CHRISTMAS TOUR DAY 5

Christmas in Elementary school is an exciting and busy time time!

The kids have finals, gift exchanges, pajama days, class parties, and performances this week.

I've been cutting out felt mice for days for the 3rd grade party craft.  

My daughter's card for her kindergarten teacher brings tears to my eyes and makes me want her job.  But then I snap out of it when I remember she will be assisting 24 kindergarteners in the construction of gingerbread houses on Wednesday.   

This is the last day I have at home before Christmas break.  Tomorrow is the last day of school and I will be there all day for Christmas Chapel, and various class parties.  So today it's last minute wrapping, stuffing stockings, party preparations, putting together teacher gifts, and a little laundry.  Not to mention enjoying the last quiet moments I will have for the next 18 days.

I have 6 hours until I have to pick up the kids.  I think the couch is calling my name!

CHRISTMAS TOUR DAY 4

Christmas activities fill our schedule and 

this month has been all about ice skating!

Ice skating with friends and family at the local outdoor rink,

practicing new moves,

and preparing for the big show!

Ellie participated in the Ft. Collins Winter Wishes Ice Show this year.  It kept our schedule full this month with rehearsals. This past weekend it all came together and she preformed in 3 shows.  She was an adorable penguin!  It was a great experience for her meeting other skaters, participating in a team, building her confidence, and seeing all their hard work come together in an amazing show!

CHRISTMAS TOUR DAY 3

I recently heard on the radio that the White House will no longer have Christmas Trees but they will decorate "Holiday Trees" instead.  "...Because we are no longer a Christian nation but a nation embracing many faiths" is the comment I heard.   

How sad.

In our house we do CHRISTMAS!  We enjoy the fun of Santa, stockings hung by the chimney with care, colored lights on the house, the hustle bustle, the massive amounts of cookies, setting the perfect table, the parties, the shopping list.  It's all fun!

But when I hear my girls sing...

"The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing."

"The thrill of hope.  The weary world rejoices.

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!"  

" Silent night, Holy night!  Son of God, Love's pure light!"

...then I am reminded of what really matters.  

CHRISTMAS TOUR DAY 2

Last night I enjoyed the Kindergarten Christmas program at school.  Not much beats Kindergartners for quality entertainment. There were singing camels, oxen, and sheep, and an angel band.  

Here is my angel.

There was nose picking, halo adjusting, sash yanking, excess voice projecting, face making and bored out of their minds, oblivious to the audience of hundreds, ceiling gazing.

Of course none of that was from my Molly.

She was a perfect angel!

WELCOME DECEMBER

December is here!  Our tree is up, our house is decorated, and all my shopping is finished.  But sit back and relax I cannot.  This month is the busiest on record for our family.  All good things though.  I love this time of year; the planning, the cooking, the Christmasy activities.  


There is so much to be thankful for.

My Christmas List

My kids don't write letters to Santa, or make Christmas lists, or spend time looking at toy catalogs.  I don't know why that is.  We haven't forbidden it.  I know there are things they would like to have, but they don't ask.  Somehow we have managed to raise kids who think it's not all about the presents.  I have no great parenting skill or advice on this but I'm happy that's the way it is.  I know I have certainly been pining over the catalogs that fill my mailbox this month.  But I have gotten some really great gifts already this year.
So my Christmas List is my gratitude list.  My ongoing counting of 1000 Gifts.  Here goes...

593.  Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes
594.  watching my 11 year old son stand in front of the church and ask for 100 boxes
595.  watching him shake hands with Franklin Graham

596.  and meet a young woman who received a shoebox in a Russian orphanage as a child

 597.  watching the 6th graders unload the boxes and form a chain to the door of the school

598.   enjoying his "moment of fame" as the kid who brought over 100 boxes

599.  hearing the true stories of hope that a box of pencils, candy and toothpaste can bring


600.  the first snow fall 
601.  the way the fog froze on the trees the other morning and made everything glitter on the way to school
602.  the smell of a fresh tree when you bring it home

603.  my paperwhites about to burst open and fill my kitchen with their scent

604.  seeing The Lion King at the Denver Performing Arts Center

605.  being amazed at what lights and costumes and sets can do to create magic
606.  enjoying hot chocolate after the show at a downtown Denver diner

 607.  having an indoor window seat to the Parade of Lights

 608.  watching children watch parades

609.  the Christmas hustle and bustle of downtown
610.  anticipation of things to come