Christmas - We are the reason

Well, it was a great day. My parents were here, the girls received some awesome gifts, the weather was cool...just a great day. The only thing missing was my sister's family & Mr. A's family...but you can't have everything.

I have to remember the real reason for the season was Christ sending His son, Jesus for us. As our pastor says, we are the reason for the seaon. Jesus came to save us...we were His reason.

Thank you God that I was your reason for sending your son. You sent Him for me! There are no other words...thank you!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

I tried to get Christmas cards out this year...obviously for those of you who didn't receive cards, I didn't do such a great job at it. I only had 8 stamps so I mailed the first 8, but then didn't have any time to go to the post office. By the time I made it to the post office, I couldn't remember who the 8 were that I sent cards to so I just gave up.

To those who know us, we are truly sorry for not getting cards out this year. I feel awful. Christmas cards are one of my most favorite things during the season. I love hearing what is going on in peoples lives and I love...love....love...seeing pictures. Can I say it again ....LOVE IT!

Again, our deepest apologies if you were missed. Know that in our hearts we had the best of intentions.

Grandparent's arrive...must be close to Christmas

My parents arrived today from California. They are here until Jan. 3rd. Don't know what we are going to be doing while they are here but we are glad to have them. We don't get to see them very often so we are glad when they get to come out.

Holidays just aren't the same without extended family. Maybe that is because almost all of my holidays growing up had some family member around. My extended family for the most part live within driving distance from each other with most in San Diego or Orange County. My grandma lived 10 minutes away so we always had her over at Christmas at some part of the day unless she was visiting someone else.

From the time of KA's 2nd Christmas, we made a decision to celebrate with everyone together. It was too hard on KA and us to go from house to house and alternate Christmas day/Christmas eve. Someone was always going to get jipped. Luckily for us our families agreed and worked together. No one wanted to miss the kids' at Christmas and it was fun to have everyone in one house. My mother-in-law brought her family traditions and my parents did their family traditions and we made new ones. We knew at some point it would change once our siblings got married but until then, one loud extended family Christmas it was! We also did it for Thanksgiving and Easter too!

I just love having all the families together for the holidays. I thought for awhile that I would love it to be just the four of us, but there is something that is missing. I just feel like it is just another day without all the craziness, loud, family times. Not that the 4 of us can't do it, it just isn't the same. Thanksgiving and Christmas - holidays in general - just aren't the same without the family.

Well, at least I will enjoy my parent's while they are here.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

My baby turned 10 today. I can't believe she is 10 today. I doesn't seem that long ago that I was pregnant with her. I remember walking around Fashion Valley Mall trying to keep labor going so the hospital wouldn' t send me home (which they did anyway).

She was a happy baby, very calm and always smiling! She had and still has, bright blue eyes. Her hair was blonde and curly which as you can see from the picture from this summer, no curls and no blonde anymore.

Currently, we are getting into the attitude...the one where is isn't quite a teenager, but wants to be. That comes with the terriority. Other than that, she is a great kid. Doing well in school and loves life.

Her birthday was pretty low key this year. Family dinner at a chinese restaurant (which was gross) and bowling (however the bowling won't happen until the weekend). We have really tried to make sure she has a birthday and it doesn't get lumped into Christmas. We usually don't put up Christmas decorations until after her birthday, but this season has snuck up on us.

She is the sweetest, most loving kid I know. She will doing anything for you. She is an encourager and wears her heart on her sleeve. I love this kid!

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Girls' Trees

their first ornaments on the tree

We decided two years ago to let the girls have their own trees in their rooms which they can decorate. The tree downstairs is basically my tree. It has family ornaments on it but they really need to decorate it the way I want it. The ones in their rooms would be their trees.They could decorate it however they liked. The bonus is they could take the decorations they acquire through the years and take them with them when they leave whether for college or life.

We bought these small trees that were actually meant for outside originally. We couldn't pass them up. They were at Target after Christmas sales for like 10 bucks and there were three of them. We just needed to build a stand for the stake that was at the bottom of the tree. We went round and round about what needed to happen to make these stands. Mr. A decided let's spend a little more money and get them bigger trees (6ft) that came with stands and call it done. Works for me! her finished tree

My mom had sent the girls some ornaments last year - some new and some older. Some were ornaments from my parents tree that my mom had made when my parents married. The girls each had a specific way to put the lights on and the ornaments. It was fun to let them be in charge of their trees. her finished tree

I can't wait to see what other ornaments that will be added to the tree in the next few years.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

We put up our Christmas tree and decorated the inside of the house this weekend. Normally we try and wait to put up decorations until after AJ's birthday which is on the 11th, but it takes so much time and effort to put up the decorations I decided to do it a little earlier. It was fun to get out all the ornaments. We have the colored balls that my husband & I bought when we first got married which are jewel tones of purple, teal, gold and white. Then there is the box with all the ornaments the girls have made through the years - the ones with their fingerprints, handprints, pictures, drawings, etc. Those are the ornaments that seem to take a while to put up as we look at each one and remember when they were made.

We also have a memory wreath. My parents gave it to us after AJ was born. It is just a green wreath with lights on it, but the ornaments go on it are memories from our lives. We have an ornament for each girls' birth, our marriage, special times in our lives and vacations. We have the Green Bay Packers ornament from our trip back to Wisconsin to Mr. A's extended family. We have the Hawaiian surf board from when we spent Christmas in Hawaii with my parents, sister and brother-in-law. We have the silver ball with the Mickey Mouse heads to remember our times at Disneyland when we had annual passes. The Veggie Tale ornaments are reminders of when the girls could not get enough of Veggie Tales. Those videos seemed to play non stop in our house for about 4 years.

I realized as I was putting these up why I love Christmas so much. It isn't the colors, decorations, parties and craziness that I love. It is the memories we stop and savor. The times we slow down and remember those crazy vacations, the family who aren't with us anymore, the joys of times in the past and times to come. I cherish each and every one of those memories.

That is why I love this time of year so much!