Getting Christmas Right

So let me just warn you - this is one of those posts where I just randomly share thoughts - probably more for myself than anyone. Our current series at church is "Getting Christmas Right". I feel like that is something we try to do with the girls, without giving it an official name. Part of what allows us to really take time to enjoy amd make memories during the holiday season is getting lots done before the season arrives! (Thanks to my mom teaching me how it is done!) Prior to Thanksgiving Day, our house is fully decorated, gifts are all purchased and usually wrapped, and Christmas cards are ready to go. This allows us the time and opportunities to enjoy making memories during the holidays.
The girls have an Advent box (Ronnie calls it our "Christmas Vacation" box since that is what it reminds him of visually). Each day includes a different Christmas activity. This year, we have incorporated a lot of service project ideas and doing things for others. We have done a lot of baking to share, nursing home visits, giving away toys, some random acts of kindness, and thoughtful notes to others. We have made gingerbread houses, had Christmas dance parties, read Christmas books by the tree, and so on. We have gone to do various Christmas activities around town.
Tonight our main event is making the nativity scene (using animal crackers, graham crackers, EL Fudge cookies, coconut, marshmallows, and icing). Should be interesting. Tomorrow we having a "Happy Birthday Jesus" birthday party for our neighborhood playgroup.
So even though I go to bed lots of nights thinking of things I didn't do right, or will hopefully do better the next time as far as parenting, I do feel like we do try to get Christmas right. Thinking and working ahead gives us the ability to slow down during the holiday season to enjoy the simple pleasures. I hope it is something we are able to always prioritize and do. For us, it helps us remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Merry Christmas to your family and I hope this holiday brings lots of joy, peace, and incredible memories for your family!
Check out some of our favorite pictures from some of our holiday activities this year:

http://animoto.com/play/NWFV3f0ptgnrFBvIQJlocg?autostart=true

Christmas tree . . . take 3!

So we are a house full of traditions - especially around the holidays. One tradition that we don't budge on is when we put up our Christmas tree. It is ALWAYS before Thanksgiving. Whether or not the lights go on is up for debate, but it is always up and ready for the day after Thanksgiving. This year, we spent lots of time putting up our tree, docorating with lights and beads, and what seems like thousands of ornaments! Apparently Ella thought we didn't have enough ornaments, because she made several more (8 1/2 by 11 size :) to tie on the back of the tree.

So catastrophy #1 - most of the lights went out on the tree on day 3. The Scrooge side tried to come out of us and threaten to steal our Whoville joy, but we pushed it away. Down the tree came, fixed the lights, and up it went again. We thought that made for a pretty funny story after it was all said and done. Little did we know . . .

Last Thursday, Ronnie was upstairs with the girls (and luckily the dog to keep himself out of trouble) and they heard a crash. I came home to find the tree on its side. Apparently, our poor little tree stand had finally had enough and gave out. Amazingly enough, we only lost one ornament (plus another in the clean up - but still minor!!). So our tree is up - for the 3rd time. I am optimistically hopeful I have seen the last of my tree decorating skills until 2011!