I love the holiday season. I love the warm, fuzzy feeling of cozying up at home with family, I love all the yummy treats, and yep... I LOVE DECORATING!!
We decided to put everything up during Thanksgiving weekend, since Anna and Aaron would be visiting. It was a smidge stressful trying to decorate a new house and finding places for everything, but sitting on the couch and looking at our mantel... ya I get those warm fuzzies for sure.
Our angel is literally pressed up against the ceiling in our dining room- ha! Ceilings aren't quite as tall as they were in our old house, but the benefit of cramming it in that room- seeing the twinkle lights on the tree as we pull up the house;).
And the hubby owned the outside decor this year! This picture doesn't nearly do it justice. Usually, I'm the one (without patience) throwing lights on the bushes, but he spent the better half of a day lighting the bushes, and putting greenery up... not sure what has got into him this year- Pete you feelin' some Christmas warm, fuzzies?! ;)
I may or may not have mentioned to Harper, on the morning of Thanksgiving, that we should decorate for Christmas. Nothing like cramming to holiday preps into one- oops. First mistake: didn't speak of that plan without the kiddos around. Signal an eye roll and sigh from the hubs. OOPS! Harper would not rest until all the ornaments were out and being hung- lol! Poor Pete was exhausted- heck we both were- but hearing Harper tell her sister all the stories behind her ornaments was priceless.
8pm and we were still growing strong. Harper was walking around wearing ornament-glasses and talking on an ornament-phone- ha! I on the other hand was beginning to see stars... or maybe just endless twinkling Christmas lights- haha!
Anyway, we did it! Christmas is alive in the Lee household!
Miss Harper has had a pretty good month! She is focusing at school a little more each day and I am thrilled. Minnesota winter calls for LOTS of gear! Lots of warm clothes. Little miss forgot 3 pairs of gloves, two hats, her mitten clips to prevent such issues, and her shoes... goodness gracious! At least she's adorable- can't be too frustrated with her, but now she has a ginormous tag hanging from her bookbag- do not leave without z,y,z..... Crossing my fingers it helps her and saves my sanity- and HER fingers from freezing at the bus stop- hahaha!
Maggie Lou has recovered from her endless ear infections, due to new ear tubes and adenoids removed. She is enjoying therapy again and back walking in the gait trainer. She is sitting up soooo much better, and mimics tons of sounds. She is amazing- love her!
Evelyn Marie is a true piece of work- ha! She loves hard, plays hard, and gets TICKED OFF hard- hehe! She is my mini me for sure... always organizing, always picking up (the kids can make a CRAZY mess), always wants to be a part, and has almost no patience- ha!
{She helped put away the groceries- the bread barely survived.}
{Snapshots from school... shirtless for art... good call, Ms. Katie- good call! Checking out the family wall- she even picked out her family from the wall!}
{obsessed with putting clothes on her head... sorry to whomever's shirt that was!!!}
This last month it's been more noticeable than before: she is not quite my tiny little baby anymore! In Target earlier today it hit me- all of my children of outgrown the baby section in clothes- WAH!!! Truly, each of them will always be my babies in my heart, but gosh... watching them grow up is bittersweet at times! For now... I'll enjoy the cuddles while they can still fit on my lap;)!
The Advent calendar....
This is something I look forward to every year. I love this time of year and it is a way for me to organize the different activities I want to do with the girls and teach them the importance of this season. This year.... very much a this-whole-thing-went-differently-in-my-head situation- grr!!! Harper wants every night to be a present, fights her sister over the activities, and doesn't even seem to appreciate it. I am praying that this will change... I refuse for this to be ruined and I really have high hopes of this being a good tool to help teach the importance of the season... we are only 9 days in- we CAN turn this around, people!!!
{Christmas jammies and Harper reading her sisters a Christmas story- 50% success up to the point where Harper got super frustrated with reading to her sisters (on page 3) and ran pouting to her room- sigh}
{Daddy Daughter Movie Date to see Moana- Success!}
{Harper's Letter to Santa- Success!!}
Our first date night in Minnesota!! What a fantastic babysitter we found in Ms. Abby!! I enjoyed a night on the town with the hubs and his coworkers....
...but enjoyed just as much our first holiday outing as a family- Breakfast with Santa!! Arkansas girls take on Minnesota Breakfast with Santa- ha!!! We had so much fun with our Minnesota friends- new and old.... so fun!
Christmas Magic is upon us. This year I appreciate my munchkins and how well they've done these past 6 months through a huge change! I think I appreciate Pete and I doing pretty well too... we've had our hiccups, but I think we're slowly learning the Minnesota way. Truly though, so much has changed these past few months, but I see already the traditions and Christmas memories taking a special place with Harper. As I say every Christmas season, slowing down and experiencing the magic of the season through the eyes of our kids is amazing!
Wishing you all a little Christmas magic this holiday season!
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