Christmas Eve Letter

Well, it's December 24th and as I predicted, there won't be any Christmas cards or letters going out before Christmas. Heck, I haven't even wrapped a single present except our teacher gifts we gave out last week. Dave and I are planning a wrapping marathon tonight when we get home from our evening festivities with family. You know that is so "not Christina", but I'm evolving into a "structured" last minute person these days.

We planned to go look for a bargain on a new artificial prelit Christmas tree today, but we couldn't fit it in between laundry, decorating Christmas cookies with Daniel, and Dave's home improvement project of spray painting all of our outdoor brass light fixtures a new matte black. They look fabulous. Can you tell we've been watching a little too much HGTV lately?

I don't think I could write one of those cutesie summary Christmas letters like I used to do for this year. It would be too long. Our memories of this year are composed of the little moments, the kinds of things I post about on this blog so I don't forget about them. And I have another little book where I write down all of the cute things Daniel says and does so we never forget how fun it was to be in these crazy days. I hope it will be a treasure in the years to come.

My favorite memories of Christmas so far this year are: Daniel potty training- "I did it!", Wesley playing with the Little People nativity set and pulling things off the tree, reading our Advent Book together every night (with a new door to open each night that has part of the Christmas story behind it), Daniel making ornaments, cookies, and pretending to give presents.

Last night we took him in the service at church and he got to hold his candle during the candlelight service. I'll never forget the look on his face as he looked around at all of the other beautiful candles. Later he said, "I didn't even cry". No he didn't, but I almost did because my baby is growing up too fast.

Merry Christmas!! Love to all of you!! Dave, Christina, Daniel & Wesley

All I want for Christmas....

So far Santa has brought to our house:

Wesley- a double ear infection (ouch!)
Daniel- a new potty training doll we hope to use later this week.
D&C- there is a new tile backsplash going up in our kitchen as I type this....

And here are some more...

If you're not sick of us yet, here are some more pictures. These had a few more smiles, but still were a lot of work:

Port Innov # 2

Holiday Pictures

Nov Port Innov

Top 10 Reasons why it doesn't quite feel like the holidays

10. You've spent so much time with your Pediatrician the past few weeks, he calls you at home to let you know information on where he bought his cool Christmas gifts.
9. You knew before December that Christmas cards are not going out this year.
8. You spent 4 hours in the Green Hills Mall with your mother last week and spent less than $30.
7. If it's not at Target, it's not suitable to be a present. One stop shopping, here I come.
6. 4 trips to Sams and Costco in the last week, all for Moms Together food.
5. You can't figure out what clothes to wear because it is 70 degrees every other day.
4. You're lost track of the deer count because you are too irritated at neighbor's nasty mud splattered truck parked in their backyard for weeks.
3. Your child throws up (again) in a restaurant and you are either unfazed or a pro because nothing gets on anything or anyone.
2. Two hours spent in Portrait Innovations yesterday. Pictures of Wesley smiling= 1. Two more photo shoots this month. Can't wait.
1. You are updating your blog instead of planning for a Christmas party you are hosting in 2 days.

Thanksgiving pictures

I'm slowly catching up and getting some things done:

Thanksgiving