Flashback: Christmas Around the House

There's something about the big, classic Christmas lights that really makes me happy. Something about the warm glow they give, their classic shape, their overall look that just scream Christmastime to me. We bought them ten years ago (!) for the Christmas we spent in our house in Kennydale, just up from Lake Washington. I still have memories of how excited I was to put them on that little house. Ten years later, I was just as excited to dig them out and put them on our Eugene house. We decided to put them on our back fence, rather than the front of the house, so that we could enjoy them from the warmth of our living room. It was so much fun to watch Daddy and Jonathan out putting the lights up together . . . a memory I hope will be remade every Christmas.



Christmastime at our house as filled with lots of fun. We made a decision to focus more on experience and less on shopping, and it definitely paid off based on the smiles we saw throughout the month.



For the first time in years, I had the opportunity to make Christmas goodies. I've missed them, but working at a church doesn't allow much time during Advent to do things like bake cookies or make homemade presents. This year we tried Candy Cane Oreo Truffles (okay, so I used Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe Joe's . . . way better than Oreos in my opinion). They were pretty tasty.

Jonathan had fun decorating a giant gingerbread man. He was so orderly about it! He placed everything where he wanted it and then Mommy "glued" it in place with royal icing. Didn't he do a good job?


The boy spent lots of time in December working on various Christmas crafts. it was so much fun! He especially loved the ones that we painted his hands and feet for.

He loves getting his hands dirty (as long as he can clean them up quickly).



We all had lots of fun creating things for Christmas. Jonathan had tons of fun painting, making homemade play dough, and making tags with his thumbprint. Mommy had lots of fun making a calendar with pictures of Jonathan from 2010.



For the first ten years of our marriage, we were great about sending out Christmas cards accompanied by a letter and picture. Since Jonathan's first Christmas, that tradition has been on hold. I had big dreams of reestablishing it this year . . .



but it never happened. It was adding stress at a time when I didn't want stress, and it was taking away time I could spend with Jonathan. Priorities were readjusted, and the cards sit for another year.

December evenings were cool around here, but that didn't stop Jonathan from heading out to ride his "motorcycle" (in his very cool moose pajamas).



One of the best sights of Christmastime? Seeing our family rest and relax in front of the fireplace by the light of our Christmas tree. What a fun time to be home!



(One more Christmas post and we'll be caught up!)