Christmas

The season of Christmas is really here. I know the stores have been trying to get us in holiday mode for about 3 months now, and I'm all about preparing in advance, but NOW the season is truly here. I am excited about it. We put our tree up this weekend. WWAAAAYYYY earlier than normal for me. I like to leave it up until Epiphany, the 12 actual days of Christmas that follow Christmas day, so to put it up right after Thanksgiving, makes it a long time to have up. However, since Eric was home we did it together as a family. It may not stay up until Epiphany this season either.

This week I am participating in a cookie exchange. So I'm busy making 6 dozen cookies. The first batch did not turn out as nice as I had hoped, and I have let the girls have one each, so now I'll need to make at least 4 batches to get my 6 dozen, but CJ is a big help and it is an activity that we can do together. Currently I'm not much for actually getting on the floor and playing gymnastics and although we all love to read books, it is nice to mix up the activities.

We will have company for Christmas and Eric will be home. Although this means I have cleaning and organizing to get done, it helps with the excitement of the season. I made an Advent/Christmas countdown board (with Stampin' Up!'s exclusive home decor) and CJ loves to change out the numbers and her excitement is contagious.

In the middle of all this, we are preparing to welcome our new little one --most likely sometime between Christmas and Epiphany--and he has been a rockin' and a rollin' lately so I know he is anxious to arrive as well. Let us not forget that we are also preparing for a big move. I should be stressed and feeling like skipping Christmas, but I've made the choice to just roll with it and enjoy it with my girls. Their happiness and wonderment makes it hard to even think about the stress I could be having.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to share with you what Eric and I have decided about Christmas. He and I have loved going to church both Christmas Eve and Christmas day, if we can, and we love to just spend time together. Exchanging gifts is always fun and we love to find something special for friends and family. However, we don't buy into the commercialism that Christmas has become. We have decided that the spirit of Santa is fun, but doesn't need to be over done. CJ is already talking about what kind of underwear he'll bring her this year and she hopes he doesn't forget the orange. We're glad that we started the low key yet thoughtful Santa for our house.

As for gifts for the kids, they will each get 3 from us. Jesus, our Savior whom we are celebrating this season, received 3 gifts. The girls won't be getting gold, frankincense, or myrrh, but will be getting age appropriate items that they need or will love. Another reason for this, their birthdays are just a few weeks after Christmas, and it seems more appropriate to make them feel really special and focus on them on those days, and to take the opportunity to learn about Jesus at this time of year.

Counting our blessings, learning to love, enjoying each other, that is what makes Christmas the amazing season that it is. Stop on by, our home will be filled with cookies, fresh bread, Christmas music, and much joy.

Now, I've got to run and make supper, clean up from the first batch and start a second batch of cookies, vacuum the living room, bathe the girls and try to have them in bed by 8.