Christmas Day

 The necessary photo on the stairs.

 B was not indecisive in the least when it came to the present she wanted from Santa, she said "sled" in October and it remained a sled until Christmas morning. 

 

 Califlower, however wanted a black cat. And I mean a real black cat. I don't do cats so after a lot of trying to change her mind she said an "elephant". We took her to the animal shelter and could play with the kitties to her heart's desire. And you know, to Grandma's. 

 Christmas craziness in full swing.

 And it snowed! A perfect winter storm on Christmas day.

We opened gifts from Meme and PopPop while talking to them on skype. 

 Grandma and Grandpa came to visit and brought presents.

 And it was a perfect day to test out the new sled. 

(She actually wanted princess sled... ummm we couldn't find one so my resourceful and optimistic child she is, found her Princess Stickers and made it a Princess sled - thus the stickers).

Then we put the kids to bed, Brad went to bed early so at midnight we could load the jeep with suitcases and children, and drove to sunny San Diego! 

Do I dare say, that last minute travel is my favorite kind of travel? 

No stressing, no planning, just book and go!

Did I mention we loaded the dogs too?

We enjoyed a week of these views. 

It was a fantastic week. I loved every bit of it. There was a part of me that didn't want to leave right after Christmas. I wanted to enjoy being at home with the last of the Christmas decor, but in the end it was one of the greatest weeks.

Merriest Christmas

Most years I am scrambling for a family picture to put on the Christmas card.

Not this year though, I had options. 

Great options!

It was choosing that was difficult. 

This was the original design for the Christmas Card.

With our perfect family photo. 

Perfect classic choice.

 

But then who could forget this picture? 

With this caption:

"Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal"

 But then we got the girls pictures taken.

And this became an option.

Just look at those genuine smiles? 

I love those smiles.

Well, I couldn't pick one, so I didn't pick any. 

Yep, I took so long deciding that I missed the deadline. 

So Merriest Christmas to you!

Christmas Soap Making

I love making soap.

I started making soap for my girls, 

since they both have eczema I noticed the homemade soap didn't irritate it (as much). 

It's glycerin and shea butter so it feels lovely.

And I noticed it just makes the perfect little gifts.

It smells good.

It looks pretty.

And it's useful.

Plus, the girls love to help make it, and they can because it's hard to mess up.

 I am just really proud of my pinterest packaging.

And on another note...

I just really like our Christmas tree.

B wanted to make popcorn garland, and I think it just makes the tree. 

I think popcorn garland can be added on the (much growing) traditions list. 

 

Tis The Season

I am so behind in blogging. I still need to blog our Yellowstone Trip and our Ouray, CO trip that happened back in September (oh wait, and Lake Powell!) 

But Christmas is upon us. And I happen to love Christmas so it's taking priority.

I have been waiting for this Christmas since C was 6 months old. 

While sitting in my bed nursing her during the Christmas season I remember thinking, "I don't mean to wish time away but the Christmas they are 4 and 2 is going to be the most perfect Christmas ever." 

And I have been preparing for this Christmas since September because I have been so excited.

I love the Christmas season, so much that I actually never want Christmas day to come because it means it's over and I have to wait another 11 months for the season to begin again.

Time is my worst enemy, and I have been trying to make the most out of every minute with this small family of mine. 

The dogs as you can see are Christmas-ified. I used fabric from the nightgowns I made the girls, so they are all matchy matchy. 

Our Chrismtas tree was hunted and found. 

There is a cut your own Christmas tree farm near our home, and we have done it 3 years in a row, because I have this picture perfect Christmas tradition vision of us going and cutting down our own tree.

But want to know reality?

The farms trees are terrible.

So we went elsewhere this year, and I am so glad. 

The tree smells amazing. It's soft and didn't cut my hands raw while putting on the lights and ornaments.

It's still drinking a ton of water a day.

Did I mention it still smells? 

So glad we made the switch and found the perfect Christmas tree.

 Also Brad and a friend built me a proper mantle for my fireplace.

 I'm in love. The modern fireplace limited the design because I still wanted it to match but still be homey. I felt this was a good compromise. (Pinterest success right there).

Last year, after it had past, I learned of a German Christmas Market. 

I was bummed I missed it but was determined to check in out this year.

And I am so glad I did.

Seriously, so so charming.

It's called the Christkindlmarkt.  

I will go again. (and again)
My highlight was we ran in Gail Halvorsen, a.k.a The Candy Bomber 
He was part of the parade during the evenings and said a few words.
I just finished reading The Candy Bomber so to get to shake his hand and be in his presence (as cheesy as the sounds) was an honor. His heart and soul are golden.

 

 

 The girls met Father Christmas. 

This fall I took a sewing class. 

I am so glad I did.

I made the girls nightgowns.

And because I went through the hassle of making them I felt I needed to have professional photos taken.

There is a photo studio near us that does Santa Photos, but they are pure genius in that they have a parent dress up as Santa so the kids don't freak out.

Here is a behind the scenes.  

 

They crop out your head so it's just Santa's body.

Except this year I got in full blown Santa gear (it was so hot)

But so worth it.

 Here is the finished product:

 

There were reindeer outside after we were finished the photos. As C exclaimed "Oh reindeer, I like reindeer!" 

 

Then with a couple of friends in our neighborhood we went to the assisted living center near us and our kids sang Christmas songs to the residents. 

They were pretty darn cute. 

Can time freeze?

Can it be Christmas forever? 

Christmas 2014

I am so behind on blogging that I figured I better start with the present and work my way back, and I am unsure who reads blogs anymore - but it's a great journal for me so I am going to keep going, it might take me forever but I will keep chugging at it :)

Christmas. 

We had a great Christmas season. We are still tweaking and figuring out the traditions we want to have with our family but I think we are getting closer.

 Brad my, the text book definition of introvert, husband has a difficult time enjoying Christmas because of the business of the season. December has always been one of his craziest months for work so the fact that he rarely gets a minute to himself, well, it wears him down. This year when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas he gave the dreaded response, "I don't really want anything." Of course, I got him some trivial fun things but I decided to take his desire for no material gifts seriously and give him something he could really enjoy... A Brad kind of Christmas.

What is a "Brad kind of Christmas" you wonder? 

Let me elaborate. 

Obviously, you can't clear your calendar completely but I managed Brad's time much better. We only did things as a family I knew he wouldn't mind doing, and the other things I did during the day with the kids when he was at work. Really, it was a win win, I still got to do all things I wanted to do but they were during the non-peak hours... and I loved that. That we will be keeping.

A Brad Christmas is organized and planned waaay ahead of time (and there are lots of lists).

 Seriously, I had all of December planned since September. All the gifts were bought and handmade items finished by November, and wrapped the first week of December. The parties we attended were limited and carefully selected. Because we weren't booked with parties, and no running around was necessary we spent many nights by the fire either, reading, playing games or watching a Christmas movie. That was truly heavenly. 

Me, the text book definition of extrovert, actually loved a Brad kind of Christmas. Since having my children time has become an enemy to me, and I am selfish about my family. I loved all the down time we had together. I think I still could have prepared better but I think I will do this again next year, and hopefully by next year it will be flawless :)

So on to Christmas!

Well, you can't have Christmas without picking out a Christmas tree, right?

Here we are at the farm.

 

Of course, the girls found the dog to be much more exciting than our Christmas tree.

And the moment she had been waiting for, for two days, putting the star on the tree.

With the decor came out the doggie antlers. Poor Dixie was known as Sven for the month, she plays along nicely though.

We met Santa!

 

 

Don't be fooled though, the Santa in the above pictures that Califlower is posing so nicely next to is me dressed up. This is how she really felt about the jovial ol' fella.

This was the first time I ever attended the Festival of Trees, one of those activities we did without Brad. So my friend Danielle came along with us. 

Like the rest of the country (or so it seems) we were hit with a bout of sickness

Croup to be specific. 

And I hope it never comes back. One of the scarier moments in motherhood.

 

Brad took Broccoli out on a date and I took this little lady to

Temple Square to see the Christmas lights with these beautiful Young Women. 

A little Parents Christmas recital for this little dancer.

 

She is in first position, if you couldn't figure that out :)

Another decade under my belt.

 

Brad surprised by arranging a night away. Best birthday gift ever. 

 Then on my actual birthday we saw the Zoo Lights, another first for me, and an activity done with Brad. It was my birthday so he had no choice ;) Actually it was fun, probably wouldn't do it every year but every now and then would be great fun.

 We spent Christmas Eve at Brad's parents house. Here are the girls wearing their beautiful Christmas dresses from Grandma.

 

After our Christmas Eve dinner we headed to visit Brad's grandparents at their assisted living home. 

There was a group of carolers there that our Broccoli jumped right in with and sang carols. 

It brought tears to my eyes to see her. 

Realizing this was the true meaning of Christmas. 

To spread cheer and happiness. 

To make someone's, other than your own, Christmas merry and bright.

It was in that small moment I finally felt Christmas. 

A feeling I haven't felt since childhood, and just assumed it was part of the aging process.

Did it really take me 30 years? 

I always thought I knew the true meaning of Christmas, but I don't think I really knew it. 

It was then, in that same moment that I realized what Christmas traditions we were missing. 

We had cookie decorating, gingerbread housing, gift giving, stocking hanging, Christmas feasting, movie watching, game playing, family time spending traditions down, and those are all good traditions.  But the only dinky charitable things I did all Christmas, and I am ashamed to admit this, was buy a gift from the Santa tree at Walmart for a 5 year old girl and donate some canned food. 

 

One thing I learned in my 30 years on this Earth? I still have plenty of things to learn.

 

After my great "a-ha" moment we returned home. 

We read the last of the Christmas stories and got ready for Santa.

 

The obligatory photo of the kids on Christmas morning, in their Christmas jammies, on the stairs.

And because it was Christmas they got to eat a cookie before breakfast.

Tearing open into Santa's gift.

The girls gift to Uncle Chris (I was so very excited for) it's a t-shirt that says, 

"Uncle: Like a dad.... only cooler"

Grandma and Grandpa changed things up a little this year and came to us with good tidings and gifts. And do I dare say I really enjoyed not having to go anywhere? Because I really did.

 Califlower showing some love.

 And no, that is not the same dog the girls are both playing with. Santa must of had two children close in age and knew they both would need their own dog to walk so they wouldn't fight. Smart man, or should I say, woman?