capturing december: happiness is...

We didn't take one picture on Christmas day. Not one picture of the look on Ana's face when she opened her typewriter from Santa Claus. Not one shot of Jack dumping out his stocking and seeing little presents and candy. We didn't capture Katie opening present after present.

And we are okay with that. Christmas was a wonderful day. We were all happy and relaxed, though very tired, given the fact that Ana was up at 2 a.m. and refused to fall back asleep except for a couple quick dozes.

But my favorite moment was walking through the quiet house the next morning from my bedroom.

Ana was busy typing away on her new delightful toy.

Katie was playing quietly and happily at the (not new, but still) kitchen.

 

And Jack was happily building with his new Lego set at the dining room table.

 

It was a perfect moment. Exactly what you hope a post-Christmas day to be and feel like. The kids were happy and helpful most of the day, too. And we had a nice turkey dinner with our neighbors.

  

Everyone is happy. I felt like Santa did a good job this year. Today the snow is coming down, my family is nice and warm inside. This is happiness.

merry christmas

Wishing you and yours Joy this holiday season.

funny face

Katie makes this funny face lately. She knows it makes us laugh, too, so she keeps doing it. She also has started calling her pacifier a "pah-pi" which is adorable.

capturing december: family

Spent the morning texting most of my siblings. What started as a conversation of our favorite Christmas movies morphed to gun control, Christmas songs, and finished with Christmas memories, which made me cry.

I love my family.

capturing december: green

We love making Holiday Wreaths for our neighbors. Yummy!

joe and marie get a christmas tree

Since we couldn't be there for Grandma's Christmas Party, we decided to make a video to share with the family. The concept was the kids' idea, Dave filmed and helped elaborate.

My kids are awesome.

this month is such a special one

Let me tell you something about my husband. He is not a man of many words. He mostly keeps his eyes open and his mouth shut, which I think is a good combination. I, on the other hand, am a girl of many words. He usually can't get me to stop talking from the time he walks in the door til we go to bed. (He doesn't really try, though. He's a good sport.)  I'm learning, too, that sometimes it is okay not to say everything I am thinking. So, though I could spill forth all sorts of wonderful things about this man that is mine, though I could write paragraphs on his many qualities and essays on our many memories and a book about his wonderful upbringing by his fabulous parents, I think I will just say this:

Happy 30th Birthday, Dave. I can't wait to spend the next 30 by your side.

capturing december: joy

Katie helped me bake bread today. 

I love being a mother to these little children. It brings me so much joy, any time of the year.

forty two down, infinity to go

I've talked to my dad a few times on the phone the past few days. Whenever I feel worked up or passionate about something, talking to my dad always levels my head.  My dad has that wonderful quality in a parent so that each of his daughters think they are the favorite. (Though I know that I am for real.) He is smart and thoughtful and kind and happy.

If I could describe my parents in one word it would be dutiful. They always do their duty with willing and faithful hearts.  In their 42 years together, they have seen their share of trials, including spending weeks apart at times, and other times living paycheck to paycheck. Yet I have rarely heard a murmur of complaint.  They always humbly thank God for their blessings, always serve faithfully whenever they are asked, and still often take the opportunity to bear testimony of the Gospel to their children.

I thank them for teaching me where to turn to find answers to life's most difficult questions, and for their wonderful examples of faith and fortitude that they have provided for me.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! 
Love, Little E

capturing december: a christmas craft

The kids and I are doing a Christmas Activity Advent. It isn't anything much. Just an envelope a day with an activity to do that day. I like to keep it simple, and most of the activities are things we would have done anyway.

This morning Ana's school had a 2-hour delay, so we did our Christmas activity before school. Today's was a Christmas craft. We made paper wreaths. I love my creative kids.

capturing december: ana style

So, I totally dropped the ball on the picture a day thing. The main reason is because I have been doing an Activity Advent with the kids and I guess I can't keep up with TWO daily things.

Ana, however, has been taking a lot of pictures and I love what she ends up photographing.

I will continue tomorrow with a photo-a-day. (Probably.)

capturing december 3: red

My fabulous mother-in-law always has a candy dish full of nuts (cashews are her favorite) or M&Ms or chocolates on her coffee table. During the holidays, I like to follow suit. I think every candy dish I own is from her. (Although that snowflake one is a votive, but whatever.)

capturing december 2: holiday movie

We took a break from decorating to watch the classic clay-mation Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and eat some ice cream.

capturing december 1: my view

We were a week late getting our tree this year, and it was a beautiful, snowy, cold day to be cutting down our tree. When we got it up, Katie kept pointing at it and saying "tree" like she was really confused about why we had a tree in our house.

(I am doing THIS photo a day challenge for December. Join me! I do not promise that my pictures will be high quality and stunning.)