On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer...

This month, as with most Decembers in the past, I feel like a reindeer dashing, dancing, and prancing throughout the city. We race around buying gifts, spreading holiday cheer, and spending time with friends and family. It is a wonderfully joyful, albeit hectic and crazy, time of year. I love it, and look forward to it with enthusiasm!!

With our Christmas tree adorned last weekend, and with the remainder of the holiday decorations displayed, this week felt quite festive in the house. At times, I cranked up the holiday tunes in the kitchen and sang along at the top of my lungs, dancing with Addy and Asher and shaking our jingle bells. At other times, I found myself staring, mesmerized by the Christmas tree. There is something so magical and comforting about the white lights on the tree in the dark living room. It conjures up memories from my childhood. Regardless, with the holiday decor up all around town, the music playing in stores and on the stereo, gifts being bought, and the chill in the air, it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Getting further into the holiday spirit, we spent a number of hours baking various holiday treats this week. As always, iced sugar cookies were on the list of must-haves. We cut them into snowmen, trees, and stars, and made sure to put an adequate amount of icing and sprinkles on top. They look perfectly homemade, and taste delicious! We also made chocolate sesame nut bars, a new favorite- gluten, dairy, and soy free! And of course, chex mix for all the neighbors! Addy and Asher truly enjoyed making the treats, but loved delivering the bags to all of their friends' homes in the neighborhood even more.

It was such fun to watch the excitement that Addy and Asher derived from delivering the tasty eats. Asher put himself in charge of ringing the doorbells, and Addy handed out the bags. I find so much joy in wishing the neighbors happy holidays and bringing them treats, and I loved discovering that my children find such pleasure in it also.

It has become apparent over the years, that one of my favorite aspects of the holidays is spreading love and joy to friends and family, and to community members in need. At this time of year, when most of us are concerned about buying just the right gifts for our close friends and family, I think it is important to also think of those in our area who are not as fortunate as we are. I learned this from my Mom, who still picks a name or two off the tree at the local community center to buy gifts for local children. It feels so good to help others, and I hope that Addy and Asher are learning from these acts and develop the same giving mentality that Sissy and I learned from Nani.

As we dashed around town this week, seeing the holidays reflected in many ways, it brought more of the seasonal spirit into my heart. I truly adore this time of year, and seeing the magic of it through Addy and Asher's eyes has been more fun than I anticipated. I love that they are starting to learn Christmas carols, believe in Santa Claus, and help choose gifts for their friends, family, and strangers in need. One of the best quotes of the week came from Addy who is just beginning to understand why we celebrate Christmas. I was trying to explain that Christmas is the celebration of baby Jesus' birthday. I thought she comprehended our conversation until we went to a holiday party this last weekend. She asked where "baby Jee's" cake was, and if she could help blow out his birthday candles. It's a start. :)

Dashing, dancing, and prancing around town this week...

We dashed through Costco (but paused for a smoothie)


We danced on our way to see Santa


And we pranced throughout the play area at the mall