"Can I Help?"

My husband and the boys worked on putting up our tree a few nights ago. Samuel usually gets quite excited when we pull out all the Christmas decorations, but he tends to stay on the periphery of activity. I was cleaning up in the kitchen when I heard Samuel ask my husband, "Can I help?" I was so happy to hear this! He helped for a short while and then was off and running again.

Tonight we put ornaments on the tree. He hung around the living room while the other children and I did the work. As each ornament was pulled out we had some commentary to go along with it; who had made it or who gave it to us, when we got it, etc.. I had shown Samuel an ornament he had made at school and was just about to hang it up when he said, "Wait, let me hang it!"

Samuel has his own way of participating in our family's Christmas activities, but he definitely participates! He seems to tolerate differences in our yearly activities as well. Last year we hardly decorated the house at all since we went up to Maine for Christmas. This year we waited a long time to get the decorations out. No complaints so far!

Thanks for the comments and good wishes everyone! The fun here is continuing so I just have to give an update! This morning (Christmas Eve morning) I had to call Santa on emergency speed dial from my cell phone. This was for the benefit of my youngest son. Samuel was horrified, "Oh no, Santa! We're doomed!" was his comment. On our way up to Occupational Therapy in the car he gleefully told me, "Hey Mommy, this is Christmas Eve; Santa comes tonight!" Samuel has never expressed so much interest in Santa verbally so this is great fun!