Getting ready for Christmas

So once again, it's been a while since I have written on here. Shameful? Probably. But this is a blog for a working mother. So finding time during the day is hard, and by the time the little one goes to bed at night, I am exhausted. Today I am manning the front phone for a few hours, so I have time to start this.

As much as I didn't want to, we partook in the Santa part of Christmas. I can't destroy an image that has been around for years, but I wanted my children's Christmas to remain focused on the celebration of the birth of Jesus. We have the 'Elf on the Shelf' game that we do to keep Jeanne on her toes. I did find a cute advent calendar to count down to Jesus birthday. She enjoys helping me put the manager scene together each day.

We are very much looking forward to the Christmas holidays. I love being around my family. Today is my husband and my second anniversary. We have had our ups and downs, working through what has been called the "7 year itch". I love him dearly and I love that he is a great father with Jeanne. We are going eat at an old favorite tonight! I am looking forward to it.

We are heading to family this weekend for our big Christmas celebration. We usually start off at 4 pm Mass then to my grandparent's house for Christmas Eve. We have done this every year since I was born, except the year of Hurricane Rita (my family and grandparents lost our home, so we had gathering at my Godparent's house). We grandkids usually do a skit for the adults, then sing, eat, exchange gifts, and have a jolly old time. Jeanne is older now, so I am looking forward to her reaction to it all.

After Christmas, we are planning to go skiing. I am not so much looking forward to this trip. Well, not to the air plane ride with a toddler. I am ready for the snow. I apologize ahead of time if you are on the flight with us. I have never taken a toddler on a plane, and she is normally not a fussy child, but that is a long time to be good.

Well, I am probably not going to be on till after Christmas. So for all that read this, Merry Christmas!

"And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: Because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." -Luke 1:26-38