Happy New Year!!

We had a great week spent playing and visiting with my sister-in-law Tami, her husband Scott, and my nephew Connor.  We took lots of pictures but I have yet to sort through them.

Here's the highlights in words... pictures to come...

• awesome nativity (produced entirely by the kids)
• carols
• "punny" bright matching pjs
• new wii
• ice skating firsts
• backwards charades
• sledding (complete with bumbs and bruises)
• date night with the adults
• a princess, a frog, popcorn and cabelas
• warm fire and fireworks

Today I spent the morning curled up hurriedly reading the book that is due back at the library on Tuesday and can't be renewed!  Do you think anyone would mind if I sent the kids back to school on Monday and took another week off?  Here's to a great year with many more great family memories!

The Christmas Spirit

So my idea of "capturing the season" didn't really pan out - We've been too busy

• dancing
• singing
• driving
• shoveling
• wrapping
• sewing
• creating
• sneaking
• scheduling
• baking
• snuggling
• drinking cocoa
• looking at lights

The kids have been busy making homemade gifts and I've loved it  - it's given them a differnt focus this year.
 Have a wonderful Christmas!

The Christmas Spirit

Gleaming

The primary children were the inspiration behind today's post.  Isn't Gleaming a great word?

carol of the bells

christmas trees

Nothing quite like those first nights after the tree is up.

unplanned moments

bright

As I have been slowing putting up my Christmas decorations - little by little (and being okay with it) instead of making a huge mess and staying up too late or too early to get it done, I've been thinking about the meaning behind them - specifically the lights. Light remind me of hope. They're bright, cheery, and just make everything look a little more festive. The first night I get my tree up I have this urge to just make a cup of hot chocolate, grab a blanket, and stay there all night. It just make you feel good.