christmas day magic.

it's been so long since I have sat down to write anything at all. the christmas season proved to be busier than i ever anticipated. i never did quite accomplish everything i intended to. before i knew it, christmas day had arrived. and, despite the fact that my husband and i both came down with the flu, christmas in our home still seemed quite magical as always.

i love the peace, the joy and the excitement christmas brings. every year seems a little more merrier than the last. our children are now a year older and all truly understand the meaning of christmas and it's celebration. also, excitedly this year, we had a white christmas. it was truly beautiful watching the pureness of snow fall all day long. actually, it was absolutely wonderful. i love when it snows.

our home was filled with happiness. children playing with new toys. guests arriving. family and friends preparing a christmas meal. mingling and merriness. and then the calmness of christmas night. the peace. the joy. the still twinkling of christmas lights after all are in bed. a time to remember the many blessings of our christmas day.

i'm hoping christmas was as magical in your home and in your heart as it was in mine.

oh christmas trees.

last night, our family bundled up and headed out to find the perfect christmas trees. i had decided a couple of years ago that i like the idea of having two christmas trees in our home. one in the family room and another down in the basement since it is where our guests stay and we do most of our entertaining. it didn't take long before we had two of the most perfect trees wrapped, tied and loaded into jeff's truck ready to go home. and now, the fun of decorating begins!

i love, love, love this time of year!

a little christmas tradition.

i've been meaning to share this with you...


a little more than a week ago, our little elf arrived. here we found him sitting above the coffee bar in our kitchen. tinsel, as we call him, came to our home a couple of years ago and continues to come each year during the holiday season.

just after thanksgiving, he arrives and sits upon a shelf so that he is able to see and hear everything. the children can talk to him, but he cannot speak. nor can he be touched or his magical powers might be lost. each night he returns to the north pole and tells what he has seen or heard throughout the day. when we wake up each morning, tinsel is (almost) always in a different spot. i love the excitement as slade, elle and sia try to find where he might be. or, once in awhile i will hear them telling him their requests for santa claus!

quirky as it may seem, my children have come to love this little christmas tradition. they are always very sad to see their tiny elf friend leave on christmas day. but for now, tinsel is here to stay and my children know he will be watching and listening throughout each day!