Every year the anticipation for Christmas builds. By November, I am ready for Christmas music. Thanksgiving rolls in and I am itching to put up the tree and decorate the house. All of December I am thinking about gifts to buy and anxious to get out there and shop.
This year I made a Countdown To Christmas decoration. Using a few paper towel tubes, I cut 25 pieces, painted each one and glued together into the shape of a Christmas tree. We hung it on the wall and in each space a Hershey's Kiss was placed. Each night a Kiss was eaten... some by Kayla, some by Daddy and at least one that I consumed. As the kisses disappeared the big day approached.
Joe and I have it fairly easy when it comes to Christmas celebrations. The weekend before Christmas we celebrate with his Dad's side of the family and then his parents come back to our home. We enjoyed a nice dinner (prepared by Joe) and then Kayla opened her gifts. Christmas Eve is ours... this year we were invited to dinner at a friend's house. It was a nice relaxed time in which we were able to visit with them and enjoy another good meal. Christmas Day was a little more busy.
Kayla opened her gifts from Daddy and I. It was fun watching her slowly tear into each one. And when I say slowly, I mean slowly. I think each gift was opened by tearing off 2 inch pieces of paper. We can't afford to spoil her with piles of gifts or even with expensive ones, but maybe that is okay. I want her to grow up with Christmas being about more than the presents under the tree. After we celebrated with Kayla we spent a few hours with my Dad, his wife and her family. The 26th was Christmas with my brothers, sister-in-laws, niece, nephew and my Mom. All in all it was a good Christmas.
Then came today. The 28th of December and the official After-Christmas Clearance. For me this is not bargain shopping but rather the tear down of the Christmas decorations I waited all year to get out of storage. Right now, as I write this, my dining room table is buried under a pile of decorations. I have a tree that hasn't figured out how to undecorate itself. A toddler who apparently has grown tired of sitting in her high chair where she was munching on cookies. Two cats who seem to find everything interesting and want to investigate. A grocery list that needs to be made. A growling stomach because I have yet to eat dinner. Laundry that should be started. Dishes waiting to be washed. And in 11 months we will do it all again.
Back to the clearance...
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Broken Glasses
Joe and I got married in 2007 and at that time we registered for those practical items every household needs. Dishes, drink ware, Rubbermaid containers, towels, bedding... all the things that Target says to zap with that fun little gun. Now it is coming to the end of 2010 and I have made an observation.
The life expectancy of drink ware is approximately 3 years.
This summer as we celebrated our 3rd anniversary we needed to make a purchase of new drink ware. For some reason they kept breaking. (OK, I am a klutz and take some responsibility for that.) This past week 2 more glasses met their fate. One shattered when our toddler decided she wanted her sweatshirt off of the table, proceeding to knock a glass on the floor in the process of being independent, shattering pieces across the floor. A second one cracked a little as I washed dishes. Thankfully neither Kayla nor myself were cut in the process.
I have been thinking a lot about those glasses.
Love is a lot like those glasses. One day you are handed this precious gift. Someone enters your world and you exchange with one another your fragile hearts. Entrusting this person to handle it with care. Inevitably the other person fumbles and drops your heart. Sometimes they shatter it and you are left trying to pick up the pieces knowing you will never be able to put them together again. It is a lost cause. You take the shards and have to walk away. Sometimes it falls and a crack appears... and while it isn't the same as it was before, you can't use it in the way that you did before, you find a new use for it. The glass is redefined. But sometimes they lose their grip and there it falls and you watch in amazement as just kind of rolls to a stop. Sure it may be a little scuffed but nothing that picking it up and wiping it off won't fix. It is in those moments that you realize that even though the other person lost their grip for a moment, you are resilient. You pick yourself up, dust yourself off and put your heart back in their capable hands.
I have been very lucky in my 3 1/2 years of marriage. I think my husband would agree. We have had moments where we bumbled and fumbled, but picked each other up, dusted off and continued down life's path together. I know now just as much as I did the day I married him that I trust him with my heart. It's a fragile thing and I know that he understands that.
The life expectancy of drink ware is approximately 3 years.
This summer as we celebrated our 3rd anniversary we needed to make a purchase of new drink ware. For some reason they kept breaking. (OK, I am a klutz and take some responsibility for that.) This past week 2 more glasses met their fate. One shattered when our toddler decided she wanted her sweatshirt off of the table, proceeding to knock a glass on the floor in the process of being independent, shattering pieces across the floor. A second one cracked a little as I washed dishes. Thankfully neither Kayla nor myself were cut in the process.
I have been thinking a lot about those glasses.
Love is a lot like those glasses. One day you are handed this precious gift. Someone enters your world and you exchange with one another your fragile hearts. Entrusting this person to handle it with care. Inevitably the other person fumbles and drops your heart. Sometimes they shatter it and you are left trying to pick up the pieces knowing you will never be able to put them together again. It is a lost cause. You take the shards and have to walk away. Sometimes it falls and a crack appears... and while it isn't the same as it was before, you can't use it in the way that you did before, you find a new use for it. The glass is redefined. But sometimes they lose their grip and there it falls and you watch in amazement as just kind of rolls to a stop. Sure it may be a little scuffed but nothing that picking it up and wiping it off won't fix. It is in those moments that you realize that even though the other person lost their grip for a moment, you are resilient. You pick yourself up, dust yourself off and put your heart back in their capable hands.
I have been very lucky in my 3 1/2 years of marriage. I think my husband would agree. We have had moments where we bumbled and fumbled, but picked each other up, dusted off and continued down life's path together. I know now just as much as I did the day I married him that I trust him with my heart. It's a fragile thing and I know that he understands that.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
This Baby
Where did December go? I can't believe we are only 6 sleeps away from Christmas morning. Are you ready? I'm not, but I am also not stressed about it. Joe and I still have some shopping to do so we will be getting that done later in the week. I also have a menu to plan for a family Christmas next Sunday.
In the hustle and bustle of the season it is very easy to get stressed out because of money, time and obligations. This week I truly hope to just revel in the glory of Christmas. For me as a Christian this time means more than presents under the tree. It is the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus, sent as a babe to save the world. This baby...
In the hustle and bustle of the season it is very easy to get stressed out because of money, time and obligations. This week I truly hope to just revel in the glory of Christmas. For me as a Christian this time means more than presents under the tree. It is the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus, sent as a babe to save the world. This baby...
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Dough ornaments on a snowy weekend
Christmas is quickly approaching and with it much anticipated time with family. For us it will start next Saturday when we head over to Little Canada to spend the day with Joe's relatives at a combined Christmas/Grandma's Birthday celebration. After that we will come home and celebrate Christmas with his parents. On Christmas Day we will enjoy time with my Dad and his wife, Pat at her daughter's house. Then on the 26th Christmas comes to our house as we gather with my Mom and my siblings and their families.
I think this Christmas is the one I have been waiting for. Kayla is old enough to know something is up... take the tree for instance. One night she went to bed and woke up to a pine tree in the living room. She has her Nativity play set and this year may actually be able to unwrap the gifts that will appear under the tree.
Having a child changes things for me with Christmas. I have always loved it but now as Kayla grows I will be able to form new traditions with her and Joe. Christmas seasons of cookie baking and carols, gift giving and most importantly sharing what the Christmas holiday means.
Yesterday I took some time to make dough ornaments for Kayla to paint. I have shared the recipe on my blog page. It took me about 20 minutes to make the dough and cut out the ornaments and then they dried in the oven all afternoon. Kayla was able to paint two of them before bedtime. She has a few more to do. It was a simple project and great way to spend a snowy day. If you are looking for something to do with your kids or even just want to make some yourself as gifts please try the recipe that I posted. I would love to see your finished projects and I will post Kayla's once they are complete.
Comment topic: What is your favorite holiday project?
I think this Christmas is the one I have been waiting for. Kayla is old enough to know something is up... take the tree for instance. One night she went to bed and woke up to a pine tree in the living room. She has her Nativity play set and this year may actually be able to unwrap the gifts that will appear under the tree.
Having a child changes things for me with Christmas. I have always loved it but now as Kayla grows I will be able to form new traditions with her and Joe. Christmas seasons of cookie baking and carols, gift giving and most importantly sharing what the Christmas holiday means.
Yesterday I took some time to make dough ornaments for Kayla to paint. I have shared the recipe on my blog page. It took me about 20 minutes to make the dough and cut out the ornaments and then they dried in the oven all afternoon. Kayla was able to paint two of them before bedtime. She has a few more to do. It was a simple project and great way to spend a snowy day. If you are looking for something to do with your kids or even just want to make some yourself as gifts please try the recipe that I posted. I would love to see your finished projects and I will post Kayla's once they are complete.
Comment topic: What is your favorite holiday project?
New Year, New Blog
Originally when I started this blog I had the intention of focusing on Proverbs 31. As I began writing I realized it was very limiting and so very much not me. So with the promise of a new year just on the horizon, I have revamped my blog!
Tripping Through Mommyhood will be my place to share about my journey as a mom... but also so much more. If you don't have little ones my hope would be that you would still read as I will be sharing about many things!
Tripping Through Mommyhood will be my place to share about my journey as a mom... but also so much more. If you don't have little ones my hope would be that you would still read as I will be sharing about many things!
Some new features to check out:
*** Project of the day: Here I wll be posting either project I have done myself or with Kayla, found on the 'net or in books or shared by friends.
***Quote of the Day: Just a thought that I found inspiring or amusing.
***Home Economics From Yesteryear: Excerpts from articles, books and journals found on HEARTH: Home Economics Archives.
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