Stepping Back.

Yesterday I caught myself getting my straight-up Scrooge On over all of the Holiday madness.
I did last night, too.
And ummmm...this morning, too?
Ooops.
Overwhelmed...a little tired, so many commitments and places to be and things to do.
It can be a lot.
Over-tired kids, frazzled adults.
It's easy to do, to get caught up in the stress and wish the Holidays away, if only briefly.
This morning after picking up the kids from the sleep-over at 9:00 a.m. and then heading straight
to our second Christmas celebration so far, I found myself thinking;
I can't wait until next week when all of this is over with and we can just chill out at home and
do whatever we want. 
I don't really mean that though.
I don't want to wish away the Holidays because I am stressed out.

Christmas Eve has always been my most favorite Holiday.
Actually my most favorite night of the year.
We have done the same thing every year since I was born.
We go down to my Uncle's house (which is where my grandparent's lived) and celebrate
with my mom's side of the family.
There are lots and lots of people there, tons of kids.
There is a gift exchange and presents and wrapping paper everywhere and food and sometimes
a visit from Santa and a house full of some of my most favorite people in the world.
This night is what the Holidays mean to me.
Family and love and excitement and traditions and happiness and anticipation.
It is where I feel the happiest, the most myself....the most HOME.

Today I had a chance to step back and think about what the Holidays really mean to me,
how I want them to feel for my children, how I want us to celebrate as a family.
I am lucky.
I am blessed with a wonderful family.
I am thankful.
And I am looking forward to my most favorite night of the year and all the magic it brings.
From celebrating with my extended family, to setting out cookies for Santa, going to midnight
mass with my mom and filling the stockings before I go to bed very late late tonight.

Happy Christmas Eve to you all.

My View...

I have spent the last three days in the kitchen.
Baking and making and packaging...busy, busy, busy.
But it's a good busy for me this year.
Usually by this time every year I am in more of freak-out mode.
I am a little better organized and prepared than I normally am, which is a huge relief.
This whole getting my life semi-organized thing is good.
I said semi.

I made Ritz cracker thin mints, sugar cookies, covered pretzels and this pretzel crack.
Lots and lots of it.
I'm not sure if I should curse Shannan or thank her for this recipe.
I have to confess though,  I can't even look at it now.
Too much "testing" the finished product.
{ughhhhhh}
But it is stomach-ache-inducing-good and I love that you only need five ingredients for it.
Oh, and the thin mints are so easy and good, too. Love those.

I have been listening to Christmas music in the kitchen, trading off a new cute apron
every day, and the kids have been really helpful and cooperative.
Which is always a good thing.
The treats are all packaged up and ready to go.
Our first Christmas celebration is tomorrow with Eric's family.
At noon I might add. Yikes.
I still have lots of wrapping--wait, all of it actually-to do but tomorrow night Eric and I
will have a chance to finish the rest while the kids are at the annual Christmas Eve-Eve
sleep-over at my uncle's house.
I am looking so forward to tomorrow night, you  have no idea.

Hope you are not in complete freak-out mode yet, either.
Time to pick up this house that I let the kids pretty much have free reign with today.
A definite drawback of spending the day confined to the kitchen.
Oh well, it was worth it and I am so glad to be finished.
Have a great night, y'all.

Holiday Session :: Part 2

Happy Wednesday, friends.
I am about to tie on my apron and spend the day in the kitchen baking.
But first, some more pictures from our little holiday photo session on Sunday.
{Part 1 is here}
I really like some of these.
The light was perfect that morning and all the more awesome because the sun has barely been
showing it's face lately. That is what I hate about the winter, the lack of sun.
Depresssssing.
Anyway--are you lovin' my new picnic basket?
I am.
Love, love, love.
And my cute little red mugs?

Have you tried the peppermint mini marshmallows?
Yuuuuummm.
Most of the other flavors sound weird/gross to me but these are good and yummy
with hot chocolate.
My kids love them.

This afternoon we are going to school for Wyatt's little party and then it's
bu-bye school until January 4.
Hooray for that.
I ran out last night and got my last couple of little errands done.
Finished...done...and so relieved.
Now it's just all about the baking and wrapping for the next few days.
Bring on the Christmas music and coffee.

Have a great day!

Peace & Love:: Part 1

This morning the sun was shining, it was a beautiful day and I decided we were going to go
take Holiday pictures, so I scrounged up everything that I needed, got the kids ready and we
were at the park in less than an hour.
Seeing that there isn't going to be much sun this week at all, I figured this might be my only chance.
Okay--so, I picked out the dress and she picked out the bottom half...I had other plans but I wasn't up
to convincing her otherwise, so I decided to let it go.
Leggings, socks and big boots instead of tights and maryjane's?
Whatever.

 I gave up on sending Christmas cards a few years ago.
Way too stressful for me, as dumb as that might sound, so I let it go.
So, these pictures are for my Virtual Christmas Cards...and for the grandparents for
Christmas presents, too.

There are a bunch more of these, I'll share more later this week.
Ummm...did you notice that Charlotte actually has her coat OFF in a few of these?
She only had it off for a couple of minutes but still, it is December 18.
In Illinois.
That's kind of crazy if you ask me.
Christmas in one week from today.
Yikes.
Okay--off to do more editing.