It’s finally starting to feel like Christmas around here.

The tree is up. We are decorated inside and out. It’s cold and rainy.

The shopping is *almost* done. The wrapping has *almost* begun. We are reading Christmas books and watching Santa cartoons. We are drinking hot cocoa.

The kids are happy. I am happy.

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We are still creating our Christmas time traditions around here, and I’m ok with that. We have a few traditions currently that we are loving

Breaking Ornaments – As we decorate the tree, and ornament is bound to get broken. What can we say, those suckers are slippery!

Making Messes – As I clean and decorate one room, the kids destroy another. It’s a really fun cycle that commonly keeps us occupied for days upon days.

General Destruction and Chaos – I blame the extra candy matched with less outside play time. Energetic little ones is a recipe for fun, and also danger.

In all seriousness, though, we do truly enjoy this season. We cuddle, we talk excitedly about Santa, we walk Winterhaven neighborhood looking at lights.

What are your holiday traditions?

Visions of sugarplums….

It was an easy bedtime tonight. The kids are beat, and very, very excited.

Well, Lilly is excited. Zac has no idea of the excitement he is to experience tomorrow.

Lights are up. Reindeer food is out. Tree is ready. Magic is in the air.

Today? Today was a good day. We slept in. We relaxed. We cooked (a lot). We baked (a lot). We cleaned (a lot.) We played (a lot).

We had a big Christmas Eve dinner. One I would love to see become traditional. My parents came over. My aunt Sherry and cousins Miguel, Sofia, and Megan. We had appetizers. We had chili. Lasagna. Portuguese bacalow (my absolute FAVORITE dish in. the. world.). We had dessert. We had wine.

More? We had conversation. Laughs. Smiles. Pictures. Presents. Family.

We almost forgot to leave cookies for Santa. We skipped baths and books. The kitchen? It’s a mess. It’s going to stay a mess.

We made memories.

Tomorrow will be a big day. I can’t wait to see the looks on certain kids faces when they wake up. The magic of Christmas is here, friends, and I can not wait.

But tonight? I’m busy loving life… and hope you are too! Happy holidays everyone!

What are your holiday traditions???