this is going to be quite a hodgepodge of a post...
i really did not pick up my camera much on christmas...
instead.... i lived it....
soaked it all in...
and that's ok too....
i have a few memories from the season to share...
it is probably my favorite time of the year...
cookie baking and decorating (and eating) with the boys--they were very enthusiastic about decorating the sugar cookies...i also baked ginger snaps, spritz, and krumkake...they are my must bake cookies every year...
the boys and i gingerbread house decorating with the residents at a nursing home up the road from us--the residents were so sweet and i really think they loved having little ones around...the boys were so sweet with them...that moment really made my heart happy.... that maybe we brightened their day just a little...and max still talks about when he "helped the old people and he ate all of the candy"...... ha! (gus watched--sat in his stroller and looked cute...)
owen bringing home gifts from a white elephant party at school....instead of picking out gifts for himself he brought gifts for each of us...he was so excited... (maybe we are doing something right on this parenting journey....??) the gifts were animal flash cards for gus, a toy saw for max, a water bottle holder thing that you wear on your back for tom, and a black plastic beaded necklace and thank you cards for me. melt my heart...
owen wrapping up old books of his for his brothers and not being able to wait until christmas for them to open them...
listening to endless christmas music (possibly before thanksgiving)... a few of my faves: sarah mclachlan, amy grant, and good ol' traditional songs by frank sinatra, gene autry, bing crosby, and burl ives..
watching a different christmas movie every night...a few of my faves- elf, a christmas story, miracle on 34th street, little women (which really probably isn't a christmas movie but i always associate it with christmas), home alone, and a charlie brown christmas
going to the local tree farm to pick out our tree...warming up in the warming house with some cider, seeing santa, and sitting by the bonfire....
decorating the house and tree with the boys while listening to christmas music...
twinkling lights....
horse drawn wagonette ride by the river in our quaint little town...
the boy's anticipation and excitement during the season...
creating handmade gifts....
brown paper packages tied up with strings...
driving around with cocoa and popcorn looking at christmas lights while listening to more christmas music.....owen spilling cocoa all over himself and deciding it wasn't so fun anymore.... :)
on christmas, owen coming up to my side of the bed at 6 am to give me the report that santa ate his cookies and the reindeer liked their celery....
spending christmas day with my dear family....
missing tom because he had to work all day....
missing snow on christmas...
spending more time up north with my family (as tom worked all weekend) -- bentleyville tour of lights (think LOTS of christmas lights) ,potluck, bonfire, and white elephant gift exchange.....owen was really into the gift exchange.... he even scored one of those darn talking fish.... :)
singing silent night (my all time favorite song) to my 2 littlest boys at bedtime...
feeling thankful and blessed for so much...
hope you had a season full of many blessings as well...
