Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Something about the Christmas season brings me back to this place - this blog. Probably that celebratory feeling - it just makes me feel joyful and homey and extra mindful of all the wonderful people in our lives. So I want to share! This season we are a family of four for the first time, and making new memories again. This is Adalyn's first Christmas! She turned 4 months old just a few days before Christmas.

Solomon has grown so much since last year! In fact, last year he wasn't quite walking yet. What a difference a year makes when you're so little! I love making new memories and having new experiences with him all the time. This season just makes all of that even more special. This year he and I made salt dough ornaments together for our tree, and to gift to family members. 

He helped mix the dough, which he loved, then helped cut out the shapes. Over the next week he and Daddy had a couple of painting sessions and he did that part all himself! There were just a few that I added a bit of "fill-in" color to afterward. He loved this whole process, and we so enjoyed doing it with him!

Like most people, one of my favorite parts of the holiday season is decorating my house. I absolutely love Christmas decorations! I like finding ways to add touches to every room if I can, and doing things a little differently each year. 

This year I made a simple little jingle bell garland and I love it! We will definitely be hanging it again, year after year.

All of these pictures I took randomly one day during a quiet moment, as Adalyn napped and Solomon snacked, and they are true to life. So there is dust and disorder, and true signs of LIFE being lived, during this blessed season. Our Little People Nativity was in just this condition, and so it is captured just that way. I don't want to forget the details of exactly who my children were this year, and how they enjoyed Christmas. 

For the first time in my life, I really thought nothing of what I would receive for Christmas, but was entirely focused on my children, and what this time would mean for them. 

They each received mostly simple toys from us - a baby doll and tiny wagon for Adalyn, a farm and tool kit for Solomon. However, I absolutely relished in carefully selecting each gift for my babies, and have been overjoyed seeing them with them.

Solomon's favorite parts of Christmas this year were Advent treats (candy!), "Train!" (The Polar Express), Christmas trees and stars everywhere you look, having Daddy home for Christmas break, and being with all of his family members who he loves SO much. His favorite gifts were the Melissa & Doug Latch Board and alphabet puzzle from Mama & Daddy, a squishy green ball from Grammy & Papa, t-ball set from his Uncle Will, and Cars 2 4-pack from Granny.

Adalyn mostly enjoyed having lots of people around to talk to her and hold her, and will enjoy most of her gifts when she's just a tad older.

Thank you Lord for these gifts, my precious children! Thank you for the Christ-child who was born so long ago, so that all of this could be possible for us! Thank you for a new year, and a new season of growth for us all. We are blessed beyond all measure!