First Snow

We had our first snow this past Tuesday. It started as a yucky rain as we were heading out. By the time we were arrived home we dumped our umbrellas for the the mad dash of hoping to find winter gear that still fit (a job I kept saying I "really need to do before the first snow" :o0). Thankfully, Gabriel's will work for now, Brily can wear his old boots and Haven is wearing a pair of Bri's gloves, but it all worked out and now I have my list of needed snow gear :o)

Tavi

The first taste of snow.

After warming up with hot cocoa, we snuggled on the couch to read The Christmas Carol, listen to Christmas music, and watch the snow fall, it was a beautiful day.

Mommy Confessions

If confession is good for the soul then here it is. I love my children dearly, no surprise of course. I treasure their gifts to me (just step in the door and look around). BUT after having been a mommy for more than twenty years, I hit my "I can't look at this hodge podge tree for one more year" stage. I agreed to not having the newest and best so I can be at home, I am great with second hand and goodwill-buy used and save the difference (thank you dear Duggars), but "the tree" really again really?? (yep, that is momma whine your hearing). Sooo I figured I had three choices, deal with it (this is the year of growth for me but that is a whole other blog), tell the children I can't have their stuff on the tree (break their precious hearts on purpose-never) or (drum roll please) put up another tree in the classroom and make it "all just for you guys to decorate however you want!! Wow how exciting is that!!! It worked :o) I have a tree with just light and the kids have a beautiful in their way (really) Christmas tree of their own. Maybe this weekend I can find some (dare I write it?) matching decorations!! Whohoo

Traditions

One of my favorite traditions is the great Christmas tree hunt.

We've found this lovely christmas tree farm that lets you cut your own tree. We have soooo much fun hunting and deciding, then hunting some more and more and more (yes, we do usually go back to the first tree we found, but that is not the point!)

Gabriel taking his hunting a little too serious.



How about this tree?

Or this tree??

We settle on this one and Gabriel with the help of Haven start sawing away.
Brilynn is overseeing the task

TIMBER!!







Haven is "helping" bring it up to the van.

(yes, we do tie it to the top of the mini van, I refuse to let the Griswolds top our family time!)

When we got home and set up in the tree stand with just the lights on (more on that in the post "Mommy Confessions") Gabriel snuggled up to me and asked if there was a reason people had Chritmas trees at Christmas. Thank you Lord for allowing me be the one with my children to treasure these precious teachable moments. I never stop being grateful nor do I take lightly that I have been given the most important job on earth.

Traditions

Christmas is all about traditions for me. Both old and new. This one is an old one but a great one. Black Friday morning....our supplies: holiday binder, ads and snacks. Stop by starbucks and we hit the road (sadly, we found that our starbucks didn't open until 5;30 what were they thinking?!!
Jessy and I got to spend a whole half day together :o) (exactly 12 hours ironically). It is highly unusual for us to have such a huge chunck of time to be alone and just enjoy our "adult" relationship that we are nurturing.
We got to wait in line and shop, found starbucks closed ;O(
wait in another line and shop, then shop and shop and shop, go out to eat ;O) shop, shop,shop ok you get the idea, it was a great day!