Blogmas 2014 Day 2 - What Does Christmas Mean To Me

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” -- Luke 2: 4-14

As a child Christmas was all about giving and receiving gifts and spending time with family and loved ones.  Santa left a special present for me under the tree on Christmas morning.  But through the chaos of it all my parents made sure I knew the true meaning of Christmas was about the birth of Jesus.  I always believed it.  Never doubted it.  

Jesus was born into the world to teach people how to live correctly and then died a brutal death on the cross so that our sins would be forgiven and we could have eternal life in Heaven.  Jesus died for each and every one of us.  I don't know anyone who could love us more than that. 

And still, I've passed on many of my childhood traditions to my children.  We leave a gift from "Santa" under the tree and exchange other gifts.  We allow them to have fun picking out what gifts they want and then tearing open each present on Christmas morning but we teach them that the best gift of all is the birth of Jesus.  He is the reason why we celebrate Christmas (and Easter) and that is what this season means to me.  

Blogmas 2014 - Day 1 Your Favorite Christmas Tradition

I decided to participate in Blogmas 2014 created by the wonderful Sandra at The Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.  I often participate in her Happy Homemaker Monday but haven't been able to do that in awhile.  I will get back to HHM eventually but I am going to give this Blogmas a try.  I don't update my blog often because I never know what to write so this shall be fun.  Hopefully I can find the time every day this month to complete this. 

And wow, can you believe it's December already?  Where did the year go?  Unbelievable! 

Ok, here it is. 

Your Favorite Christmas Tradition

When it comes to Christmas my family has a lot of traditions.  We bake sugar cookies with my Christmas shape cookie cutters, we go to the mall and let the kids pick out a new ornament or two for our tree, we stay home on Christmas Eve to watch as Santa goes by on a firetruck and we take a trip to the nearby amusement park to see their lights display and see Santa.  But I think my most favorite tradition of all is setting up the tree and all the decorations.  Every year it's done the day after Thanksgiving.

I've never been great at dealing with crowds so Black Friday shopping is out of the question.  Plus, before having children when I worked I had the day after Thanksgiving off and my husband took the day off.  It was a perfect day to get the decorating done. 

We have a prelit artificial tree which seems to make things so much easier.  I don't have to worry about stringing lights but I do add a few pieces of garland and the glass balls while the children put the rest of the ornaments on.  They love doing it. 

Then I arrange other decorations around the house, including our ceramic nativity scene and the stockings.  The children also enjoy sticking the window clings to the living room window. 

My husband hangs the lights and decorates the outside of the house.  I didn't take a picture of that yet. 

Happy 7!

Today my oldest child turns 7.  I can't believe it.  Why are the years going by so fast?  I remember finding out I was pregnant, going through the pregnancy, giving birth and holding that tiny newborn in my arms as if it were yesterday.  Now he's a big boy in 1st grade, reading, writing and solving basic math problems.  I went to a parent/teacher conference last week and was told how wonderful he is doing in class and is above average in reading and math.  I'm amazed at this boy.  He does give us some minor challenges at times but it's nothing we can't work out.  He's a great kid and I'm so lucky to be his mom. 

Unfortunately he had to go to school today and this is the first birthday he's had away from me but when he gets home we will celebrate.  My husband took off work and met him at the school for lunch.  He'll be sharing cupcakes with his classmates too.  He picked out what he wants for dinner and then we'll have cake and he can open presents.  He's already spent the money is grandpa and his nanny gave him.  We celebrated on Saturday at a local amusement park.  It was cold but they have it all set up for Christmas. 

I love this boy!

It's Not Winter Yet But It's COLD Outside

Right now my thermostat reads 27 degrees.  As soon as I stepped outside today my hands immediately froze.  I'm not a fan of this weather.  Not at all.  According to the calendar it's not winter yet but it sure feels like it and it's only going to get colder.

Yes, I love this cartoon.  It explains how I feel.  I love the summer and I even love spring and autumn ... but not winter.  I will say, I love being able to wear jeans and a long sleeve comfortable shirt and sip on a hot drink to stay warm.  But I'll quickly exchange all of that for a chance to get back into my shorts, tank tops, flip flops and the warm air.  Oh how I already long for springtime. 

As my daughter and I returned this morning from putting my son on the school bus she said, "I don't like the cold I like the warm."  Smart girl! 

At least we know when the cold weather arrives it means it won't be long before the Christmas season starts.  It seems in a lot of places it has already started.  Some people have started to decorate, you see all the Christmas displays in all the stores and Christmas music is playing on the radio.  I used to complain about the rush of the season.  I mean, we just finished Halloween and I haven't even eaten my turkey on Thanksgiving yet.  It used to bother me so much that everyone wanted to get the holiday started early because it wasn't long before I'd become sick of it.  But this year I'm planning to have a different attitude. 

I mean, what is so wrong with getting an early start on celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior?  It seems as though Christmas comes and goes too quickly anyway.  So I'm going to take the time and enjoy it for as long as possible and it's already started in this house. 

We haven't decorated yet and probably won't until the day after Thanksgiving, as we always do, but we're already listening to Christmas music and have started shopping for presents.  My husband has planned the days he is taking off in the month of December, because he can't carry them over to the next year and he has so much to use.  My favorite part of December is that he's home A LOT with us. 

But of course, as excited as I'm getting for Christmas I have to remember that Thanksgiving is next week and I need to get ready to cook a big meal for my parents.  Also, my son's 7th birthday is next week too.  Yeah, aside from the bitter cold weather this is a really great time of year.  I'm excited for what's to come. 

I'm also excited to participate in a 25 Days of Christmas idea Sandra from The Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom came up with.  I'm always looking for different ideas when it comes to what to add on my blog. 

So that's about it for now.  Stay warm, friends!

Oh, This Girl!

Don't be fooled by that big smile and all-around cuteness.  She's a 3 year old.  I always heard the worst age was 2 but oh no.  Not even close.  I even wrote about it today on Facebook.  It got lots of attention from several mothers who know exactly what I'm talking about. 

I typed that during one of my daughter's meltdowns.  We were in the kitchen and she very rudely asked for a piece of candy.  I don't allow my children to have candy so early in the morning and I tried to remind her of that but she threw herself on the floor and had a fit.  I didn't want to pick her up, yell at her or even talk to her at that point.  I walked away.  I took my phone and went into my room where I took a few minutes to browse on Facebook.  I'm not sure why I did that.  I usually just take some time to pray, and I did that too, but that moment did help a lot.  She quieted down instantly.  With my son I had learned to ignore his tantrums and that always worked.  Of course, my son was a much more laid back and easier toddler to deal with.  My daughter brings on a whole new challenge.  After she calmed down I walked back into the living room and didn't say a word about how she acted.  We both moved on.  But her tantrums, her demands, her stubbornness certainly didn't end there.  I have my work cut out for me with this girl, for sure.

Being a parent is wonderful for so many reasons but there are also times when I would rather pull every strand of my hair out of my head piece by piece than to have to deal with the attitude, the whining and the tempers.  I refuse to give in to my children, especially when they are rude and forget to say please.  My daughter hates and I mean HATES hearing the word no.  Whenever I say no, even if I say it calmly, her response is always, "why are you so mean to me?"  I try to explain why I say no but she doesn't seem interested.  She just wants what she wants when she wants it. 

Yes, I have a strong-willed child but I'm not backing down.  Even though at times, like today, I feel completed defeated. 

36

I recently celebrated my 36th birthday.  Some may say that is still young and some may say that is old and aside from a few strands of gray hair and a few wrinkles (yes, already. blah) I can say I still feel pretty young.  I can't bend and stretch like I used to and I've been experiencing some pains here and there but I'm still very young.  Thankfully, I'm still quite healthy too. 

As I am approaching the age of 40 I am noticing just how fast time seems to fly the older I get.  I distinctly remember my attitude during the teen years and how life seemed to be dragging on and I couldn't see myself being a 20 year old, let alone a 30 year old.  I had no idea what my future would hold and I certainly didn't care.  Wow, knowing all I know now I wish I could go back to those days and give my teenager self a major attitude adjustment.  The twenties came and went too fast.  I was married at 23 and didn't have my first child until age 29.  It seems the thirties have been the best years of my life so far. 

My dear husband took off work, as he always does every year, and spent the day with me.  We waited until my son came home from school and then enjoyed dinner at the Olive Garden and then home to eat some cupcakes made by my husband (and a little help from our daughter).  Oh they were so delicious.  I snuck one today too.  Ugh, going to need to exercise like crazy this week. 

I can also proudly say that I am in the best shape of my life.  No kidding.  The size of my clothes are smaller than they have been in a long time and I'm building muscles I never had before.  My diet could use a little work but I found a love for exercising that I never had before.  It's so amazing.  Who I am now is someone I wish I could have been so many years ago, but I can't go back in time and I refuse to have any regrets.  I'm a happy 36 year old.  Life is good. 

Hello October

We are now in the third day of October.  I love this month.  The weather is getting cooler but still pleasantly warm.  The leaves are changing colors and falling to the ground.  In fact, this is what my front yard looks like right now.

This is all from our neighbor's tree.  My husband doesn't seem to like the fact that the leaves from their tree falls into our yard because it could kill the grass but I don't mind.  If I get the chance I want to rake the leaves into a big pile for the kids to jump in just like my sister and I used to do when we were little.  Or maybe it was that my dad ordered her to rake the leaves and I just helped myself into the pile.  Hmmm?  Doesn't matter.  All I remember is jumping into a pile of leaves is fun.  Anything to make my kids happy. 

The weather is warm but there is a little wind that is blowing around.  I finished the first coat of stain on our back deck ... finally!  Next chance I have will be to add the second coat.  It's looking good.  I'm happy with it.  Then hopefully this month we can continue on the kitchen renovations.  I just can't wait for it. 

Right now I'm just sitting on the rocking chair in the living room with my feet up, laptop on my lap and listening to the sound of ... NOTHING.  My husband is at work, my son is in school and my daughter is napping.  I enjoy this time of the day when it's quiet.  I usually spend it cleaning but I also make sure to take a little "me" time.  I need that time.  And the house is getting that amazing pumpkin spice scent all thanks to my candle that's sitting on the warmer.

 

 I love candles and have many.  This and an apple one that's perfect for fall.  

This weekend my husband needs to go to archery training, we have a birthday party to attend and will also be visiting friends in their new house.  It seems the weekends this month are already booked up with fun things to do.  Halloween will also be here before we know it.  My son decided to reuse his Thor costume from last year.  Yesterday my daughter picked out a Snow White costume to wear.  I'm looking forward to Halloween ... and candy!  What else is going on this month?  Oh yeah ... my birthday is in a few days; however, this year I'm just not feeling in the birthday spirit.  Birthdays used to be a huge deal for me but now it just seems like another day.  Is it because I'm getting older?  The older I get the faster time seems to be moving.  I don't like how quickly time is going.  It feels as if the twenties went by with a blink of an eye.  Then I turned 30 and suddenly I'm in my mid-thirties.  It won't be long before a 4 and a 0 will be on top of my birthday cake.  Yikes!  Can time please slow down?

Okay, well this was just a lot of babbling.  I will end it here.  Have a great weekend everyone!