Belated...Yep...

Well, Hello There!  It seems I've taken an unintentional vacation from blogging.  I am determined to catch up and continue forward.  So let's get to it....

Christmas comes and goes more quickly each year.  What is that all about?  Didn't it seem to go in slow-motion when you were a kid?  I feel like my kids are missing out on authentic Christmas traditions, experiences, and moments. I tried hard to simplify this year. I tried to not get caught up in any big projects, any over-scheduling, any over-spending.  It STILL passed quickly.  But...Im still glad that I did simplify. 

We kept our tradition of building gingerbread houses at Grandma Ladybugs.  This year though, we thought we would try doing a "mini-village".  It was a cute idea at the time, but I think we decided in the end that most of them just looked like fancy outhouses.  Here's a few pics of our 3-4 inch creations:

(NOTE TO SELF:  Make less sprinkles available next year...)

I played the Christmas music and made the Christmas treats.  Before we knew it....Christmas morning had arrived.  Now....because of the girls ongoing, questionable "behavior issues" in dealing with each other this past year, my girls  found the following note from Santa near their presents:

DEAR BERKELEY AND MCKENNA,

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I HOPE THAT YOU TWO HAVE A GREAT MORNING WITH YOUR DAD AND NOW WITH YOUR MOM. I LEFT A 1/2 LOAD OF PRESENTS AT EACH HOUSE, SO YOU COULD OPEN PRESENTS WITH THEM BOTH.  I HOPE YOU LIKE WHAT THE ELVES, MRS.CLAUS, AND I PICKED FOR YOU THIS YEAR.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT I DIDN'T PUT TAGS ON THE GIFTS AT YOUR MOM'S HOUSE.  THAT IS BECAUSE I ONLY BOUGHT GIFTS THIS YEAR THAT YOU TWO CAN SHARE.  YOU ARE BOTH VERY GOOD-HEARTED GIRLS, BUT YOU BICKER AND FIGHT TOO MUCH.  THESE GIFTS YOU NEED TO SHARE AND ENJOY TOGETHER...BECAUSE IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER AND LOVE EACH OTHER. 

LET THESE GIFTS BRING YOU CLOSER, MAKE YOU BETTER FRIENDS, AND LAUGH AND PLAY TOGETHER.

**REMEMBER:  HAVING A SISTER IS A GIFT MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY TOYS, BOOKS, OR CLOTHES.

BE GOOD FOR YOUR MOTHER GIRLS.  STAY IN BED AT NIGHT AND HELP EACH OTHER BE GOOD.  THAT WAY I CAN BRING YOU MORE PRESENTS NEXT YEAR TOO.

IM OFF TO DELIVER MORE PRESENTS NOW. 

HO! HO! HO!

SANTA LOVES YOU.

SC

So, included in their gifts to share were one "Twist N' Ride" bike, 2 DVDs, 2 CD's, 2 of the same Barbie, and some Nail Polish.   Here were some pictures from their "loot reveal":

I love how both their mouths are open on this one!

Happy to get a "Taylor Swift" CD!

Berkeley added a Daddy and a Baby to her "Fur-Real" Bamboo Family.

And McKenna got a "Fur-Real" Cat and New Giraffe.

One of my favorite moments of Christmas Morning was when McKenna opened her present from Berkeley.  They both got excited and told each other what their gifts were two days prior.  But when Kenna saw it she just reached over and hugged Berkeley. It was so genuine and so sweet. 

Anyhow, it never ceases to amaze me that Christmas morning starts out all nice and orderly like this:

And ends up like this:

But it's a true sign of "JOY"...right?

There were so many blessings this Christmas.  I worried about providing enough for the girls, but there were angels surrounding me and helping me to make the "season bright".  I cannot speak of the PEACE that filled my heart as these blessings appeared at just the right moments too.  It fills my soul with gratitude and happiness.  I cannot wait and I hope that -one day-

I am able to give back more than we have been blessed with.

OH! OH! OH!

And a little shout-out to Santa...

The girls are getting along better all ready!  I think your magic is working...if even a little...IT'S PROGRESS!