Tis the Season

We as a family are preparing for the holiday season, I love this time of year, getting all the gifts ready to give to others and spending time with family and friends.  This past weekend I put all of our Christmas decorations up at our house and it took my the entire day but, it was all worth it when my children arrived home from Grandma's house and were running from room to room with more excitment then I had seen in months.

This year I thought it would be a great idea to make each of my kids a Christmas tree for their room.  For the boys room I took all the ornaments they had made at school over the past few years and created their tree from that- it turned out just darling and they have it displayed in their room.  For Abbie since she hasn't made any ornaments at school yet I thought it would a fun to do a super girly tree for her- therefore she got a tree made of huge bright pink flowers and silver snowflakes and fairy princess ornaments- it turned out darling as well and she is happy as ever with it.

We have so much going on this next month and I can't wait to spend time with my family doing all of it.  There is the Christmas party at my work where they will be able to talk to Santa and met the Grinch- they love him, then there is Christmas cookie baking, another Christmas party at Richard's mom's house and then Richard's Christmas party at the end of the month which is always a lot of fun and it's always nice to be able to spend time with just Rich.

This year for Christmas Eve we are going to my mom's house again - which is always fun there is a ton of food and all our friends and family come, we usually stay there pretty late which is nice because it wears my kids out and then there are nice and tired by the time we make the long trip home.  Luckily this year a very nice friend of my was willing to trade me days so I won't have to work which really makes it all that more special.  Christmas day this year our plan is to stay home and spend time as a family, Rich's dad is coming up from breakfast and then we are just having a quiet dinner at home and then I will be heading into work to spend time with my other family. 

We have really tried to teach our kids that Christmas isn't about receiving but about giving to others and the boys seem to have really caught onto it this year.  They have been talking about things they want to give away to others and Landon has already started boxing up stuff in preperation.

There is nothing more special then this time of year and all the joy and happiness that comes with it.  The countdown has already begun in our house and we can't wait to celebrate.