Snippets of Holiday Magic - December 19 - Santa's Elf

Scrolling through Facebook the other night, I noticed a post from a fellow Girl Scout leader. Santa had put out a call of help. Christmas is this weekend and he needed help sending his letters to all the girls and boys who wrote him. So, I became one of Santa Elves!

This is such a magical time! I've loved reading all the letters. Some pulled at my heartstrings, some had me laughing until I was in tears. Fonzy said I was having way too much fun with this. And you know what? I am! Once my boys stopped believing in Santa, the magic was gone. This has bought the magic back. The sweet innocence of kids asking to be put back on the nice list, and saying they will be good and get along with their brother. To ones wanting a chainsaw so he can help his PopPop chop wood, and ones that asked how Santa and his elves were doing then stating, "enough chit chat! Let's get to the point. Here's what I want for Christmas" One broke my heart saying all they wanted was a winter coat, while another asked to please give presents to the less fortunate, and world peace. How I wish for the same thing.

I love that the post office takes the time out of their day to pull all the letters to Santa to ensure he receives them. Little doses of magic all around.

I'm writing a letter to Santa myself to let him know I'm here to help out next year if he gets behind.

I still believe.

Snippets of Holiday Magic - December 13

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree, in the eyes of children they are all 30 feet tall. ~ Larry Wilde

Snippets of Holiday Magic - December 11

Another favorite ornament of mine.

On a side note I've never made gingerbread cookies. Not sure we'd like them. I found a chocolate sugar cookie recipe that I may try and cutout as gingerbread men. Or maybe I'll just make the true gingerbread ones. If we don't like them anyone want to volunteer to eat them.

Snippets of Holiday Magic - December 10

Every year during Christmas time our Mom would make Christmas cookies with us. Even though she died when we were still kids Karen and I have carried on that tradition with our boys. Our boys are teens now and no longer want to make cookies with us, but we still do it.

Next year we will have a little baby girl to make cookies with and we are so excited. My sister is due in March, so she'll only be about 9 months but she will be right in the kitchen with us, keeping the tradition our Mom started so many years ago. I do believe she'll be looking down on us smiling and loving all our Christmas cookies.

New Hat!

Elijah had a basketball game Friday night, so we turned it into a family date night. Ezekiel was off from work, Sydney(GF) was in town, and Karen/James decided to join us.

After Elijah's game, the men stayed and watched the next game while Karen, Sydney, Ezekiel and I went shopping. I wasn't looking for anything, really don't like shopping, but when I found this hat and put it on, I instantly fell in love. And with the hat being 60% off, I couldn't pass it up. I may have even got a black one too.

Snippets of Holiday Magic - December 8

When I saw this little marquess Christmas tree I couldn't resist it. I had no idea where I was going to put it, but bought it anyways. Now there's a little Christmas cheer in our bedroom and I love it!

I might be tempted to keep it out year round.

Snippets of Holiday Magic - December 7

Glue splattered, red pompom nose, googly eyes and crooked antlers. These are the best ornaments filled with childhood memories. How I wish I could go back to when they were little.

Snippets of Holiday Magic - December 6

On a cold, rainy day there's no better place to be than in front of the Christmas tree, knitting my first sweater. I'm so excited, it's actually looking like a sweater.

Snippets of Holiday Magic - December 5

Driving home from Girl Scouts tonight, I did a slow drive around our neighborhood. Christmas lights sparkled on every street. I drove past a house where the young mother passed away this summer from cancer, leaving behind 3 little ones and a husband. There were no Christmas lights. My heart went out to them. The first Christmas without her.

I pulled up to our house, all aglow and thanked God for life and the loved ones I still have with me, and prayed for the little family missing theirs.

Raleigh Christmas Parade

Raleigh had their Christmas parade last month to start off the holiday season and I'm just now getting around to posting. My sister, Karen and I decided we were going, whether our kids wanted to come or not. They can be scrooges, but we were going to enjoy it. In lieu of kids, we had a friend, Neldy, from back home that we hadn't seen in forever join us and had a great time.It was a gorgeous day for a parade! The morning was a little chilly, but it warmed up nicely. Past years we've gone, we froze our butts off! Most times the kids wouldn't last until the end to see Santa it was so cold, but we got to see Santa this year! Also, one of our local high school bands, Cary High School, was in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade! How exciting is that. The Macy's parade is on my bucket list. One day I will be there! Until then, Raleigh's parade will have to do, which really is pretty good.

After the parade, we walked through downtown Raleigh for a favorite breakfast spot, but they were closed when we got there. Boo! But the day was so pretty, we quickly got over it. The trees were at their peak and I couldn't resist playing in them. I don't know how anyone can walk past a tree in all it's Autumnal glory and not want to jump in them! I can't resist!

Snippets of Holiday Magic - December 4

Fonzy strung up the lights outside, and I finished the decorating inside. Little touches of Christmas all throughout the house.

Right now, it's raining out, the lights are all aglow, chicken noodle casserole in the oven and Santa Clause is Coming to Town on. I love all the holiday specials from childhood. Grinch, Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Frosty, a Christmas Story. The holiday wouldn't be complete without them.

Snippets of Holiday Magic - December 3

I was up today at 5:00am to drop Ezekiel off at the train station to visit his girlfriend at college. Fonzy had to take Elijah to basketball practice, so that left me alone to decorate the tree. With a fresh cup of hot coffee, and Christmas music playing in the background, I pulled out the ornaments. A sleigh made from Popsicle sticks, clothespin reindeer, Rudolph with crooked antlers, snowman with a green hat unraveling. So many ornaments made with little hands of Christmas's past. I got a little teary eyed as I pulled out ornaments and frames with pictures of the boys. Little smiling, excited boys. Childhood is so fleeting. When you are in the thick of it, you don't realize how fast its's going.

Oh those memories of Christmas past, how sweet they are.

Snippets of Holiday Magic - Tree Shopping - December 2

Today was tree shopping day! We normally get our tree the day after Thanksgiving, but since we were at the beach, it had to wait until this weekend. We were in Texas last year for Christmas, so we didn't get a tree. And the year before that, we had a little small tree, so I wanted something bigger this year. Ezekiel agreed to go with me since no one else wanted to go. I can always count on Ezekiel. I can't believe he's leaving after Christmas! I wanted him to take some pictures with me, but he said he'd rather just be the photographer. I was able to sneak one of him as the tree was being wrapped though.

All the trees were so pretty, it was hard to choose. Ezekiel and I walked around until we found the perfect one. I told him I've always wanted to tie my tree to the top of the truck and drive down a snowy road. I had to settle for a drive down 1st Ave in Knightdale, with sun shining, but that was pretty good too.