So this is Christmas

I can't believe it is the middle of December.  While I am loving the Christmas season, I feel like there is still so much to do.  (Like send out Christmas cards.  Don't worry they are designed and ready to be ordered.  I just dread checking my address list and such and so I have put off ordering cards.)  Hopefully I get finished with my Christmas shopping as well.  While I have the girls almost done, I need to worry about everyone else on my list.

Mainly I am loving being with my mom and reliving many of the things we did as young childrenat Christmas time.  We have made multiple types of Christmas cookies (which my girls are loving.)  We even made 5 batches of stained-glass candy yesterday.  We have the house all decorated.  And we live on a street that resembles the houses in Christmas Vacation.  Thus almost nightly, we get to go on a walk of the neighborhood to see snowmen and Santa and candy canes and presents and such.  I am pretty sure it is the highlight of my kids' day.  

I love the smell of the fresh Christmas tree and to look at pictures of my siblings and self as young children on different ornaments and Laney wishes it didn't sleep so much so that she could enjoy it more.  (Lots of things sleep a lot here as to keep Laney from ruining them!) 

 And I love to be able to remember the birth of the Savior.  My mom has lots of nativity scenes and one which is on a table for my kids to play with.  Laney loves to play with baby Jesus, Mommy Mary, and other important characters and can often be found having them give each other hugs.  (And on some occasions they get to sit in the stools nearby her while she eats her meals.)  While I know she doesn't know all of the details, she knows that Mary loved her baby and that Jesus loved his mom.  And for know, I think that is great.