Christmas!

I came across these thoughts a few days ago:
There's always a tension in my heart this time of year. I bet you feel it, too.

As a believer in Christ, I want to honor him and his birth and what it means to the world.

I want to be mindful of how we give into the culture around us in this season of excess.

I don't want to let the busy{ness} & the commercialism of Christmas overwhelm our hearts & minds.

But, I also really, really, really don't want to ever become the Christian that is miserable to be around.

...the one who judges that we give gifts to our kids.

...the one who is mortified that I have two Christmas trees up.

...the one who thinks hosting ornament parties is a little bit ridiculous.

At Between You and Me!  Tara put into sweet, eloquent words what has been swirling around in my head for over a month.  I try to avoid excess and to not make more than we need, but sometimes, like Christmas, I get a bit excited.  I got all excited about putting up Christmas tree(s).  Then, I freaked about taking the focus away from Christ and almost took two of them down.  Then, David encouraged me to leave them up.  After all, these trees are part of how we celebrate.  Next, I freaked that DM had too many gifts.  (Which, mind you, is still many less than most children who live in our parts, but obviously, many more than the Guatemalan orphans.)  And of course, David reminded me that we had planned out the holidays.   DM really only had what we had originally planned to get her, and her few gifts are part of our celebration. 

At the end of the season, my prayer is that DM remembers we had a huge birthday party for Jesus and celebrated (and had a blast!) with our favorite family and friends!

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Our Christmas celebration continued with the arrival of Grandma and Grandpa for the week.  Our first outing was to a beautifil Christmas Eve Service.  DM got to come to "big church" and sing along.  The songs were a bit different from the versions she knew, but she seemed to enjoy, nonetheless.  Christmas Eve photos really weren't her thing, but that is okay. 

Sometimes if you're too worried about getting the "perfect" picture, you miss the entire moment that could have been engrained in your memory forever.
 

 

Our Christmas cookie making spanned a few days.  This was not because they were particularly yummy or beautiful.  Rather, we seemed to struggle to find time from playing and singing "Happy Birthday Jesus" to finish them.

 So, so tired! 



From Our Home to Yours, Merry Christmas!

Celebrating!

We kicked off our week before Christmas with Sunday at Mimi and Papa's house.  DM was clearly beyond thrilled with her gifts!

 The week continued with activities (chaos that induces exhaustion, which induces sickness) at school.
DM's class party was so much fun.  We had Christmas stories, crafts and fun food.

 As is typical, DM was the last at the table eating.  She can savor sweets and junkfood like no other!

 She made us this sweet little "Mistletoes" canvas!

After the party it was Christmas concert time.  This was DM's group's first time participating in the festivities!  Wow!  I am amazed by her teachers and their ability to organize and coordinate 90 little angels!  Of course DM immediately assumed her "not so sure" (thumb planted in mouth) pose, but at least it wasn't another "Santa" type breakdown!

 Much of the concert she actually spent turned around backwards watching the guitar player behind her!

" Mommy, Daddy, are you out there?" 

They were so, so precious!

Santa, Really, We Love You, But Just From Afar!

Year #1 visiting Santa:

(Since year #1 was so bad, we took year #2 off!)

Year #3 visiting Santa!

Not much change!

Really, Christmas Is Coming!

Today, we made our trip to ride the Pink Pig with Mimi, Amie and Ro!  I am not fond of crowds and can only tolerate this holiday outing if we go extra early.  For the second year in a row, I've talked this traveling crew in to meeting us at Lenox at 9:30 am!  They are troopers. 

Speaking of troopers, the Pink Pig below is the one I remember.  It was quite scary.  Those windows had wire on them, as if that wire was going to keep us alive if that Pig fell off its track to the street below!  Many do not like the "current" Pink Pig, but for safety's sake, I think it is a winner!

 

 

Such a big girl eating with the adults!  We even had a surprise visit from Cousin Brett, who happen to be in the area!
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Home for a bit for nap time and out the door for our Christmas party with "friends"! 
Crafts galore!

 Sprinkle and Twinkle came to visit!  These sweet "Elves" are high school students at DM's school. 
Awesome entrepreneurial spirit!

We may have received the best Christmas gift EVER today!  Mimi gave DM a nativity scene that she can play with.  I don't know about you, but while our nativity scene growing up was beautiful, it was very breakable.  Now, if Jesus is supposed to be with us every step of the way, what sense does it make to have SO many representations of Him be so delicate and breakable?  (Especially for a youngin'?)  None!  DM loved played with her new nativity scene and taking care of Baby Jesus.  Not sure why she prefers that Baby Jesus be between the wise men or why everyone needs to be in a line, but we're taking small steps around here!

Christmas Is Coming!

Oh, how the holidays are taking us by swarm!  We work so hard not to say we are "So busy" or our schedule is "Jam packed!"  These are choices aren't they?  Mid-November to present seems like such a blur.  At least once a year, I seem to consistently forget my camera, and I must have unconsciously chosen this time period to do so.  We spent treasured time with the Peeples family on Thanksgiving.  Sweet Brother shared his photos HERE. 

D and I went to the UGA vs. GT game, complete with lunch/brunch before hand with sweet friends.  (Again, camera is on hiatus so no pics!)  Christmas decorating began.  Our favorite Auntie E came to town.  (Thank you Jesus!)  Auntie E can show more grace and love than anyone I've ever met.  We had just enough time for a good run and lunch before she had to hop back on a plane. 

Concentrating on tree decorating!

 I made my (what feels like) annual voyage to Austin for work.  I've made this trip every December since we've moved back to Georgia.  Austin is beautiful at Christmas time.  My co-workers are amazing, but I am a homebody.  I want to be at home loving on D and DM.  I want to see our Christmas tree, not one professionally decorated in an amazing, historic hotel.  And to pile poop on, we elected to go with a "When she seems ready" policy on potty training.  When did she seem ready?  Umm, that would be the week before I left for Austin.  Yep, D was in charge of fresh, clean pants the first week DM wore her big girl pants.  (Insert heartbroken here!)  But I am so proud of this pottying duo!

Picking out our big girl pants!