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.

Christmas Eve

I had big plans on Christmas Eve. I thought we would discuss the Savior, the reason for the season.

Sing some beautiful Christmas Carol's, read the story of His birth. I even bought a new book that told the story with songs through out it. All with the beautiful ambiance of candlelight. 

Reality.

All my girls could think about and squeal about was Santa, that big jolly ol' elf of a man who would be coming down OUR chimney that very night. Yes, Rudolph with his red nose would be up on our roof, snacking on our carrots. They only wanted to sing about Santa up on the housetop click, click, click. And, well,  I had a different agenda. So instead of getting excited with them and feeling their energy, I got frustrated and would snap. Because we were suppose to talk, praise, and sing about  the Savior, damn it! Not very Christ-like at all. luckily, Brad stepped up and said "This isn't working. Stop being selfish." I looked at him, incredulous, selfish? Whatever could he mean? I was talking about Jesus?!? 

Yes, I was being selfish.I wasn't thinking about those little girls of mine and what they wanted, but only me and this little moment I had articulated all in my head that would be the perfect spiritual moment. 

Well, guess what I learned this year? 

Manufactured spirituals moments do not happen with my family on Christmas Eve. And you know what? I remember the excitement of Christmas Eve as a child too. My parents were religious people and yet I was allowed to daydream and only think of Santa on Christmas Eve, and my dad has to be the most spiritual and religious human being I know.My dad didn't sit us down and preach about the Savior of the World on Christmas Eve, because he was to busy doing and giving to preach.

My dad never had to preach it, he lived it.I remember one year we had Veterans, who had nowhere to go, my dad picked them up from the Vet Hospital near our house in the station wagon, and they gathered around our dinner table on Christmas Eve. My parents welcomed them into our home, gave them a hot family meal, let them tell their stories, and marvel at the beauty of the Christmas tree.  Before my dad drove them home he would give them a Hickory Farm's basket all wrapped up, so they had a Christmas gift to open.

I learned a lot this Christmas. 

For one thing, when I want to teach about the spiritual part of Christmas I need to probably do it on a different night than the one Old St. Nick will be visiting :) 

 

Other than that minor hiccup, Christmas Eve was a fun day/night. 

We started off baking cookies for Santa. B thought he would like Chocolate chip cookies best.

Then we delivered some cookie tins to some of B's friends (and when I say "friends" I mean the teenage girls who babysit her. She wanted to bake them all cookies, oh, and Uncle Jimmy he got cookies too. If you can't remember who Uncle Jimmy is click here). She loved it. 

Then before we headed to Grandma and Grandpa's she dressed herself. She wanted to look like a candy cane she said.  (On a side note, she also asked me the other day why we didn't name her Astrid, because she likes that name. I may have a granddaughter named Astrid)

 The girls watching Grandma open her special gift. They found this at the pet store, and ecstatic is an understatement for how they felt about buying this for Grandma.  

 It's a stocking full of cat toys, not just any cat toys, PINK ones.

On our way home we stopped at a park with this tree, they call the Tree of Light. The whole park lit up, but this center one is beautiful. The picture just can't do it justice. We were going to just drive by but B wanted to get out and we thought "Oh, what the heck, it's Christmas Eve" so we all got out.  Oohed and awed, and then just a quickly ran back to the warm car.

Brad showing his true feelings regarding selfies.  

After the kids were in bed we planned an impromptu trip to San Diego... set to leave the following night.  That's a story for another post.

PS I think I like last minute getaways the best, no pretrip stress!

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?