New Years Eve!

I might like New Years Eve better than Christmas these days.  We have some really fun great traditions and my kids aren't all selfish and wanting presents all day long.  It's a really great family day!

We wake up and have a great breakfast.  Then, we head down to the Children's Museum for their kid's countdown.  The kids get to have a great new years celebration that ends at noon.  They make noise makers and confetti poppers and hats, dance and play, and then they count down to noon.

We come home after lunch and do naps.  After naps, we have dinner and then sit by the fire making s'mores and drinking hot chocolate, watching a good kid-friendly movie until they get too tired to stay awake anymore.

My little one goes to bed around his normal time.  This year, my big girl is going to try to stay up until the ball drops.  She's so excited!  She says this is her "best day ever."

So, do you see any reason why Christmas is better than this?  For now, when they are too young for me to really ingrain in them the spirit of giving, this holiday is definitely better.  When we can make Christmas a giving holiday and not a getting holiday for our kids, then Christmas will be back in the running for the best holiday. But, for now, New Years Eve is way better!

Christmas Eve

It is an hour and a half from Christmas Eve, and there are a few very excited people in this house.

My daughter, 4 years old, is very excited.  The girl lives with the "best day ever" attitude with every day that greets her.  With tomorrow being Christmas Eve, it is definitely going to be the best day ever, until Christmas, of course.

My son, 1 year old, is very excited.  He sees the number of presents under the tree growing.  He sees his big sister telling him that the big one is for him.  He wrapped the present he got for his Papa, and he can't wait to help him open it.  He is waiting for his best day ever and hoping that Santa brings him a woo-woo truck.

Me.  I love the look on my kids faces when they are excited.  I love making a big meal for my family.  I love trying out new recipes. I also love that there will not be any more elf on the shelf posts on Facebook for another year.

My puppy, 1 year old, is very excited.  Why wouldn't she be, though?  She's getting presents and laps to sit in.

My husband, is very excited, for Christmas to be over.  I think the stress gets to him more this time of year than any other.  Hopefully in future years, he'll be better because we won't have just moved.

So, with the excitement bubbling over in our house, Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!

Looking Back

So, I installed Timehop a little while ago and it is making me quite emotional, happy and sad.

5 years ago this week, I was put on bedrest while pregnant with Jade.  I worked my last day in the corporate world 5 years ago.  And now, I'm preparing to go back.

4 years ago, Jade was getting ready to celebrate her first Christmas.  It was such an exciting time!

3 years ago, I just experienced my second pregnancy loss.  I lost this one at our annual trip to Hollywood Studios to see the Osbourne Lights.  Of course, this makes me sad for a couple of reasons.  The obvious, but also the fact that we are no longer in Orlando and won't be doing the annual trip to see the Osbourne lights anymore.

2 years ago, I was pregnant with Maxwell and getting ready to meet that sweet boy.

1 year ago, we were having Maxwell's first Christmas, and we were having our first Christmas away from Orlando, in our new city, San Antonio.

That's how long I've been on Facebook, 5 years.  It has been a very scary, exciting, and terrific 5 years. We've had a bit of a bumpy road, but every bump has been worth it, getting us here to this wonderful point in our lives.  We have two beautiful children and a wonderful home.  Christmas is here and we're spending it in our new home, another exciting adventure!

Christmas is coming!

December 5, 20 days before Christmas.  My Christmas cards are out.  All of the shopping for those outside of my house is done. In most people's standards, I am doing great. But, I feel like I am so far behind.

We moved 3 weeks ago.  My house still has boxes all over the place.  I haven't finished the shopping for my kids yet, and presents from others are showing up, making the clutter of boxes even worse and growing.

I still haven't finished shopping for my family.  Plus, the demands for treats are starting to come around. Jade's school wants 2-4 dozen cookies.  Jeremy wants me to cook in a chili cook-off.  I have to make boxes of treats for all of Jeremy's co-workers.

But, that's not all. I have what every parent has to go through right now ... Christmas pageant time.  Jade has a Broadway showcase and two school programs all in the same week.

But, that's still not all.  My health hasn't gotten any better.  6 months ago, I had to get a filling, and after that, my tooth hasn't been the same.  I just found out this week, that that dentist cracked my tooth while doing the filling, so now I have to get a crown.  And, the heart problems continue.  I have a follow-up with my cardiologist to talk about the medication that is making me feel worse.

But, what I'm most excited about is that my husband's office is having a Christmas party!  I love getting all dressed up and spending time with adults. This is going to be one of the most exciting nights in a long time.  It's been 7 years since our last Christmas party.

So, Christmas is in less than 3 weeks.  I love Christmas.  My kids are so excited and it excites me to see that. I just hope that I can make it there!