Christmas Traditions

 We have a couple of things that have become tradition for our little family. Because I was so sick last week and completely lacking in any kind of energy we really have taken a step back and simplified this Advent season. Our number one priority is to do our Jesse Tree readings in the evening. Any thing besides that is nice, and fun, but not necessary to us having a "good" Christmas (whatever that means). However, there are 2 things that have become tradition for us that we were able to quietly and calmly do last week.

 The Christmas Parade

We live one block off of  Main Street, so attending the Christmas parade has become a fun tradition. This year the boys and Aaron went without me because I was just too worn out to go. But they had a good time.

Decorating Our Christmas Tree

We have evolved to the tradition of doing this on an evening with hot chocolate and Christmas music on. This year I was able to totally let go and let the boys do all the decorating while I enjoyed the scene from the couch.

Aaron explains to Nathaniel what one of his ornaments is.

Every year the boys get an ornament from their Rapier grandparents. This is tradition in the Rapier family. It is so fun to look through the ornaments and explain to the boys why they are significant and what memories are attached to them.

 Jeremiah gets some helping reaching a top branch.

 Nathaniel gets to help put on the star.

The finished product!

 Look at these handsome boys!

Jeremiah with his favorite ornament:

Baby's 1st Christmas (which for him was December 2005)

 

Nathaniel with his favorite ornament: a monkey!

5 Minute Friday: Tired

Joining The Gypsy Mama again for 5 Minute Friday.  Five minutes of flat out writing. No editing.
Today's prompt: Tired

GO

It hits me on Wednesday morning. Exhaustion. Sick. I spend the day in bed while boys watch tv and play video games and generally make mayhem around me. 

Husband stays home from work on Thursday so that I can visit the doctor and try to rest some more. I take my second round of antibiotics in less than a month. I stay cocooned in bed while husband tends to house and boys. I cancel upcoming weekend plans that were made. I ignore the unrestrained wrestling that is happening in the living room. I watch a chick flick. I drink copious amounts of tea. I sleep long and deep as afternoon sun streams through the windows.

I am too tired even to battle against the piles of laundry. Too tired to worry about grimy bathrooms. Too tired to worry about my ideals and plans for the holiday season that is here and me still unprepared. I blissfully ignore blogs with titles proclaiming how I can be prepared and stress-free and creative and frugal this holiday season. We can still have a lovely, meaningful Advent and Christmas if I just ignore all of that and do what I can do in the weeks ahead. Let go of expectation and just live in each moment.

I realize suddenly that it took tired to bring me to surrender.

STOP

Thanksgiving 2011 (lots of pictures!)

I just downloaded 48 pictures from our Thanksgiving trip! So browse through, if you dare.

While we were gone I kept wanting to blog, to capture memories in writing, but I didn't have easy access to a computer, and it was a week full of people and fun and not much down time. I am blessed beyond belief with this family of mine! My Aunt Carol and Uncle Daryl and their kids made us feel so welcome in their home for a few days. It was so nourishing to be in their house. They provided good conversations over meals, special treats for the boys (Star Wars pancakes!), and hosting family gatherings. Our friends, the Haymes, lent us their house while they were visiting family in Chattanooga, so we had a wonderful place to relax and enjoy our first Thanksgiving with my siblings and parents in longer than we can remember. We celebrated my Grandpa Viss' 80th birthday! What a joy to be part of that special time. He is an amazing man. 

We had warm, gorgeous weather so we were able to spend a lot of time outside. The boys were great travelers and did terrific despite changes in sleeping and eating patterns. It really is a whole different world to travel with kids out of the baby/toddler stage.

And of course the big news is that my parents are back in the States for good! They said goodbye to their life in Holland of almost 23 years. Saying goodbye to them was not quite so painful because we know they are just a car trip away.

So we are back home. Reveling in the memories of a joyful week past. Ready to start getting out Christmas decorations and beginning our Advent practices.