Christmas house

It is pretty simple, but wonderful to have things to put out each year. Every year I try to get some new things to add to our Christmas house.

Christmas! It is so fun to have decorations and lights

Deveraux painted this at school, we will now hang it each year at Christmas

I know I enjoy it and the kids seem to love the decorations. I so remember our Christmas things in our our family growing up and playing with the different music boxes and ornaments during December. I want my kids to have things that each year they pull out and remember year to year, and especially starting now so we have them throughout the years.

Evenings of Advent

Our best tradition during the Christmas season! Andrew and I started this pre-children and have continued with them. Every night we gather usually by the tree (unless it is too late and we do it in their bedroom) and we light our wreath or just a candle (or no candles if too late) and we read from our Advent storybook. We might sing a carol, we may read other stories, and then Deveraux and Anderson look forward to opening the next door on our Advent calendar to build on our nativity scene. It is a good family time and time to stop and be quiet. Of course, with a 2 1/2 year old boy, reflection is swift and we worked really hard this year on just remaining in one spot during the Advent time, so I don't think I heard much of the story but the practice of doing it feels important and a way to prepare.

The idea is to light a candle each week leading up to Christmas and then on Christmas, the middle white candle is lit. There is a lot of information on the Internet about Advent if you are interested in reading more.

So Bobo "got to" the Advent wreath so we are missing a candle and one candle's top is a bot leaning.... But we press on and Advent still means the same thing...waiting, expectant...for our Savior.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Carmel by the Sea.

It was fun being in a new area and experiencing the wonderful season of Christmas!

Christmas cards

So these are the sweet babes taking some shots for their mama for Christmas cards! I am just now blogging this and I have yet to send our Christmas cards! So New Years cards they will have to be! Just arrived home from Colorado spending the last 12 days with family, good to be in our Colorado home and be loved on! Good now to be in our Carmel home and begin the process of settling in.

So I bribed the babes with candy canes if they smiled, it worked!

We know as mama's those photo shoot moments, we want so much to capture "that" shot, my kiddos put up with me a lot in all my photo taking! Thank you sweet ones!

Convictions

We made these little reindeer from our Christmas craft book. I liked them sitting on our little outdoor table.

I have a funny story to relate that occurred a few days before we left for Colorado.

I took Deveraux out Christmas shopping, a tradition my mom did with us. We would treasure this special one on one time that involved buying a few gifts with our little bit of money and always ended with a treat.

As we backed out of the driveway, I began to give Deveraux the speech that this night was not about us and it was about giving..."yeah I know mom." So off we went. We head towards Banana Republic where we will look around for my sister, of course as I am looking at the sales rack, I see the cutest charcoal gray shirt...for me. I sheepishly look at Deveraux and almost as if asking permission, "ask" to try it on. She offers me the word Jesus spoke from the verse in Matthew, "It is better to give than to receive." So our kids do listen.

I really wanted this shirt, but my problem was I had this big blue eyed girl not letting me forget what this night was about. I buy the shirt and as we are walking out and Deveraux with all the wisdom in the world with her on this night says, "You are feeling guilty, right?" "Yes", I respond. She then says, "You want to return it don't you?" "Yes" I say, affirmed that someone is having the intuition to see the situation and see me. And as a former counselor, pleased by the perceiving daughter I have. The only problem is that someone is 6 and is my daughter.

We have looked through two more stores and it is just not sitting well with me. I have already tried explaining myself and re-working the precedent I had originally set with Deveraux, it is not working. I tell her we need to go back and I am going to return the shirt. Without hesitation, she heads back with me. She knows. She knows this was what needed to be done.

I return the shirt and then put it on hold for the following day.
So is it legalistic? Was I following the letter of the law? I don't think so for this night. I felt I needed to follow what I had laid out. And would it be okay on a future Christmas shopping night for others to buy a shirt for myself, yes. Just not on this night. I needed to follow what I said because Deveraux needed me to follow it.

Oh, our children. On this night, Deveraux felt like a peer, it was "convictingly odd" and somewhat uncomfortable. Yet, we are raising these little people to be people who follow convictions and call others to something higher. This is what we want, it just feels a little early.
I love my Deveraux, my pal, who feels so close to me. I love that we will move through these days together and we have many ahead. She continues to be the gift I unwrap (felt this when she was born and we left the hospital) and I am so thankful for her!

I have a feeling that this isn't the last time my daughter will call me to something higher.

Christmas Program

Deveraux's first Christmas school program.

Deveraux had butterfly's before she performed and then when she got on the stage she felt better and it was fun!

There are four kindergarten classes at River Elementary! Deveraux is in the back row, 10th from the left (no telephoto on the camera)! So we have a daughter in school in a program! WOW!

Christmas crafts

I love seeing Christmas trees from windows

We have a great craft book, "50 Christmas things to Make & Do" published by Usborne. It has many great crafts to make. I always have high hopes for the Christmas season and envision Christmas music and making crafts everyday until Christmas...in reality time seems to go so quickly and I often let others things crowd out my time. But I am grateful for the times we had and every year we have new opportunities!

These were ornaments made from foil and wrapped with tissue paper. It was fun to see Anderson involved!

Finished product

Christmas Treats

This year we decided to make chocolate covered pretzels and toffee for neighbors, friends, and Andrew's co-workers.

Making tags for our treats! I love it when Deveraux writes or draws the pictures for our projects, often she wants me to do the writing and I explain to her that others enjoy seeing her writing and drawings.There is just something so sweet seeing her handwriting.

Sometimes making treats can be a labor of love. Honestly, something in the middle of the project that I want to be finished with. But I am always glad when we deliver treats and bring a smile.

Safari Park and S'mores

Looking at a bird. It is so fun to see your kids

3 month old baby elephant following his mama, so sweet!

The way animals were made is so creative

Big lion on top of the jeep, I guess that is his favorite spot

Fun seeing animals live and in color! I think we were all a little tired. I was battling a cold that was hard. Anderson had skipped his nap each time because we were at the parks. Overall, really glad we did it all, just a lot.

Back at our hotel, fun decorations outside

S'mores poolside, yummy!

and chocolate milk too!!!

Giving dada "ministry" (we call back rubs, head scratches, etc...)

Papa D is so good with the kiddos! He worked with Deveraux on school and hung out with Anderson

Last stop before home...the LA American Girl Doll store...every girls dream!

It was so beautifully decorated for Christmas! Overall a good southern CA time with Papa D and Tia, I felt blessed to be able to just have some fun that those parks invite and to build once again more memories!