Make a Smilebox scrapbook

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"It's the most cookie-baking time of the year..."

My Katie Kate

Tonight while Kate and I snuggled in bed she said, "Mom, I feel the family-est when I am in bed with you." She is so sweet... my baby is growing up too fast.

Legendary Santa

The Magic of Christmas

We have transitioned from Thanksgiving to Christmas. (A couple of sleepless nights in between put me a little behind). I needed to take a deep breath (and get some sleep) and focus on what the season is really about... joy, wonder, giving, peace, and creating memories for my children. And with one long weekend, the turkeys got boxed up and all the red and green poured out.

For starters, our neighborhood Shadow Ridge, in Brandermill, has won the Christmas decoration contest for the past 18 years plus. So, the first thing we needed to do was get the outdoor decorations up. I was dreading it because last year it took forever! I was pleasantly surprised how fast it went this year because we already had everything and we knew where it went. I love how beautiful the house looks at night all lit up with the wreaths in the windows. Contest or not, I love that we have an excuse to make the house look so good!

This year our big addition to the Christmas decorations was adding a train around the base of the tree. It is so magical... it plays music, has a bell, lights up, and the engine sounds so real! Kate and Stephen can both easily use the remote control and various tiny toys are placed in the baggage car for a ride around the track. The train is also a perfect distraction for Stephen when he realizes that the ornaments on the tree come off. I loved watching Kate recognize her ornaments from the past years while decorating the tree. As soon as she got a few up, Stephen would take the down... So they participated in the process, but if they helped the entire time the tree never would have been finished.

I love the tree, I try not to comment on the placement of the ornaments. However, in my true anal fashion I have to rearrange them until it looks just right. It is all about balance and being able to see my favorite ornaments at all times. (They get the best placement on the tree.) So what is my favorite ornament? I guess I have to break it down into a group of them.

From my tree when I was little:

1.) a multi-colored soft clown from Jane McGonigle

2.) 2 glass angles from Grandma Ruby

3.) a frosty the snowman from Miller & Rhodes

4.) a wooden angel I won at the Watkin's Christmas carnival when my Dad was principal there.

My additional favorites....

1.) a hand carved wooden Santa holding a bird I bought at the Bizzare Bazzar with Grandma and Mom

2.) My Kate and Stephen large glass ball ornaments

3.) Grandma Bev's very very old ornaments, some are circa 1900 and they are amazing!

They all have a story and some along the way have been nibbled (aka destroyed) by my furry children, Dixie and Belle. They have done more damage to the tree than the kids!

I love looking at the tree at night and watching the ornaments sparkle with the lights.