Holiday

Happy Christmas recap

in
Happy Christmas recap

Time for a Christmas recap, I know how much everyone looves those. ;] We are currently enjoying some family time at my parents’ house and soaking in these Christmastide days.

On Friday afternoon, we left our home in Alameda en route to my husband’s family. The drive took about two hours longer than it normally takes us so we had to take quite a few stops. Oh holiday traffic. But everyone survived and Henry only shrieked for a portion of the drive and Theo only had one up the back blow-out. Silver linings for the win.

Saturday and Sunday, we spent time with my husband’s family with lots of time for the cousins to play. We got together with Paul’s best friend and his wife and then my best friend from dental school and her family. Even though we can relatively keep up with friends and family with technology, it is so wonderful and joyous to see people in person and love on them.

Read More

Awkward and awesome

in
Awkward and awesome

Well it’s the Friday before Christmas and we are almost ready to head out of town to visit our families. Due to my work schedule, we have not been able to with our families on Christmas the last two years so it is extra special this year to spend time with family. For this installment of awk and awes (I shouldn't abrev it, should I?), I’ll mention a few holiday themed tidbits.

Awkward

- Three words. Dinner table politics.
- A rock hit our windshield while we were coming home from Tahoe and we have a spidery crack now.
- Eat-piercing shrieking coming from our two year-old when he tantrums.
- The new phase of projectile spit up coming from the baby.
- Christmas light and decoration shaming. I can’t find it but I stumbled across a post on the inter webs this week when someone was shamed for having blow-up dinosaurs in santa hats on their lawn. The “anonymous” letter stated that dinos weren’t Christmasy enough. Oy vey.

Awesome

- This amazing photo of Rachel McAdams circulating the web this week. She’s a strong, powerful mama.
- Vaccines. (Theo got his two month vaccines and I am grateful for modern medicine and a protected baby.) Also, herd immunity. Especially during cold and flu season.
- Being with our families on Christmas Eve and Christmas day and celebrating our traditions while we continually make new ones.
- Working on my January and New Year’s resolution spreads in my Blessed Is She planner and I loved how they turned out. I will show you sometime next week.
- JESUS IS COMING.

Read More

Quiet morning musings

in
Quiet morning musings

Quiet mornings. Sounds like an oxymoron around here, huh? From the second we wake up, it’s go, go, go. Even while I am on maternity leave and don’t have to “be anywhere”, it’s still breakfast chaos, making lunches, getting dressed, diapers, buckets of hair detangler spray, and hustling the family out the door. But sometimes, miraculously, it is quiet. The baby is sleeping soundly on my chest, the big kids are still curled up in their beds, and the crisp December air permeates the house. I sneak into the kitchen, make a latte, and marvel at the silence. I soak it in.

Read More

Christmas at the Hive

in

Happy New Year! *fireworks, champagne, and general merriment*

I actually made it to midnight to watch the ball drop and kiss my honey, which I definitely did not do last year with a five month-old.

This past week I worked so between the working, the children raising, the wife-ing, and the home-making, I am pooped! But, there is something so invigorating about new years. Turning the page and starting afresh (and all the cliché things) is incredibly freeing, don't you think?

Do you make new year's resolutions? I am always on the fence about making them. Do I set general goals? Do I make grand plans only to be disappointed if I don't check every box off my list? Still on the fence. 

But this year, in lieu of resolutions, I have decided to pray. 

Pray more, pray more often, pray longer, pray unceasingly. At the end of the day, my relationship with the Lord is only as fruitful as I am willing to lean on Him completely. I need to spend more time just sitting with him in the silence and letting Him speak to my heart. I don't know what that will look like yet, but I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for me this year.

And on a more practical to-do this year -- I hope to yell less. *nervous laughter* 

We spent Christmas at home. The new hive. OUR home. Waking up Christmas morning, celebrating the coming of Jesus as a wee babe, and spending the day soaking in Christmas beginnings with my family was, without a doubt, the best Christmas gift I've ever received. 

We gave the kids a few gifts and ate a few Christmas goodies (maybe more than a few). Paul and I did not exchange gifts because we decided the house would be our Christmas gift to one another -- for the next 30 years (am I right?). 

But before I bore you with a slew of Christmasy photos, I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who has read this blog and supported me in my writing. It means more than you know. 

'Twas a beautiful first day of Christmas at the hive. 

HAPPY NEW YEEEEEEAR!

 

Oh Christmas tree

in

We did not really hold out in the Christmas decorating department. I try to wait until after Thanksgiving, but alas, I did not make it. OH WELL. (No regrets.) 

But even though it was a bit premature, it was oh so special. We put on Christmas music, unpacked the decoration boxes, and got to it. Emma put the first ornament on the tree and enjoyed every second of our day. Sundays have become our special family time and this was one for the books. Henry put the angel on the tree and somehow got glitter stuck to his head.

We have been spending our evenings by the tree, reading Christmas books, and slowing down. Advent is such a special time of year and I will be using this season to reset and rest.

Happy Advent and Merry Christmas.