Day 1 Holiday in Hand Class

I've been looking into/downloading (TONS) of scrapbooking stuff lately and signed up for Jessica Sprague's free holiday class, of course I'm already a week behind. Where does the time go? I guess I don't really need to ask that in November though actually. Anyways... first thing is to think about my values specifically around the Holidays.

The things I think about and feel when I think of the Holidays, and also the same things I want my kids to experience are:

The anticipation of spending really fun and happy time with family. That feeling of celebration and togetherness is definitely the most important thing to me. I would like to be more organized and get things done ahead of time so I can actually participate more in playing games, having hot cocoa and watching a movie, etc... vs. planning those things and then ending up being busy and scrambling around while everyone else enjoys it.

I love to make things special, which I totally get from my mom. I like setting the scene with great decorations and yummy treats. (Getting excited to get the tree up now!!)  There is a list of idea words to get us going on the website and I could almost list them all as things (except the meatloaf, lol) I value and want to create this and every year for the holidays. Things like warmth, family, laughter, sparkle, magic, wonder, joy, and reflecting. I would like to make sure we have a bit more of the spiritual side this year, maybe a specific activity... I don't know for sure what yet. I don't feel bad personally about the superficial stuff like lights, presents, decorations. I love all that. I do know the real reason for the season too though. We also read the story from the bible before presents, but we need to pump it up in my opinion. Maybe to actually do it this year and have us act it out, or make a b-day cake for Jesus, or go volunteer like we keep talking about but haven't seemed to actually DO yet.

The goal for now is to sit down with Robert this week and actually plan out what we are going to do for December, including Christmas eve and day. Then I will post a few concrete goals on here by this weekend!

What are your Holiday goals, traditions and values?

My baby is 8!

Huh? How'd that happen is what I want to know! Mekhi is 8 and great. Haha. Seriously though, he is a really cool person with an incredibly kind and sweet heart. He really cares about others. He is also true to his age in that he has some (total understatement at times) attitude, would rather go out and play with his friends than do anything he's "supposed to do" and is a serious lego addict. We are definitely looking forward to the years to come, with this kid they will be full of laughs for sure. We love you Mekhi!!! :)

New Moon

Just a quick moment to say that I love my husband and that he rocks! :) He suprised me with tickets to the midnight showing of New Moon. I felt old and like a teenager all at once.

We did enjoy it, he really was getting into the wolves transforming and fighting, lol. I could have done without the grown woman behind be shoving and kicking my seat every 5-10 minutes (come on people!), but I love the books and therefore take the movies in stride. I'm a bad fan huh? I just don't personally believe that there are actors out there who could live up to the ones I created in my head as I read. The vampire make-up is distracting as is some of Bella and Edwards over-acting. I enjoyed watching it with all the crazy fans who ooohed and ahhed so humurously throughtout the movie. So funny!

Oh yeah... our car alarm also went off when I opened the door to get out and go get in line (which was completely around the building and almost back to the beginning again!!!) finally some nice woman ran over and told us what to do, duh! Thank you kind woman (!!!) ... if only I sat in front of you during the movie, lol. Overall a good movie and a great night/morning with my husband. He even had to work at 4 AM at the airport. That is a seriously dedicated man in my book. Thanks babe!!