I challenge you to simplify Christmas

yes......you see that right, 15 days until Christmas!! So..........are you stressed yet???  lol  These past couple of days have been a little stressful for us.  the thing is......when you start getting stressed, that's when its time to STOP, take a breath......and remember to slow down.  If you forget to do this and are stressed, that's how you don't know notice the little things that truly matter.

I know.....it can be hard.  I even get stressed, who doesn't??  but, when we are stressed and frantic, we cant notice and enjoy the little things that come with this time of year that make it so magical.

My children have ALWAYS been taught the true meaning of Christmas.....If it wasn't for Christ, there wouldn't be a said "Christmas".  Jesus is the reason for the season.

Christmas isn't about the gifts.  Yes, I do wish I could buy my children and family every single thing in the world! Of course!! But.......tell me about your gifts from past Christmases.....Can you?? Sure, probably.....but I bet you'll forget something. lol Thinking about my past Christmases, its never been about what we get, but how we feel on Christmas.

Lets take a look for a minute at my favorite Christmas movie.......

If you haven't seen it, or know anything about it......you MUST live under a rock! lol  I really love this movie.  Everything it stands for.  This family goes through some crazy stuff leading up to Christmas.  From pranks to love as a family.  you know? A simpler time. Ralphie only wanted one thing for Christmas......a red ryder BB gun.  In Christmas movies now days, you basically have a bunch of spoiled kids in these big fancy houses......the HUGE tree....and everything you can think of under the tree.  Is this honestly realistic?  What about the families who live in tiny houses, simple little trees, and maybe 2 to 3 presents? I can bet you this.....we are probably "a little less stressed" and I promise you our Christmases are just as special.  We don't concentrate on keeping up with Jones-es. We concentrate on loving one another.

Okay, now I am starting to ramble, ha-ha back to what I was saying about "A Christmas Story".

From friends getting their tongue stuck to a flag pole,

 Dropping the F bomb......

 ugly bunny costumes, 

to the hounds being unleashed on Christmas dinner

even a Christmas duck that smiles

But, You see, It is the way the movie goes off that reminds us that all that materialistic stuff doesn't matter.  As the kids are tucked in with their one special gift that they got & mom and dad on the couch watching the snow fall.....with everything quiet and peaceful.

Its our family that makes Christmas special.  Its the memories we share.  Its the traditions we pass down to our children and grandchildren.  Its the little random acts of kindness we do for others.  Its our Savior.  

So, this Christmas season, I challenge you to simplify Christmas.  If you understand that these are the things that matter most about Christmas, It should be a little less stressful and even more enjoyable.

The main reason I wrote this blog is, last night.....I actually had to step back for a min and had to look at the small things myself.  sometimes I have to remind myself the same things Ive mentioned in this blog.  After my son and grandson went to bed last night, my daughter and I got to wrap presents.  Me and her....sitting in the floor, trying to see who could wrap the prettiest presents while D sat on the couch and laughed at us. These are the memories I want my children to share with future generations about me.  Not that I am the best gift giver. 

MUAHS!

it's looking alot like Christmas

so.... we went and got our Christmas tree! yay!

with the Christmas season finally upon us, i thought I'd share some things regarding to Christmas. since we went yesterday to get our tree... lets talk a little about tradition.

i remember as a little girl when i lived with my grandparents how special Christmas had seemed to be to them. not to us kids, but to them. my grandma would bring down our tree from the attic, set it up and decorate it. then, my grandpa would carefully put his winter village under the tree with his train that would go around the bottom.

now that I'm grown, i understand that excitement. i love this time of year and decorating, just like my grandparents.

I've tried my best to keep most of the traditions from growing up... things like
• one present on Christmas eve
• opening our Christmas pjs
• cookies and milk for Santa
• tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving
• tree down after the new year

now, when you grow up, get married, whatever, sometimes those traditions change.... or as i like to say, improve. you have two people that come together with different traditions. most traditions I've always done growing up have remained the same, with my kids as well. but, one thing i had to"change/improve" was the fake tree. every year e had an artificial tree while i was little. i was raised hearing so many horrible things about live trees.

you know, they make a huge mess.
I've heard stories of critters.
a ton of work making sure you don't kill it.
fire hazard.

but, i have to say I'm so happy i changed that though. you know, in a relationship, sometimes the there are things you just have to compromise on. and none of us woman wanna say when our men are right... but....d was so right!!
for the last 12 years i have had a real tree.(except 1 year when we were really broke we got a little fake tree. you could see right through that ugly lil thing) and now, i wouldn't have it any other way. i look forward to going to the Christmas tree farm. something special I'll hold close to my heart and can't wait to one day take all my grandkids and make that a HUGE family tradition!

, and, remember those horror things about real trees, there are good things that come with them too!

they smell good.
if you make sure they are watered, they are safe.
they support the local farmers.
they plain out look better!

so, if you haven't done a real tree, don't knock it till you try it......

Christmas tree farm

found it!

that face makes it worth it

2k14 tree

now that i have my grandson here, i wanna start some new improvements to our traditions. for example... this year, I'm doing matching pjs.

share with me some of y'all's fun traditions y'all have!! do y'all prefer a fake tree or a fake tree??
muahs!