The Magic of Christmas at School

 It has been a lot of hard work being the Building Coordinator at Amelia's school this year, but it has been worth it tenfold to get to catch glimpses of her in her class and to get to know her sweet classmates and teacher.  I just LOVE being able to know she is happy and safe and having fun.  Love being available for both of my girls when they have an event at school and I do not take that opportunity lightly. 

 Santa came to her class and brought her a present!

 Her most precious teacher that I prayed and prayed for!!

 Elise and Eliza at pajama day!

Christmas Season Snaps

 I LOVE Christmas colored/themed clothing.  I know, I know, it is shallow and has nothing to do with the true meaning of the season, but it is something that I just truly enjoy.  There won't be that much longer that the girls let me put them in whatever I want (some days that is already true) and I just love seeing them look like little dolls in Christmas clothes.  It is a really fun girl mom moment.

 Same goes for matching jammies!!!  Love, love, love.

 Tons of fun at the Christmas parade.  It was on the perfect night and wasn't too cold and we had hot chocolate and just love our sweet town.

 Liv and Ingrid rocked their Christmas recital.  It is so neat watching them at stuff like this because I have none of the stress of getting them ready and being super nervous for them, and all of the joy of feeling excited and bursting with pride. 

 G and Pa's farm is so relaxing!!  We had great weather after the recital and we all just hung out and took a ride in Chleo (Ross's new, old truck from his Mammaw) and just enjoyed the rest of the day.

Meeting the REAL Santa

Our local college does a fabulous Santa night and the girls were looking SO forward to it this year.  Plus, they were playing Frozen on the big screen, so it was a double fun feature.  Santa AND Frozen is winning for sure.  The tree in the lobby is my favorite one in town.

Coloring some Christmas pictures while waiting in line.

The girls are so happy that the REAL Santa comes to our town.  I love this guy.

Amelia asked for a new Barbie and Barbie clothes and Elise asked for furniture for the doll house.  It was such a special night and I just love the innocence and magic of childhood.  We had snacks and drinks and I left feeling warm fuzzies from my head to my toes.

Fall Recital 2014

Very few things get me as excited as when it is time for dance recital.  The girls work SO hard all year learning their dances.  When they get up on stage feeling confident and beautiful in their costumes, it is just too much for this mama.  I just get so nervous and giddy and want to just scream my guts out during the whole dance.  I love watching them dance.  So thankful for a family that is supportive and comes to watch them.  I do NOT take this for granted and know that many don't live close enough for this privilege and that some just aren't close to their family.  Such a special day!!

Checking out the snowflakes!

We are so pleased that we moved to a new studio with a kind and loving teacher.  The girls love Mrs. Tasha and she is encouraging when she needs to be and tough when she needs to be.  So glad that this decision ended up being the right one.  The first of many tough calls we will need to make, I am sure.

Thanksgiving at Mammaw's

Very few people at Mammaw's Thanksgiving ever want their picture made, lol. (Or any other event for that matter, hehe).  But I did get a few snaps that show how much fun was had.  We had a full house and lots of good food and some good laughs at the girls.

 We couldn't wait to decorate for Christmas. The girls had such a fun time putting all our trees up.  Such a magical time of year for so many reasons.  We put up our nativity scenes first and the girls cut out little yellow pieces of hay to sprinkle around the manger.  For some reason, that was just so precious to me. 

Thankful To Say The Least

 Thanksgiving itself is such a mindset.  Not the holiday, but the act of giving thanks.  I have read a few books on giving thanks and done some Bible studies and it seems that it always comes back to the state of our heart.  Our attitude and our speech both are a reflection of our gratitude- or lack thereof.  I'm not sure why it is so easy to fall into a woe is me mindset, but I am so thankful for quick and swift reminders that get me back on track.  I have so much to be thankful for and so often I am fearful when I hear stories of others and their pain.  Those that have lost.  And suffered.  I whisper urgent prayers for them quickly followed with, "Please don't let that be me.  Please don't let that be my family."  I feel guilty for these prayers, but they come so immediately.  No one wants to suffer and go through trials.  However, in varying degrees, they come.  I pray I can remember to give thanks in those moments as well as in the mountain top moments. 

We left on Thanksgiving morning to head to Harrison and we were so excited. 

 The morning started off with snuggling on the couch and watching a the parade.  It is funny what sticks in the girls head--they definitely remembered this from last year and insisted the parade watching tradition at Gammy and Gampy's continued.

 That afternoon we all had a delicious meal at Mom and Dad's and took turns writing what we were thankful for on a sign the girls and I had painted.  It was our first year to do that and we had a good time reading everyones. 

 SO thankful that Ross was with us for Thanksgiving and not on call. Love this sweet, hardworking man of mine.  I can remember crying in the bathroom not that many Thanksgivings ago and trying to wipe my eyes so that no one would know.  I desperately hoped that I would have a Thanksgiving to celebrate with a husband and children.  How I wish that girl would have been more faithful and known that this most precious husband and children were on their way. 

 The weather was just PERFECT this year for our tree decorating.  Our sweet tree down by the pond didn't fare too well, so we moved him up to Meme and Pop's front yard and decorated him there.  I love my sweet Poppy so much.  He was determined to carry on this tradition and make it work.

We got so much time together playing and snuggling and that is really and truly my biggest THANKS.  I love quality time and feel so warm and fuzzy whenever I am with my whole family.  Cue the tears.  So thankful we live close enough to enjoy these moments.