Simply Christmas

Whooshhh!!! That's the sound of the last two weeks passing by in the blink of an eye. So much has happened. A few gifts have been hand-crafted around here but they're supposed to be surprises so I can't talk about them on this here blog because the recipients just might be reading.

We're keeping it simple this year. And by simple, I mean downright minimal. The Christmas decor may be the least I've ever done. Everything must be above the four-foot high reach of tiny hands. So we have this little tiny tree on top of one of our credenzas and some greenery on the mantel. But the stockings hung temptingly low so they are now hanging from nails on the wall. No candles within reach of the little one. All the gifts are tucked up and away. It's a little spartan for me, but necessary for this first Christmas with the Sprout around.

I did manage to get a few Christmas cards in the mail. It's a tradition I actually love--everyone's awkward attempts at summarizing a year's happenings on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper. Those cheesy posed family photos that show you just how much everyone has grown and just how little they wanted to have their picture taken. We tend to be a little isolated out here on the left coast with most of our family and friends back in the Midwest. So a Christmas card is one little way to try to maintain those cherished relationships across the miles. (If you're reading this and you didn't get a Christmas card, know that you are still cherished :)

I hope to post a few more things between now and Christmas day. But just in case Life happens and I don't get back here before then, have a very Merry Christmas with the ones you love!