Christmas Baking

I love baking. I love the smell that fills my home when fresh cookies are in the oven. I love the smiles that light up little faces as they enjoy their sweet treats. And yes, I love it when my treats disappear at parties. (I know, I have pride issues I need to overcome!)

This year my friend and I continued our Christmas baking tradition. We both came with two cookie recipes and baked all morning long. Our kids played quietly downstairs, (Yes, quietly! We kept looking at each other wondering if everything was okay.) and we baked and talked through the morning. We made Molasses Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes, Toffee Bars, and Peppermint Fudge! The winner in my family-Peppermint Fudge! Christmas baking is fun to do!

The Excitement is Rising

"How many more days till Christmas?"

"Momma, how many more days till Christmas?"

"Is it tomorrow?"

"When is Christmas?"

Every day, for the last two weeks, Kylia has been asking these questions. Yesterday, the questions were asked a number of times. Her response after being told, "10 more days!" three times was, "But it was already ten days." Wouldn't it be fun, if every once in a while, we could speed up time just by asking "How many more days?" more than once in a twenty-four hour period?

All I can say is, the excitement is rising in the Himes' household!

Enjoying the Season

This morning was spent with my family. The girls in jammies, we sat down with cocoa in hand to begin our Christmas puzzle. The music played softly in the background. The fire warming our toes. The Christmas lights on the tree. The frost blanketing the world outside. Oh, what a beautiful time of year!

Christmas Shopping

Monday was our day to shop. After dropping the girls off, (yes! it was just the two of us!!) Seth and I headed to the mall for a day of fun! (Did I mention we had the entire day?) We began with a little window shopping. Then quickly realized that we needed to gather our bearings. So, we sat down in the massage chairs in the middle of the mall and discussed. What were we really wanting? Who did we need to buy for? How much could we afford? What stores would have what was needed? With that decided, we pulled ourselves out of the super-comfy chairs and the shopping began. (Now this is where I have to be a little careful. I don't want to give anything away.) We went from one store to another, and I would like to say, we were quite successful! After two hours of shopping, we were ready for a break, and so we headed to the movies. Our movie of choice, Blind Side! (Sandra Bullock is one of my favorite actresses and she played this role wonderfully.) I can't remember the last time Seth and I went to the movies just the two of us. I think this may need to become a Christmas tradition! After the movie, which ended at 2:00, we were famished. A stop at Subway for a $5.00 footlong, and a yummy, white chocolate, macadamia nut cookie, and we were ready to continue. We left the mall and headed to Target. Shopping for another two hours, we decided to call it a day. On our way to get the girlies, Seth suggested we stop at Starbucks for two steamed milks. (That's right, we don't like coffee, but steamers are super tasty!) With our gingerbread steamers in hand we talked for a bit, and reveled in the beauty of the day. What a success! Shopping, just me and my man!

The Perfect Tree (Part 2)

So, here it is! The Perfect Tree! It came in at 9 feet tall! (Our ceilings are 9 feet, so yes, we needed to do a little snip snip.) With the Christmas music playing, the tree was adorned with all the love a 7, 5, and 3 year old can give. Isn't it a beauty?

The Perfect Tree

As we journeyed to the Christmas tree farm this year, the girls bundled with hats, scarves, mittens and boots, I realized how quickly my girls are growing up. Last year I found myself carrying Zoie much of the time, the girls stayed right by daddy or my side, and Seth and I chose the tree. This year they discovered, seemingly for the first time, the joy of picking the perfect tree.

All three girls went running in different directions through the tree farm. Then from my left I would hear, "I found the perfect tree!"

Behind another tree Adalie would come running and Zoie would peak her head out to see this perfect sight. All three would look it over, commenting on its beauty, and then continue on down the row. Again we would hear ring out, "I found the perfect tree!"

And this time Kylia and Zoie would come a-runnin'. It was so fun to see the glimmer of excitement on their faces as they ran from perfect tree to perfect tree.

Once found, with just a little help from mom and dad, all three girls loved it!

We got it tied to the roof of the car just as the sun was setting.

Daddy pulled a 'Dukes of Hazard' move, jumping in through the window, and we were off. (He intentionally roped the doors shut. Just in case you were wondering.) Pulling out of the tree farm Kylia said, "This was the best day ever!" And all three girls agreed!

The Perfect Song

Kylia sang a precious song tonight and it went something like this:

"All I want for Christmas is Jesus.

All I want for Christmas is Jesus.

All I want for Christmas is Jesus.

Jesus is all I want. Yeah!!"

It was perfect.

A Thankful Heart

For small group last night we were in charge of dessert. After dinner Adalie asked if she could have her dessert early. I told her that if she ate it now she wouldn't be able to eat it later with the rest of the children. We agreed, she took her small cookie and she was off to play. After our meeting, the kids converged on the kitchen and the dessert was dispersed. All 13 children were gobbling their yummies, and Adalie was standing by my side, a bit sad, but not asking for anything. For some reason, I really wanted to bless her, and so I gave her a bitty scoop of icecream and another bitty cookie. She took them into the other room and began to eat. As I walking through the room, checking on the kids, I walked by Adalie. She stopped me and with such quiet sincerity stated, "Thank you soooooo much." That was it. Four little words. But to a mommy, those words meant the world. My desire was to bless her that evening, but her thankful heart truly blessed me.