Tuesday, December 14, 2010

....making time for small moments....

.....like everyone else during the month of December, we are busy.....we are stamping our Christmas cards, wrapping presents, baking for school parties, practicing for Christmas pageants and the list goes on......my laundry is over flowing out of our hamper.....piles of it sit around from last week that are clean, but still unfolded....Stefan has no boxers or undershirts folded nicely in his drawers and has to search piles in the dark of the morning to get dressed.....dirty dishes live in my sink and I am too exhausted to pick up toys at the end of the day, so I resort to stepping over them until Christmas Eve when we need to make room for Santa.....

.....but we go about our business with Christmas carols ringing loudly in the backdrop of life and take breaks for the important things this season.....like opportunities to divvy up some popcorn in three toddler sized bowls and have a spontaneous early evening, post bath play date to watch Frosty the Snowman....




......we take time to ignore the chores and revel in playtime before bed.....my oldest insists on dressing up and belting out some new tunes she's learned at school......music to my ears..... to the girls, December is no different than any other month......a busier time of year?....no, it's just a lot colder than July or September.....so we try and shield them from the madness that can occur.....



.....and as my belly grows, Callie spends more time preparing for baby....she is meticulous about changing her baby in the mornings and her first words when I pull her from her crib are, ssssshhhh, Mom....baby sleeping.....and you read that correctly.....at 22 months she doesn't call me Mommy.......I am Mom....actually, it's usually MOM.....my youngest is spirited these days and she brings smiles and laughter to our home hourly.....




.....did I mention Callie doesn't like to play dress up and prefers a plain Huggies size 4?.....did I also mention how much I love her crazy hair that is growing by the second?......everything about her is priceless......

.....but we do take time to read and discuss the true story of Christmas so we can be reminded that in the midst of the hustle and bustle and busy time of year, we are celebrating one thing.....Elsie and her little Sunday school friends did a great job capturing the true spirit of the season on Sunday morning.....



.....I was so proud of her.....she would not stand with the group and rehearse early that morning and I thought for sure the two of us would be singing together watching her friends from the first pew......but as soon as Daddy and Callie arrived, she was ready to join the group and perform.....and lately, our little star loves an audience and loves to sing.....



......and as the littlest one of the group, I was not only proud of her for her boldness and confidence, but she understands that Christmas is about the birth of our Saviour and not just about the presents.....although, presents are fun too......

.....so here is to the rest of the busy week being crazed and hectic......yet, taking out time to enjoy the little things......because it's the little things put together that make all of these moments big......

.....savoring every minute.....