I was as ready as any to begin my Christmas break from college this year. My fall semester was a handful, to say the least, and I was ready to be around family. There is just something about being around children whose only care in the world, during the holiday season, is what their elf on a shelf did today. Personally, I find them creepy but my eldest cousin and his wife seem to be doing a great job because their kids love it!

Other than being extremely done with school, when I got home I didn't seem to be as 'in the Christmas spirit' as usual. Why? I haven't a clue. Luckily right within the first week of break, I managed to spend time with a few of my cousins ages 5 and below. Not all who were feeling up to par but still they were nothing short of their usual entertaining selves.

So what did these little boogers remind me about in just a few days that a semester at college made me forget? Well, it was really an eye opener.

There is so much magic in the air if you only believe.

One of my cousins, that I see so often I simply refer to her as my niece when talking to those that don't know her, was over the moon to show me her elf swing. It was fishing wire and a toilet paper roll put together hanging in a doorway. She would ask nicely if the elf, Pixie, would swing and her mom stood behind her and blew the elf. The look on her face was well worth the visit. The kid was over the moon to see the Christmas magic that this little elf had, it seemed to be the highlight of her day.

Life, your life, is the easiest thing to laugh at.

The story is too personal to put on here but those that know it will laugh again at the reminder. It is the little things that you have to laugh at and the bigger things too. If you don't laugh at yourself someone else will so you might as well be the first to do so.

Always wear a smile.

She is the quietest of the bunch until she opens up around you. However, she never fails to always wear a smile. No matter what is going on this little girl always has a smile on her little face. When you see her smile you can't help but smile yourself. It isn't just a smile with her teeth and lips, her smile can be seen in her eyes and all over her face. She lights up brighter than a Christmas tree or the north star!

Silence is golden but overrated.

The youngest of them all is now officially 2 months old, which is so unbelievable! He is the only one that can't talk back to me, yet, and he gives me looks like I do enough talking for the both of us anyways. Bless his heart, being the third child means he will never have a quite house but all is well because he takes the noise from his big sister and brother like a champ. He roles with the screams, tears, and hollering. Soon he will be just rolling! While we may enjoy the quite moments, we aren't truly living life if there isn't some type of noise.