THIS is the SEASON...

This is the season, Beloved of the year. . .

So true! What's not to love? I can honestly say this was my favorite Christmas for as long as I can remember. I know it's because we focused more on the Savior and on our family!
Nothing is perfect, but it was beautiful!

Here are some pictures of Christmas morning!

A few of My Favorite Things...

To LOOK at! Every year I like to change up my decorations a little.

I don't do much, just move things around and add a couple of new things!
Here are some of my favorite places in my house this year!

I got the "printable" from blogland. I wish I could remember where! I think it's cute!

Our Cocoa Station with a twist! I added the lazy susan that I spray painted black!

Mr & Mrs Gingerbread! Sitting on top of my corner hutch. This picture doesn't do it justice! There is candy ornaments hanging to the left of them from ribbons! It's a sweet sight!

This brings me JOY! What more can be said!

Our "12 days of Christmas" trees! I changed them up this year.
I added new ribbon and cute pom pom picks! It made them so fun!

It's going to be sad to take all these decorations down! I've enjoyed them so much! They make me smile! I guess I'll have to start some new home "improvement" projects now!

Baking Day!

Every year we do the 12 days of Christmas with our family.
Basically, we have a family activity of some kind on each of the 12 days before Christmas.
This worked really well with our NEW tradition we started.

Well, every year one of the days is: Baking Day! Yums!

This year we kept it simple! We didn't bake as much,
because we just didn't need all those sweets around!

So, we made the favorites: Peanut Butter Blossoms, Russian Teacakes, Scotcharoos, Puppy Chow and CANDY! Caramels, Divinity, and Peanut Brittle!
Yes, I think that was MORE than enough!

We started a NEW tradition last year having a vege tray and
crackers and cheese set out while we bake!
That way we get a little healthy with the sweet!

Trimming the Tree

I never know if I'm going to have help with the decorating or not. I did end up decorating the house pretty much by myself, but these wonderful elves came in and did the ornaments on the tree! It was so fun!

It's so nice having these cute girls to decorate with!

It's a WONDERFUL Life!

I seriously think I am having the best Christmas I have ever had!

Have you ever had things going so well that well, maybe in a little bit negative sort of a way, you keep wondering what Bad thing is going to happen?

That's how I feel.

Silly.

Well, I'm just going to enjoy it. Anyway.

I feel like I finally figured out how Christmas is SUPPOSED to be. *LOVE* it!

We are loving our new tradition and feeling the spirit. The true Christmas spirit!

a Christmas craft

I love Christmas and I love crafting!!!

The other day I was on this blog and saw this.

I knew I had to make one... and I knew just who I was going to make it for! {shhhhh}

So, I waited until {2:00} and ran to Sonic to get my drinks - and drink carrier! I hit the dollar store on my way home and purchased my wrapping caddy supplies.

I headed to my craft table with Route44 in tow and started crafting! I embellished with supplies I had on hand! It was super easy! I had so much fun!

I would love to make more of these cute this caddies! Guess I'll have to visit Sonic more often this month!!

Here's my version of the Gift Wrapping Caddy:

Our Christmas UPDATE

So yesterday we started our new CHRISTmas tradition! We did our first "lesson" from "A Christ Centered Christmas" book. It was beautiful!

Unfortunately, I was kind of emotional through it. I don't know why I struggle showing that side of me, but I do.

I told the girls we were starting a new tradition and they needed to be patient while I figured it all out, but I felt it was going to make Christmas extra special!

They were sweet and cooperative. I was sad Hillary, James and Heather weren't here. But that's pretty much how it goes now.

Anyway, I think it was a success! And yesterday there was a special spirit all day. It was beautiful. Sacrament was wonderful, two of my girls bore their testimonies! (that's never happened) and then we came home and ate dinner and listened to the Christmas Broadcast via Salt Lake. It was wonderful!

Yes! This is going to be an amazing Christmas!