Celebrating Home

As many of you already know, I'm a holiday girl. I love celebrating, decorating, and preparing our family for whatever holiday is coming next. But, I'm especially fond of all things Christmas (as are so many of you.) Every year, I find myself trying to "fit it all in" (especially when I come up with way too many new activities to add in each year!), so that my girls, as well as Mark and I, can have as much fun and meaning in the Christmas season as possible. This year, I have stepped back from that....not necessarily willingly. But, because of time constraints, and lots of traveling, we haven't had time for as many activities as I could have planned. :)

What I have found is that I am absolutely content in what we have done instead. Many of my ideas would have been fun...and were fun last year, in fact. But, the girls haven't missed them at all. What they have enjoyed instead is being home. Sure, we've done the light tours, and the mall Santa, and the school parties, and some baking. I've run around with my head cut off with the rest of the shoppers trying desperately to finish the Christmas list. But, overall, it's been a much quieter season than in years' past. And, it's been nice to just be home.

We've had movie nights, game nights, and nights where we read stacks of books before bedtime. We have cranked the Christmas music in the house and in the car, and we all belt out our own favorites. We've enjoyed our Advent Calendar and Book, and have taken time to really remember what each night teaches us. (Our advent calendar teaches a "name of Jesus" each night. Such a unique perspective on the advent, and I had no idea that's what it contained when I bought it 60% off last year!)

We have spent hours playing playdough, and even making the nativity scene from purple and hot pink! We made our gingerbread house...and then Daddy and girls have continued to snack on it every day. :) The girls have acted out the nativity scene again and again, with Kendyll telling Carlie what she should say next as "Mary" or "the angel". The girls have had good playtime with each one of their sweet grandparents, giving their parents wonderful breaks! And, most of all, we've just had time at home.

It's a good thing, I guess, because the busyness of Christmas week is about to begin. I have honestly already began praying about it. I get a little anxious as the schedule gets packed. And, even though every single thing is fun, it is sometimes hard to just relax and enjoy wherever I am in that moment. (But, God already knows that about me, anyway!) The girls and I have been praying nightly for our attitudes this week, that we may be joyful givers, and content with what we have. That we will not be greedy, or want more and more, as the presents come, but that we will be thankful for each and every blessing we receive. Man, I hope that works! Ha ha.

Anyway, that was a bit of rambling, but I am just trying to count my blessings as I look at the original list I made on December 1st of "Things I'd Like to Do with the Girls for the Holidays". So many things remain "unchecked" (including Kendyll's cookie party, a visit to the nursing home, ice skating as a family, and visiting the Gaylord Texan...) But, this time around, I realize that God did that for a reason. So that I would slow down and just enjoy being home.

But, don't get me wrong....the slowing down has still been at an extremely fast pace, if that's even possible! It seems this month is always full from beginning to end.

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Here are a few updates on our last week or so....

Mark returned home last weekend and we all rejoiced!!! The girls and I prepared a surprise night for him to jump right into the Christmas spirit (he has been gone most of December, so this was a must!). We decided to do our traditional late-night lights tour with hot chocolate. Of course, Kendyll remembered that we went to Bubba's for chicken before our "lights night" last year. So, that got added into this year's tradition too. (Have I said before that she doesn't forget a thing?!) Here is the list she made Daddy to give him hints on his surprise:

(It says: "You will need: a blanket, crismiss songs, PJ's, lites, A Dark Sky, Bubas, Starbuks, Car")

And, Carlie made a "list" too....

We picked him up at the airport, and gave him the list....

He got excited....

And, we were off to Bubba's to eat at 9:00 p.m. before the lights tour...it was certainly worth the wait.

Then, this is how we spent the next day, recovering from our late night...

Sunday, we also had fun making our gingerbread house, with all the candies and icing we could pile on! Here they are, getting ready to begin the work...

A few licks of icing later...

Pure creativity, and pure sugar...

And for those of you who are still reading this forever long blog...here are the girls' Christmas parties from the last couple of days.

Kendyll's class performed their memory work from the fall (Psalm 1 and "The Cow" by Robert Louis Stevenson), sang King David's City, Little Drummer Boy, We Three Kings, and Away in A Manger....and did a very sweet play of Jesus' Birth. Kendyll practiced all week for her role as Gabriel, and did a wonderful job belting out her lines. :)

It is always fun to be in her class, especially with the other parents, watching these sweet kindergarteners and again thanking God that we are there. Here's Mommy and my biggest baby girl (also known as Gabriel). Carlie had her party today too, full of fun crafts and yummy treats. She LOVED that Abby Kate was at her party too, and pushed her up and down the halls. Obviously, Abby Kate was equally as thrilled, seeing that it made her late for naptime. :)

We have our first Christmas celebration this weekend, along with a hopefully exciting celebration of our sweet nephew Caleb's birth. We'll keep ya posted!