These Are A Few...

...of my Favorite Things:) We have gotten into the holiday spirit around here and I want to share a few of my favorite things:) In a lot of ways unwrapping all my decorations is better than Christmas morning. I guess it brings the same joy that I felt as a child on Christmas morning that kind of lessened as an adult. Each piece that I have has a story, a lot were given or made for us. Like, our first ornament we received from Aaron's Aunt with the year we were married on it. Or the Santa we have that was hand painted by a good friend. Just lots of memories. It makes me feel all cozy inside to think of these people and years gone by. So here are a few of my favorites.

My two most favorite things. I love how Tommy is putting his arm around his sister for this picture.

My crowded mantel:) With lots of art work from Tay, stockings, and musical snow globes.

Unpacking, these plates we added to our collection last year. $1.99 at Ross, great for holiday get togethers or cookies...see below:)

One of Taylor's favorites. She loves to hang all the ornaments on this tree each year. Always making sure the bell is at the top.

This Snowman I adore, it is a tea light holder. The Snowmen box is from my dear friend Melissa, it came packed with stuffed Snowmen ornaments that I love to put on our tree.

This Nativity Set is from my mom in law. It is precious to me and very delicate. So delicate that parts have broken over the years. Every year Aaron and I have to glue pieces back together, like that Angels wings. We glued the wrong hands on the wiseman one year, so one of them has a "gangsta" tweak to his hand. We laugh every year when unpacking him.

Here we have a two of my favorite bowls, a cookie jar, and a cup with a Gingerbread Man from my Mom.

I absolutely love these little mittens. They are for sure one of my favorites.

This salt and pepper shaker set is from my Mom. And the candle with the star is from one of my greatest friends, Mini.Every year part of the tradition of decorating is to hang bells on the door, this is something I remember from when I was a little one. We have one on the front door and back door.This is the hand painted Santa I mentioned, from our friend Linda. The reindeer is from my parents. The "peace" is from Mini and the Santa head is from a Christmas shopping trip with my Mom. And lastly but definitely not least we have my favorite Little Girl, holding the fresh baked cookies on our Christmas plate.

A lot of pictures I know. I could have put up more, we even decorate the front bathroom, put Christmas lights in Taylor's room, and have a wreath on the front door (made by my beautiful niece Hannah). If you didn't notice, I love Snowmen and it is what we mainly have. I could have posted tons more but I think I did more than enough. I will post more pictures of our house once the lights outside are up.

One more thing is that our Christmas tree is an artificial one from Aaron's parents. We love it. We really wanted to get a real one this year but Taylor would not have it. Oh well, it is better on the budget. Maybe we will take her and just take in the atmosphere of a Christmas tree farm.

I know that times are tough for so many of us. I know we are feeling it. People have less, so shop less, which means my hours are not as much at work. It can be very overwhelmingly scary. However, I trust that God is in control. He is my hope. Our anchor. I love that song by Addison Road called Hope Now...it is on our page...God is my hope. This season, there may be less under our tree...we will be giving and receiving less however we can have more hope than ever. I really think as much as times are tough we as believers can show to ALL people how much God has called us to love and to not loose hope. What a testimony. I think this might be another blog brewing in me...so what is your favorite holiday decoration?

Time

So I often write blogs and never post them. I leave them in edit format to look over and then change my mind on posting. I am afraid of offending someone or it was more of a "journal" time and the blog doesn't seem relevant any longer. I had this one sitting there, and thought what the heck I would post. Enjoy, if you read this. It was a week or two ago that I wrote it but I still feel the same way about my time and how precious it is.

Do you ever feel like time goes by too quickly? If there was a way to slow down time I would, I think. Slow down my Babies growing up. I wish there was a way to hold on to each hug and kiss. To bottle that infant smell. To feel those kisses before they got teeth. To have more minutes in my day. On the other hand I love to see the little people that are emerging before me. Each age and stage brings with it more favorites.

This can be applied even to my husband. We met when we were so young and married young. I love to think back on our relationship, the crazy late nights at Denny's studying...each other more than any subject. Our trips. Our spontaneity. I miss that but I love that what we have now is a product of what we had then. There is more special times now and up ahead.

My sister-in-law posted a blog about this flannel she has that Aaron and his brother gifted her years ago, before she was married to the other brother. She wrote about how that flannel brought her back to a special time, that it brings her comfort and warmth. I feel that way about a mug I have. The first apartment Aaron and I ever lived in was a tiny one bedroom apartment. When we moved in the apartment gifted us a basket with mugs and other goodies. We got two mugs, over the years one has gone missing. The other one I don't use much but when I do it brings me such comfort. It is a huge white mug that says Tamaron Ranch, the kind perfect for soup, ice cream, and hot mocha. When I think of that place I remember burnt chicken, the dog we tried to have using out upstairs balcony as a back yard...it was gross...laughter, laundry mats, cleaning, no space, and fun times. It was in a lot of ways the foundation to how Aaron and I would learn to live together, it was a place of trial and error as we figured out what would make our home run, it was our first home.

I love to think of the past and at times I can remember and tear up a bit. When I look at my six and a half year old and think to myself, wasn't I just pregnant with her. I love her so completely. I look at Tommy and think, seriously you were just newborn yesterday. Now he is a walking, talking, destroying anything and everything little boy. Wow! I am excited to see where God takes my children. I just want to forever remember them and each stage.

We lead busy lives. Last night I had the night off and had a night at home with just Tommy. It was precious. We cuddled up next to each other in our nice freshly washed Downy smelling flannel sheets and he drifted off to sleep. I just stared at him. So precious. Taylor last night woke up with growing pains (Aaron and I both had them super bad too) so I woke up with her and gave her some Tylenol. Then I snuggled up to her in her pink polka dot Downy smelling flannel sheets and whispered, "Mama is here now." and rubbed her legs. Then I shed a tear over how precious that time was. Those are times I want to remember.

Ladybug, Puppy and Stuff

So it is late coming but I wanted to share how cute the kiddos were for Halloween, pretty darn cute!

Aaron came home on Halloween so we didn't do much, we went to dinner and got to see Gina.

The kids just love their Aunt Gigi and are SO excited when they get to see her! Me too!!! After trick or treating with Aunt Gigi, we went home and waited for trick or treaters but none came! Next year I hope to have that Halloween party again!


Work has been great, I miss the family but am loving what I do. We are full force into holiday time already so things are busy. After the first of the year I will have to go on a week long training to hopefully San Francisco so I can see my Shanny. Oh, and I don't think I have shared but TJ is completely weened, has been for about a month. And he sleeps in his own bed! Huge for us, since Tay co-slept for SO long. The kids still end up in bed with us a couple times a week but I think we are both sleeping a lot better having out King size to ourselves!

Aaron and I had our Parent/Teacher Conference for Tay today. She is doing really well! We are so proud. She is reading at a second grade level! At a level 16 already! She got the only "outstanding" mark in handwriting. And got actual comments from the PE teacher on how well she is doing there. All around doing excellent. The one area we will be working on is math, but I know she will get it! She is very mature and likes to help a lot in class, a big sis even at school! I am still volunteering in her class and just love a lot of the students.

Not sure what else to say, things have been very busy with lots going on. Luckily I think we are settling down a bit. I also had a much needed 5 days off in a row, just how the days fell from week to week, I needed it. Tomorrow is my last day off and I am planning on finally getting the house clean and then doing a play date with some friends. Hope you are all well! Here are a few more pictures of the kiddos, TJ has this "fake" smile he does every time the camera is out now, it is pretty cute!

Vote for your Favorite

We were at the mall today and Taylor wanted to try on some hats. Which is your favorite?

Sassy

Sophisticated

French and FUN