Three Cedars Farm Santa

Not a particularly good picture of any of us, but we can't be too picky since it is the only picture in months which contains all of our family.
This picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus was unexpected. We stumbled upon the chance to get our picture taken together and we took it.
We piled into the car to hand deliver Grant's birthday invitations and just to get out of the house for a moment on Saturday. While delivering the invitations we accidentally missed a street and ended up on an unknown road in the middle of Plymouth, MI. We happened upon a darling farm all decked out for Christmas and had to take a look inside. They had a talking Christmas tree that was enjoyed by all and then a store selling everything Christmas as well as a loft where Santa was seated waiting to have his picture taken with visitors (for a small fee of course). The picture was poor quality, the kids weren't sure what to make of this Santa and Benjamin was in one of his moods, but I was grateful for a picture of our family and the money went to charity. It would have been a perk if it had been better quality and we had dressed up a little, but the kids all got candy canes and the picture works.

I love the Christmas season! We finally managed to put up our Christmas tree last night and I find myself stopping to admire it whenever I can. I have been painting the mouldings in the Christmas room (our living room) and loved watching Luke's amazement as he stared at the lights on the tree today. He grabbed ornaments off of the bottom of the tree, but I put bells and unbreakable ornaments there so I didn't mind too much.

Tonight, Grant dropped our snow globe with the scene of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. It shattered on the kitchen floor and water and glass flew all through the kitchen and family room. The globe was filled with glitter. Have you ever cleaned up wet glitter? It was an adventure, one which I invited all of the kids to join in. We mopped as a family, mostly I cleaned the floor while the kids wiped the glitter around on it. Still, it was nice to be working together.

Benjamin undecorated the small Christmas tree upstairs near the kids bedrooms yesterday during nap time. (I managed to put that little tree up a few days ago to help tide the kids over until we could pull out our real tree.) He broke several of the ornament hangers so they are now perched dangerously on the branches without any security. He ran for his life when I came up to investigate the sounds I was hearing. I wanted to laugh when I saw him taking the corner into his room. That tree is living dangerously being so close to the kids' bedrooms.

Peyton keeps taking all of the Christmas stuffed animals she can find throughout the house to decorate her bedroom. The only problem is that she insists that they all belong to her and she refuses to allow anyone who has had their stuffed animal stolen to retrieve it from her
Christmas display. Her intensity makes me smile.

Jackson insists on wearing a bell around his neck at all times. I can keep track of him that way and I'm not sure he realizes how much it helps me identify what he's doing.
He loves everything Christmas, just like I do. (Okay, I can do without Christmas sweaters, but that is just personal preference.)

Carston keeps fixing the Fisher Price nativity scene because the others kids mess it up when they play with it. He reminds me of myself sometimes! The whole point in buying the Little People nativity is so that the kids can play with it. I guess they'll have to play with it when
Carston is distracted.

We have been drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows almost every day after school. The kids walk home from the bus stop and by the time they get to the front door, their little faces are icy cold. I'm a sucker for their pleading for warmth. I keep thinking hot cocoa is a fun Christmas treat, especially if you stir it with a candy cane, but it might just treat us to sugar overload if we keep it up.

My phone is our stereo of choice since we don't have our stereo set up yet. It is constantly playing Christmas music, but I miss the speakers. The phone can't put out enough sound for a few rooms, only one. If only we could just pull this house together and finish moving in......

It is cold here, but the kids are dying for snow. No snow yet. I admit, I don't wish for it. I adapted to Louisiana weather and miss it something fierce. Michigan keeps me in warm socks and sweatshirts in the house. I love warmth. I am a big fan of the sun. That being said, I do hope for a white Christmas for my little bunch. They are dying to put on their new snow pants and boots to trek out into our forest of a backyard to build a snowman. I think their dad is anxious for snow as well. It reminds him (and me) of home.
Christmas snow is magical.

I need to rush off and work on one of our many projects around the house. I should also fold the laundry piled high in the clean laundry basket.

I am so grateful for this time of year and the reminder it is for me of what is really important.
I really needed the reminder.
It helps me when snow globes shatter, tree ornaments are broken and scattered, tires are flat, washers break, water heaters don't work, furnaces need to be replaced and the munchkins are bickering over to whom the singing stuffed animal dog belongs.

I'm grateful for the gifts in my life. I have so many.
I am truly blessed.

I hope you are enjoying this Christmas season.