What Christmas Means To Me

 1. What makes Christmas such a special holiday for you and your family?  
Absolutely everything! It has always been my favorite Holiday, and time of year. Even as a child, it was never about the presents for me. Granted, they are an extra bonus, but for me it is all about being with Family. Hanging together all day, enjoying each other's company, and never forgetting the Reason FOR the Season! The birth of Jesus!  You will never find me abbreviating the word Christmas. To me, it is just lazy and disrespectful. It does not take any effort to type or write CHRISTmas! Please do not forget why celebrate this best time of year! And now we have started a new family tradition with our girls - The Elf on the Shelf! Emma just loves it!
The music, the happiness, and the joy that everybody feels this time of year all adds up! I have always wished that it really could be Christmas all year long! Could you just imagine?!

2. Were you told the truth about Santa Claus by your parents, or did you find out another way? 
 I found out the truth all on my own! Every Christmas my Papa would dress up as the Big Guy and hand out presents. But one Christmas Eve I noticed that my Papa was not in the room with us. I looked around a bit, and recognized Santa's wedding ring! It was a dead give away for me! I was not upset however, and I played the game until my cousin's new the truth. It was, and still is, fun to believe! 

 
3. Do you plan on telling your kids about Santa (if you have them or plan to have them)?
I want my children to believe as long as possible. Emma knows why we celebrate Christmas, and what it is all about. But she is starting to catch on to the whole Santa thing. I want her to believe in the magic and the innocence of it all as long as possible. There is so much hatred and battered innocence on an everyday basis as adults, that I believe children should hold on to it for as long as they can. Some people will argue that letting your childern believe in Santa and keeping it up, is lying to them. Perhaps it is technically, but I survived the truth, and so will my girls! 

4. Real tree or fake tree?
 Growing up my mom and I usually had fakes, while my grandparents had the real deal. I loved both, and still do not necisarilly have a preference for one over the other. And since we have lived in our own home, it has been real. And will continue to be. More for the tradition than anything else.

5. Do you open presents on Christmas morning, Christmas Eve, or both? We usually do one on Christmas Eve, and the rest on Christmas morning. That way the kiddies don't get so anxious! 
 

6. What is your favorite Christmas movie to watch, and favorite Christmas song to sing or listen to? 
Where do I begin?! While my Papa was alive, we had a tradition where we would watch all the old classis Christmas shows; Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, Santa Clause Is Coming To Town, Jack Frost, Charlie Brown Christmas, etc...and now I have passed that down to Emma! We also LOVE to watch Elf, A Muppet's Christmas Carol,  The Grinch {both versions} and so many more!
Now when it comes to the music, which I begin listening to the week before Thanksgiving, it is hard for me to pick favorites! I grew up listening to The Carpenters, Anne Murray, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, and all the classics!
I made my own personal tradition about 10 years ago - every year I make a point to purchase the Starbucks Holiday CD! Whether it is good or bad, I just have to have it! They have such a great mix of the classics and modern day artists combined! I highly suggest you check it out! :)

So there you have it! What Christmas means to me! I wish you, and yours, a very Merry Christmas, the Happiest Holiday, and an even Happier New Year! XoXo

Happenings As Of Late:

Let me begin with Haylee's two month check-up! It went good...well, except for the vaccination part. I forgot how hard it is to go through as a parent! I told myself, "Oh, I've done this before..I'm good. I'm good." But I wasn't! I cried. Admittingly!

As of last week {her appt}, she now weighs in at 10.08 lbs, and is 22 in long. Just like Em, she is a petite little thing. Clocking in at 25% for both height and weight. But perfectly healthy and happy! Now keep in mind - she was three weeks early, and only weighed 6 lbs 9oz at birth! So in comparison, she is growing like a weed! Must be the formula! :)

I am in so much Love with this grin!

Next on my list, Thanksgiving: it will definitely be one that I will not soon forget. Long story short, that night I ended up having to go the Covington E.R. {which is really nice, by the way} for what ended up to be a gallbladder attack. Let me just say, I am not one to quickly go the doctor or hospital on a whim. So for me to head to the E.R. should clue you in on the pain I was feeling....

Today, actually, I will be meeting with a surgeon to discuss how quickly I need to get it removed. Needless to say, I am not looking forward to having surgery. Especially with two littles at home to take care of. This should be interesting! I have had about thirty people tell me that they had their gallbladder removed, and that the recovery is only about 2-3 days. Phew! That's a relief to hear!

Hello, and Good Morning!

Also, I recently found out that my Best Friend is moving back home from Wyoming! I could not be more excited about that! Let's just say that there are days when I could use a good friend around! Not to mention our kiddos will be thrilled to see each other!!

And now I have to mention my new business venture! It kind of fell into my lap, and couldn't pass up the opportunity. I recently became an Independent Consultant for a company called Thirty-One. It is a faith-based company, all about helping and supporting strong, independent women! They even have a line of products called Thirty-One Gives, where each purchase donates a portion to a charity that empowers women and girls! Right On!

And in case you are wondering what this company sells, it has a little bit of everything! 

From stationary and bags, to totes, purses and bins, to accessories and wallets, nail files and makeup bags! All of which can {mostly} be personalized. Basically, anything you need to get organized in style with, Thirty-One offers! 

 This past Friday night I held my Launch Party, and I would like to Thank everyone who came out to help me get started!

And if you know me at all, you know how much of a organizational freak I am! So this company is pretty much right up my ally! 

If you want to check it out, here is the link to the site!

Thirty-One Gifts

And last on my list, the Holiday Season! My favorite time of year has finally arrived! 

I have my decorations up, and now we just have to decorate our tree that we got yesterday! 

Now with Christmas, comes Hermy - our Elf on the Shelf! Emma absolutely LOVES him, and looking for him each morning is quite possibly one of her favorite things to do each day! 

I think I may love him as much as Em does!

Santa DOES love her!

 I am so excited to kick off this Holiday Season, and celebrate it with our newest little addition! Babies first Christmas is always so exciting, don't you agree?!