Two + Two = Us

It seems to be the thing to do now. Instead of making a resolution, you find a word. A word to live by for the next 365 days.

Okay, I'll bite this year. It's something that's been on my mind. In fact, I just finished my Christmas post in which I wrote about making the most of these Christmases because I want them forever ingrained in my family's memories.

So, that's my word. Memories.

Justin and I decided that this year, instead of giving the kids tangible gifts for Christmas (we left that to Santa), we wanted to give them the gifts of memories. Of experiences. Of quality family moments throughout the year.

And so, on the first of each month in 2019, the kids will receive an envelope with a new memory-in-the-making - a fun experience (some big, some small) that we will endeavor together.

The reason for this is two-fold. My kids don't need STUFF. We're rarely home anyway to play with our toys, and the kids are mostly content with books and the games and activities we do already have. What the kids DO need - what we all need - is our family fostering our relationship as best as we can, and what better way to do that then with memorable experiences?

They actually received a bonus envelope - their first envelope was on Christmas (please, it would be torture to make them wait until January 1st to get their gift!). They received a letter explaining our gift. In the envelope was also a DVD collection of family-friendly holiday movies (we ended up binging on Elf and then Christmas Story) and some movie passes and a bowling gift certificate to use over our Christmas vacation. We ended up watching Mary Poppins Returns together on New Year's Day, but time got away from us and we'll go bowling sometime soon.

Started 2019 with a tub of popcorn the size of their faces.

Because I want my kids to remember these memories, I also intend to blog about each month's activities. It's why I started this blog in the first place - to be able to look back and remember moments.

So here goes. Happy New Year! 2019, I'm looking forward to it!

Alas, another Christmas season has come and gone. And, as usual, it was a busy one. Some wonder why our holiday schedule is always so jampacked. At my visit to my doctor (who's children are grown) last week, he said it best: Christmas just isn't the same once the kids are older. Sure, it's still Christmas, but the magic isn't quite there anymore.

And, that's exactly why every year we live it up. We prepare like crazy for Jesus' birthday and do our festive traditions like gingerbread houses and cookies and Christmas lights and everything else because I want my kids to remember this magical time when they are older. I, too, want the memories of these Christmases to look back on when they grow up and would rather spend their time with their own friends or electronics because you never know when it will be the last one until it's too late.

It was, of course, getting increasingly more difficult to find the time to do everything we wanted know that we're all at work and school full-time. We had to strategically plan when we did things based on crowds and work and after school activities. In fact, Justin and I stared at our calendar for quite a while trying to figure out when to go to Cheekwood's Holiday Lights because he was adamant he didn't want to go on a weekend (too many people around so he wouldn't be able to get good pictures) and between his work schedule, my after school obligations, and the kids' extra-curricular activities, it left us with just one day - a Tuesday that just happened to be ridiculously bitterly cold. We surprised the kids by taking them to dinner and heading to Cheekwood, and while it was mostly a good time, I could tell the kids were getting tired and cold and starting to get cranky so that by the time we saw Santa, he reminded the kids (well, really Xavier) how important it is to listen to their parents because Santa only comes to well-behaved boys and girls. We did get some pretty amazing shots, though. Thanks, Justin!

Of course, we did our service projects to help others in need. My class at school raised donations for Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, and we dropped the items off one day after school. Lissie and Xavier also helped me with one of my favorite holiday traditions - filling up Christmas baskets for the area needy. They were such amazing helpers, willing to do whatever was needed to make sure the baskets were filled with goodies and staples so those less fortunate can have a decent holiday.

We also filled our festivities with a trip to Dollywood to use up the last of our seasons passes, seeing Cirque Holidaze with the family, surprising the kids with hot cocoa and a trip to see Christmas lights, our Christmas baking, and more. We did Christmas Eve Mass and a Filipino dinner. Christmas Day was lazy, with our crockpot breakfast casserole to enjoy once the excitement of presents wore off and we spent the remainder of the day playing with our new toys and watching movies.

Decorating the tree - and finally getting an ornament that has Xavier's name on it
(something he has wanted for YEARS)

Holiday tradition of making their Christmas PJs -

my favorite pair yet!

It's not bedtime! It's time for hot cocoa and Christmas lights!

We jetted out of school and to the Smokies the next day!

Hot-tubbing in the Wilderness at the Smokies

Cirque Holidaze!

Christmas cookies!

My eager helpers

Christmas cookies, Jesus' birthday cake, and tiramisu pie

The Christmas Eve drama of Lolo washing Xavier's tooth down the drain...
but the tooth fairy still visited, along with St. Nick!

She claims this is her favorite gift - a loom that wasn't even on her wishlist.
Santa truly does know best!

Surprise Christmas gift!

And, ultimately, we did end up with all of that Christmas magic that we were anticipating. For that, I am grateful because nothing, absolutely nothing, is better than these memories that we can cherish forever.