1. I love decorating for Christmas! We are investing in a new tree this year to fill our big picture window on the front of our new house. I have been researching them for a week now. I have also started buying new ornaments, getting decorating ideas, and have even put out the first decoration.......a new Christmas doormat for the garage door. It would not surprise me in the least if I didn't have my tree put up about two weeks before Thanksgiving!! I did inform Patrick that outdoor Christmas lights were going up the weekend before Thanksgiving, because Thanksgiving weekend is always so busy!!
2. I love listening to Christmas music! I typically pop in my first Christmas CD the day after Halloween!!
3. I love getting Christmas cards! It is always so neat to get Christmas cards from friends and family. Especially the ones that have pictures on them!
4. I love wrapping presents! Just today, I went to Sam's and bought 6 rolls of wrapping paper and 3 rolls of ribbon to match!! Landyn even helped me pick out the ribbon!
5. I love watching all of the Christmas shows! You can not beat a good Hallmark Christmas Special! Be sure and have a box of Kleenexes at hand!! And of course you have to watch the cartoon Christmas shows like Charlie Brown, Grinch, and Rudolph!
6. I love Turkey and Dressing with all the trimmings! I could eat turkey and dressing once a week! My MeMe makes the best dressing ever!!! There is nothing better than stuffing yourself silly and then taking a good ol' nap afterward.
7. I love Christmas parties! It is always so much fun getting dressed up and going to various Christmas parties! Everyone is in festive spirits. This is the perfect time to sit back and enjoy the company of friends and loved ones.
8. I love shopping for Christmas gifts! Yes, this can be very stressful and even frustrating sometimes. But it is so worth it when you have found just the right gift for someone and you can hardly wait to give it them!! On top of finding just the right gift, it is so much fun going to the malls during the Christmas season. The malls are all decorated, other festive people are everywhere, and it sure is a good excuse to go to Austin several times during the season!!!
9. I love fires in the fireplace!! One of my absolute favorite things to do is sit in front of a toasty fireplace when it is cold outside and sip a good glass of wine or some yummy apple cider. My parents have a fireplace that is wonderful!! I am a little sad that we do not have a working fireplace in the new house. It actually has one, but we have not fixed it to use gas burning logs or purchased the gas burning logs for it. Hopefully next year! A fire gives off warmth and creates a great atmosphere. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside......especially with that glass of wine!! haha
10. Finally, I love the Christmas Eve service at church and then our Annual Christmas Eve party. Our church has an amazing Christmas Eve service. And for those of you who do not know the story of how Patrick and I finally got together despite the fact that we had been friends since my Freshman year in high school, Patrick and I decided to date at the Christmas Eve party 5 years ago this Christmas. His family attended our party and the rest is history. So, the Christmas Eve party is a pretty extraordinary event, and this year I get to host it in our new house!!! I am so excited and nervous at the same time!!
**11. OK, so I had to add one extra.........I love this upcoming Holiday Season because me and Patrick's anniversary is December 4th. I am so blessed to have such an amazing man who is such an amazing father to Landyn. We celebrate 4 years this year. Yep, we were married within a year from the time that we started dating. When you know...you just know!
Blake and Landyn out reading before dinner on the back patio.
Our family's pumpkins on our own front porch. ( Landyn's, then mine, then Patrick's)
