- Ready the Way! -

LOLZZZ...starting to think about my Christmas decor that will go up in exactly one month from now...might as well post our holiday season stuff from 2023!!! HEART EYE EMOJIS, ILY Christmastime!!!

[Backdated to December 2023; penned posted October 2024]  

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Trimming the tree with happy hearts...

 

...THAT'S THE WAY OUR HOLIDAY STARTS! If you've been around here for any amount of minutes at all, you know Christmas decorating on Black Friday is a family tradition we love! When things are decorated to perfection, we don our warmest winter gear and pack up the van to a local lighted Christmas parade!

At bedtime on Black Friday, we also always read the Elf on the Shelf book and fall asleep wishing/hoping/praying that Twinkle Toes will make his magical return on Saturday morning!

And shockingly, he always does!!! Guy has impeccable timing if I don't say so myself.  He caused lots of trouble in the house this year!

NOT PICTURED for embarrassing reasons, Twinkle Toes also somehow snuck under the covers one night and painted all of Brian's toenails! On the last day, he left a long letter for the kids complete with photos of his house, friends, and favorite reindeer! Alllll of Twinkle Toes's adventures are summed up RIGHT HERE! 

When Twinkle Toes wasn't being naughty, Arabella was!  We had to take her on plenty of walks and make her so tired that she forgot she wanted to chew everything! Do you think Jesus will forgive her for chewing off part of His plastic manger straw? ...We aren't sure! :P

Also! Twinkle Toes wasn't the only one visiting overnight throughout December, as Scarlett lost her first tooth and required a visit from the Tooth Fairy! Did the two nighttime fliers meet in the sky? ...We also aren't sure! :P

Other 2023 Christmas season mems:

-- Wrapping gifts, especially the beloved gifts purchased at school with Santa's Kottage!

-- A visit from St. Nicholas, which was met with many questions such as:
Scarlett, very skeptical, with her left eyebrow slightly raised: "So you're saying St. Nick walks to EVERY PERSON'S HOUSE?"
Harper: "No, Scarlett, not EVERY person's house. Some people don't believe in him and some people forget to put their shoes out. Plus, he has a donkey he can ride so he doesn't have to walk."
Me: ...................."Well...treats, anyone?!"

-- A special Daddy/oldest daughter date to The Fox [while Grandma, Mommy, and the littler girls tried to act like going to Texas Roadhouse was an equal treat]!

-- A long-awaited holiday hand-lettering class for my mom and me!

-- A gingerbread making party at Uncle Garett and Aunt Jordan's house!

-- A "very Veritas" Christmas party!

-- A lot of Cecilia Clare & Co.. bow/sweatshirt sales at the boutique in town!

 

-- Visiting SANTA!!! Which was very exciting and ever so pleasing for 4/5 of the family!

-- The kids' school Christmas program [and it's only December 14, not even halfway through the month, phew!]

-- Family Croatian Lodge Christmas party and meeting of Santa #2 [which is just a "helper" to the real Santa, according to the kids, since his mustache is not attached to skin and his beard similarly resembles a wig seen on the shelf at Wal-Mart]!

-- Lots of crafting at school!

-- Caroling with friends at a local nursing home [which may or may not've brought tears to my eyes]! 

-- Attending Elf Camp with the lovely Secret Gardeners!

-- Annnnnd lastly but not leastly, sewing up some last minute Christmas gifts and enjoying a couple days of Christmas break before.....

-- Christmas Eve Eve candlight adoration at our parish!

-- AND OFF TO BED ON CHRISTMAS EVE! The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads!

BRB, MOMMA IS READY FOR HER LONG WINTER'S NAP!!!