Thursday, December 19, 2019

Haul Out the Holly

The most wonderful time of the year is in full swing at our house!
Noah was the official placer of the star this year!
Nativities are just as magical as ever. 
And constantly rearranged. 
Boy did Laney like the ornament balls!
She chased one all over the living room- 
and finally caught it!
And that was the only ornament she was allowed to touch.  She's left the tree alone completely.
But we did make an ornament for her!
As is the case with most things Laney, she wasn't really impressed.
The rest of us are constantly drawn into the magic of the lights though. 
We've been busy caroling, 
and partying, 
and more partying,
and concerting, 
occasionally snuggling up for a Christmas classic, 
and more partying!  
I won the prize for the most festive costume- which was wasn't all that impressive because no one else took their outfit to the same level as I did.  People need to dress up more, is all I'm saying. 
At least my babies liked it- both of the boys said I looked very pretty and Emma said, "I didn't know you had that lipstick!  I love that lipstick!"

Laney's been keeping an eye on everyone and everything.  There's a lot going on at Christmastime!
We've been making cards and finishing projects
and building forts by the magical Christmas tree.  
And we've been getting as ready as possible for our trip to Utah for Christmas!  We're especially looking forward to the chance to donate some money to the Giving Machine.  When we presented the idea of trading some of our traditional gifts for items for people in actual need, the kids they were all a bit reluctant until they started reading some of the options for purchase- a stroller, eyeglasses, textbooks, personal hygiene kits.  We decided that we would all donate some money, and Emma immediately ran upstairs to raid her piggy bank (which is actually an old jewelry box- she donated her piggy bank earlier this year) and came back down with a wad of cash to see what she could buy.  

"I'm just going to donate all of my money," she said.  "I don't even need anything." 

That was my favorite moment of this Christmas season.  
And even though we aren't going to be home for Christmas Eve dinner, we still had our traditional candlelight "Jesus dinner, 
complete with fish, honeycomb (which everyone loved!), meat pies, naan, olives, pistachios, and pomegranates.  And no forks.
It was a perfect night of slowing down and remembering the reason for this most wonderful season. 

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