Christmas Music

I listen to Christmas music all year long. I mean, not all the time, but every once in a while I'll play my Holiday playlist and I'm instantly in a better mood. Truly! What is it about festive tunes that can 'up' your spirits?

It's no secret that I totally saturate myself in every Holiday and Christmas is no exception. Actually, it's probably the Holiday I saturate myself most in (well, and Halloween - lets not get stupid). Cody always warns me that I'll get sick of my Christmas music and movies because I play them all the time. "Rubbish!" I say, "It's Christmas!"

The fun thing is, my boys are getting old enough to sing with me around the piano. My family did this all the time growing up, it's one of the reasons I wanted to learn how to play - so I could do that with my family. There was a book we sang songs out of called "My Picture Book of Songs" that has a few simple tunes for every season. Naturally, the Halloween and Christmas songs were our favorites and sung the most often. One Christmas song in particular was called, "My Christmas Stocking".

"I just hung up my stocking, the biggest I could find.

I had to use my Mom-my's, I hope that she won't mind (oh yeah, my Mom looooved that part).

I left a note for San-ta so he'd be sure to know,

I want it filled with lots of toys and candy in the toe."

It was so fun to sing and we loved singing it, but with only one verse? That didn't seem right. I don't remember how old I was, but one year my brother Marty wrote a second verse for us to sing that was totally perfect.

"Early on Christmas morning when I am fast asleep,

Santa will fill my stocking with toys and candy sweet!

He'll find the note I left him and laugh aloud with glee,

for what he brought is what I want

beneath the Christmas tree!"

Not to be outdone, my Dad also wrote a final verse to complete the song.

"After the gifts are open and Santa's on his way,

our home is filled with music

and treats and laughter gay.

It's always fun at Christmas

with trees and toys and snow,

to sneak a kiss from those we love

beneath the mistletoe! Ho ho!"

I just found the lyrics to those verses this year and the first time I sang through them I cried. Yes, cried. I was so flooded with memories from our warm little house on Center street. Singing this song reminded me what our home felt like on Christmas - the sounds, the smells. I so desperately want to create that for my kids. A warm, festive house that is filled with music. A few years ago my parents gave me my own copy of that old music book and this year I plan on writing in those extra verses!

December is here...

How I love December! This month always goes by way too fast, I never feel like I get everything in. I hope to fill each day with Holiday goodness, I don't want to miss any of it!

Cody and I broke in the Christmas month with much bustle yesterday. First I made our Christmas lists and hung them on the fridge with care, then we ran some shopping errands and stealthily hid presents for the boys in our shopping cart.

Last night we bundled up to go get our Christmas tree. Staying true to Jolley tradition, we drove up to Grandview Hill to the 'Baum's' Christmas Tree Lot. It took a while to find our flocked tree, but once we made our choice we loaded it up. We also got a smaller tree for the boys to decorate along with some fresh pine bows.
We grabbed some In-N-Out for dinner (we were only in the Drive Thru for about 5 minutes! Awesome!) and made our way home.

I started the lights on or main tree while Cody helped light Cache and Cole's tree. Cache was very adamant about decorating his tree by himself. When the lights were done Cache went right to work and even let Cole help a little.

We're still decorating and have other merry things to do this weekend. I'm looking forward to it more than you know! Happy December!

Holy Wrap!

As we hauled in our Christmas boxes from the garage, Cody informed me that I'm not allowed to buy any wrapping paper this year. "Pish....pah...wha...ugh...bah...." sounded something like my response. Until I took the rolls out.

Oh.

Turns out I have quite the collection, who knew? Shiny, striped, festive, metallic and 3 rolls of printed wood grain (so rad). There's over 20 rolls, people. Is that a lot? It took up my entire counter, it looks like a lot. I have no will power when it comes to wrapping paper (or paper napkins, but that's another post). As soon as I see cool printed paper, my mind is instantly filled with a plethora of reasons why I need it. To be honest, I don't have that many functions where I must show up with gift in hand, but does that stop me? Of course not, why would it. And with the Christmas season upon us and all that fun paper out there? Be still my wrapping fingers.

I will do my best not to buy any more this season...we'll see how long that lasts.

Merry Pants

I own some fleece pants. They are warm and festive and have the word 'Merry' written all over them in red and green. I love my merry pants. I AM merry pants when I wear them. If it were socially accepted, I would wear them everywhere. Poor Cody. With Christmas coming up, my merry pants will be showcased like mad. Baking! Decorating! Wrapping! Poor Cody.

I am so giddy for Christmas I can hardly stand it. It's going to be a blast having our first Christmas in this house. However, I face the same obstacles with my Christmas decorations as I did with my Halloween stuff - I have no idea where to put it all or where it will fit, but I'm convinced it's a happy problem. We even set up our village for the first time in 3 years! My boys are drawn to it like moths to a flame, so it's a constant battle to keep the small train on the tracks and the elves glued to their bases.

It's not even December 1st, but I'm filled with festive merriment. Time for hot chocolate and cookies! And I better put on my merry pants.

Thankful

It's been non-stop over here lately...that always seems to be the case. But we're not going to talk about the craziness! No, no. We are going to touch on the things I am so grateful for.

How I adore my family. My darling sons who are so patient with me because they clearly know that I have no clue what I'm doing. They are hilarious and witty and smart and they totally dress better than I do. I love spending my days with them and this afternoon they both nuzzled next to me and fell asleep on the couch. Their warm, little bodies were so tender. I gave them lots of light hugs because I knew if I had squeezed them as tight as I wanted to, they would have woken up. Or suffered some broken ribs.

Then there is the Captain. Cody is a rare gem and my goodness, I am always so aware that I don't deserve that golden man. He is so supportive and understanding, even when I am upset for no reason or irrational (that doesn't happen very often, btw. Ahem.). I have been at the computer every spare second I have to create new items for RSVP and he allows me the freedom to do that. He cooks for me and loves me...and I am completely smitten with him.

We are so blessed to have this beautiful, warm home that looks phenomenal with Christmas lights (Oh yeah, the lights are up. Well, 'Phase 1' of the lighting, anyway...). We are thankful for the knowledge of the Gospel and the comfort it brings to our lives. The Lord is so aware of us and it becomes more apparent to me every day.

Finally, I'm grateful for you. My dear friends who are the bees knees. I hope you all have a marvelous Thanksgiving filled with big meals and naps! After picking up Cache from Pre-School the other day, he insisted on wearing his Pilgrim garb all day. He also insisted that I call him "Pilgrim" which allowed me to feel like John Wayne for most of the afternoon. At one point I asked him, "Cache, how cute are you in your Pilgrim get-up?" And he answered,

"Um...really cute?"

New Cards!

Just added to RSVP today...

Here's What I Know...

* New card and invite designs are in production for RSVP!

* I am about to throw my computer out the window because I can't fix the background on RSVP. I'm sure it's the computers fault.

* I have about 300 projects to create in a week. I don't necessarily have to do them, but I really want to do them, which means I have to do them.

* I'm super excited for Thanksgiving.

* I have at least 4 blog posts that should have taken precedence over this one.