My Little Life

Just finished up a fantastic weekend. Started with my least favorite holiday of the year and a bad attitude turned completely around...like when the Grinch's heart grew 3 sizes.  For several years, I took our kids trick-or-treating in our town's business trick-or-treat event. And each year I grew more and more hateful toward Halloween until I realized it was the HORDES of people fighting in and out of small doorways for one small tootsie roll that were making me so stressed out! So last year, I said ENOUGH! No more downtown trick-or-treating. Mama needs her sanity. We did our annual Gram's Chili and then the hubby took the kids around to a few houses near my grandparents. Well, this year, I decided (begrudgingly) to go along with them and guess what???? I actually found myself enjoying it! Watching my bundled up Elsa, dress billowing out from under her winter coat, run door to door, seeing my kids being all shy and uncertain at the first couple of houses and th...

Way back in December, in the midst of Christmas shopping and baking and wrapping and DIY bathroom remodels, I had many intentions of posting some cookies Gram and I made (I still will...someday). While I never got around to posting those recipes, I did realize how many warm, fuzzy, cookie-scented memories I have of my Gram. I remember Saturdays spent at their old house, Smurfs on the television, snow on the ground, and love in my heart. Advent calendars just for me, graham crackers dipped in coffee with Gramp, many hours spent on all fours scouting out which presents under the tree were mine...ahhhh, those were the days. The days when I showed up to Christmas and ate and unwrapped and enjoyed Christmas without the stress of being a grown-up. Anyway, being back in Gram's kitchen, in her warm, cozy kitchen with snow covering the ground outside and she and I inside chatting and baking...it brought back a flood of Christmas memories and made me yearn for the Christmas season to b...

A few days before Christmas, as I was held tight in the clutches of sleep deprivation, last minute Christmas preparations, and work schedules, my Gram said, "I'll bet you can't wait until Christmas is over!" and I was all, "NOOOOOO!!! I don't want it to be over!". :) My dad made a comment about "How much the kids...well, and Mama...enjoy Christmas!"...so true. I love Christmas. Everything about it...the Reason, the giving, (the receiving...*gasp*! did I say that out loud?!), the family time, the celebrating, the generosity of people everywhere. It warms my heart and puts a smile on my face. I do admit, I could go without the lack of sleep (I blame the bathroom...video tour coming soon!!), and the stress of making sure everyone has just the right gift...except for my mom, who kind of got the shaft from us this year...she was the one person I wasn't quite done with, so she got a bottle of Crown Royal from my kids. Classy class. It...

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! May your day be filled with love, laughter, merriment and memories, and may your travels be safe! Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!

In the hustle and bustle of our celebrating, I just want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I hope you are able to enjoy today amidst the craziness that surrounds Christmas! Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!!

You know, prior to Christmas, while I was in the midst of my baking hoopla, I had grand dreams of putting on my very best food blogger hat and showing you all of my creations. But then, I added 1 1/2 cups of butter to a recipe, instead of the 1/2 cup that it called for, and suddenly it dawned on me what a complete and utter idiot I was and who the heck would want my recipes anyway?!! (And, yeah...so, I was baking on the 23rd. Who wants Christmas baking recipes on the 23rd?!) Anywhoodles ...I don't know why I told you that. What I really wanted to tell you, was about all the fun we had on Christmas Day! I was able to be "cut" for my shift at work (yippee!!!) which meant I got to spend the entire day with my family! (And, which also means I'll have almost 2 WEEKS off of work! Ahhhh ...the joys of working part time!) We started the day with Santa gifts...apparently the kids were awake for a good hour before we heard them...and that tells me that since there was no crack ...

Does Christmas hafta go so fast?! We prepare for weeks... months, even...and then, in a few hours, it's all over. Poof. Just like that. *snaps fingers* I wish every day could be like Christmas. A peek into our Christmas: Fearing we were going to have a repeat of last Christmas : Contrary to stretched arms and sleepy faces, the kids were rarin ' to go on Christmas Eve morning! The Grandkids !! Baby Girl opened this present, jammies , gathered the one other present she had opened, came to me with burgeoning arms and said, "I wanna go home now, let's get in da van." Little did she know we had just begun! My baby bro, with his Godson...taking good care of him. I and my girl... My favorite Christmas present (this would be my new, future SISTER!!): My boy and my dad: My grandpa, my aunt and my boy...the extended family arrived for "Gift Opening: Part Thrice" in the afternoon! Okay...Christmas Day apparently needs it's own post! This post became entire...

In the joy... Believe in the wonder... Believe in that Babe in the cradle! Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!! And Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope your day is filled with love and blessings!

Holy moly, Rocky. You've gotta watch this. I am in loooooove with this! If I didn't like Jason Mraz before this (and I did), I LOVE him now! I love how he stepped out of the spotlight for her! *swoon* *flush* *big deep breaths* I think I have a new favorite Christmas song .