{trees, cookies, cards, and a concert}

I feel like I really haven't stopped moving for the past couple of weeks. It's been busy x 1000, and it seems as though everything is in fast forward. It's a little past midnight, and as I'm sitting here typing, my eyes are feeling a little droopy, and all I want to do is turn off the light and go to sleep. I press on, because I know if I don't do it now there are no promises as to when it will get done.  

My parents are leaving in the morning, and I suppose I'm somewhat in denial.  We've had a wonderful couple of weeks with them here, and I know we are all are going to feel their absence. We have packed a lot into the time they were here, and I'm so glad we were able to experience so many fun Christmas activities and traditions together.

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The first on the list was decorating the trees...we have one in the family room, and a kids' tree in the basement.  I {love} having a tree for the kids---it's the perfect place for all the ornaments they make at school and for their own personal ornaments. They definitely had the most fun decorating this tree--probably because I let them do it however they wanted to.  :) One of my favorite parts of the whole process is just sitting back and watching my kids--what they say, which ornaments are their favorites, and just how their personalities come through with their individual decorating techniques.  I wish I could freeze certain moments in time--and this was one of them.  Tradition states that we make and decorate sugar cookies on tree decorating day, which I think is very appropriate.  :)  I was happy because I discovered the most fabulous gluten-free sugar cookie mix, and there was barely any difference between them and our favorite cookies.  Emma was thrilled, and that was worth it all.

Kid's Tree

Family Tree

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I've had my Christmas cards for several weeks now, but this weekend my own little assembly line got them put together in no time.  Ryan attached the letter and the address label, Emma stuffed, and Kate licked. Very efficient, if I do say so myself! 

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 Each year our church presents a Nativity Exhibit to the community, featuring over 500 Nativities, and I absolutely love it. It fills every room of our building, and showcases the most unique nativities from all over the world.

  I have been really involved with it since we moved here, and every year it's one of the highlights of the Christmas season. About four years ago, we added a concert one of the evenings of the exhibit, and I have been responsible for organizing it since it's inception. It has been really good for me to be involved musically, since I don't get nearly as many opportunities as a busy mom.  I really enjoy working with musicians from the community, as well as from other areas, and I appreciate their willingness to donate their time and talents for such a wonderful evening. The highlight this year was a handbell ensemble, specifically a handbell tree solo that was absolutely incredible.  I just love music, and I can't imagine the season without it.  It brings the spirit of Christmas like nothing else can, the evening was a huge success.  It was worth all of the craziness getting to that point, for sure. This year I was especially glad that my parents were here to see it. They were also a HUGE help during the week.  Rick was out of town, and it would have been so much harder to get things done. 

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We did so many other fun things too...shopped, made Christmas crafts and tags, hiked with Ryan, made homemade french fries, saw a really fun light show, watched Christmas movies, drank yummy homemade hot chocolate, and ate lots of yummy food. It really was a wonderful two weeks, and we're so happy that we were able to share a little bit of Christmas with them.