Christmas with Kids

Christmas is so different for kids than for us adults. I remember Christmas when I was a child. It was so care free. I didn't have to think (much) about shopping for presents. I would typically take one trip to High School Pharmacy and figure out a way to spend my hard earned dough on a little gift for my mom, dad and grandparents. Those items were simple, a bottle of bath bubbles for mom, a can of cashus for dad, you get the picture. But the feeling of Christmas was created for me, mom made seasonal favorite foods, we sang carols around the woodstove, we all got excited about getting the decorations out. It was magical…it just was.

This year, my kids are still so small, I don't know how much they understand but I know they enjoyed it. We didn't do lots of gifts, just a couple. We hung out with the cousins on Christmas Eve and watched them open their gifts. Playing with ballons was just as fun as opening 20 presents. I love that!

I always get excited when I see our kids discovering new things and having new experiences. I know they likely won't remember this Christmas when they are older but I will have captured the memories on camera to show them.

Our Christmas was simple, yummy food, Christmas music and movies. We honestly had a unforgettable time on Christmas morning enjoying the simplest of things.

Fun to see three girls trying to get on a motorcycle together.

Hope your Christmas was lovely all!

Tis the season for - taking family photos? I guess so because it seems like everyone has. And I love it!

Enjoy the simplicities of the season my friends. Eat, laugh, celebrate Jesus and spend time together. We send our love and warmest thoughts to all our friends all over the country this Christmas.

XOXO - Jen

Holiday Happenings

This might look more like fall than winter but we are just now getting fall - a cold one and it has turned the trees with the capacity to turn, some pretty nice colors for Texas. I have gotten back into running and this is one of my favorite trails. Running has always been something that challenges me, gets me out on my own and now gets me inspirited.
Last weekend I ran the RunGirl 1/2 marathon with my new friend Jenni. Now we did it relay style so each ran a 10K but after the race we felt so great that we said we will train to run the whole 1/2 marathon in April at the Houston Space Center. I am psyched. 

When the race started it was only about 40 degrees and really chilly. We were bundled up and ready for a cold run. I was committed to running the whole 6.7 miles and did! At my best time, no less. 

Mike and the bundled up kiddos met me at the end.

By 10am it was 60 degrees and sunny. I am so blessed to have found a sweet new friend here.

Christmas Traditions 

Now in Houston, there is no going out to cut down your own Christmas tree. In Oregon (ironically) we always had a fake tree but this year we decided to go get a fresh pine smelling (ironically Oregon grown) tree. No one wanted to help pick out to ONE except Amelie.

Even she wasn't really into it. It was raining and a little cold.

Mike and Jack were too busy exploring the tree farms many tropical trees. If they had there choice we would have come home with a palm tree. Wouldn't that have been funny.

Look Mommy, a big wired pine cone looking thing.

Tromping around in the water.

I had to go really kid friendly with the ornaments this year because of Amelie but also Jack too. I had some pretty glass "Dr. Seuss" style glass ornaments which somehow were the only ones that made it through the move to Houston. So I got some plastic kid friend ones to match for the bottom 1/2 of the tree. Amelie pretended to help me decorate the tree.

As you may notice, there are no ornaments below the silver fluffy thing. They are all in the basket below the tree because after Amee pulling them off and be putting them back on for the dozenth time, I just gave up and said, you can play with them. :) 

The days are rainy and sometimes cold so Jack loves to read and drink his hot chocolate. He says on a regular basis, "Mommy, can I have some hot chocolate, and make it HOT Mommy, PLeaSE".

Walking around the neighbor to look at lights at night is one of Mommy's favorite things. And the kids loved it with the cousins.

The only 2 of the 4 who would pose for the picture. Merry Christmas to ALL!

Jack loves to take pictures. He is a rascal about it. I had to post this one since I have finally gotten my computer back after the kids broke the screen watching a movie. Lesson learned the expensive way. ;( Oh well, I am back online!