday. Halloweeeeennn. My guys love being scary (what’s new?). We’ve had everything from Aladdin to the Grim Reaper. Typical with boys and men, even pumpkin carving turns into a sporting event. Whose jack o’lantern is the most ghoulish? Who can scoop the guts out and break last year's speed record? Who can spit a pumpkin seed the farthest? Personally, my favorite part of this holiday is the trick or treating. Not so much the hours of door to door begging, but the part when the night’s over and we are back in our safe and cozy home. “OK everyone; let’s see what goodies you scored this year!” It's not philanthropy that motivates my actions. It’s a ###### junkie mentality - I'm addicted to sugar and there is only one fix I'm interested in, a pile of miniature candy bars. Unfortunately, my boys are all addicts too and we immediately turn into a pile of grasping, desperate, slobbering junkies as we mud wrestle for the last Tootsie Roll.

Late in the fall we celebrate Turkey Day (Gobble Gobble). I spend my entire day wearing an apron, slaving away in the kitchen, only to have my boy’s nit pick their way through the meal. “What’s the green stuff, Moooommmmy? You know I don’t like green.” (Your face will soon be turning green after I get my hands around your neck!)

Then there is the wonderful aroma around the dinner table. No, not Mr. Turkey and not even the squishy squash. I’m talking smells from the male gender as they all begin to "express" their enjoyment of the meal. Oh, now that one was silent but deadly, PLEASE! Pppppfffffffttttttt. Do we REALLY need to do that right now, it’s Thanksgiving?!? (I tell you, it’s more than just looks in how they take after their farther - er, I mean father.) Don’t even look under the table. After the meal, there is more food on the floor than there was on the plates. Well, except for the pies. (Hey, save some for me).

Jingle bells, jingle bells ... ahhh, the Christmas spirit. I think this is my boys’ favorite holiday of the year. I know it’s mine. Everyone is so peaceful (and broke). All the lights and decorations are just glistening (as will be my eyes at the electric bill). The snow is so white and beautiful (flu season, back to the doctor, AGAIN!).

The joy of giving has got to be the best feeling at this time of year and I try to instill this in my boys. “Oh, honey, you SHOULDN’T have!” (Really, you shouldn’t have. Didn’t I get one of these spatula sets last Christmas?) The wrapping paper EVERYWHERE. (I was up till midnight wrapping all these gifts! @##@%$&%%#@). Baking and icing the cookies. “Mommy, try not to burn the bottom of all the cookies again this year, OOOOOKKKKKK?” Smile. Just keep smiling.

The last special holiday we celebrate as a family is New Year’s Eve. The snacks, the noise, the New Year’s toast, the noise, being together to bring in the New Year, the noise, noise, noise. My guys are a natural at ringing in the New Year. (And afterwards, my ears are ringing for days).

OK, OK. What I really want to say here is this: "Thank you God for blessing me, over the holidays and every day, with my healthy, active, loving and adorable BOYS."

"You are holding a special place in heaven for me, right?"

Paula Schmitt, author of Living In A Locker Room: A Mom's Tale Of Survival In A Houseful Of Boys, has been published in hundreds of publications. She has appeared on numerous radio talk shows and in print publications such as American Baby magazine, Adoption Today magazine, Adopting for Tomorrow magazine, The Chicago Tribune, Kids VT Family Newspaper and many others. She is the Founder and CEO of Mom Writer's Productions, LLC, Founder and Editor of The Mom Writer's Literary magazine
(2005) - "A literary magazine for mom writers who have something to say", and Founder and Executive Producer of her radio talk show, Mom Writer's Talk Radio which is to launch this coming fall of 2005.

When she isn't writing, editing, or taxiing her children to their sport events, she prefers to spend quality time in central Vermont with her husband and five children. To read more of her columns visit www.paulaschmitt.com  and for some much needed adult conversation email her at paulaschmitt.com

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