HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS!

                  Well, here we are and Christmas has come and gone in its usual whirlwind fashion around our house.  The month of December was filled with anticipation, excitement, projects, parties etc. that engulfed our everyday and then slowly, but ever so predictably, let us go back into the ebb and flow of our daily lives.
                I LOVE the Holidays and all that they entail, but I also LOVE the new year.  A fresh new start where I feel capable I can do it all.  I want to organize, clean, make lists, re-decorate you name it. . .  and then I want to take a nap!  The point is I just love fresh beginnings and all the possibilities and blessings they may offer.  I love that it comes every year too and I love that I still get that nostalgic feeling I did as a kid.  I hope that never goes away.
             
            Of course I want to blog more, exercise more, read more, eat healthier etc.  The usual things I want to work on each year, however, this year is a little different.  I have a BIG birthday this year (Gasp)!  Honestly, I still feel I am in my twenties,  but the reality is I am not.  But that's o.k.  Forty is the new thirty right!!!!   I just want to really focus on myself this year, challenging myself and being honest with myself.  As wives and moms especially, I think we sometimes get lost and often come last.  I just want to get a little of the old me back.  That is my goal and I can't wait!

          Here's a look at our CHRISTMAS week in review!

           

           And a very HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my first born baby, Hunter. . . cannot believe I am the mom of an eleven year old!  Hunter you are such a smart boy who always has your nose in a book.  I am so proud you made high honors this quarter and you were a finalist in the geography bee.  I think you are for sure an old soul with your love of antiques and science.  You have the best sense of humor and are really enjoying your clarinet class this year.  You always keep us on our toes, but we would not have it any other way.  Love you HUNTER!

        MAY THIS TIME OF YEAR BE FILLED WITH MAGIC    
                                     AND WONDER!
      HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS!

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

. . . and other things we have been up to!   We picked out our tree as a family this year in order to avoid last years fiasco.  I sent Hunter and Chris for a tree, only to have them bring the tree back for another.  It was a great effort, but it was just not the tree for us.  This year we did it together and found a beautiful tree to decorate.  But not before Elfie got hold of it!

         
                                                        Doesn't he just look full of it!

           These pictures of Ryland crack me up because he keeps watching me take Elfie's picture when he does something silly. He is mimicking me.  So cute!

I finally finished the decorating and lights!  I love just sitting at night with the glow from the candles in the house and the lights outside.  It is such a warm and comforting feeling with all my family together.  I always get sad when it is time to put all the lights away.

Took the kids to see Santa and ride the train at the mall.  I was determined this year to not wait until the last minute like I usually do and stand in line forever.  Needless to say it was a very relaxing visit this year.  Note to self :   Keep this in mind for next year!
Ryland could not wait to see Santa and while other children in front of us were crying, he was diving onto his lap.

We ended the weekend with a super cute play Hunter and Hannah were in, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever."  I recall reading this book as a young girl and was delighted to see they would be doing this play as the winter show.  They did a super job!
All in all I feel ahead of the game seeing how there is less than two weeks left until Christmas. Yikes!  I just want to slow down and enjoy this special time of year.  Wrapping will be the thing that takes me down, but if a just do a bit here and there I think I will be alright!

Christmas in the City

                   "City sidewalks, busy sidewalks dressed in holiday style.  In the air there's the feeling of Christmas."  The first line to one of my favorite christmas songs, Silver Bells, happens to be fitting to the day I spent in New York City last Saturday.  I have such fond memories playing this song on the piano every Christmas while my sister sang along.  Anyhow, the city was hopping.  My mom, sister and aunt go to NYC every year the first Saturday in December, along with about five billion other people to see the tree at Rockefeller Center.   It was VERY crowded, but I don't mind.  I love the hustle and bustle and seeing the city decorated for the season.  The weather was perfection.  Simply unheard of for this time of year.  I did not even need gloves. Gasp!  Typically we are freezing, but not this year.  We even saw people eating outdoors at restaurants.  I love the warmth.  When I say warmth I am only talking about 55 degrees, but this time of year it feels like 80!

 
                                                  The trees were simply beautiful!

                                                Saint Patrick's Cathedral is just breathtaking!
   

     The tree at Rockefeller Center.  We did not skate on this trip, but I have in the past.  It is so much fun!

 
This is the tree at Bryant Park.  I just love this park. It has the cutest shops and eateries.  It also happens to be where Fashion week takes place every fall!

                                                                        Times Square!

 
                              Times Square has its fair share of entertainment including the "naked Cowboy" who plays the guitar in his underwear all year round!  Go figure!

   
                                    We did lots of shopping and ate the best food. Yum!

       I just love New York City.  If I was single I just might live there! Ha!   Can't wait to go back!