these days of christmas

the Christmas season with littles is SO fun! I think each season will bring new experiences (school Christmas plays, the attention span for the Nutcracker, etc.), but for now, with all three three and under, we are having a good time! for us, Christmas traditions mean reading LOTS of Christmas books (and many thanks to brian's aunts and uncles as well as the kid's grandparents for stocking our growing collection-- I LOVE it!), learning and singing LOTS of Christmas carols (favs around here include "Hark, the herald angels sing" ,"joy to the world", "Rudolph the red nosed reindeer", and "silent night"), and finding as many Christmas lights as we can while driving around town (Levi shouts out "mommy, bee ba wights!" at every.single.sighting.).

we picked out our tree at Lowes the day after Thanksgiving. it's the biggest tree I've ever had (an 8-footer), but we have tall ceilings, so we decided to go for it! it's the first real tree we have had since having kids and they had a lot of fun watching the Lowes' man trim the tree and wrap it for us to take home! we decorated it (in stages) as a family, with the bottom two feet only holding plastic or cloth ornaments. I love our tree. I love the early mornings when it's just getting light outside, but the tree lights are on and it's cozy and warm. I could have a tree up all year.

usually, we follow the "something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read" rubric for Christmas giving. not this year. we just decided on some fun things we wanted to give the kids and went for it. I am excited for them to open their gifts and enjoy the day playing together. in preparation, I boxed up all their toys except for one bucketful. I think we are going to donate some and then rotate the rest every few months or so. #toyoverload

this year, ethan asked if we could make a birthday cake for jesus, since it's his birthday. big, giant YES! I love that he asked. I remember my little sister asking the same thing her third of fourth Christmas and my mom made a cake in the shape of a cross and we decorated and sang "happy birthday" to jesus! I asked ethan what kind of cake we should make for jesus and he said, "cake pops!" (which, coincidentally, is what he had for his birthday last year!). since ethan already knew "the Christmas story", we have been able to build on the story and talk more about why jesus came. I absolutely love getting to teach our kids these truths, hearing their questions and thoughts, and helping them understand more about who jesus is. in the process, we do too!

the Christmas felt tree I (finally) made!

cute little reindeer

I use Christmas mugs year round and here's a favorite from the dollar store that I sent to my husband in a care package when we were engaged!

my man and our tree

cute little elf

love Christmas lights!!!

partially-decorated at this point, but here's our tree!

riding around picking out our tree

another elf sighting.

blue eyed princess.

Christmas angel.

having fun in the snow!

painting our delivered Christmas presents!

my personal favorite decorated house in Tacoma

these are amazing. it takes unbelievable self-control to not eat the entire box in one sitting. thank you, grandma and granddaddy! I now have a new vice.

Christmas cards finally mailed! it takes a village.

the wonder.

stringing froot loop garland.

this little beauty and me.

this girl.

driving around, looking at Christmas lights!