It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

Christmas!

It really is the most wonderful time of the year. 

So far December has been full of fun and we still have a couple of more weeks until Christmas.  This list reflects things that make Christmas so special.

{one}

Christmas cards

My Christmas cards are in the mail!  I originally ordered 85 cards, and then I decided to add 20 extra.  That's a grand total of 105 cards!  I know it's a lot, but it's the one time during the year I still keep in touch with dear friends from the past--old college roommates, friends who have made cross country road trips with me, bridesmaids.  We all have very different lives now, so we don't keep in touch as often as we'd like.  It's nice to exchange cards during the holidays.

I posted a similar photo on facebook this weekend with this comment "If you receive a Christmas card from our family and the stamp is a little crooked, it's because I had a helper (Will) who didn't think it mattered."  Notice the crooked stamps.  He was so proud to help with such a "big responsibility" that I didn't have the heart to correct him.  It's pretty cute!

He took his job adding the stamps very seriously. 

105 addressed and stamped Christmas cards! 

{two}

Friends

Spending time with friends is always special at Christmas.  All of the ladies in the photo are friends, but this is my first time to attend one of their parties.  Usually the group is made up of elementary teachers (remember, I'm a junior high teacher) who go out to eat once a month--I think they call themselves Sisterhood of the Traveling Forks.  Pretty cute, right!?!  They decided to add a few new faces to the group and I was included.  There would have been more people, but it's a busy time of year with basketball games, band concerts, and other activities.  Despite the small number we still had a great time at Annie's beautiful home.  Annie's dog Gordon was a party favorite.

There's still more fun in the near future.  We plan to take the boys to a cookie decorating party on Saturday and then on Sunday I have a cookie exchange with the ladies of our church.

{three}

Family traditions

Are you tried of hearing about the Christmas tree in the kitchen with salt dough ornaments?  If so, sorry.  I'm going to talk about it just a little bit more.  The boys and I made cinnamon salt dough ornaments over Thanksgiving break.  I think we might do this each year and make it a new family tradition.

I included a photo of our little tree here.

{four}

Packages in the mail

My brothers who live in Virginia are always good about sending Will and Ben gifts.  My brother Chris and his wife Laura sent the boys a huge box.  They just couldn't wait to open it so we decided it would be fun for them to have something to play with before Christmas. 

(the living room looks so empty because I had just steamed cleaned the carpet)

(that would be a Hallmark Christmas movie on the TV)

{five}

Christmas books

I have a long list of others on my amazon.com wish list, but this is enough for this year.

{six}

Matching Christmas Pajamas

I can't help myself when it comes to buying matching clothes for Will and Ben.  I'm sure there will come a day, much sooner than I'd like, when they will tell me enough with the matching clothes.  As for now, I will coordinate their clothes while I can.  Since Ben was born each year the boys have had matching Christmas pajamas.

{seven}

Photos in front of the tree

Ben has the cute red dot on his nose from daycare.  He was Rudolph.

{eight}

Christmas music

Last year I shared my list of "Best Holiday Music Ever".  Mark and I love Christmas music and that's been passed on to our boys.  Will and Ben love Christmas music as much as we do!  Makes me so happy!!!  I have a little editing to do to my list and I'll re-post an updated version soon, but here's last year's list--Best Holiday Music Ever.  If you love Christmas music you must check it out.  Let me know if I left off any of your favorites :)

{nine}

The Reason

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace