alright

this title has nothing to do with what is written below
maybe it does...

well, no
it
is
alright

everything is
alright...
and that feeeeeels nice
so yes, it may have everything to do with it

topic of today:

 reindeer

and real....live reindeer at that
{look at those feet}

I actually volunteered to be in the picture with the girls

and I never...ever
 volunteer to be in pictures...ever

it's not a great picture of all of us
but it's a picture:)

I may have been more excited to see the reindeer than the girls
that's probably silly

but whatever makes me smile, right?

this holiday season in our household there has been

smiles

giggles

hugs

and love

wishful thinking

dreaming

calm serenity
and a fullness I cannot explain

it's been simplicity

 days where I can look around and see many blessings

and

yes
we also have our holiday stories...

story one:
Hayley and the grinch

during our road trip over the weekend

 Hayley said she kicked the mean old witch
{which she meant grinch my sister-in-law figured out}

in her dream, she kicked him

she kicked the Grinch in the chin
she said

then she went about saying that God helped save her baby from the mean ole' Grinch

{her words...as a matter of fact}

at least she knows who can help her fight the big fights, right?

quite the dream she told us about as she woke up in the car headed to my in-laws
Bobby said...
well that explained the kick into my seat when she was sleeping then

then our family heard 20 minutes of the same story on every hour

she'd rotate who'd she told

seemingly I was in the room each time the story was told

so I heard it 4-6 times in 2 hours
no joke....

thanks Daddy for that one
while I play Miracle on 34th Street for them
he puts on the Grinch
{chuckle}

this season...

there has been lots of

curls

ribbons

bows

a few twinkle lights here and there

next year  I think we may plan ahead

as "we" forgot our reindeer broke last year along with many of our lights "not working"

actually I forgot
I'm not so sure Bobby forgot
maybe...just maybe Bobby didn't forget

and maybe...just maybe he didn't want to endure the cold to put them all up

but with Bobby home a day and a half most weekends

there isn't much time

we'd rather spend family time together then sending him outdoors in the freezing cold
{chuckle}

maybe...

oh, alright
this girl would have no problems having her husband freeze a little
so her twinkle lights could be put up

at least I'm honest

he does enjoy warm weather all week long while he is in Phoenix

yes that is a confession
{chuckle}

Since most of us have been enduring freezing harsh winters

every week he enjoys wonderful weather

I asked him if he'd refrain from any warm weather talk in this house

and he has...

 I did mention to him next year

that I would love to go all out on Christmas lights

Clark W. Griswold style

but not the plastic light-up figures

just the lights all over
the house

perhaps the roof

the porch

maybe even the yard if I'm lucky
I better get on Santa's nice list next year

if we do it...Bobby said you have to go big or go home doing it
we'll see if our lights are "working" next year
and if he goes "big"

but possibly some reindeer and angels

my favorite things

I think our neighbors will love us

don't you think?

we did say simple this year
but
I'm just being honest

the one thing I really miss this year is lots of outdoor twinkle lights

can you tell?

 since I have thoughts of going overboard next year

hopefully this week

we're about to indulge in

sprinkles

sugar

icing

and holiday treats

{probably a little too many holiday treats}

but it's on the agenda this week

to do our traditional Christmas baking

I just hope I have time to get to it
I never usually ever say...
"I hope I get time"

but this year
that phrase is true
just the way it is
I'm not going to stress about it if I don't get it all done

but we have one request from Miss Madison

to make Jesus a "royal purple birthday cake"
it has to be purple she said 

in celebration of what Christmas is all about

I'm not going to put on a fascade of all sugar plums and fairies this Christmas season

but it's been really different this year

 with Bobby gone right up to Christmas Eve pretty much

it just feels different
without him around more

but we are blessed and thankful beyond measure
and that's what I know

 I've been looking to all the goodness to keep me going
because there really is so much

 and the time all four of us do have together

because we are thankful for just having one another

celebrating it all with warm hearts and smiles

and yes...

this is my simple

easy

holiday and Christmas wrapping
everything but the paper I already had
so it was easy peasy
and fun to use up supplies that I already had

 the beautiful cursive writing is not mine
I wish it was
but
I regret to admit
I cannot write a bit of cursive
ask anyone who has seen my signature
and they'll confirm it
{smiles}