Another Christmas has come and gone, and while I'll soon post all about our festivities, I wanted to first post a very special Thank You to our uber-generous family and friends who thought of us this Christmas season! The gifts under our tree were piled ridiculously high with most of the tags reading To: Adam. He is so loved!
While he was easily spoiled by his aunties, cousins and grandparents, Adam also wasn't forgotten by his Florida buddies with fun puzzles, bathtub basketball, and so-appropriate nesting dolls, or by his ever-doting Godparents Bud and Abby and their boys with the Tonka Chuck's Garage and hand-me-downs. (That's gift-enough alone!)
Thank you all for your long-distance lovin' on our little man!
But more than the gifts, I realized how excited I get when my family opens gifts from us that I think know they will love. Like when Angie opened her winter hat and scarves (sounds silly, since it's such a simple gift!) and for Kim and Josh to open the enlarged, framed photograph I snapped of their initials carved in a wooden bench. I love that such joy can come at such small costs. I relish simple joys!
And while all the running around and packing and loading and driving and visiting and cooking were exhausting, it's these joys that I was so blessed to share with family now that we live so close to everyone. Through the act of giving, I was fulfilled. And as a bonus, I got some nice sweaters, too. :)
Thank You again!
Yes, I realize that a public blog posting is no suitable substitute for a personal phone call or a hand-written Thank You note. I am giving a blanket thanks to everyone to tie you over until you receive more deserving gratitude. I hope you know we cherish and appreciate all of you abundantly.
Let's be real... most of you probably don't send out Christmas cards. Having grown up with a mom who always sent cards, I always have as well. But it's work! (No wonder some of you may have dropped the tradition!) It's something I complain about each year as I address roughly 50 envelopes, writing little notes, composing a Christmas letter (which I dropped this year since we have this blog) and including pictures, then paying for the stamps and licking the envelopes.
But I do it anyway. And I can't not do it.
Why?
Because I absolutely love keeping these friendships and connections alive year after year, no matter the distance. I especially love to receive the cards, photos and notes from those we don't see very often and catch up on their lives. Gosh, what my Mom always says really is true -- you don't realize how much time has passed until you see the kiddos. Man! When did you little guys get so grown up??? Has it really been that many years since I've seen you??
This year we sent cards to loved ones in over 10 states, to people we haven't seen since college, to people whose children we've never met, to people we don't see often enough. They are important to us. It was especially important to me to continue the tradition this year to our Florida friends family we left behind to keep those relationships thriving until we can see each other again.
And it's a joy to post all these as part of my holiday decor.
Honestly, this is my favorite wall in the house. :)
After the holidays many of the photos will end up on the refrigerator or in an album, and I'll "recycle" some of the cards by making them into gift tags for next year's gifts. And next year I'll marvel at how big all these kiddos are all over again.
I think I've mentioned before about how much we're loving our house here in Ohio. Well, having a house is even more fun at Christmastime!
The main attraction, of course, is the tree! Michael introduced me to live trees on our first Christmas, and frankly, I don't think I'll ever want an artificial tree. Since we now live in the "north", we looked for a local cut-your-own-tree farm and were excited to find one about 30 minutes from here. We checked it out one evening, and while I would recommend next year going in the daylight (the fields were lit), we came home with a beeeaaautiful tree! No joke, it's our prettiest tree ever. Not a bad spot on it.
Timber!
We made a big change this year to white lights on the tree. I grew up with colored lights, but I must admit, I'm loving the clean, classic look.
Four strands of lights.
And, voila! The finished look!
The white lights made the tree simpler, so I almost wonder if I should add... something.. to make it fancier. Maybe I'll worry about that next year.
And here's the rest of the house. I realize that after we moved in I promised to take pictures of our rooms and I never did. To my defense, I had seriously considered repainting the yellow walls and I wanted to wait until that was complete before showing off our living room. Well, once I truly assessed how much painting was involved, the yellow really started to grow on me. (And it's not as bright as it appears below.)
I love lighted garlands, and all the lights are on timers so when I come home after work, everything is lit and magical.
The one thing our holiday home lacks is a fireplace with mantle.
And this year we have an outside to decorate, too! In years past we would help my parents light their house up, so Michael was well-practiced to illuminate ours.
We love our beautiful, cozy Holiday Home --
sure wish our friends and family lived closer to share it with!
It's the holiday movie season! Our DVR is filling up with some of our favorite holiday flicks, and a few times a week we try to cozy up on the couch in the warm light of our Christmas tree and enjoy them. (Guess I should post some pics of our holiday house.)
I thought I'd give you my list of favorite Christmas movies, in no particular order. But first, let me review the ones that didn't make my holiday movie list.
The Omissions You'll probably notice some glaring omissions to my list, ones the even my husband is appalled that either I haven't seen or just don't care for --
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. (The stop-action version with the Misfit Toys.) Honestly, I don't ever remember seeing this from start to end. Michael cannot believe this, so we have a date tonight to watch this in its entirety. Who knows, it may end up on my list below.
A Charlie Brown Christmas. Now this one I've actually seen, and I do remember and love the end message when Linus tells the nativity story. Yes, it is about Christ! But my problem with this movie, as well as It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (and no, I haven't seen that one fully either) is the pace. These are sloooowww movies, and well, it just doesn't keep my attention well enough.
A Christmas Story. I just don't get it. Period.
Griswold Christmas. I think the bottom line with all these omissions is that I didn't grow up with them, and therefore they don't hold any nostalgia for me. And I'm not a fan of the Griswolds.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Animated or live action (which is a bizarre film in and of itself), I just don't give a Who.
So on to those I do love --
The Classics
White Christmas. Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, oh my!
Miracle on 34th Street. The original or remake, I enjoy both.
It's a Wonderful Life. A holiday Must.
A Christmas Carol - Mickey Mouse, Muppet or Otherwise
Nostalgic - Holiday Movies I Grew Up With: A Disney Christmas Gift. A VHS tape we had from 1982, featuring film snippets of Chip, Dale, Pluto and Mickey decorating a tree, Bambi and Thumper on ice, Donald wrapping gifts, Arthur and Merlin and the sword, two lovers' dangerous icecapades, and more. {I was excited to find it in 5 parts on YouTube!}
The Nutcracker. Anytime I see a production on TV I will absolutely stop to watch it. Having danced The Nutcracker ballet in high school (as a Prologue dancer, Mirliton, Harlequin Doll, Snowflake, Flower, party guest, and Dew Drop Fairy, to boast a little), this ballet holds a special attraction for me. I love watching the various interpretations of the scenes, and the professional dancers are always phenomenal.
Muppets Christmas Carol. To clarify, anything featuring the Muppets! Who doesn't love them? {Anyone else really want to see the new Muppet movie just released in theaters?}
Santa Claus: The Movie - still my favorite "real" Santa. So Magical!
Modern Favs (admittedly, mostly chick flicks) Family Man. This may be the only Nicholas Cage movie I love, and this may be one movie that's flown under your radar. It's a good story about what's important in life, a modern take on A Christmas Carol, if you will.
The Family Stone. A story about the Stone family gathering at Christmas and all the drama and hilarity involved with that. I love family.
Love Actually. Lots of story lines expertly woven together at the end.
The Holiday. Can't watch this movie without wanting Kim and Christie loafed on a couch beside me!
The Santa Clause. The first one is the best.
But my favorite Holiday Movie???
Elf! Every time I watch Buddy attempt the escalator I laugh out loud. What a fun movie to remind us of the childlike excitement of Christmas.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..... thanks to the first snowfall of the year last night! While it didn't stick around all night, we did have a dusting over the lawn and cars. It made for a pretty magical exit from our trip to see Santa (yes, again!) at Outdoor World, which last year was the most festive (and free picture!) place to see the jolly ol' guy.
I have to admit, I had high expectations for our local Ohio Outdoor World, after experiencing Christmas at the Florida store last year, with its lobby's huge beautiful fireplace and super tall Christmas tree, a sleigh and reindeer that we used for family pictures, and a real Santa Claus. I was bummed that this store, while larger and 2-stories, didn't have a similar lobby and the Santa, well, wasn't quite up to expectation. Adam sat on his knee fine but the whole time had this look like, Mom, who's he kidding with the fake beard?
Nonetheless, Adam had his picture taken with Santa, enjoyed the Bass Pro Shop aquarium, and the absolute highlight of the evening for him, the escalators!!
And while the snow was gone within a couple hours, it was exciting while it lasted, and Mindy had a quick reminder of what cold wet snow feel like. Brrrrrr!
I hope everyone has a joyous Thanksgiving, surrounded by family and those you love. This year we were in Georgetown with Mindy's sister's family and then in Northern Kentucky with Michael's sister's family, where we....
Ate and ate and ate and ate and ate... I asked Adam if he wanted some turkey, and he said, "Gobble, Gobble!"
Enjoyed a Thanksgiving Pinata, courtesy of Uncle Daniel. New Thanksgiving tradition?
Survived Black Friday shopping (a first-time experience!)
Watched UK BEAT TENNESSEE!!! (It may be another 26 years before we beat them again, but, hey, we'll take it!)
Had fun riding bikes, reading books and playing with the Williams cousins!
and saw SANTA!!!
Santa showed up while we were shopping, so we thought we'd see what Adam's reaction to him would be. He walked right up to him, no hesitation at all!
We have so much to be thankful this year -- new job and new life here in Ohio, living close to family and old friends, and still remaining close with our now long-distance friends, too.
I have an amazing husband and the most awesome child ever created. Seriously, if you haven't seen him lately, you're missing out. He is our Everything, and we are blessed beyond measure to have the privilege of being his parents.
What a joy!
Aarrrrggg!
Our little pilgrim...
And my favorite...
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone...
especially to our family near and far and our favorite Fort Lauderdale Thanksgiving family!
Our warm, sunny days of Autumn are getting fewer, and before much longer we'll be fully into winter, and you all will need to remind me that, yes, we chose to move here from Florida! But, hey, at least it feels like what November is supposed to feel like, and that we are loving.
I was told that November is absolutely the best time of year to go camping. Now, looking at the weather forecast with lows in the mid 40s, I wasn't so sure, but heck if Michael wasn't right (of course). The days were warm, around 60-degrees, and the night-time 40s are warmer than you'd think, especially with a cozy fire. We even chose to bring Adam, and with plenty of layers, shared sleeping bags, extra eyes and hands to help, and a handy hiking pack for him, he had a blast!
Red River Gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest was Michael's stomping ground during his college days, and I could see the glee in his eyes as we packed the car and he checked his rappelling equipment. There is nothing even remotely comparable to the sights and hikes like these in Florida!
We drove down with my sister Angie and her family Saturday morning for one night in the woods. We took three hikes:
1) An easy trail out to Chimney Rock
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Notice Adam in his hiking pack, a never-used hand-me-down from Aunt Megan. I'm so glad we stored it in our attic all this time. Came in so handy! He was not a fan of it at first, but by the end of the weekend he loved getting in his pack and going on the hikes. In fact, he would squeal with delight at the most dangerous parts of the trail/climb. Uh-oh, just like his Daddy...
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2) A treacherous I-can't-watch-as-my-husband-scales-the-cliff-with-our-son-strapped-to-his-back hike to Half Moon Rock for rappelling
View of Chimney Rock (center) from Half Moon. Click to enlarge.
This is where the aforementioned dangerous trail came in. To get to the top of Half Moon we had to scoot, crawl, climb and help each other up to the top, and once up there, there were certainly no railings, just long drops off the cliff-sides. Fortunately we also had Michael's brother Daniel and cousin Matthew to help out. Once on top we kept Adam strapped safely in his pack, until he was too far past nap time and he just wanted to lay his head down. Aunt Angie was more than willing.
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3) a Sunday morning long hike out to Gray's Arch.
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This was the highlight of the trip for me. The trail is 3 miles round-trip, and we first hiked down on to the top of Gray's Arch, and then we followed the trail down and around to be beneath it. Fortunately most of the trees had lost their leaves so we could appreciate it better. The arch, combined with the cliff overhang and rugged terrain, is spectacular. Angie, Josh and the boys hiked up to stand underneath the arch, and as I watched them from below I couldn't help but think they looked like tiny actors on a gigantic movie set.
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And of course, there was camping. We found the perfect camping spot right off the trail, where you find your own firewood, pack your own water, and the bathroom is anywhere and everywhere you look. (Joy!) Of course, with the time change and earlier darkness, I think we were all in bed by 9pm!
click to enlarge
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But the big event of the weekend was the rappelling. Michael has all the equipment and taught me to rappel back in our college days. With my nephews now 11 and 9 years old, this was a great opportunity to teach them, too.
click to enlarge
Both boys hardly hesitated before scaling down the 40-foot face. So proud of them! I think it even impressed a similarly-aged youth group watching from above. Funny moment, too -- the youth group leader (the bald guy in the blue shirt in the video) is a guy I knew in college. I hadn't seen him or his wife in 12 years... I was at their wedding in 1999! Small world!
And while the rappelling was thrilling and fun, the climb back up.... not so much!
Congratulations to my beautiful parents who quietly celebrated 40 years of marriage last month.
Yes, FORTY!
Mom and Dad, I admire your sustaining love through all these years, and we are so blessed to have parents whose commitment to each other and family is stronger than anything else. Thank you for building our home and always being a haven for unconditional love and support. You've set the bar high!
First I got to celebrate it at the zoo, then we had a costume parade and party at school, and then I got to go trick-or-treating!
By the time Mommy and I arrived home from work on Halloween most of our neighbors had already prepared for trick-or-treating by moving their cars along the street and setting up chairs and fire pits in the driveways. All the houses we went to had neighbors outside greeting everyone with their candy -- we didn't have to ring any doorbells. Everyone was outside waiting for us! Daddy and Mommy set up a table and chairs in our driveway, too. Mommy says there was a great sense of community in the neighborhood.
Here I am in my froggy costume. Ribb-et!
With Cowboy Daddy
and Cowgirl Mommy
Hmm, where to start?
Lots of fun other costumes!
We had a really busy neighborhood! And a firetruck even came to hand out candy!
It didn't take long for me to get the hang of this trick-or-treating thing! I loved carrying around Mommy's my pumpkin bucket, saying Trick or Treat and Thank You and putting my candy inside.
And when the night was over, I started inventorying all my candy!
