The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

One year (2000, 2001?) my mother-in-law gave me a clock that chimes one of twelve Christmas songs every hour on the hour.  The clock itself is now a tradition in our home.  It's not Christmastime until the clock is on the wall.

At least five or six years ago, silly little Autumn decided to dance, John Travolta style, to one of those chimes. The rest of the kids thought it was great and joined in.  But Michayla, being the determined and steady type of kid she is, continued this every single time she heard the clock announce the time and has made it a tradition.  She will drop everything and come running from any room of the house and dance, watching the clock as it chimes, no matter how busy or tired she is.

I've seen her do this groggy with her eyes still glued shut with sleep.  I've seen her burst in the front door, having run all the way from the bus stop, to reach the clock by 3 p.m.  I've seen the kids pause movies in order to participate in the dance.  Michayla's influence has inspired her brothers and sister to join in quite often, but she is the rock who keeps it going.

Last year I decided I needed to capture this tradition on camera to memorialize it.  Who knows how long it will last?  It was more difficult to capture than I thought, partly because I would forget to have my camera ready on the hour, and partly because Michayla is camera shy.

This was the best I got last year.

But this year I was ready.  I caught the famous Clock Dance on video!  (bwa ha ha ha ha!)

Click here if you don't see the video

Notice that she feels compelled to finish the dance even though she is annoyed with me for recording her.  :)

I love my kids.