Christmas... Are you here yet?

Christmas is my most favorite time of the year. My sister and I always help mom do the tree and put out all the little Christmas knickknacks. My sister convinces our dad to put the lights on the house early. The last couple of years though she has volunteered to help and then conveniently shows up after he has got them all up. It's really not her fault though, he rushes to do everything so once he gets started there is no waiting for any help. We all love wrapping presents. My mom taught us well. They all have to be wrapped perfectly with a matching bow. And remember don't use too much tape! (Dad doesn't understand that concept) HAHA!!

My mom started a beautiful tradition over 30 years ago. She started collecting the Hallmark Daughter Ornaments when she had my sister. She bought the Baby's 1st Christmas for the both of us but every year after that she always made sure she had the Daughter Ornament. I think one of my favorites is 1998. It's a Gingerbread Women holding a pan with cookies on it. Like all families, we have our little tradition we do every year. We wake up early, make a delicious breakfast and then have our tree (Meaning open PRESENTS!!) We have done this for as long as I can remember. After all the presents are open, stockings are emptied and the loads of wrapping paper are thrown away, we get cleaned up and off to Aunt Rosie and Uncle Doyle's we go. This is the time when we stuff ourselves full of ham and/or turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, green bean casserole, yummy rolls and of course deserts. Oh how I love the Holidays!!

Well now I have a little family of my own. When Jody and I had our first Christmas together in 2005, I didn't know how we would work out the whole "Holiday Schedule" There was NO WAY on this earth that I would miss my Christmas morning with my parents and sister nor would I miss our Holiday feast. What's a girl to do? 5 years later I think we got it down... Christmas Eve with Jody's Mom, Christmas Day with my family and Christmas night with Jody's dad. Yes, we are CRAZY busy for 2 days straight but I would not have it any other way. Christmas to me, is about spending time with the ones you love. So the fact that we get to see everybody means the absolute world to me.

2009 was the best Christmas of my entire life! Well maybe next to the one where Santa brought be a 3 story barbie house with an elevator... Just kidding!! We celebrated our 1st Christmas with Kinsley Grace! We woke up December 25, 2009 to a white Christmas. We got to my parents and ate a delicious breakfast and then we sat around and opened all the wonderful gifts we were blessed with. One of my most favorite gifts was from my mom and it was the Baby's 1st Christmas ornament. This was so special to me because I knew it was the start of a tradition for my own family.

Well listen to me... I have totally gotten off the whole point of this blog! Today I purchased the 2010 Daughter Ornament. YAY!!!!  Also, I wanted to share that I got a steal of deal on a 9ft pre lit Christmas Tree for $50 from my boss. I am picking it up tomorrow since he is cleaning out his garage and needs to get rid of it. Oh... how it will take every ounce of me not to put it up and decorate it. But like another tradition.... I must wait until the day after Thanksgiving!! Ugghh, Christmas... Are you here yet?