Wrapping

No time to blog...I'm wrapping, wrapping, wrapping.
But here's a ppicture of my wild girl on a train!

Grace and Peace
xoxo

Christmassy

I just re-read this post. I actually think that I was asleep when I wrote it. There is no flow and that is unfortunate b/c I think that there was a potential for it to be really magical. Promise to write one today while I am still awake.

Last year on this date I was complaining about being pregnant and there was several inches of snow on the ground. Today, I am not complaining about being pregnant and it was over 60 degrees today. Despite the lack of frosty temperatures it feels especially Christmassy around my house. WE are celebrating this week with Kev's mom and brother. I feel like we have to cover every Christmas activity possible while we have them here since it is our first time to have everyone together. I want to make cookies just for the sake of making cookies. I want to watch Christmas movies all day long.

The other night we went to our local botanical gardens to see all the lights they put up. It would have been lovely if the entire state of Virginia decided to go on Monday night was well.

I guess everyone else wanted to feel Christmasy too.
Is Christmasy really a word.
Just asking.
Grace and Peace

December 20th

I went in Pottery Barn today and they were taking down their Christmas trees.
I was so sad.
 How could they be un-decorating already?
 While I'm at it, how could fall and all the autumn holidays be past? Life goes too fast and is so over saturated with things. It is nearly impossible to just strip life back and just enjoy the good things at the core of what they are.  In the world we (I) live in, I don't know how to make this happen. Especially, when Pottery Barn takes their Christmas trees down 5 days before Christmas.
Sheesh.
Just so you know, next year I am making all my Christmas gifts and I am not setting foot in a mall.
Maybe.
We'll see how I feel about this next November.

Have you ever been to Build A Bear?

The place was built for grandmothers and uncles to take the little people in their life.

There was no holding any one back today. There was no "not this time honey, maybe next time." Except for when she tried to pick out the peace sign and tie dyed bear and I steered her toward the cute bunny instead.

She was mesmerized by the experience, like the first time I took her to the movies.

Her choices made me laugh...besides her original choice of a peace sign bear, of all the hundreds of outfits in the store, she chose a Christmas dress for her bunny that is just a tad on the trashy side. I kept tried to encourage her to pick the dress with the puff sleeves and aprons, but I just let it go.  

It was her special day with her Uncle and Grandma, and letting her choose just what she wanted was their way of treating her special.

I love when we have days that she just falls into little girlhood seamlessly. I get all teary when I see her have this much fun.

Here's to being a kid.
Grace and Peace
xoxo

Calling All Little Girls Ages 2-4

Since we have lived in VA Libs has literally only had one little girl friend, the rest have always been boys. That means only one friend who really knows how to play baby dolls, one friend who "gets" tea parties, one friend that wears pink. I am sad to say that her one and only little girl friend is moving to CA. They had their last play date today. After we dropped her back off at her house, Libby said in an extremely pouty voice "I don't want them to take Katie away, she's my favorite." My heart kind of hurt for her b/c I know first hand how hard it is to say goodbye to friends. So for Christmas this year, on the top of Libby's list is a BFF, a kindred spirit, a favorite.

Here's to all my favorites who are far away from me...if I could, I would hug your neck and take you out for coffee.
Grace and Peace

Ooops

There is one real reason why I didn't post yesterday.  B/c I am too embarrassed to write about that I am going to make up a few.

#1  Gus got his head stuck in a box

#2 Libby pounded these candy canes with pot and gave me a head ache...

She pounded the candy canes to make this delicious peppermint bark. She did a great job for her first time I think.  She has been a great Christmas project helper...that's the truth, I'm not making that part up.

#3  Maggie  cried and distracted me b/c she rebelled against nap time several times this week. I edited the Santa hat on her head to make her look more merry.

You'll never know the real reason why I didn't post yesterday, unless of course you call me and I tell you what a horrible ordeal it was. Ick.
I promise not to slip up on the countdown anymore.
I promise to take better pictures than the ones on in this post too...
Until tomorrow, I leave you with grace and peace the wonderment of what really happened last night.

xoxo

Tilt Your Head To the Left

Translation:
When Santa got stuck up the chimney
He began to shout
You guls (girls) and boys won't get any toys
If you don't pull me out
My beard is black
And there's soot in my sack
My nose is tickly too
When Santa got stuck up the chimney
ah-choo, ah-choo, ah-choo

Grace and peace
xoxo

Rear Window

Their warm breath painted the glass and made me desperate to come inside and kiss their faces.

Tiny tots...their eyes always aglow.

Grace and Peace
xxx