Happy Ho, Ho, Ho!

This holiday season, once it got ramped up, was about a 5 day extravaganza! We visited with friends, had quality time with family of all shapes and sizes, and still managed to garner some special just-the-three-of-us moments as well. I took a BOAT LOAD of photos and have a few here to share. You will see that I had a hard time cutting down what to post. But I just didn't want to leave anyone out!


Honestly, I couldn't cram half the pictures on here that I really wanted to share. So for now, this will have to do.

We enjoyed a small gathering with friends the weekend leading up to Christmas. We spent a wonderful Christmas Eve with a traditional-for-the-three-of-us feast. And then Christmas day almost all of my family made it in for a wild and wooly lunch with kids ranging from 2 to 13 running, playing, joking, eating, and infecting everyone with a good dose of holiday cheer.

I don't think I could have scripted it any better - aside from some family members that need to pay more attention to their watches *ahem* and the addition of a couple of folks who couldn't make it this year. It was a good day. A very good day!

I think what I will remember most about Christmas this year is the feeling of contentment from being around those that I love and who love me back in return.

Merry Christmas! And may God bless us, EVERYONE!

Sights & Sounds of the Season

Our tradition is that, the day after Thanksgiving, we kick off the Christmas season by putting up the Christmas tree. We rushed that by a day this year since Nanny was in town for Thanksgiving and starting dragging out boxes and lights and tinsel as soon as the turkey feast was cleared from the table.


I'll admit though, despite all of the Christmas cheer around the house, I have had a hard time getting into the spirit this season. I'm not really sure why that is the case. We did our shopping early, so I'm not dealing with the stress of holiday crowds and frenetic shopping. Maybe it's work. Maybe it's just the hot-then-cold weather (but that's pretty typical for TX at this time of year). I don't know. I've just had a hard time FEELING IT, this year.

But that has all changed in the last few days.

So what sparked the big change, you ask? It's actually a very simple answer - Christmas tunes! Wonder Boy loves everything Christmas: the lights, the tree, the specials on TV, the PRESENTS, and Christmas carols! He belts out his holiday favorites in the shower, in the car on the way to school, judo, and anywhere else we might travel. He even reads (in his head) questions on his math test to the tune of his favorite holiday anthems (he admitted to that one yesterday when I asked about the math test)!

So I wanted to share with you a few of the tunes we are enjoying this season. Hopefully they will inspire you the way they have our family!

Straight No Chaser - The 12 Days of Christmas:

Straight No Chaser - The Christmas Can-Can:

Straight No Chaser - The Nutcracker:

The Bobs - Mambo Santa Mambo:

Los Straightjackets - God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen:

Los Straightjackets - Feliz Navidad:

There are many more tunes, of course. But these are the ones that are being played (& belted out) most often!

Take care and Merry Christmas to you all!