Let it snow..let it snow...

Let it snow...

The weather inside (the Enchanted village) is frightful..

But Gibson's face is so delightful..

So as long as he loves it so..

Let it Snow.. Let it snow.. Let it snow..

Enchanted village..

Last weekend..

We got our holiday cheer on..

(please forgive me for that. I am running on lack of sleep and Christmas cookies)

We went to the enchanted village.

It was really cool..

and honestly at times a little creepy..

The dolls move.

Enough said.

side note: Gibson' shirt is indeed backwards. His philosophy is: he knows what is on the shirt, so therefore he doesn't have to see it.. He wants everyone else to see it.. smart, huh?

other side note: I made a typing error and wrote philosohpy instead of philosophy. Spellcheck wanted to correct it to fly swatter. What?

Dashing through the.. um.. grass

In a 2 horse..

open sleigh...

(with wheels)

(and a lot of other people)

We bundled up..

And went on a sleigh ride..

It was a lot of fun..

We weren't the ones suppose to be taking the kids.

Uncle Mike and Auntie Ash were..

but Uncle Mike got sick..

so we were called off the bench..

The kids let us know in no uncertain terms..

we were not an appropriate substitutes..

But they still manged to enjoy themselves..

(it may have something to do with the Hot Chocolate we gave them.. )

(and the movie we let them watch in the car)

(it's not bribery, it's called creative parenting)

(OK it is bribery)

I realize I didn't get any good pictures of the actually sleigh ride..

My hands were cold and did not want to leave the mittens..

So to prove to you we did go..

and that this pictures were not just taken in my backyard..

I added one with a random penguin..

Because we don't have a giant penguin in our backyard..

weird, huh?

You're a mean one..

Kara Faith..

Wow.

I read through my last few post.

There is a shocking lack of Christmas cheer.

I had high hopes of posting daily the advent actitivies we are doing..

But..

confession time.

We aren't doing daily actitivites..

We are doing things I put on the list but not as formally as I intended.

I am not crafty..

So I can't show you all the crafty things I made for Christmas presents..

Because believe me no one would want a handmade present from me..

I can't show you how to wrap a present all cute..

Because you would cringe at my attempts..

I already shared with you the best Christmas song ever..

JOKING

So how to spread some Christmas cheer?

I know, I will show you some pictures from Christmas past..

And I will remind myself to charge my camera battery so I can take pictures this year.

He is so "Tweet"...

I am starting to take down Christmas decorations today..

It is a sad day for me..

I think I would be content to live in a house full of twinkling lights and the smell of cinnamon all year round..

But having a Christmas tree up all year round is generally considered lazy and not festive..

So I will take mine down..

However begrudgingly..

But before I pack away all the holiday cheer here is a twitter my husband sent me on Christmas Eve..

It made me smile..

I love you like Santa loves

cookies and milk

and breaking into peoples houses.

Merry Christmas Holloway style!

Twas the night..

T'was the night before {fake} Christmas

In the Holloway House..

Not a creature was stirring except for my computer mouse..

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care..

in hopes momma would not forget where she hid the goodies for there,

(sorry for the horrid rhyme had a hard time thinking of something to rhyme with care)

~

Hello all, we decided to have our Christmas on the 24th,

But Court and I being in sound mind, and making this decision based on reason,

I say in full confidence that we are NOT violating this promise..

~

Alas Christmas you will always be celebrated early in the Holloway house..

No matter how grownup we pretend to be,

When is comes to Christmas the enthusiam just gets to us..

~

Merry {fake} Christmas to one and all!

Stocking stuffers

When I was little my family didn't go to the movie theater.

This never bothered me until "Beauty and the Beast" came out.

I was obsessed with seeing that movie..

So on Christmas morning of '91 I got "Beauty and the Beast" in my stocking.

I watched it 2 times that morning..

I loved everything..

the songs..

the scene where Beast takes her to the library..

The overhead shot of them dancing in the ballroom..

Belle, by far, is the best Disney princess..

I mean seriously, Snow White's voice is annoying,,

No one is really as sweet as Cinderella..

Ariel teaches us we have to change ourselves and go against our families for true love.

Jasmine runs around in skimpy outfits.

Princess Aurora falls in love with the first dude she sees..

Come on Belle is way cooler than the rest..

So this Christmas I am very excited to be giving Ari her very own Belle doll..

It is so awesome to pass down things that you love to your kiddos..

Choo Choo

See the train set above?

I saw that last year and decided it would be perfect for Gibson.

It was..

after 3 failed attempts to order online..

a search on Craiglist..

and a trip after the ice storm of the year..

Perfect...

I know Christmas isn't really about getting the perfect present..

But is was a lot of fun to see his face on Christmas.

and plus we got it for over half off regular price..

Awesome

My heart..

Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years... Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart.
-- George Mathhew Adam

I struggle a little with Christmas this year.

Because with all the excitement of the Christmas season..

All the decorations..

The gifts..

The tree.

I struggle because I want..

Or more accurately, need my children to understand..

that even though all these things are lovely and fine..

the most wonderful thing..

something more remarkable than a man in a red suit..

or a tree adorned in in sparkly ornaments..

Or the ground that is blanketed in snow..

That Love was given at Christmas..

That a Saviour came when He didn't have to..

That God became man because He loved us..

I love the decorations and the snow,

but my hearts desire is that my children will learn the real meaning of Christmas,

and that they will realize that that meaning is far more exciting than any tradition we may have.

I hope they learn not only to love Christmas,

But to love the Christ of Christmas..

Such a big responsibility.

Hello in there..

Has the holiday season become so hectic it has made you want to go into hiding?

Here is a great way to simplify your holidays.

It is going to rock.

Happy Weekend!

A little song for y'all

Oh Christmas Pic, Oh Christmas Pic

Why can't we all be smiling

Oh Christmas Pic, Oh Christmas Pic

Why do I look so frightend..

From my awkward face

to Court's goofy grin

Aria looks annoyed

to be there

Oh Christmas Pic, Oh Christmas Pic

Guess there's always next year.

sung to the tune of Oh Christmas Tree

In case you missed that.

From my all time favorite Christmas movie..

I think about a nursery

and i picture curly heads,

and one by one i count them

as they slumber in their beds.
~
If you're worried and you can't sleep,
just count your blessings instead of sheep
and you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

~

I love that movie..

Sorry Court, that probably means I will make you watch it again.

Little handsome man

He is a good reminder..

To slow down..

Be amazed at the simple things..

And really enjoy the beauty of the holidays..

Love that kid..

"There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child."
- Erma Bombeck