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I had many ideas of things we should do this weekend.

A local performance of the Nutcracker.

A local outstanding Christmas trains display.

A million other things.

But what have we done this weekend?

Spent quiet time at home...

Listening to Christmas music. 

Crafting.Playing outside. Cooking. 

Relaxing. Dreaming. Eating. Church.

And simply enjoying being together.

That, my friends, is all I want for Christmas.

Simple, quiet, joyful, peaceful, memory-making

times together with my family.

I am blessed.

December Daily: 22

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School Christmas program? Check.

School Christmas Chapel with morning prayer? Check.

Last half day of school before break? Check.

The Gingerbread Boy story time at library? Check.

Last minute errands? Check.

Pizza for dinner and family movie night? Check. Check.

YAY for Christmas Break!

December Daily: 20

So proud of E's work for her 

Christmas piano recital yesterday. 

Next up? 

School Christmas program tonight.  

One thing at a time....check, check, check.

(This is E with her sweet teacher, Grace.)

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Love finding this at the end of a long, rough day...

December Daily: 17

On this day in 1999, hubby asked me to be his wife! I'm so glad he did! 

Neat fact: more than a few years later, my handsome brother-in-law Alan asked my dear sis-in-law Lucy to be his wife on December 17, too! So we share an "engage-a-versary"! ALSO, today is the birthday of my sweet friend Kelli. AND it's the birthday of childhood friend Audrey! 
So go celebrate today! 

Eat chocolate! 
Have cake! 
There's lots to celebrate! 
Wahoo!

December Daily: 16

The day has arrived.
The kitchen smells of sugar and deliciousness.

Workers frost and decorate
mountains of cutout Christmas cookies.

There is finger licking and
sprinkle-spilling and much fun.

And this year, with three sets of hands,
 the job was done in a flash.

(E is a really good "decorator"
 and stuck with the task until the end!
Way to go, E!)

December Daily: 15

E calls them "swipper-swappers".  

We trade babysitting with some friends of ours.  

They watch their kiddo and ours so hubs and I can go on a date....

and vice versa. Tonight was our night to watch the kids.  

The house was full of giggles and much fun. 

 And hard working parents got a night out. 

Win-win.

December Daily: 14

We spent tonight hiding at home.  

Pizza, salad, wine and Christmas movies. 

And jammies. And throw blankets. 

And a kitty cat. And a snuggly kid.  

Simple. 

Perfection.

December Daily: 13

Ditched a holiday party tonight to look at

Christmas lights with two of my favorite people!

Win-win!

December Daily: 12

It's that time of year again....

for felines to camp under the Christmas tree.

Because of course, we put the trees up for them.

Right?

December Daily: 11

Hack, hack, cough, sneeze, wheeze.

Didn't I just do this?

My "funk" has returned with a vengeance.  More congestion, coughing, gasping, wheezing and general misery.

All I want for Christmas is peace, quiet, good health and time with my family!

December Daily: 10

It's a baby girl kind of day!

One sweet friend from our small group Bible study delivered her beautiful second daughter today: Avery Nicole.

And another dear friend today found out via sonogram that she will be having a much-wanted daughter in April. (She already has an adorable son whom I love as my own.)

YAY FOR PINK! Let the shopping begin!

December Daily: 9

One more family Christmas photo shoot - this weekend. 

Same location as last weekend, 

less wind and more clouds = better conditions.  

Another weird twist, an apparently popular band 

from China was having a photo shoot in the park, too, 

which means we had to work around the throngs 

of photographers following them around!

This little boy is so cute, I want to eat him with a spoon!

December Daily: 8

Had great fun taking Christmas pictures for a 

sweet family from church last weekend. 

Here are a few of my favorites!

December Daily: 7

Bah, humbug. Sweet E has the flu. BOOOOO!

This does not make me feel holly, jolly or merry.

Praying sweet girl feels better soon...

and that mommy and daddy stay well!

December Daily: 6

Made time for a relaxing, gab-filled lunch with

a sweet, new Momma-friend from E's school.

A bit of fun, relaxation and peace in the midst of the hustle-bustle!

December Daily: 5

I so enjoyed joining E's school's students in 

Advent chapel worship this morning. 

Refreshment for the soul!

The message was simple: 

He came as a lowly baby in a manger. 

He comes to us in His Word and Sacraments, 

He will come again for us on the last day! 

Rejoice!

December Daily: 4

The cat and the Christmas tree:

He certainly looks like he means mischief, doesn't he?

December Daily: 3

Friday night, we went to our city's Dickens Christmas festival.  

I remember going when I was a little girl! 

Many things have changed, but the spirit of the event is the same: community fun.  

This year's event was full of horse drawn carriage ridesChristmas choirs, funnel cake, 

corny dogs, Polar Express story time, the community tree lighting and fun times with 

my sweet family. Oh, and it was a balmy 70 degrees outside. Only in Texas!