HO HO HO!!!

GAH!  The amount of excitement I have right now about Christmas is almost ridiculous.  I can’t wait for the kiddos to come downstairs and see all their goodies!!!  I feel so blessed and thankful to be able to give my children a nice Christmas.  Feeling so blessed makes me explicitly more sensitive to those who cannot give their children the Christmas that they would like to.

I wish I could take care of everyone…..but since I can’t, I have been trying to focus on doing what I can where I can.  This year I organized the Giving Tree here at work again.  We were able to collect gifts for almost everyone who is living in our local shelter.  It is beautiful to witness how EXCITED people get to bring in the gifts they have purchased for others.  Customers and employees alike brought in neatly wrapped gifts to help these displaced families.  I was so proud and excited to help the man who runs the shelter load everything into his truck today.  It was really special.  I was proud of Lily because she willingly gave up her Princess bike so one of the little girls at the shelter could have it.  That almost brought a tear to my eye.  I SO want to instill the spirit of giving to my kids.  All I hope is that it makes some people smile.   LOOK at all these gifts:

I have recently befriended an elderly lady who resides at one of our local graduated care facilities.  She is a customer at the bank and I have gone to her home to help her a few times now.  Of course, in sitting with her and talking to her, I have gotten attached.  Attached like she is tearing at my heart strings and she doesn’t even know it.  Yesterday when I was at her place she was telling me that her family is in Maryland for Christmas.  She is going to be all alone.   I asked her if the nursing home was doing anything special for Christmas and she said no.  I darn near cried right there.  I mean, how many Christmases does this lady have left?  The thought of her being alone, and nothing special happening was too much to bear.  I wanted to invite her to Christmas at my house, but she can hardly walk.  If she fell, I would feel awful!  So, I talked to Jason and he agreed that on Christmas Day, the 4 of us could go to her place after the kids open their gifts.  I thought I could take her a basket with cookies and some of my Grandma’s homemade pimiento cheese.  I am going to get her some slippers too.   I am so happy Jason agreed to this….it means a lot to me.  I know it will mean a lot to my friend, too.

In other news, Lily had her Christmas Program this week.  OMG.  For real—SHE REFUSED the Holly Jolly—COMPLETELY!!  Look—I have photo documentation:

This is her....pretending to be invisible:

....Looking like she might go ahead and leave now:

ON NO SHE DIDN'T!!!!.......actually, yes, she did.  Right off the stage, and sat down next to her teacher.  For REALZ.

I kind of had to crack up at that.  Twas hilarious.  I was VERY shy at her age, so even though it was a little disappointing, she just is who she is.

Lastly, I am SO SO SO excited about the gift I made for my Grandma for Christmas.  She is hard to buy for because she wants nothing.  Hence, I wanted to do something special.  I wrote her a poem, and I collected pictures of all of my cousins, my sister, myself, and our kiddos.  Then, I decoupaged the whole thing onto an art canvas and got it framed.  I am really proud of how it turned out.  I really hope she likes it!! 

On a side note, I am kind of addicted to decoupaging now.  It is SO fun!!!!!  I can't wait to do some more.


I hope you all have a beautiful Christmas!  Spread as much cheer as you can muster!!

:)



Winter Wonderland

I admit, I LOVE the snow.  I love the bright white blanket it makes over everything.  I love how it makes winter a much less brown-grey season.  I love the peaceful quiet in the air after it falls.  Snow is lovely and this weekend we got our first snow of the season.  It was the perfect snow too.  Not terribly cold tempuratures so it was lots of fun to get out into!!  The very best part was how much fun the kids had.  Lily is almost five now and this is the VERY first year where she truly loves the snow.  She wanted to be outside in it all weekend.  It was SO fun to watch!!!  She literally delighted in the snow and that makes it even more beautiful.

Check it out...

 In equally as fun news....Aidan had his second swim meet this past weekend as well.  He did SO great!!  Got a first place in backstroke, second in freestyle and third in breaststroke.  He was so proud.  Watch out, Michael Phelps!! :)

 Here he is taking the lead in his backstroke!!

We also started decorating for Christmas around here.  It's a happy time.  I love the holidays.

Lily and I had a "sleep over" the other night.  That means, I slept up in her bedroom with her and Aidan got to sleep down in our bedroom with Jason.  We do sleepovers probably once a week.  This time, Lily decided to put on lip stick before bed.  .......

:)