Tuesday, December 23, 2014

The hustle and bustle of Christmas: parties, caroling, stress, and all

From a broken tree stand and crooked tree, to family relationship mishaps, to flour spills all over the floor, to being unprepared for guests, to long hospital stays that rocked our world, this holiday season has been unlike any other.  It started off in chaos and continued that way during all of our December days.  Christmas is usually "the most wonderful time of the year" for this girl!  However, this year pulled me along, eyes wide shut, and out of control.

Things like this little note 
Cameron wrote to Chris 
warm my heart in a really big way
 and bring me back to center. 

I am Christmas' biggest fan.  I often feel like I stand alone as a big-time lover of the holidays.  BUT...for the first time in my LIFE, Christmas knocked me down!  Usually, Christmas is (get ready, I am going to say that one word)... perfect!  Every detail of our holiday makes me happy.   This year, every thing that can go wrong, is certainly going wrong.  I know there is supposed to be some giant lesson, but there isn't, ha! I just want my old Christmases back, those ones that I love like crazy.
But I do have this: Titus made me an advent calendar with his own words of wisdom on each card.  He is our little lover of inspirational thoughts.  In the midst of this disaster-holiday year, I flip over this note from Titus today: STRESS IS PAIN.  How does he even come up with this stuff?!  Of course it made me smile wide, then it instantly brought soothing peace over my uptight spirit.  I paused for a moment and really let his words gel.  He is right.  Stress IS pain.  And I thought about something else.  My stress causes pain for others too.   So, I am going to try to let Titus' words guide these last few days before the 25th, by just letting go and opening my arms to this chaos.  It's our life, and I'll take this imperfect year too. I don't need to love it, but I won't fight it.



Titus' adorable advent calendar he made me, complete with quotes via Titus.



 I am going to attempt sharing some holiday blog posts before the 25th arrives!  It is becoming habitual for me to be slow and behind on blog posts.  But I love to document, so I'll do it....sooner or later! ;)



Our December started off with a lot of time at the hospital.  Chris was hospitalized, more on that later!  Instead of jumping in with bustle, we spent a lot of quiet time in a hospital room reflecting and waiting.  



The boys and I picked out a big 14 ft tree at the boy scout lot this year!





Running in the brrr dark.  
Now I'm starting to feel better! ;)



Making a list, checking it twice!



Chris and I on a pottery date night, 
making Christmas mugs for the boys.



My Grandma came to stay with us from Arizona for the month of December.  I have been anticipating this family time and only wish things were more organized while she was here.  We love having an extra voice in our home though. 



I made her a K Cup holiday countdown as a surprise.  
She is a coffee addict!  One K cup a day until Christmas...



A night out of Christmas caroling with Grandma
falalalalalalala

This was on Titus' holiday wishlist.  
He organized the night with what songs to sing, etc.



Time for THE Christmas party at our dear friends' home sweet home!



For the party, I made pancetta on pears with honey, goat cheese, and cracked pepper.




Girlfriends

Take one...



Take two...




School Christmas parties...



and teacher gifts.




One of my most LOVED things about Christmas is the School Christmas Program.  Kids really do bring joy to the world.  My heart swells with peace every time I watch these precious kids on stage.
A video posted by Lisa Moore (@mooreminutes) on


The boys had fun and did a super job!



A highlight of our holiday festivities this year was a LIMO CHRISTMAS LIGHT TOUR we did with friends.  It was a beautiful dark night, driving the streets of our town, viewing colors of magic on every corner.



Ready to limo this holiday night away!




The kiddos


Limo life!




After the limo tour, we continued on to a full 5 course dinner at Il Bistro, 
which was amazingly delicious and a beautiful experience!






Caroling, parties, light tours, school plays, December is made for celebrating.

Our Nativity Poster Advent is almost fully revealed...
it's almost Christmas!



MOORE Christmas:

Holiday Happenings out and about 2013





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4 comments:

Blondie's Journal said...

Your Christmas looks and sounds like it was simply magical!

Love to you all, Lisa!

Jane xx

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Merry Christmas, Lisa!

I am so glad you shared your Christmas season with us. I always love to see what your family is doing, and I cannot believe how much the boys have GROWN. WOW!

I am also praying that Chris is better. I am so sorry he was in the hospital and that your holiday started out that way. I wasn't in the hospital, but beginning in September I had a major battle with Shingles and am still recuperating. So our activities were curtailed quite a bit. Like you, I tried to stay focused on the joys of the season. I love the advent calendar and the note to Chris, both, and the video and all of it. So glad your grandmother got to be there to love on you. Your love of family and friends shined brightly through your post.

I look forward to more posts from you in 2015 which I hope is filled with blessings abundant for you and your family and renewed health for Chris.

Love you,

Sheila :-)

b. said...

This was a good post! That advent calendar made by Titus is the best!!!!!!! I hope you kept it. Also, you look so pretty and happy in that picture with your grandma!

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