Christmas Time

I have spent some time the past couple of days getting caught up on some of my favorite blogs to visit. I am so thankful you all have continued to write even when I feel like the world has just swallowed me up.

Christmas this year for me has been almost as good a nesting! The past three years for me I have spent the holidays exhausted. I either had a little baby, was pregnant or both! But this year, my 2 1/2 year-old and my 17 mo-old are delighting me like crazy. Driving around at night the van is filled with the gasps of pleasure at seeing all the light displays. It was great incentive to get our own lights up on the house early. They have inspired me with the very innocent wonderment they are experiencing.

So, I have been cleaning and cleaning and making their stockings...I have made each of my children felt stocking for Christmas. I haven't always had the stocking ready for their first Christmas but except for Robert I've had them ready by the second Christmas. Robert (2 1/2 year-old) got left out last year because I was exhausted by my first trimester of pregnancy of Brandon. So, I am determined to have both done this year. I will post pictures of all five stockings once I am done.

The house is slowly coming together. There is absolutely nothing better on Christmas morning than a clean house. I even cleaning the couch and loveseat the other night. The laundry is almost all caught up (including all the wet towels from when my two toddlers flooded the bathroom Wednesday..)

See..life here is much the same as always. Of course, Soccer and my Writing class have ended and I rejoiced greatly at the end of each. Funny how things I love can still drain me to the point of being happy for them to end.

I caught this Meme over at Ann's blog and it fit perfect with my thoughts on really enjoying the season this year. I feel like I've come out of a three year Christmas Fog. So, since I wasn't tagged for this, I won't be tagging any of my meager remaining readers to do this. But, if you enjoy the idea of it as much as I did, please post your own answers. Just be sure to let me know you've done so.





1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot Chocolate..but only in moderation. I'm rather lactose intolerant.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He lays them all over the couch or chair around where the stocking was left laying. He also fills the stockings with wonderful goodies.

3. Colored lights or white lights on tree/house? Both.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, but my kids would love it. I might have to find some fake stuff.

5. When do you put up your decorations? I love to put them up the weekend after Thanksgiving. I usually have them up at least but the first weekend in December.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Honey ham.

7. Favorite childhood holiday memory: I have vivid memories of getting a bike for Christmas and then spending the rest of the day riding it around the neighborhood. One of the pluses for growing up in Phoenix.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My sister's friend told me and I refused to believe. Except she kept on insisting and I ended up running away sobbing. Very traumatic memory.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Growing up we always opened one gift. We almost always opened the new pajamas. Nothing better for pictures the next morning. We have tried to continue this tradition with my own kids.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Lights, ornaments or all sorts..garland. I grew up using tinsel but my husband protested the use and I compromised with garland.

11. Snow: love it or dread it? Neither. One or the other suggests it is something I ever even think about. We don't get it. I love that fact, but we also go yearly up to northern Arizona to visit it for at least an afternoon. That is how snow is best enjoyed, on my terms.

12. Can you ice skate? Never been.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I got a doll that stood about four feet tall when I was around 6 or 7. She had movable arms and legs. I used to paint her toenails.

14. What's the most important thing to you about the holidays? Being with family. On Christmas itself we spend very little time at home. The day starts very early and we visit the grandparents (my mom and hubby's parents) and all the aunts and uncles in town. It is a wonderful day.


15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? I haven't had it in years but growing up my mom used to make jello whipped together with whipped cream. She'd always make green and red. It was so yummy. I think I'll have to make that this year.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? On Christmas Eve growing up we always read from the bible the Nativity and my mom would pull out and display her beautiful ceramic Nativity figures. My kids are too young for such somberness on Christmas Eve and so we drive around and look at Christmas lights. We sing Christmas songs and talk about Jesus and what the holiday means. All the while, the kids ooh and ahh at the pretty lights. It is a sweet night just the kids and us together. It makes spending all the time with extended family the next day easy and fun as we had hours together the night before.

17. What tops your tree? A star.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving gifts? Both! Although watching my own children enjoy Christmas morning and the wonderful things Santa brought is priceless.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Probably Oh Holy Night but this is a tough one. I love most Christmas music. I also usually get to sing a solo in the Christmas program at church. Performing a song is a unique opportunity to truly allow the meaning of a piece to penetrate my heart.