It's the Most Wonder-Full Time of the Year

I had hopes to blog every day in December but obviously that didn't happen given that it is now Dec. 18th and my first blog post of the month. Realistically, though, even though it's been a busy month, I really wouldn't have had anything to say everyday, but now that it's the 18th, there is a lot to catch up on.

At the beginning of December, we had to of course go out and hunt and kill our tree. We went to our usual tree farm. Thankfully after days of torrential rain, we managed to pick one of the only dry (and actually very sunny and warm) days to get it. Hannah was a little out of sorts because getting our tree was usually an activity that we shared with our friends the Goves that now live in CA. There are definitely a lot of things this month that will make us think of and miss them. We did find a great tree and got him home and discovered that it was a little larger than it seemed on the farm. We had to do a little trimming off the top to get it to fit and to get the star on top. We actually were able to put ALL the ornaments on it. Usually we have to pick and choose because we have a LOT of ornaments.

Decorating the tree is one of the kids greatest Christmas pleasures. Although, I'm sure one day I'll regret it when some prized ornament is broken beyond repair, I pretty much let them just have at the ornament box and start hanging them. I love the joy when they unwrap an ornament and have some memory about it. I do have to do a little rearranging of the ornaments when it's over because they seem to all be hung a little low and in one section.

After getting the tree done, it was time to tackle the whole house, which always takes me awhile to get motivated to do, but the house definitely is filled with the Christmas spirit.







I actually am having a fairly stress free Christmas season. I got all of my shopping done fairly early--just need to get one gift card, and I'll be completely done. Hannah has been my little helper elf and wrapped every gift that she is allowed to see. I still need to wrap all the kids' gifts, which I tend to procrastinate until the last minute for. Today we had a baking day and got lots of cookies made with grandma, and aunts and cousins here. I still have a little baking I want to do, but that will be a project for this week with the kids.

Here are all the cousins (except for baby Quinten) with their decorated gingerbread men.

One holiday event that we have been to many times is the Joyful Learning Preschool Christmas program. Owen participated in this for his 2nd time and this year, participated much more. Last year, I don't even think he would go up on stage. He even came out and had a solo part and was so cute. He then entertained us with his many antics while on stage. He pulled his Santa hat down over his head and kept playing with it, he pulled his choir gown up and "arranged" things, he got preoccuped with pulling a loose string from his gown and trying to bite it in his mouth. Of course, he had all kinds of funny faces. He is quite the character, but with all this messing around, he did manage to sing all the songs and do most of the motions that go with them. At the end of the program, Santa Claus himself made a visit. Usually our kids have reacted with terror at this, but Owen seemed unphased this year and I even managed to get a picture of him on Santa's lap. He whispered in his ear that he wanted Legos and then gave him a high five. Our little boy has definitely come a long way in a year. It's amazing to me that this will most likely be the last Joyful Learning Christmas program we attend for one of our children. We have been to so many over the year.

Well that is about all I have to post on for now. I cannot believe that one week from now, Dale and I will probably be sitting and recovering from the craziness of Christmas day and then another week from that, we will be ringing in the new year and another decade will be done.

Wishing you all a Merry Little Christmas!!!