EdelWeiss: "Jingle Bell Rock"

Is it too late to document our blissful holiday season? I mean...it's nearly February. So yes, it's too late. None of my faithful readers are in the mood to hear about the come-and-gone holiday season; but maybe those readers would enjoy a few pictures? I know that the blogs I frequent most from years past are typically the ones I posted about Christmas...so hear it goes for 2015!

Christmas Parties
We have a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful church family in Central Florida...and a few groups of people we've become especially close to this past year. It brought us (particularly the social butterflies of the house--me & C--) much joy to celebrate the season with people we cherish.

Disney Decor
Yes we all know each year we try to do as much Disney sight-seeing during the holidays as we can. We missed A LOT this year. And that was okay. We snapped a few Christmas Tree photos, saw the castle light up and bid farewell to the Osborne lights. We missed Christmas at the Grand and sadly didn't see Santa & and his Mrs at EPCOT or the beloved Candlelight Processional. But truth be told...that was okay.

Deck the Halls
We added a few Christmas decor pieces to our house and I have to say of the few years I've been decorating, I was most pleased with how this year turned out. I didn't capture it via still image, but I did send these photos to Carley expressing that I "think" I've found my holiday decor style. ;)

Carly REALLY enjoyed decorating as well, and was thrilled to have her own tree. I saw these cute reindeer on our neighborhood re-sale site, and she gave her stamp of approval on snatching them up as well.

Simple Activities
Whether it was decorating sugar cones at Miss Kim's house, ornaments at Miss Robyn's, or salt-dough prints with Miss Carrie, we had so much fun being crafty this Christmas! We also enjoyed baking...and eating sugar.

Christmas Sunday @ Harvest Bible Chapel
Christmas at church...well it's pretty important. Ultimately, we believe that One Omniscient Heavenly Father sent his only son to be born in the humblest of ways. A Messiah. Who would save the World. It's something to be cherished and celebrated. So seeing our church provide opportunities for our little ones, elementary-aged, middle-school & high-school students to all lead us into worship in various ways...it actually brought tears to my eyes. I had to tell myself to pull it together during the Christmas play the elementary kids did...and then again when the middle-schoolers led the congregation in worship. Can we just do it again, already? THANK YOU to everyone who helped. I'd love to help! Someday. It's just not the season for me quite yet.

Where's Carly? :)

Middle Schoolers & their drums.

Christmas Eve
This day is my favorite day of the year. It just is. I look forward to a service that swells my heart and produces a steady stream of tears down my cheeks, I look forward to sharing soup together in honor of the tradition that was set when Brian was a boy, I look forward to the anticipation of presents and opening one before bed and I look forward to the moments I share with Brian once our little ones are tucked away for the evening. Carly just looks forward to the petting zoo each year... ;)

Christmas Day
Waffles for breakfast! Presents, galore! A few FaceTime conversations...play time & work time! I always sign up to work Christmas afternoon because I think it's important to show my support to all those who don't totally have a choice in the matter. Not ideal, but worth it.

I must document the Christmas menu Brian and I decided on last minute while standing in the aisles at the grocery store: Ham, Collard Greens + Bacon & Glazed Carrots. I shared our menu with a coworker and she affirmed that we couldn't have possibly been more Southern. We've officially diversified ourselves. Score.

Christmas in Minneapolis
Thank you Ma, Pa, Trey & Tiffy for being willing to postpone your Christmas for us once again! It's so special to share a big breakfast with you all and open thoughtful gifts from people who mean the world to me. Thanks for making our time in Minneapolis so so special. ;)