The last relatives have left and it looks like a bit of post-christmas-end-of-the-year tranquillity will find its way into our house, at least for a couple of hours each day. Do you feel the same? This feeling of being exhausted from all the christmas preparations, with your belly being full of christmas goodies (this is probably why so many people write down “more sports” for their New Year resolutions) and your mind filled with laughter, music and the sound of 14 people talking simultaneously in the same room?

For me, there has to be at least one moment during the chrismas holidays where I can calm down and have my moments of peace and reflection. Its not until that moment that I can feel real christmassy. With two kids and all in all 14 people in the living room, I expected this year to be the first christmas without it. Hence, I am delighted to have had at least TWO of these moments!

The first one was the day before christmas eve. I went for a late afternoon walk with the hobbit and we went past the cathedral. It was dark alrady and the almost full moon was shining over the cathedral. Inside, the organist was practising christmas carols. Standing oustide in the dark with the full moon and a sleeping baby, listening to Silent Night was filled me with enough peace to make it through the chaos and the rather sleepless nights.

The second one was on the day of Christmas Eve when the hobbit was sleeping and Karsten was outside with the little one. My nephew sat down and practised christmas carols on his horn and it sounded extremly beautiful.

But christmas was also filled with many, many joyous moments which had nothing to do with reflection or peace. Laughter, chaos and jocularity are even more important than reflection, aren’t they? And we had plenty of every single one of them. For instance: the hobbit happily smiling and laughing away whenever he saw one of his relatives. The little one being absolutely thrilled whenever one of her cousins started to play hide and seek with her. My parents dancing their favorite waltz in the living room. The little one welcoming Santa Claus (and not being afraid at all). My nephew practising Micheal Jacksons Thriller in front of the Wii. My sister and my niece playing christmas carols on their violins. My niece happily carrying the hobbit around. The dinner table almost collapsing due to all the good food. Great christmas presents. My whole family playing games all evening long (mainly trying to convince each other not to be a werewolve). My brother sleeping in front of the christmas tree. A christmas tree outside in the dark, decorated with candles and seeds for the birds….

I think we will wallow the post-christmas feeling for a little bit longer. After all, it takes a whole year until we can stock up on christmas memories again.