Thursday, December 20, 2012

Grandpa gave me the MAGIC and also a FULL resource of Christmas IDEAS and MENUS


 It's almost here!  The most anticipated little-big day of the year!


  I've always been a Christmas girl at heart.  Naturally.  My Grandpa (who recently passed away this year) was also a big-time Christmas lover!  I think it was contagious and I caught his infectious love for the season when I was only two! I have a mental book of memories with my Grandpa at Christmas.  He had this joy bursting forth, especially during the holidays.  He knew the right tones to use, the right things to say, and the right expressions to make to cause our little eyes to widen with wonder.  Like a charm, every year, he pumped us up with expectant enthusiasm.  He literally carried the magic of Christmas on his toes! 



 I was captured by the magic and have been ever since.  I carry it with me and when the calendar hits December I may rush a little lot more and my house may get a bit messier and I may be stressing out about over-booked days, BUT in and out and beneath all of that rush, my heart beats faster and I just can't stop smiling inside.  I am crazy about the touching Christmas stories of hope, the glowing lights, the smells of evergreens mixed with gingerbread, baking batches and batches of beautiful cookies, and BOTH the giving and receiving of gifts!


"We can hardly stand to wait, 
please Christmas don't be late!"


Our dining room chalkboard



Every year, we hang photos of a collection
 of some of our first Christmas trees


I love Jesus, and I'm His girl but I don't make big efforts to draw focus away from "commercialized Christmas" in order to better praise Him.  My heart rejoices in the Nativity AND my heart is giddy with all the holiday "to dos".  I can celebrate Jesus every day and still embrace the 25th of December.

My boys are extra excited during these December days too!  To embrace the season, I've given them a new holiday book nearly every year with a signed note inside, sharing the lesson and moral of the Christmas story within the pages.  This year, we are keeping our holiday book collection in this wagon for easy grab n read access!




Then they could find a cozy spot and get lost in holiday wonderland.




We spend the days that I'm not checking off my TO DO list, doing exciting holiday activities together like making gumdrop snowflakes, gingerbread star trees, or a long string of pom pom snowball garland.  I weave a tiny bit of learning into our activities   When we made the snowball pom poms, we read the history of snowflakes discovered.  



For Christmas activities, shop downtown and see all the beautiful store fronts, pile in the car to look at lights, or bundle up and find a one horse open sleigh!  Our family enjoyed that experience last season and it was dreamy!







And as the days draw closer my Mom and I spend a lot of time in the kitchen being homemaker girls as we prepare for our feast!  If you want some menu ideas, here you go! :) 







and another one!








Oh...And don't forget to find some mistletoe to hang!






 I know you're all busy making merry
Happy December!




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This post is linked to: Under the Table & DreaminNifty ThriftySeasonal SundaysMade by You MondayMet Monday, Tuesday Tutorials and TipsHOMEWORK: Be InspiredTasty TuesdayTip JunkieGet Your Craft OnWorks for Me WednesdayOrganize and Decorate EverythingCelebrations at Home,Transformation Thursday,Tablescape ThursdayStrut Your Stuff36th AveFoodie Friday, Frugal FridayI'm Lovin ItTickled PinkFriday Flair, Design Dazzleeighteen25Be Different Act NormalFunky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up sew many ways Six Sisters Saturday Jennifer Rizzo Christmas Tour ,The Inspired Room

6 comments:

Jenny said...

Oh.

My.

You are just so lovely.

This was such a merry and bright post!

Anonymous said...

I'm coming to your house for Christmas! Such a fun and exciting post. I made stockings for my boys out of that same fabric on that hanging stocking you show ( 35 years ago.) :) Have a wonderful week. xo

b. said...

You and your mom both are little hostesses!!! Both are just so naturally perfect at it!! It's a blessing just to see it in action!! Thankful for that privilege!

b. said...

PS I'm sorry your grandpa wasn't here this Christmas but what great memories and traits you get to carry with you from him! I can only imagine what a bundle of love he was by hearing stories about him from you and meeting your grandma too tells me so much about who he was!

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