Rethinking Christmas

Let me just start off by saying this year's Christmas was not what I hoped it would be. Next year will be different.
LESS
Presents- why do I feel compelled to buy so much for people who don't need it just so I can say I did?
Food- gaining 10 pounds in a month is ridiculous and baking for people who want to loose weight is not nice.
Work- as much as I love my job, my place is at home, with my husband and child.
MORE
Time- we will make a point to spend time as a family, not shopping or getting ready, but just enjoying the season.
Meaning- the gifts I do give will serve more of a purpose than just to say "Here's a pile of crap you can regift later."
Jesus- we will be intentional in remembering what we are celebrating, and teaching this to our family and to others.

Merry Christmas (Part 3)

The Second Best Christmas Present

Merry Christmas (Part 2)

O Holy Night is by far my favorite Christmas Hymn. Take a few moments to meditate on these words and sing them to your savior.


O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels' voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Behold your King.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim. !

Merry Christmas (Part 1)

My Dad and my Aunt Beth visiting St. Nick

















my Aunt Melinda (she's the tree in the front)

Note To...

MOMMIES OF YOUNG CHILDREN
If your child gets sticky hands, perhaps from eating something like a doughnut hole, the proper response would be to:

• get sticky stuff on everything else
• use a wipe
• wash their hands
• get a napkin wet
• stick their hand in their own mouth

Under no circumstance should you stick their hand in your mouth and proceed to make suckie and mmmm mmmm noises.

Thank You.

We've been Elfed!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas Questions

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Feel free to join in if you need some blog inspiration! Thanks Tiffany!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I am a professional wrapper, thank you very much!

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial, they got me at pre-lit.

3. When do you put up the tree? Before Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? In the new year

5. Do you like eggnog? not so much

6. Favorite gift received as a child? good question

7. Hardest person to buy for? My father-in-law

8. Easiest person to buy for? myself... err, I mean Tommy

9. Do you have a nativity scene? we have several, but I only put one out this year, and I'm not sure it's even my favorite

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, I enjoy opening them

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? a re-gifted re-gift, with a card addressed to a person I'd never heard of from a person I'd never heard of enclosed

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Home Alone

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I never stop

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, but I try to avoid what happened in #11

16. Lights on the tree? White

17. Favorite Christmas song? Handel's Messiah

18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Who?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Nothing at the moment, our last angel was retired, and I haven't found any good replacement

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? with my family on Christmas Eve and Tommy's family Christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year. The Christmas Shoes Song

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have no theme

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Tamales

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? My advisor to email me and say "We reviewed your transcript, and you have enough credits for graduation, please reply with your address so we can mail your diploma."

Inside-Outside

Inside:










Outside:

















Daniel and Eleanor at 3 months.

Friday Funnies

A few things that make me smile:
-Tommy singing "Legalize It," "Hollaback Girl" or "Pink Triangle"
-Daniel playing in his crib in the morning and then stopping to smile when he sees me walk up.