It's beginning to look a lot like.....Christmas??? Already.

Christmas is huge. It is tied to many, many fabulous traditions and memories from my childhood. I love, love, love Christmas. Everything about it has me smitten for the occasion--sparkly lights, glitter, blown glass ornaments, Christmas carolers, Snow Villages, the angel collection, snow, cold weather to curl up under a blanket, candlelight service, Christmas carols. All of it. I. love. Christmas. We've lived here four years and the ornaments and beautiful Snow Villages that Chris and I have eagerly purchased in anticipation of our future Christmas' together have sat in their boxes, untouched. Let's face it. We have a crazy life. Crazy busy, crazy chaotic. We travel to spend Christmas with my family every year. It is our one holiday with them. I get so excited at just the thought of seeing my parent's BEEEAAUUTIFULLLL tree--entirely full of blown glass ornaments or Hallmark treasures with a TON of lights. It is gorgeous. The rest of the house is beautiful too, in all it's Christmas glory, but the tree is awesome. The part I love the most about the tree are the memories tied to each ornament. ANYWAY, back to my point. With our travel schedule, it hardly seemed worth it to put up the decor for two weeks of enjoyment. However, children change everything. Chris and I have worked hard to develop our traditions and memories as we have purchased our own Christmas decorations (many bought by me before there was an "us," but with the same dream). I looked forward to the day when I could pull out "Our First Christmas" ornament or "Baby's First Christmas" or our first Snow Village we bought when we were anticipating our life as a newly married couple. Sadly, these memories in boxes have stayed tucked away until now. I decided this was the year that we would get the full enjoyment from our tree. We'd have to start early, so this weekend was it. We pulled out the boxes upon boxes of decor, ordered Chinese food (our favorite) and Chris turned on some Christmas music. It was quite a production.Claire was in heaven. She did so well, handling every ornament (not many kid friendly ornaments as each one costs a pretty penny, but she was oh so gentle), occasionally bringing an especially sparkly one over to show Mya. She sweetly said, "See Mya? Christmas." It was perfect. It is done. The tree is up, our Snow Village collection is displayed (we actually forgot we had so many as we've never seen them displayed) and the stockings are hung with the garland. I couldn't be happier. The house is so beautiful and our Christmas tradition has been born. Oh yes, one more thing to remember...personally thank my Mom who kindly bought us not one but two of those singing Hallmark toys. Claire is a huge fan and is quickly learning  exactly what the Santa is saying--"Remember the spirit of Christmas lasts all year long!!" Perhaps an appropriate thank you is bringing one of those toys with us to their house. Hmmmm....