merry and bright

i hope that your christmas (or your regular wednesday) finds you happy and warm.

i have had a couple of quiet moments this morning to take it all in. new york (pictures and stories to come soon). snow flake lane. reindeer festival. seeing the movie "frozen" (love, love, loved it). seeing the huge gingerbread houses in downtown seattle. making our own gingerbread house. riding on the carousel at westlake center. riding on the carousel at redmond town center. malena and i getting to go inside a huge real life snow globe. the twinkle of all of the lights. being around family. super thankful for all of my friends. putting up the christmas tree and getting to look at everyday (kind of don't want to take it down this year). pulling in to our neighborhood and seeing all of the lights. seeing the glow of our outside lights through the front windows of the house. leaving the annual surprise packages for the garbage workers and mail carrier so that they too know they are appreciated and thought of this time of year. eating some of my christmas favorite foods (yep, some have sugar and yep, i am ok with that). hanging up the stockings. watching malena's reaction as she sees what our elf buddy has been up to each night while she sleeps. seeing the pink glow from malena's room when her own little tree is lit up in the dark of the night. watching polar express while tucked in under our favorite blanket. wrapping gifts (which will be happening late tonight per our usual tradition -- and i will likely be drinking a hard cider while i do it). opening my mailbox and seeing all of the christmas cards, for a girl like me that loves happy mail, this is the best time of year - happy mail overload and i love it. the first snow of the year, watching malena's excitement to go out and play in it. starbucks dates on friday morning with malena drinking our tea and chocolate milk out of the red holiday cups. listening to some of my favorite christmas songs (hello "last christmas"). making some of our own christmas presents. hugs. a ton of laughter. the smile that comes when someone opens a gift that they are so excited about. the anticipation of santa coming. making the cookies for him to eat when he gets to our house. putting out the carrotts for the reindeer.

december has been full of a lot of joy, and that is what i will be focusing on as we celebrate christmas and finish out this year. i am saying my thanks for a great month filled with family and friends. i am so blessed and so lucky to be surrounded by so much love.

i wish you and yours a very merry holiday season, may it bring you joy and happiness and moments you will forever cherish and never forget.

much love. xoxo