December Tid Bits

As always, it was a hectic month and even though I had mailed the bulk of our Christmas cards the day after Thanksgiving, I had a few stragglers to pop in the mail. Christmas cards are hands down my favorite part of the holidays! I feel like I'm sending a tiny piece of love and goodwill out into the world (and it keeps our addresses current!)

Last Christmas I'd been able to find 3 of the Pottery Barn striped stockings and I was on a mission for that 4th one. Don't ask me how much I paid, because my eyes still water a bit when I think about it but in the end it was worth it. I absolutely love how the fireplace looks!

Candy cane stripes were clearly on my mind with this year's Christmas pjs!

They look so cute!

How they sleep in them is a different matter. I have no idea how they don't wake up with sore joints!

I guess the silky hair bonnet kind of doubles as a sleeping mask? Especially since the girls tend to leave their lights one when they go to bed!

I usually like my roses in the pastel colors but I couldn't turn down these beauties!

This popped up on my phone on a day I really needed it. So much of the magic of Christmas rests squarely on the shoulders of the moms.

The holiday choir concert was beautiful!

I love that these two can share in it and cheer each other on. 

Gita is up for pretty much anything so when I challenged her to climb the door jamb so her foot was in the very top corner, she took me up on it...

...and TRIUMPHED!

The pharmacist asked if I have questions and I said no. Then I read the instructions. I have questions...

The Madrigals performed at several elementary schools and Liesel found a fan in the crowd at her alma mater. One of the teachers caught this moment and sent me the pic which was so sweet of her!

So- Brent and I are old. We enjoy going to his work's Christmas party which always has incredible food and great people. But the music is SO LOUD we can hardly hear anything that is being said and we always leave a little hoarse.

The girls are now old enough that we don't feel the need to rush home. We got a hotel room to cut that commute in half and enjoyed some rare 1:1 time in the middle of the holiday rush. Next year we are thinking we'll throw in some stocking stuffer shopping the morning after the party. It's the one time we don't have obligations or inquisitive girls around us!

Thanks to my sister sharing her Wordle, I was able to get a couple on the first try!

The 12 Days of Christmas is not my personal favorite- aside from the 5 golden rings, the gifts are weird and the song just gets to be tedious. This came across my feed and breathed a whole new life into the meaning.

This also came across my news feed and gave me a chuckle.

I've been in a purging mood and it was time for this treadmill to go. It's huge, awkward, heavy, no one really uses it and it's not exactly aesthetic. I wanted it gone but was sure we could make a little coin. I told Gita if she helped me move it, take pictures and sell it, I'd split the money with her. She was totally game (Gita is always game!) and so here's a photo of her showing how great the treadmill is. We did sell it and my sainted husband delivered it with help from some (buff) friends. 

I'm so happy this thing is gone!!!

Finding good Disney frames is getting harder and harder so I sourced several from eBay and finally put together a display of all our good times at the Happiest Place on Earth.

That was our December!

Christmas

The response we received from our Christmas card this year was nothing short of phenomenal. My phone blew up with comments about how it was the best card ever, some people were keeping it permanently, one friend even mentioned our card in her Christmas card! It really struck a chord and I don't know that we will ever be able to top this one. This is my favorite, by far.

As Brent and I prepped breakfast for the girls, the anticipation was high!

So high that Brigitta's speed + fuzzy socks = a massive face plant X2. 

Traditional photo by the stairs!

A delicious breakfast to start the day.

Then on to stockings...

...where again Brigitta's socks nearly landed her in the fireplace!

Traditional Pringle pics

 This one is my favorite!

I didn't get tons of photos opening presents- I wanted to be in the present (pun). But here are a few.

Reagan gifted the family a game called "Twerk Pong" and I tried to upload videos to YouTube but received notification that was against their policies and I was being given a strike. Sooo, just Google that one and let's say Brent thinks twerking is done with his arms and not his bootie so he did not fair so well. It was hilarious.

At the end of the day Brigitta brought me one of our favorite holiday drinks: 1/2 eggnog, 1/2 milk topped with coconut whipped cream from Trader Joe's. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve

Once we make it to Christmas Eve, a peace settles on the family. The schedule eases and we embrace the ritual we've curated over the years. It seems there's less fighting- perhaps because everyone knows what to expect and there's the quiet anticipation of what Christmas will bring. 

First stop is the MOSI and lately Blue Paradox is our favorite exhibit. Fair warning: photo dump!

We often stay more than once to just take it all in. The message of pollution is poignant and the images of healthy oceans are just stunning! The fact the screens surround you makes it so immersive and impressive!

These videos are taken from another part of the same exhibit. Fair warning: photo dump!

Something about this space makes us all want to dance and jump and turn cartwheels! It's so beautiful!

Eventually we all met up outside the exhibit and I'm guessing a Santa Claus sat here for much of the holiday season. In his absence, we took advantage of the scene and asked a kind stranger to snap a shot of the family.

We meandered among the various Christmas trees. Ireland insisted she had to have one by HER tree!

A stranger saw me taking this photo of her:

And offered to get one of the both of us!

Next it was on to Rockefeller Chapel for the Christmas Eve service. It was here that I really and for true felt the spirit of the season. When you are surrounded by gothic architecture, stained glass and real, solid, heavy wood doors it's hard not to! 

Back when we started doing this, Sydney was terrified of the candles- she didn't want to get burned! Now she's a pro. Love the Silent Night tradition of starting with all lights out but a solitary candle and then sharing that flame until the whole chapel is awash in the warm glow of candlelight. It's so beautiful!

Finally it was time to head home for a grilled cheese bar and the laying of the presents under the tree. Brent and I watched Better Off Dead as we stuffed stockings and snuggled. 

After all the hustle and bustle, it was Christmas at last!