Our Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas,
and everyone knows,
The joy that awaits as this story goes...


Gathering with family and friends near to you,










To listen to sounds of wishes come true...





Faces of littles, all dressed in their best,




Show too much excitement to get any rest...







Preparations for visitors, who soon will be here,
Means cookies for Santa, and food for his reindeer...








And surprises awaiting at morning's first light,













Means Christmas is here, and all is Merry and Bright!



From Our Lemonade Stand to yours...
Hoping you had a Merry Christmas, and Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

All is Merry and Bright

There are so many reasons to smile this time of year...Here are a few of my favorites.





Parties at the Preschool...




Pin the Star on the Manger






A sleepy Daddy with a sleepy Maddie





Christmas cookies with my lil man







"It wasn't me. Swear."




Benny...Our Elf on the Shelf





Walking in to find my other 2 elves, standing together and coloring...




Our Gingerbread Train





Christmas...another excuse to put on a tutu





And the never ending fun of....Elf Yourself.

From Our Family to Yours....Merry Christmas!

Our Halls are Decked

I love the way our house looks at Christmas. There's something so warm and festive about twinkling white lights, both indoors and out...The sparkle of the ornaments, the memories that come rushing back as I carefully take each one out, and regard it like a long lost friend. I love our fireplace. I love that even though it goes unused for at least 10 months out of the year, at Christmas we hang our stockings, we dress our mantel, and we light our fire, and it is once again the heart of my home.
































Today was the Christmas party at the Parenting Center. The kids had a great time, and I enjoyed watching them take it all in...









My big guy...







He gets this shy smile when he's really into something, but he's trying to look like he's really not so excited. Eventually he gives in and lets loose...Especially when Jingle Bells is involved...









They enjoyed making reindeer food...







and cookies...









I enjoyed watching them...














And I really enjoyed seeing Mason bravely approach Santa, for the first time, and willingly sit on his (her) lap. Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas, and without hesitation, he replied "A Panda Pillow Pet." He was so matter of fact about it, that I totally thought he thought this Santa was the real deal. He later informed me that he told "the lady Santa" what he wanted so she could go back to the North Pole and tell Santa and his elves. Ahhh...to be 4 again.










and in other news...

Miss Madison has started CRUISING!! She is slow and steady, but she is definitely figuring it out, and we couldn't be more excited!










My little bug is so determined, and I am so proud watching her continue to gain confidence and strength. I know in my heart that she will do whatever she sets her mind to.

'Tis the Season

It's funny how I feel like we've been so busy lately, and yet I have nothing new to report. LOL Thanksgiving came and went in a blur...and one blink later, the holidays are here. Just two weeks ago I felt like we were jumping the gun with the decorating, and today I feel I'm already behind.

We've got more lights to string, more decorations to pull out the attic, gifts to purchase, pictures to take, outfits to pick out, and Christmas cards to send. It can get overwhelming, and sometimes I feel like I get so caught up in the motions of the holidays, that I forget what they are really about. I don't want my kids to forget what it's really about. I want their memories to be happy, warm memories of friends and family...Not noisy shopping centers, and lines. I want them to see me happy, not stressed. I want them to know that Christmas is about a baby in a manger, not a man in a sleigh. Sure, we love the fun stuff..the magic. Mason wrote his first letter to santa last week, and it was awesome... He thinks it's on its way to the North Pole, but I love it and I'm keeping it forever. I love the make-believe parts of Christmas just as much as anyone out there, but I defintely want my kids to know that Christmas is about so much more than that. For me, it's about baking cookies with Mason...It's about hot chocolate with Chris...It's about Maddie's face when she watches the train go around, and dances to the Christmas music. It's about so many things that I can never find in a mall, and so many memories that are truly gifts that I will treasure always. I don't want to forget that.

So when that one light throws the whole strand off, and the cat gets sick because he's been eating the tree needles again, and we are sitting through Polar Express for the 8th time this week...I will take a deep breath and remind myself how amazing this year has been, and how much we have to celebrate. I will put it all back in perspective, and enjoy every second of this Christmas season with the ones who matter most.