A Step Inside

What a great year 2010 has been, and the holiday season could not have been better as well.  With the beautiful snow falling all day on Christmas eve, and the excitement that was bursting at the seams from the girls, I’m convinced that there is nothing better than watching Christmas through your children’s eyes.. Even while on unexpected bedrest this holiday season, we still enjoyed all of our normal traditions.  I LOVE having them w/ our kids!  I have random memories come to mind from childhood from different holidays, and I’m so thankful for them.  I hope that our kids will some day be able to do the same, and pass them on to their own children.  I couldn’t help but constantly feel an overwhelming amount of thankfulness all throughout our gatherings.  We are so, so fortunate to be provided for by such a loving God!

Christmas Eve I showed Kaylor how to make a treat.. She was super proud to be able to do these;

My mom & brother, Brodie always stay w/ us on Xmas eve, so we had pizza together for dinner, then the girls opened their one gift that they receive each year.  New pj’s;


This year I read about a fun activity to do w/ kids, so we tried it out for the first time and it was a big hit!  We made “reindeer food” which consisted of dry oats, and glitter sprinkled in.  Then you shake it up in your baggie and sprinkle it on your lawn so that the reindeer can spot it shimmering from the sky for Santa to find you.  In pj’s and all, we snuck outside for a quick minute to sprinkle the “food”.. Both girls loved it!  (Ashlyn forgot how cold snow is apparently, and wasn’t thrilled when we were heading in and got some on her hands..hence the pouty face in the last pic.. lol)


Later into the evening, my mom & I spent some time in the kitchen preparing our breakfast for Christmas morning.. This has also become a tradition that I love doing.  I was seated comfortably at the island while my mama used the stovetop and brought me ingredients to work w/.  We made homemade cinnabon dough & icing for monkey bread, and an egg casserole to put in the fridge for overnight.  The only thing that had to be made Xmas morning, was hash-browns.. MmmMmm!…

I really think I was worse than the girls this year, as I was waking up constantly throughout the night to see what time it was.. Anticipation was getting the best of me!  The girls stirred around 7:15am, and we got up and moving around 7:30. I figured that was pretty darn good, since I’d been seeing Facebook updates since THREE am that people were up w/ their kiddos! lol

I LOVE having Christmas lights strung around the house… I keep hopefully wishing that it’s “okay” to have them up year round.. lol  For now though, I’ll just enjoy them while I can..