Christmas Morning

All of a sudden Christmas became magical again for me this year.

The look of my little boy's face as he opened his most favored gift brought on a wave of emotions.

But the emotion that was the strongest was my Saviors love for me.

I saw it everywhere that day as I spent time with my loved ones, opened gifts that I loved but didn't really need, and as I held my little family.

I was very overwhelmed with gratitude this Christmas.

I have a lot and very often I take that for granted.

Jackson spent all day playing with train sets and cars with his dad and I smiled a lot.

Merry Christmas and may we all remember what this beautiful day represents.

Temple Square

It never really feels like we're taking full advantage of Christmas time until we go see the lights at Temple Square. It's beautiful, and though they have cut way back on the lights, it's fun to go out there see them and admire the beautiful architechture of the temple.. This year we went with James' sister's family and had such a good time. After some delightful dinner at Nauvoo Cafe, we strolled through the temple grounds and as we froze our little tushies off.

As you can tell, Jackson and Aerin weren't even given the opportunity to be cold. Jackson had so many layers on that the straps on the stroller didnt fit.

He's such a cutie.

Christmas time

I always love this time of year.
The lights and the music.
The sneaky gift buying and wrapping of presents.

The presents under the tree waiting to be opened.

The snow (which I hate driving in but it's not so bad looking at it from the inside).
And of course, late nights drinking steamy hot drinks with my love.

Life is good.
head cold and all.

Christmas Snob

James asked me tonight what kind of stuff I wanted in my stocking and I wasn't even offended that after 4+ years of marriage the man might still be having some troubles.

You see, James does an amazing stocking. He's an expert, if I may say so myself.
He's creative and wraps every little thing so that everything is still a surprise.

He gets funny candy bars in the shape of santa and candy canes.

Everything looks as if Santa prepared it himself.

He's that good.

But here's the thing: I'm not your usual stocking person.

I love all the little things he puts in there but when it comes to the candy and cookies and any treat wrapped in plastic, I'd rather pass.

If you take me to the store to pick out a treat, I usually go straight for the artisan bread or the french bread.

So after a hunt for some miscellanious items that James needed we decided that I'm your stuck-up-too-snobby-for-your-awesome-regular-stocking person.

Let's just say that I would probably be the happiest girl if my stocking contained mini cheese rounds, croissants, a large bag of mandarine oranges and a big stack of magazines.
Who's with me??

Christmas Gifts!

For Christmas, we do secret santa at James' house. It's not really secret but we draw people out of a bowl and we are in charge of getting them a gift. For the last couple of years, we always get two of the men so I never really get to play with my creative (and girly) side and usually end up getting gifts at REI.

This year, however, we got two girls! So I put my creative thinking on and thought of a fun (and usable) gift. I didnt want to give them something they were going to put on a shelf and never use or something that wasn't completely their taste. So I remembered that all my sisters in law love greens and they love cooking (or at least I think they do) and made them little baking kits.

I LOVE kits. I'm huge on presents that have an actual purpose. I love giving movie-watching kits, dinner-making kits (great wedding gift), rootbeer float-making kits, you name it. It may be a "thing" of mine but they are great.

I went out and got them each a pan that most seemed like them to me, bought cute jars, and made jar mixes- one Apple Crisp Mix, one Brownie Mix. Then I made them each an apron, and to tie it together, I put in a spatula with it. Also there were intructions on how to make the mix.

Anyway, they seemed to love it and made me super happy to have given them something they liked.

If you are interested in making an apron...well, I cant help unless you come over. I did it all in my head before I turned it into reality so it's still there. All you need is 2 yards of fabric (different ones that go together), and a cell phone so you can call me on your way over!

Christmas Day

Christmas Day around these parts was more than I could have asked for. I feel so blessed to have all of our family near by so we can enjoy this special time with them. Jackson was not into the unwrapping of the gifts -he just wanted those toys infront of him, unwrapped, and ready to play with them. It was a little bit overwheling (for all of us), as we chose to visit both families on Christmas eve AND Day. Yeah... we have to see about that next year.

On another note...

I'm really happy lately. Jackson is at an age that is very hard to dislike- even when he's naughty (which doesnt happen very often). He's happy and curious and such a lovely boy.

I'm thankful for him. For his constant reminder that I need to be more patient, and take things more lightly. For making me laugh on an hourly basis and for reminding me how happy I am to be his mommy.

Advent Calendar

UPDATE! Just sharing with you the things I've done so far!

I always get really excited when December comes around and I think of all the "Christmasy" things I will do until the new year... then new year comes and December goes right on by and I feel like I didn't really get to enjoy it.
Because I want to make memorable traditions for my kids to be excited about later on, I have decided to do some sort of Advent Calendar this year.
I dont have a cute decoration for it or anything, but I do have things I would like to get done this month. I guess the cute decorations will come when Jackson is a little older.
It's the 2nd today so I've already lost out on 2 precious days, but I guess starting now is better than not starting at all.

1. Tell someone you love them DONE
2. Make Hot Chocolate and Marshmellows done
3. Make a popcorn garland decided it might be a bad idea because jackson wanted to eat it
4. Make a tree decoration that reminds you of Christ
5. Make tradition to make at least one tree decorations with Jackson Done
6. Put up Christmas decorations while listening to Christmas Music Done
7. Make decorative sugar cookies and share them with neighbors Done
8. In your prayers today, only give thanks without asking for anything. Doing this today- it really is harder than it seems.
9. Try to be as kind as possible to everyone today
10. Go to the temple with James Done
11. Send a card to a friend by mail in this holiday season Done
12. Go to temple square and enjoy the lights
13. Be the first to say hello to everyone today
14. Drive around the neighborhood and look at Christmas lights Done
15. Open a gift on Christmas Eve as a family (PAJAMAS!)
16. Put up a wreath Done
17. Rent a holiday movie
18. Go to Barnes and Nobles and pick out a new Christmas CD We got one from my MIL
19. Exchange gifts Doing this Christmas Eve with family
20. Make a give list instead of a list of gifts you'd like Done
21. Find mistletoe, hang in the house and kiss under it.
22. Make snow angels It hasnt snowed this much
23. Make a snow man It hasnt snowed this much

There. 23 because I've already used up two days. No certain order. I just want to do them. Hope you guys have some ideas on how to enjoy this time of year!

Thanks to rockstar diaries and babble for some of these ideas!

PAUSE

ALMOST all of my presents are wrapped.

I've been working on three different Christmas gifts that I handmade (don't do it, you'll go crazy) and I finally finished today.

I read 4 books last month and this month I'm struggling to get through the first 100 pages of Mokingjay (am I totally old news or what?)

I haven't had a free second to indulge in anything I WANT to.

For example, I'm pretty sure I ate one meal a day this last week.

And not because I'm on some freak diet or because I want to be all skinny for the holidays.

BUT BECAUSE I SINCERELY FORGOT TO EAT.

James thinks it's nuts that I forget, but when you have a baby as determined to kill himself as I do, and you make homemade gifts like they're going out of style like I do, you FORGET.

But here I am, 3 days before Christmas and I'm pretty much done.

And it feels good.

Because tonight, I'm going to take off my clothes, put on some comfortable sweat pants (sexy eh?), and read my freaking book.

Christmas

I cant believe that in a week it will be Christmas Eve.

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday because we put ourselves aside and focus more on others. People become a little nicer. A little happier.

And most importantly, this holiday represents the birth of Jesus Christ.

Hopefully, before we get all of our shopping done, and all the little details for parties figured out, we take a moment to remember that this holiday is to celebrate Him and all he's done for us.

P.S. As much as I love Christmas, I'd MUCH rather be spending it somewhere with a beach than snow though. And all the fam, of course.

You can take the girl out of the Caribbean, but you cant take the Caribbean out of the girl.

You Now Have Permission to Laugh at Me

We were at Sears the other day, when we spotted what they like to call a SLANKET.
It is a blankets with arms that you can wear around your home. You would be happy to know that it comes in a variety of colors from zebra print to a sage green like below.
When we spotted it, James couldnt stop laughing at this shame of a creation. I laughed at it a little, then realized whoever created this was a GENIOUS. And then James proceeded to look at me with disgust.

I dont know about you guys but my husband doesnt see the point of a heater until january or so when it is just unbareable to live without it. So as soon as I get home, I usually change into sweat pants and a sweat shirt (James likes to call it my gray suit) to keep me warm.
On top of that, I usually wear one or two blankets. What can I say, I have a problem at keeping warm.
So without further explanationg...I am adding it to my Christmas WISH list.

Emphasis on WISH, because as James would say, there is just a little bit more dignity in the fact that my Gray Suit has a top and bottoms.

Go ahead, laugh.