Friday, December 30, 2011

Wake up, it's Christmas!


christmas is my least favorite holiday, but this year was a certain kind of special.
the kind of special that only comes that one time a year by slowing down and looking at the big picture.
where you can fill the kids' heads with magic and wonder and a new kind of happy.
a time to unleash your imagination, renew old friendships, and celebrate life.
christmas to me is not about gifting, or cooking, or decorating these days.
its about making sure my kids learn and understand the true meaning of love, joy and giving.
its about getting the most out of my time with them and savoring each and every moment.
now that is a gift within itself!











this year was the best christmas yet, the kids' excitement spread like wild fire.
the gifts were less this year, but the joy was more... much, much more.
my heart is bursting at the seams!

Merry Christmas friends.


Christmas, children, is not a date, it is a state of mind.
~Mary Ellen Chase



"Dear Editor--I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus? Virginia O'Hanlon
115 West Ninety-fifth Street
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
-- Calvin Coolidge





Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas eve

santa made it to the train table tonight, and delivered gifts to all the trains.
we last minute gift wrapped, and snacked, and baked mexican wedding cookies for old st. nick.  
we've been tracking santa all day, right now he is in Sao Paulo, Brazil and he's headed sraight for the U.S!

the kids already have the cookies and milk set out and are soundly nestled all snug in their beds.
let the chaos begin!










merry christmas to all...and to all a goodnight!



I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day.  We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year.  As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year.  And thus I drift along into the holidays - let them overtake me unexpectedly - waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself:  "Why, this is Christmas Day!"  ~David Grayson


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Happy Feet

today in it's gloom was good for nothing except taking my guy out on a date to see happy feet two.
i was surprised when denver told me he was afraid to go into the dark theater. 
  i told him there is nothing to be afraid of , but he better sit on my lap and snuggle in as close as he can,
just in to be sure.
















denver seemed to enjoy the movie okay,
but for me, i think it was more about spending some quality time with my guy.
and all those buttery kisses of course!



You don't raise heroes, you raise sons.  And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes.  ~Walter M. Schirra, Sr




Monday, December 19, 2011

Christmas at the Greene


christmasing at the greene on sunday was just what the doctor ordered!
funny to see the kids faces in amazement and wonder.
christmas lights strewn as far as as can see, a giant sparkling christmas tree, horse drawn carriage rides,
window shopping and even a live nativity!
i don't think any of us said one word during the whole carriage ride, it was that amazing.


























this was definitely a day to remember.


Merry Christmas from the heart my friends.
xoxo