Guess Who Came?

An empty plate with only a few crumbs of peanut butter cookies remain and a polished off glass of milk.  Signs are looking good for the girls in our house.

A few more presents under the tree.
 

Olivia's stocking stuffed with a few unfamiliar presents,
 

Mia's stocking full next to a gigantic train table set,
 

Andy's stocking was even full with a hoody,
 

along with Amanda's stocking and a hoody as well.  Yes, it must be official.  Santa came to our house!
 

Look, Christmas can even make my girls get along!
 

Mia immediately wanted to try on her new flamingo swimsuit along with her adorable Keen boots.  She was thrilled Santa brought her the summer choo choo train she requested.
 

Olivia showing off her new swimsuit from her daddy.  She can't wait to wear it. 

Christmas morning came super early in our house.  Olivia made it into our bed before 6 AM.  We waited almost one hour before waking a sleepy Mia.  She is a true grump if she gets up to early, but the prospect of Santa possibly having delivered gifts was enough to get her up easily. 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is always one of my favorite parts of Christmas.  The past few years we have went to Holy Angels Children's Mass and the girls have participated.  It's a lot of fun to watch all the children take part in the Christmas Story.  This year our family decided to attend my father and Patty's church over in Constantine.  I always love the intimate setting of the small church and everyone knowing everyone.  It's like going home when I attend there.  Christmas Eve is always full of singing some of my favorite Christmas carols and we always end with Silent Night as the lights are dimmed and everyone in the church lights one another's candles.  This year didn't disappoint either.


After church we went to my dad and Patty's for a delicious meal and good company.  Mia's cheek appeared flushed to me all evening, but she was in good spirits so I didn't give it too much thought.  I was slightly worried she might be coming down with something because she had diahrea, but blamed it on her very unhealthy diet of sweets that the season brings. 

Mia showing off her new boots from Aunt Jen.  Aunt Jen gave them too her early so she could wear them with her Christmas Eve dress.
 

Olivia's Christmas Eve pajamas.  She loves Bob Ross!  You can't read it in the picture, but at the very bottom of the shirt it reads, "Paid for by the Happy Little Green Tree Party."  She loves her new pjs.
 

Mia snuggling with Grandma.
 

Dad and Andy sporting Santa hats and throwing up some gang signs.  Not sure how or why this started, but I have an entire series of pictures with them being ridiculous. 

After too much food and wine I might add, Mia was begging to go home to bed.  When she's tired she lets you know.  So we said our good byes and were on our way to await for the thrill of Christmas morning and the birth of our Savior.

Leading Up to Christmas

Yes, Christmas has come and gone, but I still have some posts to update prior to Christmas.  It came quickly, but was very enjoyable.

The girls opened a gift early from Nana Sharon and Papa Dave and they love them.  They say each of the girls' names and have three hooks on each so they can hang their treasures from them.  They keep bugging me to hang them up in their room already.  Thank you Nana Sharon and Papa Dave.  It's much appreciated.
 

Saturday, December 22nd was the annual Potts' Family Christmas.  This was Debbie and Steve's first year hosting in their new beautiful home.  They've only been in the new house for less than a month so I give them huge credit for hosting a party.  It was a great time seeing all of Patty's family.  They are a terrific and caring bunch.  The adults had a blast playing Catch Phrase while the kids played with their new prizes.  Mia and Olivia each got a cute pair of slippers.
 

Olivia getting in some much wanted Grandpa time.

 

The girls also decided to serenade me with a special Christmas concert that I was the guest of honor at.  They cracked me up.  Mia was trying to sing the words to all the songs, but was usually a note or two behind, while Olivia blares off key at the top of her lungs.  Plus, their dance moves were original as well.  The anticipation for Christmas was mounting, but we kept ourselves busy and were thrilled when Christmas Eve finally came.

Hankuna Matata

This time of year is often referred to as "the most wonderful time of the year."  As a child I always found this to be true, and it's still my favorite time as an adult.  But sadly we get so busy with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays that we lose sight of what it's really all about.  Every one is stressed about getting their shopping and wrapping done, baking cookies, making food for countless parties, concerts and shows, decorating to the hilt, sending Christmas cards, cleaning the house, you name it.  The stress levels mount and what should be a wonderful time ends up being all encompassing and overwhelming.  I made a decision this year that I was not going to let that happen to me.

Our dear friends, the Randalls, are moving to South Carolina come February.  Jer has been down getting training for his new job already, and Tina went down for a week to check out the town and house hunt.  They left their three little darlings with Tina's parents, and we were blessed to get to help out and take Emma from them for one night.  Trying to figure out how to return Emma to her Nana and Papa with various church services going on Sunday, we decided the easiest plan would be for us to just go to their church, the Presbyterian for that week.  This is the church that the girls have attended VBS at for a few summers and we know a lot of parishoners.  The girls were thrilled when not only did we get to sit with Nana Sharon and Papa Dave, but Jackie also came to sit with us.  The sermon is what really rang home with me.  It came from Phillipians 4 and to sum it up in my words was about the joy we should have in us at all times and that we shouldn't be filled with worries.  As humans we feel we aren't putting enough importance on things if we don't worry about them, but we need to offer up our worries to God in prayer and live in the joy.  It resonated to me at a time I needed to hear it most.  After such tragedy has struck our country and parents are panicked to send their children to school, now more than ever is a time we need to find a way not to worry, but carry on through Christ and find joy that does exist in so many places on this Earth.  I left the church feeling uplifted and ready to not let any Christmas chaos ruin the true spirit of Christmas for me.  I am looking forward to church services, time with my family, and delicious food to share among them.  I also can't wait to celebrate our Lord's birth.


Olivia playing the part as the Angel of the Lord bringing good tidings of great joy, that shall be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

To add to my Christmas spirit that same evening we visited a live nativity.  I've been involved with Holy Angels youth group for two years now. This year we entered a Nativity contest as a "live Nativity."  It truly was something to behold. The crèche was rustic, yet beautiful, the children full of spirit, and yes, we had live animals as well.

I decided to take the girls with me since this was something we were doing for the community to come out and witness. Mia liked seeing the animals, but she's getting over being sick and just wanted to go home to bed. So I took her home to daddy, but Olivia was really enjoying herself and stayed with me. She even jumped in as an angel.

These calves are only one day old.

The youth were terrific battling a bit of rain, but stuck it out without complaint.  Music filled the air with songs of Christ's coming birth.  It really got me in the mood for the true meaning of Christmas and was a great time to spend with other children, especially having my Olivia with me.

A student even made the star on top in metal shop for us.

The three wisemen traveling afar bringing gifts to the newborn King.
 

Meet Rocky...he's a little camera shy.
 

A shepherd tending his sheep.

So merry Christmas everyone.  May this season bring you peace and fill you with the spirit of Christmas.  May you be worry free and only find joy now and in the new year ahead.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Santa has concluded his visit to Sturgis for the year.  Saturday, December 1st marked his arrival.  We started off our morning at Olivia's swim meet.  Andy had to leave it early to take his own team of swimmers out of town for their swim meet.  Olivia set another personal best in her backstroke.  Afterwards the girls and I headed home, hung out for a bit before get super bundled up.  Santa's arrival always means frigid cold weather in Sturgis.  For once in our lives we were overdressed.  It was a nice warm walk to the downtown.  We got there a bit before Santa's arrival and Nana was there to wait with us.  The line wasn't too long and it moved at a nice pace.  Mia is always excited to see Santa, but then hesistant to go near him or talk to him. 


This year she climbed right up on his lap without any reservations.  Olivia spoke up first letting the big guy know she wanted the Crayola Jewerly Botique and a zebra pillow pet.  Mia who had been waiting months to ask for a summer choo choo train (She got a Santa train last year at Christmas.  I put it away with the Christmas decorations, so she thinks a summer one she can have out year round) proceded to tell him she wanted an Ohio State pillow pet.  I made sure she also got her summer train request in before we said our good byes.


One of Santa's reindeer was in attendance as well.
 

The town also has two clydesdale horses pulling a wagon up and down the street, so the girls and I both climbed on for a short ride.  We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather.  Mia was without a nap, so I thought it would make for a long and grewling day, but we just had a terrific time together.

Various local business had events going on as well so we stopped in Great Lakes Chocolate for a Chai tea and then headed to Limelight Photography Studio (my friend Lauren's place) to see the animals and presenters there put on by the animal rescue fund.  I was asked to be a guest reader at Lowry's Bookstore, so we had Piper, Lauren's daughter head down with us.  We were also met by our friends the Lambs with four of their five boys.  I read Welcome Comfort by Patricia Polacco to a group of uninterested children, but we had fun none the less.  Kelli Lamb then read a story after me.  The bookstore also had ornament making, bracelets, and face painting.  After completing all they had to offer, we took Piper back and walked on home.

Stopping on our walk home for a pose at the lit up train.
 

Mia trying to feed the baby lambs that were at the park.

On our journey home Andy's school bus full of swimmers drove by us.  That meant I could drop Mia off at the pool and Olivia and I could drive over to Kmart to ring bells for the Salvation Army.  In the past when I've rang bells it's always been too cold.  The warm weather hung out for us.  Olivia was up well past her bedtime with me to ring bells, yet she was a trooper.  We serenade Kmart shoppers with off key singing of various Christmas carols that we often messed up lyrics on.  There was a bit of dancing at times.  Olivia really got into it.  I think it opened her eyes to the true meaning of Christmas.  About giving to others as God gave us his son on this magical holiday season.  Most of the visitors really enjoyed seeing her spirit shine.  We had many people requesting tunes.  Some people even left the store, but would turn around and come back to donate because they were so moved by her.  I wasn't sure how the night was going to go with her standing outside for two hours with me, but we made it memorable and truly enjoyed every second we spent together!  Our holiday season is off to a great start.  We hope the Christmas spirit is in all of your homes and hearts too.

Giving Thanks and Trimming Trees

Thanksgiving was truly a time to give thanks this year.  We celebrated Andy's birthday the night before out to eat at Bill's Steakhouse with his family and my Uncle Jere.  Jere accompanied us home and stayed two nights so he could celebrate Thanksgiving with us.  I was hoping for a laid back holiday not one filled with too much stress of the hustle and bustle that the holidays often bring on.  It certainly was calm and relaxed.  I did a bit of cooking, but at my own leisurely pace.  John, Esther, and Jennifer came over Thanksgiving day to join us for dinner and brought the turkey with them.  We were surrounded by good food and good company.  Of course I did do a little sneaking out to find some deals at local stores, but it was a nice time with family.


On Friday, Andy's Aunt Doris and cousin Danny came for a visit.  They live in NY so we don't get to see them often enough.  The ladies did some shopping in Shipshewana, while the men and Olivia hit the distillery and lounged at Nana and Papa's house.  We had a wonderful time visiting and catching up.  Again too much food was consumed and my clothes aren't quite fitting like they should, but who's watching?

We also decided this would be the year our family would select our first ever real Christmas tree.  We headed out last Sunday to a place between Bronson and Colon where you just head out, find your own tree, and cut it down yourselves, which is of course what my macho outdoorsy husband wanted to do. 
 

The girls had fun trapsing through all the rows of various pines trying to select the perfect tree.  Mia always chose ones about her size and Olivia went the other extreme finding ones that would be perfect in a home with cathedral ceilings.
 

Finally, our perfect tree was agreed upon by the girls, and Olivia helped Andy saw her down.
 

Posing by our newly fallen tree.
 

Setting it up in a stand that would hold it steady proved to be the most challenging part for Andy and me.  She's finally up, filled with lights, some ribbon, and only a few select ornaments with family names on them.
 

Just because we got a real tree doesn't mean that the artificial tree is going to hide away all year.  We have many more ornaments to hang and a newly finished basement was the perfect spot for the tree.
Mia really got into helping hang ornaments this year.  She's proving to be my Christmas lover, asking for Christmas carols every month of the year.  I promised Olivia no Christmas carols during the summer, so I removed my Christmas CD from my car CD player on June 21st, and it was promptly put back in when the Autumn solstice came. 
 

Although Olivia is not seeming to share my passion for the Christmas season, she too got into decorating the tree.
 

Here she stands, almost completely decorated.  I think I'm missing a box of ornaments yet.  This weekend we hope to finish decorating the house to get us all in a festive mood, but our priorities our set.  So first priority is to see Santa today.  He makes his way to our town today at 4:00 PM and we will be there waiting as patiently as can be!