twas the night before

the night before . . .

in which I share some random thoughts and photos because I've missed blogging.

Then I shall collapse into bed because it's been a BIG day!

{my mother-in-law gave me these really fun reindeer ornaments when we were there for Thanksgiving, they're from Ikea Aren't they cute?}

This is my first year where I feel like I'm "in charge" of Christmas.

Have you ever felt like that?

It's interesting because in some ways this has been one of my most "Christ" focused Christmases. It has been a good and enjoyable time of reflection.

At the same time, especially as the "big day" approaches I feel some pressure to "make" the holiday.

I know I am not alone in this as I have read posts on the internet addressing this very thing.

This one I feel like is a very good reminder for moms, so if you're feeling anything like me, do yourself a favor and read it.

This one is really good too.

I just did my absolute last round of shopping for Christmas.

Stocking stuffers . . .

In my head I had them for my two guys, when I checked my stash it seemed woefully small.

It is hard to know when you are just trying to "keep up" with others or the commercial pressure and when it really would be nice to pick up a few more things.

A few things that are rolling around in my head:

1) David's only real concept of stockings I think is that at Nana's house she has a cute little garland with little baby socks that look like Santa and when the boys are at her house they get to pick a stocking and get a little surprise out like a little car or playdoh or rubber spider

so, if he finds a stocking with even two things in it, that will be more than he's expecting!

2) No one in blogland or anywhere else for that matter will know what my son's and my husband's stockings contained

Is it wild that I have to consciously remind myself of that?

But I did just have fun tossing things into the grocery cart that I normally wouldn't buy for my guys and was super excited to find that the Pepperidge Farm gingerbread man cookies (which were a favorite of mine as a child) didn't have any dairy listed on the ingredients so my little guy can have that fun treat!

Also, I haven't mentioned but we've been in the middle of a big renovation all month!

We haven't actually been doing the brunt of the work thankfully but we are about to kick it in gear as our part is starting of painting, installing shelves and cabinets, finding people to lay carpet, etc.

The family room as well as some other spaces are getting a makeover.

Let's see, what else shall I tell you about?

this cutie pie who likes to wear his monkey hat and eat waffles that his daddy made for him is SUCH a joy and a lot of fun right now learning new words daily and imitating us and making us laugh.

{ornament we made from Truth in the Tinsel}

We had a couple of BIG snows this week!

I really can't believe it.

A white Christmas!

A real white Christmas with TONS of snow.

This Texas girl is having trouble getting it through her head.

Do you know that Amy Grant Christmas song "Tennessee Christmas"?

I've heard her singing from my iTunes "There may be more snow up in Colorado than my roof will ever see . . . " as I look out my windows and see huge flakes coming down hard and heavy. It's wild . . . AND really fun!

I mentioned today was a big day.

Thanks to my parents baby-sitting, Adrian and I enjoyed a really fun date day to Denver.

I got dressed up all cute in a new shirt and scarf from Old Navy thanks to my friend Erin reminding me of Friends and Family discount time and we started off with a Chickfila chicken biscuit and sweet tea! Ah the joys!!

I hardly ever go there anymore since David can't eat much on their menu with his dairy allergy.

It was wonderful.

Then we made a quick dash to pick up a kajillion paint chips.

After years of apartment living it is so exciting being able to paint.

Choices, choices!

Then it was onto ikea where I had a clipboard, yep, a clipboard, I really did.

Cabinet front and drawer pull choices, lighting, shelves bought and barely fit into the car, a little toy picked up, a couple more gifts, looking at lots of stuff and making lots of choices . . .

Then onto Maggianno's which is a favorite from our dating days and we got to use a gift card!

Yummy lunch then back home to pick up our sweet boy.

So, here we are on the brink of Christmas Eve 2011.

I'm still working on letting go of the fact that if we get a Christmas card out at all (I really, really wanted to do one of the three of us on our red tandem bike in the snow and I even ironed the shirts and wired a wreath to the front of the bike but it just didn't happen!) it will be electronic and not with the photo I had planned.

And I'm looking forward to

a visit from a sweet neighbor

hanging out with family both immediate and extended

enjoying yummy food

seeing David's excitement and joy

giving David his second haircut hopefully before we start taking too many pictures

wrapping most of our gifts since I've only done a few

opening boxes that have come in the mail

attending Christmas Eve service

starting some new traditions

and most importantly worshipping our Lord

I hope you all have a very, very merry Christmas!!!

Kelly