December 1st, the countdown begins!

Today I think is the official start of the Holiday Season around here. Caroline started the day by putting her first cotton ball on Santa's beard - an advent calendar of sorts she got from her preschool. She kept asking when she gets to put on another one...tomorrow morning, I reassured her. Lindsay was inspired by an old ornament my mom had made and wanted to "needle" one herself. So I let her go thru my fabrics and pick one to use on her very first sewing project. You would think with a mom that sews as much as I do she would have done this sooner! (I won't post the finished product as I think it is a surprise...)

We went to our church Family Christmas Party - we had a lovely dinner and there were several activity stations for the kiddos to do hosted by the Young Women of the ward. Crafts, icing cookies, that sort of thing. The kids had fun just being kids and playing with friends, we were able to sit and visit with adults while the Young Women supervised the kids in activities. It was a fun night that started early and ended early...

So we then went to our new "Mall" - if you can even call it that! It is an outdoor shopping center with all the shops you would expect in a closed mall (Children's Place, Eddie Bauer, Chico's, Ann Taylor, Dillards, etc.) but on streets with parking spaces and actually walking outside! Anyway, it is lovely. We were hoping to catch Santa's hours (he had already gone to bed) so we we just went to the kiddo area, where we could hit the Disney Store, Gymboree, Pumpkin Patch, Build-a-Bear, Children's Place, etc. We got even more great ideas to add to their Christmas lists (like they need more stuff) and we were even able to sneak a few purchases while the kids browsed. The girls hopped into a storefront window display and did their best mannequin impression! They wanted to play outside at the play area and it was cold! 57 degrees is cold to us...and it was windy. But, in true Caroline fashion, she unloaded her jacket, socks, and shoes. Steve sat and watched; I was a little chilly so I went shopping instead and scored on something from Lindsay's wish list I never thought I would find! (Navy Blue lace edged leggings that she can wear to school with her uniform under skirts and dresses - I can never find navy blue - I was beginning to wonder if such a thing existed...black, blue, brown, grey, pink, never navy. Pumpkin Patch had them, if anyone needs to know!!)

We came home and ended with our next December tradition - we have two "advent" countdown to Christmas Traditions. First, I have a binder that is a collection of scriptures, holiday songs and hymns, and inspirational stories to be read and pondered every night. I think I collected the best of what I saw come thru the doors when I worked at Kinko's and have since shared it with several people. Anyway, I was also able to add illustrations with holiday cards we have received - I saved nativity themed cards and added them to each date. I have also tried to turn it into a little holiday family scrapbook, I have our Christmas Letters, a copy of our family Christmas Card, and letters from Santa thanking the girls for treats! Our second tradition I borrowed from a friend. We have collected 24 Christmas themed story books and they are all wrapped and under the tree. The girls take turns selecting a book to open and read. Some are traditional, nativity inspired stories, others are more secular, fun and seasonal. It is a great little tradition and I will always be grateful to my friend Kim who shared the idea.

Our tree is up and looks lovely. We finished it this week. The hardest part is fluffing the artificial tree as it comes out of the box. 1 hour and several microscopic scratches on my arms later, and a few prayers said hoping the pre-lit tree actually lights up for the 4th year in a row, it is not a bad looking fake tree. I am sure some day I will have a more formal home with a themed tree to match our decor, but for now, our tree is a collection of memories. I have ornaments that I made as a child, given as gifts from friends, purchased on vacations, and several from my mom's collection. Honestly, I love setting up the tree and knowing there is a story to tell with nearly every ornament placed on the tree. The painted pine cone I made in preschool, the Lucy ornaments given to me after I was Lucy from Peanuts in a play in High School, a sphere made entirely of origami by Yuko, the Japanese Exchange student we had in our home in 1985, a set of angels given to me by my sister in law the first Christmas Steve and I were married in 1997, the mouse sleeping in a hammock suspended between two branches that was my favorite ornament from my mother's mouse ornament collection. I think this is my favorite part of Christmas, the family memories. Christ is the center of our home and family and memories created as a family are the most treasured.

Merry Christmas and let the countdown begin!!!