Christmas Traditions

So we started a new tradition. We've decided that every year, we are going to take note of the Christmas light displays that we see on various houses, and right before Christmas, we are going to deliver cookies to the house that has the best one. So tonight we went out delivering cookies and looking at lights, and we gave out our first cookie award. We all went up and knocked at the door and the guy who answered was none other than Santa himself. No seriously. The guy looked just like Santa Claus, and when we commented on it, he gave each of our kids a wooden car and handed us a business card that said "Santa Claus" on it. Crazy.

Also, I want to thank all of you who sent me a Christmas card. There is a special place in my heart reserved for each of you. I am especially grateful to my sisters Sarah and Laura for their cards because they were particularly unique and wonderful. Laura made hers from a school syllabus and a verizon pamphlet and Sarah drew and colored hers and it was super funny--a little trailor with sagging lights. Perfect.

Christmas cards

My whole life I have loved Christmas cards. I remember that while I was growing up, we would tape every Christmas card to the wall in a sort of Christmas card collage. We didn't care if the cards were from our insurance company or a credit card company or whatever--they were still part of the collage. I'm the same way now except that I put my cards in a Krinkles Card holder thing. Currently, she is waiting to be filled up. Anyway...because I love to receive Christmas cards, I also love to send them out, so if you would enjoy one more for your collage or card holder, leave me your address and I will send one to you!

P.S. You know what's scary? Sneezing while you're driving.

It's all about me.

So I'm finding that I don't have as much time to blog and comment on blogs lately. I think it's because I can't nurse and type at the same time. I can do a lot of things while nursing--make dinner, go the bathroom, clean, etc.--but I haven't mastered typing while nursing yet. I'll keep working on it.
Anyway, I love this time of year for three reasons:

#1) Thanksgiving-- My whole family (excluding Sarah and her family) came up for Thanksgiving, which was so fabulous. I seriously love my family. To me, one of the best things about families is that we all share the same sense of humor. My siblings are all so dang funny. It is especially fun (and a little bit sad) for me to sit back and watch my younger siblings--especially Laura, Audrey and Seth interact. They love each other so much and get along so well. It was so funny to hear them recount how Charley used to give them candy for serving him and calling him "Master" when he had girls over. And all three of them are practically hanging all over my mom all of the time because they are so close to her. I hope I can be like my mom so that my teenage and adult children are still always wanting to sit by me and hug me, etc.

I love my sister-in-law Kat, too, because it is obvious how much she and Charley love and enjoy one another and because she is the type of person who makes herself comfortable with our family--and that is so cool. You don't have to constantly worry about making her feel comfortable and included because she just naturally blends right in. She participates in conversation and goes shopping with my sisters and me and gets in the fridge when she is hungry--and I love it.

It was sad to have my family leave and know that they will all be together with Sarah and her family at Christmas time and that I will not be there to join them...

#2) I'm not sure I know anyone who loves Christmas and all that goes with it more than I do. I love the music, I love the food, I love the weather, I love the smells, I love the decorations, I love the giving, and I love the getting. I love it all. We've starting getting two Christmas trees--both real--one that I decorate by myself and one that is the family tree. We bought mine in town and we will be going to cut down the family one for family night tomorrow.

I love Christmas so much that while I was still at home, I used to hold "Christmas morning rehearsals" with my younger siblings where we would practice lining up and running down the stairs to the living room. We would even practice our reactions to all the presents. Man, it was great.
#3) My birthday! What better way to begin the best month of the year than with my birthday! My b-day is one of the best days of the year. Why? Because it is all about me, of course. Brian never has to stress about what to get me because it is the same thing every year. I want to get a baby sitter for the kids while Brian takes me on a shopping trip. This year we left Friday morning and went to Portland to shop and then went to the Manheim Steamroller concert that night. We spent the night there and then went home on Saturday afternoon. It was wonderful. I do as much shopping as I can squeeze in and Brian comes along and never even mutters a word of complaint. What could be better than that?

Ahhhhh...I am one happy girl--Wait. I guess I'm a lady these days. Anyway....