....my fingers are typing...that's a start

Such a long break.
I'll be honest, I haven't felt really motivated to write lately. Plenty of freelance work has come my way and as a stay at home mom that extra income is needed. So, blogging is placed on the back burner for an indefinite amount of time. 
I am also a huge traditionalist in many ways.  Christmas time at my house is like walking into an unorganized, not so wonderfully decorated version of a Hallmark store. We have a little table set up for all of our singing, light up Christmas decor...and we press the on/off buttons as much as we please.
Christmas music takes over my house and my car. And I sing along. Loudly.
Our Advent train takes center stage every morning before school, the younger kids waiting to see what I have planned for an activity that day. We have an Elf on the Shelf, of course. His name is Buddy Lightening. We also have 2 new elves that hang on the tree, Jingle and Jangle. These are to be hidden in the tree away from each other every night. Don't forget the countdown ornament!
It's a lot.
A lot to remember each night as the kids all go to sleep. A lot to prepare ahead of time. A lot of Christmas spirit to uphold. But we do it. It's worth it.
Please don't picture my kids surrounding me as we read the note from the Advent Train with looks of awe and wonder on their faces, reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting. Sure, there were a few mornings where the kids acted a teeny bit like that. But some mornings, they fought over who would find the stinkin' little elves in the tree, who would click to the next day on the countdown ornament and who would open the paper from the Advent train.
More of those mornings than the others.
I still believe it is worth it though.
Traditions are important to me.

Our Christmas season stays busy throughout....with 4 sets of grandparents we have plenty of places to go and people to see.
Now, that it is all over I find it hard to take the tree down and get back to normal. I enjoy the spirit and the love that others seem to have this time of year. I find happiness in old Christmas songs and doing Christmas-y crafts with the kiddos. Hot chocolate, hot cider....bring it on.
On New Year's Day we will start to take down all evidence of Christmas decor...sadly.
Until then, I am determined to enjoy being completely lazy, sucking down enough hot chocolate to fill a tank and reading newly downloaded books on my Nook.
Here's a peek at our Christmas.
My hope to you is to have a beautiful New Year.

Gingerbread House Girl side vs. Boy side!

The kiddos and my Dad on Christmas Eve

With my honey

Christmas Eve pj's....greatest tradition ever.

I heart Christmas

The hubby officiated his brother's wedding this month. Which means, we finally got dressed up. And took a picture together.

Oh so happy together.

Last day of school for us before Christmas Break and we declared it Polar Express Day!

 

L is for....a lifetime of Love

Sometimes I feel an abundance of love swelling in my heart.  I look at my kids, or my hubby...or my parents, and many more....and just feel like thanking God for who he put me with in this world. 
Our life truly is made up of little moments of love, joy, fear and tragedy.....I would rather focus on the moments of love and joy and accept where the moments of fear and tragedy have gotten me.  The people that surround me on this planet are there for a reason and only God knows exactly why and how that is shaping me as a genuine Christ follower. 
Those times when I feel my heart calm and my eyes well with tears of pure contentment are the ones I relish and try to recreate repeatedly.  Unsuccessfully.  The times when I feel so overwhelmed with love must be those moments that I am not attempting to do anything but be in the moment.  I guess the moments we are taken off guard by the glory of God are the times where He has seeped into our souls; through our walls we have put up or the things that stay on our mind, the worries that we needlessly have, the fake smiles we are wearing. 
I can only thank God for the moments that I have experienced, the people I have  met, the times of pure abandonment of insecurities (those are much more few and far between), the smiles on my kids' faces, the kiss from my husband each night, the unconditional, unfailing,  love of my family. 
Here is my lifetime of love...well not a lifetime...I wouldn't have enough room on this blog for all the love I've experienced and given.  But here's a peek....

Love of the women of my family <3

My love of the beach

Daddy's love

Cousin and grandparent love

My first real love

Our first love together

Mother, daughter, sister love <3

More love than I knew I had

and even more love than I deserved...

Family love

Another A to Z Challenge post!

Valentine's Love List.....gotta' love the simple things.

I honestly can't believe it's almost Valentine's Day.  This year is already going by way too fast.  Which means my munchkins will eventually grow up....never mind all the times I've imagined sitting on a white sand beach just me and B while our 3 children are in college or at a wonderful, well paid job.....it still makes me sad.  This weather doesn't help either.  In Southeast Texas it is not supposed to be below freezing and looking a tad bit like London with all the gray skies and misty air.  So, I am cheering myself up with.....Girl Scout cookies that were just delivered yesterday!..... ahem, I mean, happy thoughts!! In the spirit of Valentine's Day I'm asking myself, what simple things do I just love?

• the goofy things 4 yr old G says when he gets in the car on our way to take the big kids to school.  Yesterday, he yelled out a random list of numbers and then said "Hit it, Mom! And, that means, GO!"
• the way R leaves notes on her marker board for me to read during the day while she's at school.....and the messages I write back. :)
• weird things T says when I know he isn't doing what I asked him to.  This morning it took him forever to get ready and I said rather loudly while giving him the "mom" glare, "I hope you are dressed! It doesn't take 30 minutes to put on jeans!" and he looked at the dog and said "Leni, quit trying to attack me, can't you see Mom needs me to get ready?!"  He says everything with a hint of seriousness which I find absolutely hilarious.
• freezing my butt off at the soccer field last night wasn't so fun but taking my nephew out to eat afterwards was.  15 years old and can still hug and say "I love you" to his aunt and uncle without gagging or rolling his eyes. Love that kid.
• the way our doxie, Leni, falls on the ground and rolls on her back and wiggles side to side every time you talk to her. And her eyes which have a ton of emotion, I think I can sometimes hear her saying....help me.
• having a great conversation with my oldest. On the way home from a basketball game the other night, after a display of not so great sportsmanship from a few kids during and after the game, we talked about learning how to deal in the real world and that I guess some parents just don't really feel like taking the time to prepare them for it.  He leaned over and said, "well, I'm glad I have you as a mom."  If you have a pre-teen, you know how rare this comment was. :)
• the amazing healing power Girl Scout cookies have. Don't like rub them on an open wound.....but do have one when you need to smile.
• warm socks...especially the ones from L.L. Bean that my sister gave me.
• my heater...enough said
• my awesome group of friends who are all so different and all funny in their own ways
• making Valentine's boxes....just made a kick butt one today with G.  He wanted a Hulk Smash (his words) box....so we did it.  Resembles Frankenstein a little but he loves it!
• A new issue of Family Circle magazine because they have really good recipes
• NEW episode of Modern Family coming on tonight!
• did I mention Girl Scout Cookies?
• my Crock Pot which is cooking up some wicked bad dinner right now....and it smells DELISH.
• my grandfather's emails. <3
• the fact that anytime we go anywhere for any amount of time, as soon as we walk in the door G says "Mom, I'm gonna hang out in my underwear, 'kay?"
• I bought another Burt's Bees Blemish Stick last night after being out for like months...this should appeal to anyone who has to look at me......ever.
• My hubby and his Afro puff hair that bounces when he talks, sneezes, laughs......
• My NOOK color which I kinda' l.o.v.e.
• the book Raising Your Spirited Child (eye opening!)
• my dishwasher
• dreams of my grandmothers
• hot coffee!
• Griff's hand in mine
• my sweatpants :)