Is it someone's birthday?

Jesus!

May you celebrate today as a glorious day. And may He reign in all of our hearts.

Merry Christmas.

You better not pout, you better not cry...

I'm telling you why. Because if you were in Monkey's class, you'd want this gift.
I am so thrilled over Monkey's gifts for his friends at school.
Well, I'm like Mrs. Dunbar thrilled.
You see I am so uncreative when it comes to wrapping gifts. My presents look like the ugly duckling at Christmas over at my mom's house on Christmas morn. My mom and sister-in-law bedazzle everyone with their gift wrapping hoo-rah. No joke. They like use fresh berries, twine, ornaments, trinkets, fancy bows... all sorts of stuff. And I litterally either use last years bags, or try and wrap the gifts without getting the paper to crinkly. Wrapping drives me nuts.
But I just put together these little coloring books and crayons and they are so adorable, and I even used an ornament to go with each gift.
Not the best quality pictures, but I hope you get the idea...

This last picture is excatly what a little girls gift looks like.

Inside the mitten are 4 princess crayons. (Boys got Crayola.)

If the party wasn't tomorrow morning, and if I didn't just buy these ornaments two hours ago, I would probably even put the year on them. 8 bright pink girl gifts and two stunning blue boy gifts. Oh and did I mention that they are all different? Each box came with 4 mittens and 4 stockings, with different patterns.

Anyhow, I'm proud of myself and my little flair of creativity.

Happy wrapping!

Tree Trimmings

I have a pretty traditional tree. Colored lights. Colored ball ornaments. Gold reindeer, snowmen, and trees. And then there are the sentimental or keepsake ornaments. The ones who remind of our family pastimes...

The ones we received our first year that we were married.

The ones received for our dogs. Hey, they were our kids before we had any.

This is my favorite ornament of all. It actually clips on to the tree branch. And it says 2003. So fun.

Simple Joy

My sister-in-law invited me to a Women's Tea at her mom's church. The theme was Simple Joy.

HUH? Simple joy in the month of December~ impossible you say? Well, I would agree. It is pretty darn impossible.

Us women like to do it all in December. We like to show off our decorating expertise, our hospitality skills, our baking abilities, and that we are gift shopping extraordinares. Especially for ourselves right? The speaker for the evening challenged us to focus on family relationships, giving of yourself, and JESUS. The last one, I know, is totally original, especially since this whole chaos was created because of Him. The king, the king who was born in a stable. Who's mom rode in on a donkey. I think, even me and my Honda exceed the donkey...

So why do I already feel so fed up, and it's only the 9th? Because I have missed the point. I have given in to the world. I like the world. I am consumed by the world and its shiny wrapping paper and silver Nordstrom boxes. I am also consumed with sugary snacks, can I tell you that I have eaten 12 cookies for dinner? Yes, I said 12 cookies. And yes, they were my dinner. With milk. But I am overwhelmed with baking, hosting, attending, decorating, and ignoring my kids and my King.

But no more.

Tonight is it.

I am going to enjoy my holiday season. I am going to love my boys, my husband, my family, my home, and I am going to focus on the true and perfect reason for this season.

Care to join me?
(Thanks for the invite Amber.)

We went to see Santa

I heart Christmas

I heart Christmas

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, I boutght this roll of paper from Costco 3 years ago and it just keeps on going, it's the never ending paper and I don't even like it that much. But bags are always easier.

2. Real tree or Artificial? REAL
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually Day after Thanksgiving, this year Sunday after Thanksgiving. THANKS MR. DUNBAR
4. When do you take the tree down? New Year's Eve-ish
5. Do you like eggnog? I despise anything with eggs.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Clothes every year... Oh but I did get this Barbie Rock-Star stage once along with the pink Corvette...

8. Easiest person to buy for? Myself... ha. Ummmm, all of my guys are pretty easy.

9. Do You have a nativity scene? Yes, I have four or so. That's the true meaning behind all of this. Only one "Santa" goes up and he's a St. Nicholas in a green suit.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I hated getting cheap candles or teddy bears when I was teaching, .

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November. I usually try to be done by Thanksgiving... not this year though.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes... something has to be turned over to the White Elephant.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Tamales and fudge.
16. Lights on the tree? Lots.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Rocking around the Christmas Tree and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
18. Travel for Christmas or stay home? Both, but the travelling is pretty local.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Foresure
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Both. We open with the Dunbar's on the Eve and my family on the morning of.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Rude people.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love all of my Hallmark keepsake ornaments and I go with gold accents.
24. Favorite Christmas dinner? Tamales, baby!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Lots of stuff. Most of which can be found at the Home Depot... new ladder, new cabinets, molding, baseboard trim, paint, hinges, knobs...

I will post my list soon, for all of you folks with lots of extra mula...