Santa???

Christmas is full of surprises, and I don't just mean the presents.

I have talked with a number of people lately, and read a few posts on Facebook, and I have found out that lots of people choose to not "do" Santa with their children.

Enter surprise.

I can honestly say, I was a bit shocked.  It never even occurred to me to not "do" Santa at my house.  My parents did it.  Pretty much everyone I know does it.  I will do it too.  And I guess that is exactly how cultural influence works, y'all.

Of course these people gave their reasons for leaving Santa out of their holiday plans.  Many didn't like to lie.  Many didn't want to disappoint their children when the truth came out.  I admire their conviction.  They can choose to celebrate how ever they see fit.

BUT, (you knew there was one coming, didn't you) I still feel totally comfortable with Santa being part of our Christmas tradition.  I want to explore why here on this lovely computer screen and then be on my merry (Ha!) way.

1.  Reason One:  We don't want our children to be devastated when they find out the truth. 
Devastated???  Really?  I just don't see this happening.  I doubt my children with need therapy over Santa, or the lack of him. 

I still remember when I found out.  I was in third or fourth grade (I am not ashamed that I was kinda old.  Good for me for having a childhood.) and I was reading a Parents magazine.  Yes, I loved to read and read everything.  I am sure I had just finished my Babysitters Club and moved on to the next thing of print I saw.  I read something that referred to Santa and his other friends, the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy, as a myth.   I asked my mom what myth meant.  There you go.  Truth hit.  And I was totally ok.

2.  Reason Two:  We don't want to lie to our children.
This has a little more merit, in my opinion, than reason one.  I don't thinking lying to children is right, either.  I don't put up toys that I don't want my kids to play with and say they are "broken".  I say, "I don't want you to play with this."  I don't tell my kids the candy is gone when it's not or that Dora isn't on when she is.  

Something about Santa doesn't seem like a lie to me.  It seems like tradition, culture, and childhood.  It's like when little kids really think puppets are talking.  Or how my daughter thinks the ladies we saw at Disneyland are the REAL princesses.   

Too often we rush children into reality, into being practical, into being adults.  I want the wonder to go on.

3.  Reason Three:  We want to have all the focus on the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus. 
By far, the best reason.   This really made me stop and think about my calendar of events this December.  It made me look around my home and see what I showcase as important during the holiday season.

I'm just not sure it has to be a Santa vs. Jesus mentality.  Santa started as a real man, St. Nicholas.  He loved. He gave to the poor.  He cared for "the least of these".  He did exactly what Jesus called us to do.

Santa, today, can be a fun bonus and Jesus can truly be the focus.  Santa can be used to promote giving and caring for others.  I think children follow our lead about what is the most important thing.  They will celebrate what we celebrate and love what we love.

That being said, I need to spend some time getting my heart ready for the Christmas season.

I need to take the time to really remember that the God of the Universe came down as a baby, in a barn, born to a woman who was probably half my age.

That this birth is what gives me my hope.  It is what saves me from death.

That the greatest gift is nothing that Santa will bring.  The greatest gift came two-thousand years ago.

Santa's not the only one with a list.

I have lists too.  That's right-lists, PLURAL.  I have Santa beat.

Lists keep me organized.  I feel better with them. I also forget things without them.  When I tried to pack for a trip to Colorado for my cousin's wedding without a list, it was a disaster.  I got through security at the airport with Hayes and then suddenly realized that I had forgotten the car seat base and pumped breast milk.  I cried.  No more packing without a list.

Here is my recent list that helped me pack the kids and myself for our trip to Corpus Christi for Thanksgiving.

Front

Back

I didn't forget a thing.  And, I get sweet satisfaction from crossing things off a list.  Sweet satisfaction, y'all. 

I remembered everything for our Thanksgiving trip and the week was wonderful.  The kids were great in the car.  We were able to see lots of family, eat good food, get family pictures made, and eat more good food.

  Bella helped Mimi in the kitchen.  Mimi (Andy's mom) is a great cook.  She did most of the cooking for Thanksgiving dinner. We are so grateful!

 Hayes enjoyed baby food for Thanksgiving. Next year will be better, baby boy. 

The beautiful table.  We had our Thanksgiving at our parent's church because we needed more space.  We had lots of people and it was wonderful!

 Before dinner, PawPaw, Hayes, and Uncle Scott played the piano.  I LOVE that we have holidays together with both sides of our family. 

Bella enjoyed her meal.  Note the turkey shirt.  We dress in theme, people. 

As you can see, it was a great holiday.  Now this week I have been recovering-unpacking, laundry, etc.

I had a plan for that too.  Don't worry. 

I use the weekly calendar to keep myself organized. (I bought it at Hobby Lobby.  Reason #438 why I love that store. ) On this weekly list was Christmas decorating.  Pictures of the beautiful decor coming soon!

Now I am off because the timer is ringing for my pork chops.  Don't worry, those were on a list too.

Why is this so hard?

Christmas cards are a big deal to me.  A big deal.  I love getting them.  I love sending them. I spend hours (Do not judge me.) planning this out every year.

It all starts with getting a good picture.  Y’all.  This is difficult.  Photographers, I have so much more respect for you now that I have two children.  Sit up straight!  Look at the camera!  Smile!  Mommy needs some eggnog just to recover.

Then after all of this outfit picking and yelling encouraging, no one EVER looks good in the same picture.  Ever.  

See what I mean?   

This year we had some professional pictures made, so I think I will use one of those.  The pressure has been lifted.

Then to make it even BETTER, Shutterfly is offering 50 free cards to bloggers.  That’s right.  FREE.  And to top it all off, I love Shutterfly.  I have ordered gifts and prints from them before and the quality is great.  I also love that their website is so easy to use and gives you so many design choices.  I like easy and I like choices. 

I mean, look at these designs!  I like this one:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/oh-holy-night-religious-christmas-card-5x7-flat?fg=2048&sortType=1&storeNode=93479

And this one:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/snowflake-damask-holiday-card-5x7-flat?fg=2048&sortType=1&storeNode=93479

And this one too:

\http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/with-love-chartreuse-christmas-card-5x7-flat?fg=2048&sortType=1&storeNode=93479

You had me at the monogram, Shutterfly.  You had me at the monogram.

If you have a blog, you should totally take advantage of this deal.  Sign up here:  http://bit.ly/sfly2010

I cannot wait to pick my final design and send them out!  There are so many good choices. 

Maybe this won’t be so hard after all. 

All things holiday

I am finally doing my Halloween post.  My computer at home has been unable to log onto/find the internet.  I don't know why.  I don't know how to fix it.  Remember...technology hates me. So, I am at the mercy of waiting until Andy gets home to use his laptop.  Thanksgiving is next week and I have pictures with Santa to share, but I feel guilty doing so without doing Halloween first.

So, here it is.  Our Halloween in pictures:

Minnie and Mickey were ready for our church's Fall Festival!

Bella loved jumping.  Props to our church for having preschool bounce houses.  All rough 10 year old boys were avoided this way.

Bella also enjoyed the candy.  Hayes enjoyed my cell phone.

On Halloween we went trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.  We love that our church's event is not on the 31st, so we can enjoy Halloween the old fashioned way too. 

All that walking was obviously worth it to someone.  And yes, I have let Bella have some of the candy too. 

And now that I have given Halloween the attention it deserves, I can move on to...Santa!  I am normally very against doing Christmas activities before Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't say no when there was NO line for Santa.  We went to check out Santa yesterday (aka-Mommy needed to confirm that he had a real beard.) and the place was EMPTY.  That was enough to convince me to throw my "Thanksgiving has its place too." convictions to the side and go for it.  We got dressed up in our Christmas attire and went for our yearly visit. The results speak for themselves...

I know the quality if the picture is bad.  I had to take a picture of the picture with my phone.  But two kids smiling really makes up for it.

I am a bad blogger.

I haven't posted in awhile.  I am a bad blogger.

When I dreamed of this little project, I thought I would blog everyday.  I obviously overestimated the amount of free time I have.  I also overestimated the amount of fascinating blog topics found in my life.  I do not blog everyday.  I don't know if I ever will.  I do shower everyday.  I count that as success.

I have not been blogging recently because I have been busy doing this:

and this:

and this:

Bad blogger...good Mommy.  Now that is a success.

**Halloween pics coming soon!  (Like, tomorrow.  Maybe.)

It's November

It's November. Wow.

In many ways, it doesn't feel like November to me.  That may have something to do with the fact that it was 86 degrees here today.  I went to the grocery store and while loading my car, I got sweaty...in November.  To be fair though, I get sweaty every time I take two kids to the grocery store to buy a cart load of groceries.  It is no easy task. 

Despite the crazy weather, I am determined to do fall-y things.  I have made three loaves of Pumpkin Apple Bread this season.  Snuggle on the couch, get a cup of coffee and a slice of this bread, and it's easy to pretend there is a chill in the air.  I like to trick myself with this little treat.  (Oh, yes.  That sentence was planned.  Pun intended people.)

Here is the recipe I use.  It is SUPER easy.  If it wasn't, I wouldn't do it.  I do not like cooking. Or baking. Or any other kitchen activity.  Oh, wait.  I do like eating.  Anyway, try it.

Pumpkin Apple Bread

(Based on a recipe from September 2006 Working Mother Magazine.  I have changed the amounts of some ingredients and added a couple things, so I guess it's my own now.)

2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 large egg
1 cup buttermilk (I never have buttermilk.  Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice to regular milk and let it sit for 5 minutes.  Magic.)
1 apple, peeled, cored, and grated
3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree

1.  Put your oven on 350 degrees.  Coat a loaf pan with non-stick spray.
2. Whisk together dry ingredients in a large bowl.
3.  In a small bowl, beat egg.   Then add in buttermilk, apple, and pumpkin.
4.  Stir this mixture into the dry ingredients.  Don't overmix.
5. Pour into pan and bake for 55 to 65 minutes.  Check it with a toothpick to see if it's done.

Enjoy any fall morning.  Cool weather optional.

The teacher in me won't die.

I taught elementary school for 7 years.  I am a stay-at-home mom for the first time this year.  I am treasuring this precious time with my small children, but do miss things about being in the classroom.

Fall was always one of my favorite times at school.  There are so many fun things to celebrate and do!  So, Bella and I have been having a little school fall fun of our own. 

We studied bats and the letter B.

We studied pumpkins by making felt jack-o-lantern faces and having yummy pumpkin-tillas for a snack.

(I got both of these ideas from inbetweenlaundry.blogspot.com)

I have loved watching her learn and get excited for each new activity.  It's like teaching, but with no papers to grade or meetings to attend. 

And speaking of schools (This is not my most graceful transition ever, but I'm going to make it work.) how about those Baylor Bears???  We were a proud family last night as we watched them defeat the Texas Longhorns 30-22.

 

Sic 'em!  I love the taste of victory!