MOORE Christmas Newsletter 2010

Lights 2010

House all dressed up for the holidays

J.O.Y.

This is the second year since I've been married that I did NOT send out holiday cards and newsletters. Thank you facebook and blogs for eliminating that step. {wink}




As I started to write this year's newsletter I realized that I could copy last year's newsletter WORD for WORD and it would be accurate. So, I am simply going to RE post what I wrote last year. I still feel it all so fervently. I'm fully convinced that life is made up of a mixture of seasons. Our family has experienced many of them, the heartbreaking and the happiness. I'm grateful to be where I am now and I never want to take it for granted.

We try to own every TODAY that we're blessed with because tomorrow may not carry the blessings that exist today.

Welcome to our home sweet home!

Moore Family Newsletter 2010
(pushing repeat)

To all Friends and Family,


Throughout my adult life, one of the clearest lessons I’ve learned is that our short life on earth is filled with seasons. I am a firm believer that we all walk through different seasons of life. I’ve summarized our years for ten Decembers now. Some newsletters were new and fresh, with hope dancing on the cusp of every word! Some were pressed with pain from every angle, coupled with a cautious prayer to hope again. It is through these summaries that I can clearly see the many seasons we have been through already as a family. Chris and I are passionate people. As a team, we feel deeply. Love deeply. Live deeply. Our life seasons have been dramatic and colorful. We have experienced a variety of life’s samples and our family has grown closer.

We are in a season of enjoyment, loving every little simple pleasure right now! We are counting every minute, (Moore Minutes), not wanting to lose a second of this amazing life God has blessed us with! Life seasons simply cannot be predicted. They can change in an instant. Because of that, I want to live fully and completely. Chris and I encourage our boys to do the same. This is a very happy time for our family right now. We are blessed beyond measure. I have the best man in the world to lead our family and the three most adorable blond-haired boys holding hands, skipping behind us. I’ve cycled through the seasons though. I am aware that this easy pleasure I enjoy now may change in a second.

So, we soak it in….
Stressing less.
Smiling more.
Hugging with intention.
Believing in each other.
Standing together.
Delighting in progress.
Not being defeated with setbacks.
Embracing life.

After all, we only have one chance in life. Time is elusive. I don’t know what tomorrow holds. But I’m not worrying about it. I’m too busy holding on to the moments of today.

Happy Sweet Holidays to each one of you. We care about you all. Again, each of you has played a vital part in our life puzzle and our appreciation for you stays forever in our hearts.

Sincerely,

Chris and Lisa
And those three cuties too!





This post is linked to: DIY Showoff, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, It's so Very Cheri, Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovin It, Funky Junk Interiors, Fabulous Friday Finds, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

Sweet Rolls, Luke 2, and Wide-Eyed Boys

My brother and I memorized Luke 2 when we were little

and would recite it on the Eve of Christmas each year.
It's amazing how Scripture will stick in your heart forever after memorizing it.

This story that marks our years
around the world
tucks comfort into my spirit.
always.

amazing photo print from bppdesign.

Verses that are highlighted in my heart:


"And the glory of the Lord shone round about them."

"I bring you good tidings of great joy"

"For unto you is born this day...a Savior which is Christ the Lord."

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts, praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest...and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."

Titus colored a picture and designed this Popsicle stick Christmas star all by himself which made me smile!

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."

I am finishing up last minute holiday tasks that Mamas do:

prep cooking, placing bows on pretty packages, folding Christmas outfits, cleaning our home sweet home, giving out quick hugs to giddy little boys, stacking up Christmas books to read, rushing around on the 23rd, so I can enjoy the 24th and 25th with family. Do I have time for a pedicure??

Last minute shopping...

<3 this image from Google image search

Tying ribbons on presents...


Finishing up last minute holiday baking...

Our traditional Christmas Morning Sweet Rolls...


And our traditional homemade dinner crescent rolls...


The boys can hardly sleep each night with only a couple days left to count down...


Their favorite Christmas song, which will be played as they fall asleep on Christmas Eve to lullaby them to sleep...

Old Toy Trains
Old toy trains, little toy tracks

Little toy drums coming from a sack

Carried by a man dressed in white and red

Little boy, don't you think it's time you were in bed?



Close your eyes

Listen to the skies

All is calm, all is well

Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells



Bringin' old toy trains, little toy tracks

Little toy drums coming from a sack

Carried by a man dressed in white and red

Little boy, don't you think
it's time you were in bed?





May your Christmas Weekend be Merry and Bright.

Be Blessed.
"Remember Christ our Savior was born this Christmas Day"

This post is linked to: DIY Showoff, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, It's so Very Cheri, Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, I'm Lovin It, Funky Junk Interiors, Fabulous Friday Finds, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

The Charm of Downtown Window Shopping

There is a coveted mystique with the romanticized stories of quaint Christmases:

walking in crunching snow down a charming downtown street,
little hands pressed against cold windows as their breath leaves a fog on their window reflection...
those big eyes dreaming of taking home the treasures in the window,
hanging bells that ring every time a storefront door opens,
passing bundled up people in the street, everyone clutching handfuls of pretty paper bags or evenly stacked boxes.


We've seen the movies of this elusive downtown scene, and read the old stories of the children walking into storefronts lined with jars of hard candy. However, our reality is usually box shopping malls, retail chain signs in neon, pushing carts around people, and rows and rows of the same toy stacked to the ceiling. Christmas charm and magic escapes us in those environments.

However, downtown shopping for the holidays never disappoints. Our family spent a couple weekends on our Main Street.





Our family rode the horse and carriage rides being offered for the holidays with a group of friends.

Little Titus peeking at me with eyes wide, while sitting on Dad's lap in front of me.


We found Santa after the carriage ride...

And we did a lot of window shopping, the classic way.

This storefront window was ADORABLE!

with a mitten countdown...


and these packages wrapped up so bright and cozy.

The boys were extra animated as we passed this window.

I had to snap a photo of this shoe store. Those of you who are aware of my Ugg obsession will understand why I appreciate this holiday message:

Yes, true story. They give comfort AND joy.

We tipped inside a few stores, like this bookstore, which looked nearly straight from a classic city movie scene.

Kotah

Then my most exciting discovery of the day, my new favorite store: Pollux! How have I been on Main SO many times and never seen this store?!

Have you ever found a store that just "feels like you"? The style, tone, everything matched my personality, creating instant attraction for me. {wink}


I see 3 little boy peek a boos in the window...

We discovered some candles that voiced my thoughts during Christmas, well anytime really. ;)

And witty words that made me laugh.

Even the dressing rooms carried charm! Look at the old hooks and the litte pink chandi?!


After overstaying our day in my dream store with my boys, it was time to leave. We saw some freestyle street walkers outside...

Which inspired my boys to copy...

Titus doing little no hand, super jumps onto the curb bench...(did you see that Mom?)


And Kotah...being Kotah. He is so funny. He said he wished he would have brought a "tip bucket".


And Chris with my camera. No, please no pictures, only I do those. haha. That's how it works, remember?

Sometimes simply changing our usual daily life patterns will warm our heartbeats for the season. Find the charming spot where you currently live that colors your town, the place that marks an unique identity to a city.

Me with my loverboys under the giant, real, city tree.

Shop lots,
love lots,
enjoy lots

This post is linked to: Centsational Girl, Somewhat Simple, DIY Showoff, Home for the Holidays, Sassy Sites, Deck the Halls, The Lettered Cottage, Dare To, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, , Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

Christmas Cookie Overload

I have been a cookie baking machine. Seriously. Literally hundreds of cookies made this year and I'm thinking of making more. That's just weird. In my defense, making all these cookies wasn't "the plan". I planned on baking some traditional favorites and a couple new recipes. But I couldn't resist little voices piping up, "Hey Mom! Remember the ribbon cookies? What about those?". So, once again I would pull out the kitchen aid for more. The days are often too full to spend in the kitchen, so I use my favorite hours to bake: nighttime. Most of you know, I live for the night hours. It's my free time to create.


I bake cookies for holiday parties, for gifts, and for our Christmas Eve traditional celebration. I like to start cookie baking at the beginning of the month and freeze them between parchment paper, sealed in tight Tupperware. This really makes all that holiday baking stress free.

They're right there ready to pull out for gifts:

What's in the box:
Peppermint Pleasures
Chocolate Crinkles
Maple Frosties
Cherry Kissed Cream Cheese Sugars

Trays for parties too. I had a few parties that required cookies this year. This tray is for a Bunco Girl's Party.

What's on the tray:
Christmas Ribbon Cookies
Chocolate Crinkles
Wrapped Snickerdoodles
Chocolate Kissed Peanut Butters

Sliced dough for our classic ribbon cookies, a cookie staple in our house that my Mom started.






I recently read in a holiday book that more than just packages can be wrapped. So I wrapped some snickerdoodles, tying them with baker's twine.

Too cute.
Love them.

And I just shared in the last post about gumdrop fun for the kids:


And in another previous post, I shared a collection of Peppermint Treats. These ones are Red Velvet Whoopie Pies with Creamy Peppermint Filling.

Last year I shared the importance of Christmas books in our home. Our entire house has special and fun books scattered throughout to encourage reading and to fuel the magic.

We can't have Christmas books without cookies
and we can't have cookies without Christmas books.

So I {think} we are ready for the 25th NOW that cookies are baked and stockings are hung.

My childhood stocking that Santa filled every single year as a girl.

Our new adult stockings that have never been filled by Santa...yet. ;)

Our older two boys' handmade stockings. You can read the heartwarming story behind these: Stockings of Kindness.

One. More. Thing.

I have been super excited to share that I have some baked goods featured in the DIY Living holiday edition on pages 36-37 and pages 50-51. See my right sidebar to read the good stuff!

Here's a peek a boo at what's inside the feature:

Baby blue sugar snowflakes

and Peppermint Pleasures.

What is your favorite Christmas cookie?

Do you enjoy Christmas homemade baking
or do you prefer OREOs dipped in milk?

We are all so different in our loves and likes
and I SO enjoy learning about the differences that color our great big world.

These are our traditions and loves,
what's yours?

This post is linked to: No Minimalist Here, Centsational Girl, Somewhat Simple, DIY Showoff, Home for the Holidays, Deck the Halls, Southern Hospitality, DIY Showoff, The Lettered Cottage, Dare To, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, , Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up