Time goes so fast...

It seems like just yesterday I posted...and here we are 3 weeks later.

This time of year, it seems like time is short, goes so fast, and that there is always something to do...So...for a moment of catch-up...

Thanksgiving came, and was wonderful! We had two dinners. Our best friends, Mark and Erin and family came over for dinner. This is our second annual Turkey day with our two families...last year actually WAS Thanksgiving day, but this year we did a pre-Thanksgiving. It was great. We all had a good time.

(The kids made these shirts, and wore them for the last day of school before the break.)

The turkey was overcooked, because someone, (who shall remain nameless), was LATE...VERY LATE! But in the end, it didn't matter. We all have so much to be Thankful for...and that is never far from any of our minds.

I asked the kids what they were thankful for...

Tyler said "The Earth, and the trees that help the Earth. My mom and dad, and sisters, and football." :)

Sean said "My family, my brother, and when I play the Wii cause I play so good."

Makylie said "My mommy and daddy."

Mason....well we will ask him next year...but we know he is thankful for a lot!

So then...for the actual holiday...we went to Kevin's parents house, as we usually do.

Makylie was all dressed up for the occasion!

She looked SOOOO cute!

Ahhhhhh, so so much to be thankful for....

I feel so blessed, at every turn. I really can't even put it into words...as there is absolutely so much emotion behind them.

But these people.....

They just warm me.

They make me feel fulfilled, and happy.

They are so much a part of everything I choose to do, so much of my soul. Everything I do, is for the benefit of them. I try to make them proud, because they...they make me better...stronger

...they make me whole.

They are the best things I have ever done!

I am truly THANKFUL!
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So.....just like that, it was time to play and try to get some pictures for Christmas cards.....

And here are a few of them...

Now, in the Christmas season...I feel good.

The tree is up...the lights are up...most of the shopping is done...

I am happy...right here...right now!

Happy Holidays!

Decorating our Tree

This is probably my FAVORITE day in the Season....
Well, I really love them all....but I do love when we decorate the tree!



I am an ornament person! I still have ornaments from when I was just a kid, and my kids get new ornaments every year as well. All of my ornaments have stories...so many from when I was just a child, to all of the ornaments that my kids have made over the years, to the ornaments that I buy to signify something important.




To stare at my tree...twinkling white lights, absolutely FILLED with years and years worth of ornaments...of memories! It engulfs the sentiment of the season to me. It gives grace, and charm, beauty, and for me, a center, to such a chaotic time of year.

I am so glad that now my kids share the same love...so much so, that this year, all three of them gathered around and "helped". I have alwasy had helping hands, ever since Karman was about 4 or so...but this year, with three kids "helping" I couldn't even get my hands in the mix... :) Needless to say, many of the ornaments are gathered in one area, as Makylie chose one side of the tree as "hers", and since she is so tiny, they happen to be around the bottom of the tree. Tyler also can't get too high, and put many ornaments on one single branch...Luckily, Karman knows what she is doing after all of these years.



The big thing for me this year...is I didn't touch it after it was done. I have ALWAYS fixed it after the kids go to bed, but this year, I decided to just relax, and let it be!


What a gorgeous tree! And, a few cute kids!

When I look at the tree I see Christmas (other things reflect the holiday also, but certainly the tree) It is a solid reminder of a connection between home and family, nature and love...

And when that family fills that tree with all of the deep woven memories, the unconditional, magical, innocent love, that infact, IS Christmas....I am awe inspired.

What an amazing Life!

Holiday hustle and bustle!

Oh the holidays come so quickly, and there is so much to do...I find that no matter how much I try to prepare, and plan ahead...so that I can fully enjoy the season it never works quite how I want it to. There is always more that needs to be done, and not much time to relax.

I am a room mom in Tyler's kindergarten class, which, when there is a holiday brewing, proves to be A LOT of work. Last week, the details of the party were finalized, today I sent out a letter to the parents, inviting them to the party, and asking for a small donation to go toward the party materials. Tomorrow I will be finishing the "picture background" that I am going to take pictures of the kids in front of. It is larger than a kindergartener, and will have snowflakes in the sky, glittery snow on the ground and a huge snowman made of cotton, holding a yardstick, so that we can see how tall they were at Christmas as 5 year olds. then I will be cutting out all of the pieces for the snowman craft we will be doing...The other wonderful room mom is taking care of the cookie decorating...and the wreath picture frame. THEN, there is the decorating for the party...and the thank you notes that I have to have prepared BEFORE the actual party, because that is the last time that I will see all of the those parents until after winter break.

If that wasn't enough....I have to finish my Christmas cards, address them, and get them mailed.

I have to make cookies...not just cookies for us, our friends, teachers etc but TOMORROW...I have to make a full plate of an assortment of cookies for Kevin's office. They have "treat days" all through the month of December, and he decided to sign me up too early, so now, I will be making cookies twice. :) Agian....It wouldn't be so bad, but I have been making cookies for them for so many years...that the expectations keep getting higher...

Karman has a big debate tournament that we need to get her to at an absolutely unheard of time in the morning, and of course pick her up from, between 12-1am. Makes for a LONG day for all concerned! Then the next day is a big Holiday get together with some family.

Also, in the mode of tradition, we want to go see the ZOOlights, and get our family picture taken, decorate cookies, do a few craft projects, have a couple family Christmas movie nights, write letters to Santa, make our gingerbread house, and of course, go see santa. It would also be nice to have a nice quiet night with Kevin and watch It's a Wonderful Life in front of a fire too.

The list could be longer....It doesn't matter how prepared you think you are, there is just always more to do...it seems. However, in spite of it all, or perhaps even because of it all, I LOVE THIS SEASON.......

I love the whole thing. I love the feeling of having Christmas music on in the car, and having Tyler sing-along. I love to shop under the speakers that are pumping out that same music. I love the family feel of the holiday, and looking forward with anticipation to snow! And, yes, I love all of the things above that are currently stressing me out, but that I, and others, will look back on with fond memories. Afterall, that is what THIS SEASON, for me, is about!

So sorry for the LOOOOONG belly-aching post....I just needed to vent...and make a bit of a physical list at the same time! :)