12th Day of Christmas!

Okay, so I'm slipping this one in a little past midnight... must be a Sunday night!

I ordered about a bajillion-and-a-half books from Amazon last night with some Christmas money.  I am SO excited to get them and start reading.  Following the lead of some people who inspire me, among other things I purchased "The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis, "Anima Christi" by Mother Mary Francis, "The Four Cardinal Virtues" by Joseph Pieper, and "Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis.  Yeah... I'm going to be a busy girl this year!

After Mass today (where Ira sang loudly in my ear while I was trying to play piano, which is adorable and distracting all at the same time...) we started getting ready for the week by catching up on some laundry (that was still in baskets from when I didn't finish it 10 days ago...)  Then I got it in my head that we needed to go through our closets (I like to declutter at the beginning of the year... last weekend I went through our storage room and got rid of about 8 boxes of stuff.)  So we did that and did the hall closets as well.  3-4 More boxes of stuff!  Now I just need to work my way through the living room and kitchen and we should be good to go!

Tonight was back into the routine of lesson plans!  I am actually VERY excited to get back to school - our curriculum is SO AWESOME!  It is a rather eclectic curriculum of Mater Amabilis with some additions/substitutions (Logic of English, Noeo Science, ALEKS Math, Handwriting Without Tears, I Can Do All Things Art Curriculum and various religion books to supplement for Sacrament Prep.)  I have been thoroughly pleased with the Mater Amabilis book recommendations.  We have found some true gems that I'm sure we never would've come across otherwise.  And Mater Amabilis charges NOTHING for their plans (you have to buy all the books, but still, Michele Quigley has done a TON of work/research/etc. to create this beautiful curriculum and then offer it free of charge!)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I am astounded at how much we are loving homeschooling.  It has been SUCH a good fit for us!  And I am astounded at the grace God has given me to stick with it and be consistent.  I am usually neither of those things (which was one of the reasons I was worried about me homeschooling anyone... I really stink at perseverance/fortitude and consistency...) alas, His grace ABOUNDS!

Anyway, that was our today... Tomorrow will be here soon, so I better get to bed!  Before I go though, I'll leave you with a couple pictures from dinnertime.  Never a dull moment 'round here, I tell you what!

Look at those GUNS!

And look at that pretty princess in her homemade tiara!

Pajama Day

Well, we kept things pretty doggone relaxed today!  We all four stayed in our jammies all day long!!

And the kids let Andy and I sleep until 10:00 this morning!  Couldn't TELL you the last time we've done that!  As I'd mentioned, they lost their video-watching privileges a few days ago, and I am shocked at how well/nicely they have entertained themselves in the morning before I get up (those two have never heard of sleeping in...)

I spent a decent chunk of (what was left of) the morning/early afternoon paying bills and updating our monthly budget.  You know, God is so cool the way He provides for things when you take a leap of faith in generosity.  It was pretty amazing to see how He took care of our Christmas budget... down to the dollar... I kid you not!

I spent the rest of the afternoon making  brown bag burritos for Andy to take for lunch each day.  I use brown rice and whole wheat tortillas now, and they usually make about 50, not 30 like the link says.  He only takes one a day for lunch (with fruit) so I only have to make these puppies every couple months.  And after eating them for lunch for years, he has yet to tire of them.  They really are very good.

I reserved some of the filling today to use for our dinner.  Our latest favorite dinner is Taco Salad bowls.  Are you aware how stinking SIMPLE it is to make taco salad bowls?!  We just spray our Corelle bowls with olive oil, scrunch a whole wheat burrito shell into them, spray the top of the burrito with olive oil, and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.  There is seriously no funner (I realize that's not a word... although spell check isn't dinging me for it... hmmm..) way to eat burritos than in as a taco salad. Anyway, we used the brown bag burrito filling for our meat/protein then topped them with all kinds of goodies (lettuce, black beans, olives, tomatoes, onions, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and this delicious dressing).  It's a super simple meal that comes together rather quickly!

And then we lit our Advent/Christmas candles for nearly the last time during our evening prayer time.  I'm not sure I'm ready for Christmas to be over yet!

After blowing the candles out (which according to Ira took 53 blows), Ruby said,  "I blew them out without dying and getting my hair on fire and getting myself on fire and burning."  Well done, child!

Journal: Dec 11

Outside my window: Sunny, little to no wind, very cold the last two mornings but has been warming to the mid forties in the afternoons.  Definitely more like December.  And although that's what I was saying we needed last week, I still don't like it.  My least favorite things: static cling and the whole coats + car seats ordeal.  


Clothing myself in: Denim trousers, black long-sleeved shirt with turquoise tank top underneath.

Around the house: Well, as we speak there are six tea towels spread out on the living room floor by Ruby to make a "skate park."  There are also crayons and painted pictures everywhere.  Life with children much?  There are actually some wrapped presents under the tree anxiously awaiting Christmas.

We have been doing a Jesse Tree for Advent and finally this week (after I printed another set of ornaments for Ruby to color rather than taking turns) we are getting to the point where we don't end our prayer time singing "Christ Circle Round Us" while wanting to kill each other.  Progress.

Ruby: Still on the "football player" kick.  She refers to herself as football player pretty much all the time now.  As in naming people off at the dinner table, "Mommy, football player, Ira, Daddy."  And she still wears the YMCA jersey whenever she can find it (not that anyone would ever hide it or anything...)  Some days Andy doesn't even know what clothes she has on until he gets her undressed for her bath because all he ever sees is "YNCAjersey" (read that really fast b/c that's how she says it, all smushed together.)  Still has her binkies.  Is singing some Christmas songs, which is just precious to me.  Favorites: "Hi shed the Donkey" (Friendly Beasts); We Wish You a Merry Christmas.  Is wearing a lot of 4T clothes now.  Which is just weird to me, because I don't think Ruby is very tall (in fact, to me she seems short for her age) but she needed more length in her shirts.  She's wearing a combo of 3 & 4T bottoms.  Girls clothing sizes (as well as women's for that matter) are so wonky...

Ira: Had a dentist appointment last week.  No cavities (hooray!) and got sealants put on 3 out of 4 six-year molars (the 4th still had some tissue over it.)  The top left tooth is very loose now but again, he wants nothing to do with pulling it out.  The dentist told us to buy some candy corn.  I snorted and told him he was probably the first dentist ever to tell a patient to buy and eat candy corn.  We did not buy any, therefore, the tooth is still there.  He did think he lost it this weekend at my parents, kind of a funny story.  He was getting undressed for his bath when he said "Grandma, my tooth is out!" (reminiscent of Thanksgiving) then he says "why is it so sticky?"  "And the new tooth that's growing in is already really big...and it's loose..." At which point my mom asked him to see the "tooth"  She smashed it in her fingers and a peppermint smell escaped.  Good try Ira, but it was just a piece of candy cane.  He has been really enjoying his Advent Chain activities.

In the kitchen: Spaghetti and Meatballs; Sweet & Sour Pork; Pepperoni Pizza; and Natalie's Tuna Noodle Salad.

Hobbies: I've been working on a project that despite my best efforts, just doesn't want to be finished.  We'll see what the next week brings.  Altered some pajama pants of Ira's (from St. Nick) that were 6" too big in the waist.  Now if only there were a way to lengthen his uniform pants and shirts.  I am seriously thinking we'll need longer ones before the school year is over.  Sheesh.  Truly grateful for healthy, growing kiddos though!  My new hobby: having blood work done every other day for the rest of this cycle.  Yippee!

Bringing me joy: The Christmas presents we bought on Saturday.  We really spent a lot of time picking out gifts for everyone on our list this year and I cannot WAIT to give them!  (I'm really bad at waiting to give gifts.)  Really grateful for the place we are right now in our lives - jobs/home/family I'm feeling very thankful lately for it all.  Playing with Ruby - she has quite the imagination (and has the funniest "voices" for her toys - really nasally and forced.)  Having a good dentist who I like and trust (even if I do have to get a crown next week...)  Our insurance agent calling us because he noticed (as I had) that our rates went up a decent amount.  He'd already found us cheaper (and better, honestly) coverage and just needed to know if we wanted to switch.  Thank you!

Thinking about: Christmas/St. Nick/Santa.  Looking forward to Ira's Christmas Program this week.  Writing our Christmas letter.  How much I love my hubby and can't imagine my life without him (an elderly woman at our parish recently lost her husband - I don't know why, but it's really getting to me.)

Picture to share:

Every month when we take our "monthly picture" I get asked "Can we do a silly one?!"   Believe it or not, this was the silly one from this past month.

Journal: Dec 4

Outside my window: sunny, 50s/low 60s.  We've had beautiful weather lately, just wishing it would rain for the farmers' sakes.  And wishing it would freeze for awhile so the bugs/spiders would go away.  This coming from the person who loathes winter.

Clothing myself in: Boots, skinny jeans, thermal t-shirt, brown short-sleeved sweater.

Around the house: Well, the house got cleaned in a whirlwind last Monday because I decided (that morning) to host around 20 people for a surprise birthday party for Andy.  We also decorated for Christmas this past weekend.  Ira was really excited about decorating this year (which was good, because I needed some motivation to actually do it.)  We don't do a ton of decorating, but what we do, I really love.

Ruby: Is still insisting that she is (or is going to be) a football player.  Everyone who comments on what a cute little girl she is gets the same response, "No, I'n a football player."  It cracks me up!  She is clinging to her binkies for now.  She loves having the Fisher Price Nativity scene out to play with.  She also loves the ornaments on the tree that make music - so far she's been good about being gentle with the tree/ornaments.  Has been copying her brother's attitude at times.  Replete with door slamming and yelling.  Oh joy!

Ira: Has had an attitude lately.  Last week was kind of a crazy week as far as after-school time went, which really seems to affect him negatively.  We tried to spend good, quality time with him this weekend, which helped some, but still he was doing this entitled/attitud-ey thing, so he had some consequences to face for that.  He really really needs the boundaries and consequences that a good routine provides, so we're trying to stick to it better this week.  Earned computer time for practicing piano ever day last week.

In the kitchen: Crockpot chili, Brown bag burritos, Homemade Chicken & Noodles, Tomato-Mushroom Soup with Grilled Cheese, and maybe Sweet & Sour pork.

Hobbies: I've been editing photos like crazy lately and am so pleased with how easy it has become now that I "know what I'm doing."  I just wish our computer was a little faster.  Maybe someday...

Bringing me joy: Hubby's 30th Birthday party was tons of fun.  Went to the zoo as a family this weekend and then went running at the park afterwards.  A new-found peace that God is asking us to wait for Him in a couple areas of our lives.  I am not usually good at being patient, but I am feeling a certain peace in waiting on God right now.   Started my complete hormone panel for Dr. Hilgers.  Curious to see what  all can be determined from it.

Thinking about: This article that a friend shared with me.  What a weird position it is to feel called to have a big family and physically not be able to (at least for now.)  Again though, I'm waiting on Him, and His plans for my life.

Pictures to share:

The big 30 year old!

I know it's blurry, but I LOVE the emotion is this picture!

Silly kiddos at the zoo!

  

Whew!

Wow, a whole month since I've blogged. Yeesh!  There is so much to catch up on.  Rather than trying to write all our updates in paragraph form, you're going to get bullets. because they're easier. and faster. and who doesn't love bullets?!

-We are the proud owners of a new Canon Rebel T3i.  I sat up (literally) all night the night before Thanksgiving waiting for the deals to go live on Best Buy.com.  They were supposed to go live at midnight, or so everyone thought.  They really didn't go live until 5:03am.  However, between camera, lens, and accessories, we saved several hundred dollars buying it this way.  Totally worth it if you ask me!  I am learning a lot, but boy do I have a lot to learn!  Since it came on Nov. 30th, We've taken over 1,000 pictures.  Practice, practice, practice!

One of the first photos with our new camera.

Who doesn't love that effect?

-We decorated for Christmas on Dec. 3rd (early for us) and have been thoroughly enjoying the decorations.  Ruby has done amazingly well with the ornaments on the tree.  Today was actually the first day that she got one off the tree, and it just slipped off of the branch as she was pushing the button to play the music.  The same day we were decorating for Christmas, we heard an ambulance and thinking it was just Ira playing with his GeoTrax one, didn't think much of it.  About 10 minutes later, Andy went outside to grab something and saw the ambulance in front of our neighbor's house.  He'd had a heart attack and they were never able to resuscitate him.  If you would, pray for his soul and for his sons and daughter.  He was only 54.  Andy and I were both in shock for awhile afterwards.  Really made us realize how you never know when your time on Earth will come to an end.

-We made our own advent candles this year.  Well, sort of.  I bought fat short white candles and we painted them with melted crayons.  It worked wonderfully and they are beautiful.  They will also last us quite awhile it seems!  While on the advent theme, we had a great advent, probably our best ever, in part thanks to Holy Heroes' Jesse Tree DVD.  I'd tried paraphrasing the Jesse Tree scriptures before for each day, but only got about 10 days in before I got too busy and just gave up.  This DVD had 2-5 minute clips to watch each day.  Some days children "acted" the scriptures out, and sometimes it was "illustrated" with felt board.  It was a little "homemade" looking, but the content was spot on.  And Ira really seemed interested by them.  We also tried doing Holy Heroes' Advent Adventure online.  There was a lot to keep up with on that though, and Ira isn't totally functional on the computer by himself, so we did them when we could and skipped them when we couldn't.  I think we ended up doing about 12 days of it.  I was very impressed with the quantity of information presented as well as the amount of activities (coloring pages, crossword puzzles, and word finds for each day.)  Again, a little "homemadeish" but very good nonetheless.  Maybe next year we'll be able to catch more of the Advent Adventure.  (Oh, and heads up, they also have a Lenten Adventure!)

-Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes!  Yeesh.  After reading plenty of disparaging articles on the amount of BPA in canned food, but most especially canned tomatoes, I was feeling like I needed to do something.  Cause we eat a lot of canned tomatoes around here.  And we have plenty of fertility/pregnancy problems around here.  So when I saw Roma tomatoes on sale for 73 cents a pound at Wal-Mart, we bought 50+ pounds and I set to work blanching, dicing, and canning/freezing them all.  We ended up with 21 pints, and 6 quarts canned and 13 pints frozen.  That should hold us until Julyish when we'll hopefully be getting tomatoes from our garden.

-Our Wise Men continue to traverse from afar.  It never ceases to crack me up the places I find them as Ira "travels" them throughout the house.

 

-Ira had his first Music Program on December 14th.  It was precious and very professional.  His class sang and signed/did actions for 3 songs as well as a finale with the whole school.  I am so impressed with the job his music teacher does.  After being in concerts much of my school career, playing for concerts for my sister's music classes, and Andy doing lighting for concerts (in the very same auditorium Ira's concert was in) it was quite surreal to sit in the audience as a parent.  We were so proud!

-Ira helped make the cupcakes for his class party.  They were an idea that my mom had sent me.  I was so impressed because they were super easy.  All I had to do was frost the top and Ira assemble them the rest of the way.  I think they turned out pretty cute eh?

-Andy surprised me with a new lens for our new camera.  We had agreed that the camera/accessories would be our Christmas present to each other and from both of our parents.  However, no one held up that bargain as we got presents from both sets of parents and for each other... hmm...  The lens he got me is a 50mm prime lens that I'd been drooling over that is incredible for taking portraits.  I'm excited to have some down time coming up here to learn more about our camera/photography.

 -Ira had to miss the annual Caroling Party at my parents' this year due to a fever that spiked mid-day the day of the party.  You could tell just how sick he was because he wasn't even too broken up about missing the party that he'd been talking about going to since last years was over.  Andy was a sweetie and stayed home with him so that Ruby and I could still go.  Ruby loved it.  The weather was beautiful and she learned to sing "Gingle Bells" (as she says it.)

Ruby and her "not twin", my sister's little girl, Anna.

-We had a wonderful Christmas.  Or should I say Christmases.  We spent Friday evening with Andy's mom's side of the family, Saturday evening with just Andy's family, got up, dressed, hair done, and ready to walk out the door for Midnight Mass (our Christmas tradition) only to decide not to go because the kids were both messes.  (Oh well, traditions are made to be broken right?)  We ended up going to 9:00 am mass.  All Ira wanted to do before mass was open his Hot Wheels track from Andy's parents the night before.  So Hot Wheels we did until it was time for mass.  After mass, the kids played with Hot wheels again until I finally suggested we open presents (because I couldn't wait) around 11.  Ira was a doll.  After opening 2 presents, he said, "Wow mom and dad, you are really generous.  Thank you."  It was incredible.  This from the kid who circled every boy present in the Toys R Us catalog because that's what all he wanted for Christmas.  Santa brought Ira tools, wood, and a kit to build a tool box.  He brought Ruby an old-fashioned handmade swinging doll cradle.  We spent Christmas afternoon at my parents' and had a blast opening presents, watching Ira and Gemma take hundreds of pictures with their new Fisher Price digital cameras, and playing games.  Although we went a lot of places in a short amount of times, Christmas was actually very restful and relaxing.  Oh, and we saw 2 foxes in our yard on Christmas Eve morning.

Can you spot the foxes?

-Andy had to work the week between Christmas and New Years because his company cashed out his vacation for him when he was furloughed last year.  It was sad not to have him around, but we survived and are hoping he'll get to be off next year.  We're just grateful for employment!

-We spent New Years Eve at the wedding of a beautiful couple.  One of my little sister's best friends from high school got married and was kind enough to invite us to her wedding.  The kids loved it and had a blast dancing the night away.  Ira had a slight incident with 3,000 pounds of guys during the garter toss but he lived to tell about it (and believe me, we'll probably never hear the end of that one.)

Okay, I think you're pretty much caught up on our lives at this point.  I'm going to try posting more regularly as I do not love mammoth posts like this.  In the meantime, blessings for a wonderful New Year!

I'm dreaming of Christmas

I know, I know, Christmas was over over a week ago, but I'll be honest, I'm sitting here still relishing my Christmas decorations.  Yes, I know it's mid-January.  I just really, really, REALLY loved our Christmas decorations this year.  Usually, I am SO on the other end of this one.  I don't like to put them up very early because I get sick of them, then I'm ready to take them down shortly after Christmas.  But for some reason, this year was DIFFERENT!  I just can't bring myself to take them down this year.  So, you know how they say "admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery" well, documenting what you're going to miss is the second step (really, I promise!)  So I'm going to share with you our Christmas decorations.  They may not seem like much to you, but to me they hold such memories and magic.  I hope you enjoy my little tour!

When Andy was growing up, it was a tradition for he and his brother to have a picture taken with Santa Claus each year.  It is a tradition we hope to continue with our children.  (It sure is entertaining to look through the pictures of Andy and his brother from long ago!)

My snowmen collection

 

My Nativity Collection display.  Somehow in 5 years of being married, I have accumulated 9 Nativity sets.  No I have not purchased any of them.  I must have it written on my face that I love them though.  

 This one is from Mom & Dad last year.

This one is a little clay one that is supposed to be a children's play nativity set (also from my parents.)  When one of the camel's legs fell off as we took it out of the box, we decided that it was NOT a play nativity.  You can also see most of the other Nativities (they're not all full sets, some are just a solitary nativity scenes.)

When I asked Ira which nativity set was his favorite, he pointed to this one.

 

This is probably my favorite set that I have.  It was my family's Nativity set as a child.  When my parents got a beautiful new one years ago, my mom told my dad to get rid of this (unbeknownst to us kids!)  Luckily, my dad hid it away.  When I asked about it this year, Dad brought it out and said I could have it if I wanted it.  Words cannot explain how thrilled I was!  Oh how I LOVED this set as a child.  I always imagined that I was sitting up on the loft in the stable.

 

Our Christmas Tree.  I LOVE how it looks at night.

Andy and I both received Hallmark (or Hallmark-like) ornaments each year growing up.  They hold some fond memories for us each.  I really enjoyed having Ira help me get them out of their packaging this year.  Andy & I got to share with him our memories of our ornaments.  It was such a sweet time.  We are continuing the tradition by getting our kids Hallmark ornaments each year as well.  It isn't cheap, but the memories that they hold are quite priceless!  I'll share some of our favorites with you.

Ruby's ornament from this year.

 Ira's ornament from this year.

 Our ornament from my parents this year.

 My first Christmas ornament.  My mom always said she was so sad at how pathetic the "baby's first Christmas" ornament was the year I was born.  But I always truly loved it.

 One of Andy's numerous first Christmas ornaments.  He was certainly a long-awaited, long dreamed about baby!

  

An ornament that my aunt gave me the year that we were pregnant with Ira.  I think it's so sweet.

 My Frank Sintatra ornament that used to sing "New York, New York"  I LOVED that song when I was in High School (wanted to move there at one point.)  Unfortunately, it didn't work last year when I got it out.  I really wish I knew how to get it fixed.

 One of our favorite ornaments of Andy's.  It winds up and plays music.  The train goes around in a circle at the bottom and the mirrored base moves.  When you watch the mirrors, the soldiers look like they're marching.  (SO COOL!)

 One of my beautiful ornaments.  It always brings back memories of doing Christmas baking with my mom.

 Ira's ornament from last year (?) It plays 3 or 4 different Christmas songs and the toy soldier plays his drum along with the beat.  Very cool!

 My ornament from the year before Andy and I got married.  I sure do love my Raggedy Andy!

 Our beautiful ornament from my parents in 2008 - the year we lost our 3 babies.  It reads "Every life leaves something beautiful behind."

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little tour and walk down memory lane.  Perhaps I will take the decorations down now... Or maybe I'll just leave them up until next Christmas like Ira said!

100th Post!!

Booyah! After 2 years of blogging, I finally hit my hundredth post! Hooray for me!!

Although I said I wasn't going to retro-post. I did want to share some pictures from Christmas. Would you believe that we didn't even get a picture of the two kiddos together - well at least not all dressed up... or one of our family. Boo to that. That's one of the reasons I wanted to started blogging again though, I am much better about taking pictures when I know I'm going to be blogging.

The week leading up to Christmas was absolutely nuts. On Monday night, Andy got sick with the flu that's been going around. Although he was quarantined to our bedroom (and I slept on the floor in the living room) Ira and I both got sick on Wednesday. I tell you what, it was the sickest I've EVER been. I was sick for about 7 hours straight and by the end of it, I really didn't know how much longer I would live if I kept getting sick. I lost 10 pounds in about 20 hours. NOT FUN!!! It wasn't until Christmas day that I felt back to normal and had any kind of appetite really. Needless to say, not a lot got done at our house the week leading up to Christmas. But that's ok, that's not what Christmas is about anyway!

We celebrated Christmas with Andy's family on Christmas Eve. The kids wore their dress up clothes so we could take pictures (thank goodness we took some then!) We had a fun time with the kids and their presents. Ira and Hayden got RC cars from Toy Story. And Bill and Marilyn got Mario Kart for their Wii, so we had lots of fun playing that.

Ira & his cousin Hayden

Ruby in her pretty dress

Another take

I'd say that's a pretty good picture for having 4 kids four and under in it!

Ruby & I

We came home and put the kids to bed, but then got them back up a few hours later to go to Midnight Mass. Ira was SO tired, but stayed awake all through Mass and Ruby was hilariously awake and alert. Going to midnight mass is kind of a tradition for our family. In fact I think we've done it every year since Ira was born. To me, it is one of the most beautiful masses of the year (it and Holy Saturday are probably my two favorites.) I always have trouble holding back the tears while we sing "O Come All Ye Faithful."

Christmas morning dawned pleasantly later for us than most mornings (8:30!) Santa brought Ira and Ruby both some fun presents. We gave Ira & Ruby the EZ-Fort that I won (thanks to many of you!) on Facebook. Ira is pretty enthralled with it, but I must say, I'm glad that we didn't pay a lot of money for it. I am underwhelmed with how the pipes stay in the connectors. And it bothers Ira too when he builds an elaborate fort/house/boat/space shuttle and he's simply sitting inside it and it collapses (without even being bumped.) Still, he does love to play with it and has probably said no less than 20 times since Christmas, "This sure is a nice
EZ-Fort! Thank you mom & dad!" Does my heart good!

Building with the EZ-Fort

Ruby thinks the poles are fun to wave around

Ira can build triangles

Ira also got a tent and tunnel from Santa that Ruby thinks is pretty fun to crawl around in.

I just LOVE this picture!

Ruby got an adorable Seahorse from my brother and his wife. (Monica, if Gemma's looking at this, you better stop here!) (She told Andy that she wanted him to cut the seahorse in half with a saw.) Ruby loves her (the seahorse that is) and sleeps with her every night now. I'm pretty fond of her myself too! I walked in Ira & Ruby's room one night to see this and couldn't resist taking a picture!
Like I said, life is so very good. Christmas was wonderful and simple and truly beautiful. I still can't motivate myself to take our decorations down. I'm just enjoying them TOO much this year! Maybe I'll have to do a post of our decorations next...