The Holiday In Pictures

{Morgan with Kricket and Michael}

{Bella + Morgan equals true love}

{A New Trick}

{An Armful}

{Landen and Daddy}

{Morgan's not a big fan}

{Morgan daydreams}

{Christmas Eve}

{Early Christmas Morning}

{Levi, Bodie, Morgan}

{Matching Pajamas}

{Grandma and Papa}

{Christmas Day -- my new cute coat}

{Family Picture Day}

{Three Men in a Tub}

Welcome, Christmas Morn!

{Our Holiday in Bullet Points}

- 'Twenty-Questions' with Jared.
- Rummy and Marbles (Keller crew). Imagine-iff (Dixon crew).
- Late nights every night.
- Sleeping in every other morning (Jared and I took turns).
- Two days to ourselves for our anniversary (thanks mom and dad!)
- Thai food.
- Temple trips.
- Smoked turkey.
- Cereal candy.
- Wild Ivy.
- Christmas shopping with my mom.
- Getting to be Santa’s helper. So fun!
- My cute new coat (Jared delivered!).
- New brown pearls.
- Seeing my darling nephews.
- Family pictures (Keller crew).
- Gift wrapping.
- Christmas Eve pajamas.
- Clear, safe roads (there and back).
- Dad’s hugs.
- Hearing Corrie tell Bella to “shut-the-hell up!”
- Seeing Grandma Dixon.
- Taking two hundred forty-two pictures in twelve days.
- Looking at Christmas lights.
- Kissing Jared in the backseat of my parents’ van.
- Kissing Jared beneath mistle toe.
- Kissing Jared on Christmas morning.
- New Baby Einstein dvds.
- Morgan’s silly faces.

- Celebrating traditions.

- Mom's new Christmas dishes.
- Our new miter saw.
- Morgan’s new hand-stitched quilt from Grandma Keller.
- Hymn and Children’s song books with pictures.
- Grandma Glenna: Pretty soon the Lord’s gonna say, “THAT’S IT! Everybody out of the pool!” (classic).
- Filling the truck cab, back of the truck, plus my parents’ trailer with Christmas goods and other loot we collected over the trip (including my lovely Wild Ivy purchase).
- Making it safely (and barely sanely) home once more.

Deck The Dining Room

Shopping. And feeling inbetween.

Today, as my mom and I shopped alone, I told her we are inbetween.

She didn't understand.

I reminded her that in the history of us, we have never shopped alone (by ourselves) on a single black friday. Not ever. We've always had a car full of girl cousins, aunts, sisters. Women.

Today there were two. Us two.

Regardless of whether that made more room for our treasures (which it did and the pocketbook is proof), we are still inbetween.

We are in the inbetween of having more of our immediate own to gather together, instead of our extended loved ones.

Because those extended loved ones are inbetween now, too.

We're all growing in number.

:

And in a few years, when we are used to quieter, smaller company, the bustle will begin again.

I can't wait.

I'm such a bustle sort of girl.

I'm a (good deal) shopper sort of girl, too. Trust me. I am.

{photo from countryliving.com}

Sunday, I turned on A Muppets Christmas Carol to surprise Jared. Don't tell him that I told you, but it's his favorite Christmas movie.

It's so his favorite that my mom searched high and low a few years ago to find it on DVD.

She found it. And we are such proud owners.

Also, don't tell him that I told you that he knows the words to every song!

Very funny.

As for me, on the other hand - I have never seen the movie from start to finish, and had never even heard of it as a child. Deprived? Who knows.
:

Jared is sentimental - almost as much as I am. And he LOVES LOVES LOVES Christmas. It seems sort of silly at times. But, then again, sort of perfect.

And boy, are we excited.

PS: my pottery barn christmas catalog came over the weekend and there are some really great ideas brewing in this little head of mine. looking forward to 'day-after-thanksgiving' shopping at joann's with my mom to load up on some decorating goodies.

what are your christmas colors going to be this year?

i am thinking tarnished silver and red with a little bit of green.

what's your favorite decorating tradition?
is it taboo for you to decorate for christmas before thanksgiving has come and gone?
what about christmas music? are you listening to it yet?

our cd player has called it quits on us,

but we'll be fixing that soon.

and then bring on the holiday tunes!