This Christmas season has been one of true blessing. It looked and felt very different from years past. Christmas 2012 stayed calm and enjoyable. As a matter of fact, at our Christmas eve service when the pastor said that he knew we were all tired after the holiday "hustle and bustle", Neil and I looked at each other and chuckled because it really was not stressful...except for that ONE thing that stresses me out.
Okay, the ONE thing that I stress about each year is getting, wrapping, and shipping our extended family presents on time and on budget. I would say I'm doing okay if that is the only thing all year I stress about, but stress is terrible and feels horrible. Maybe next year will be the year I learn to eliminate those feelings :)
This year we sloooowed the pace and eliminated things that were "should dos" but are not all that enjoyable with the age of the boys right now. There were no Christmas cookies, gingerbread houses, advent calenders, ice skating, or other difficult to maneuver/clean up activities. We did get at least one good holiday fun activity in each week which was enough this year.
We got our Christmas tree, decorated it, realized it was almost dead after a few days, undecorated it, returned it, got a new one, and decorated it again :)
We went to two Christmas parades.
We went to zoo lights. It was SOO cold that night, but we weren't sure we would have another chance to go. The twins did great and didn't mind the cold, but Tristan complained most of the way. Very out of character for him so it came as a bit of a surprised to us.
We went to a lovely Christmas party put on by Neil's mentor. It was his first Christmas since his wife had passed, and he did a great job of getting the food, setting everything up, and even having movies for the kids. I know it must have been hard for him to do this all on his own when I know he missed her so much. She was with us in her own special way though. Walt wore the bell that he had made for her years ago and that she wore every Christmas. It was a special night together :)
We had Tristan's first Christmas program which was adorable!!! He started the concert by yelling out, "My parents aren't here yet!" Then he stole the show by singing louder (and more off key) than any of the other kids. It was hilarious, cute, and memorable. Neil and I could not have been more proud that our little guy was no wall flower! He sings it like he means it and is not ashamed.
We rounded out our pre-Christmas activities with my favorite. Christmas eve service is the best one for me. We went to a family service where Tristan got to participate as a wise man. I can't wait until it is complete next year when the twins will be able to join us for church instead of nursery.
Since the church service was so early, we had a lot of time to kill before bedtime. We took the kids to the movies. It was the twins first time in a movie theater and they did great! It was an hour and a half before the got the wiggles. I looked down the row of kids to Neil and smiled. This is something we have been looking forward to since we started having kids. Neil and I LOVE to go to the movies and to be able to go as a family was just awesome!
Then it was home to get in our Christmas jammies and head to bed. I love the weeks leading up to one of the best days of the year. I love my family, and I love how fun they are!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment