Good Things from Christmas Week

Winter break is over and I'm here in a quiet house this morning, caught somewhere between lingering in the goodness of another Christmas come and gone and the inspiration of a fresh start that always comes with a new year.  We had a beautiful Christmas filled with many of the traditions we look forward to, with some added opportunities to slow it down, make home feel special, and focus in on what's most important about Christmas.  COVID has provided us many opportunities to pause, reevaluate and pivot this year and the same rang true for the holidays.  I was grateful for a year off from many of the things that fill up December and loved the extra space to dream up new ways to celebrate home, the special stages of where the kids are at, and of course, spark awe and wonder as we anticipated the birth of baby Jesus.  What a year to hope and celebrate that light had come to fill up our dark world.

Good Things from Christmas week...

931. Mila and all her festive attire for school.  She's going to be seven in a week and is looking and acting so grown up lately.  She's just the best and adds so much Christmas magic to our December.    

932. And the last day of school before winter break!  We celebrated with ugly sweaters to school, a festive Christmas manicure for Mila and I, milkshakes and maid-rites to follow, and a drive around town to see all the Christmas lights.  A Friday night energy was in the air and our family date night was just the right kickoff to Christmas week.

933. We didn't miss a single day of our advent book tradition (another advantage to being home so much) and had fun making simple nights a little more festive with things like s'mores on the stovetop, a board game and a bowl of buttery popcorn, or a family snowball fight in the basement.  

934. Some fun neighbor gifts delivered to our fave cul de sac peeps. 

935. We've welcomed Boone into our home and have put up with his antics for years now, but the kids (especially Mila) were more into him this year than ever before.  It was also the first year some tears were shed on Christmas Eve...and an "I miss you" letter has been crafted nearly every day since.

936. A night to myself with a cup of salted caramel cocoa, some cookies, and my favorite flick, The Holiday.

937. Many days were busy making messes at home, but I loved the afternoons where there was time to make everything clean and cozy before I ran up to get the kids from school.  I'd put on some Christmas music, start the tea kettle with water for hot cocoa, and set out some cookies for after school treats.  I like to think of it as a great big hug as soon as the kids walk through the door.

938. Birdie's quote from You've Got Mail - It will all shake out.  Meanwhile I'm putting up more twinkly lights, was a definite mantra here this year!  I strung lights everywhere - on windows, in the car, and even around my Peloton bike in the basement.  They made home feel like a great big blanket fort.  And speaking of Peloton - I've never been more excited to work out than this December, thanks to all those holiday rides.  It felt more like a party than a workout!

939. Lots of baking afternoons with my little pastry chefs.  And our favorite - Joanna Gaines' cherry mashers were so delicious!  Man could I go for one right about now...  

940. A winter solstice that felt intimate and special.  We turned off the lights, lit the candles, feasted on crab legs and chocolate cookies, and went for a cozy drive in our pjs to the edge of town to see the "Christmas Star," or the closest two planets have come together in 800 years.  It was truly something to see, almost as much as the lineup of cars on the gravel road we went to.  I think this year has taught us to anticipate the small things we may have easily overlooked before.    

941. Other good things from December?  The Queen's Gambit, road trips with the girls to Trader Joes for all the festive fare, watching the kids play their piano solos at Dyan's, all our conversations about our Bible readings, Kurt Russell as Santa Claus in The Christmas Chronicles, a candlelit dinner at Katie's, Ben Rector's Christmas album, and our two-hour game nights where everyone gets to pick a different game for 30 minutes of play.  Festive trips to Lighthouse with Shaws and Taylor and Kate, book club exchanges and that yummy sandwich from One Day in December, frozen hot chocolates from Dairy Queen, and white Russians with old fashioned peppermint sticks for stirring.  And these two, their festive pjs, and sweet and silly ways.