Christmas Traditions...

This Christmas, James is noticing so much. In fact, here's a list of  what he's learned this past month alone: Enree (Henry), MORE, lights, Santa, horsey (reindeer), YA (yeah/yes), Meech (Mitch). 

He knows this time of year is special because it's not everyday there's a tree in our house decked out with ornaments and lights, and Teddy doesn't always wear a funny sweater with reindeer on it.

A photographer I follow on Instagram said this about her son that is James' age,

"I love watching him see things for the first time...We, as adults, take things like that for granted because we've all seen it done over and over but their fresh little eyes see everything as new and exciting."-Heather Glasby

And I couldn't agree more! I really want to be intentional about keeping Christmas traditions and I can't wait to create new memories for our family. So here's a short list of what I'd love to see my family partake in every holiday season...

• make sugar cookies together!
• read the nativity story on Christmas eve
• make/have an advent calendar full of things for us as a family to reflect on and do 

What are your special Christmastime traditions? Anything you remember as a child?
I'm gonna go ahead and say maybe the Santa photos won't be James' favorite Christmas memories...

Why is Henry so chill? Ha! I love my baby Mitch!

Last year's Santa photo!

Christmastime MUST DO's:

Here's a short list of my family's Christmastime must do's:

1) Set up the Christmas Village! Every year, I pick out 1 house/shop and 1 set of people/animals to add to the display. This year I chose a Children's Bookstore + a "Take a photo with Santa" display.

2) Get a FRESH Christmas tree! For the past few years we've been getting our tree from Sonshine Christmas Trees. They have such a great selection and they're super nice!

3) Go to Disneyland to see the Christmas decor! A MUST. And this year we shared it with our babe, which was amazing X a billion.

4) Go see Christmas lights! Whether it's in Rancho Cucamonga, Brea, or in our very own town, we have to see some decked out neighborhoods.

5) Watch our favorite Christmas movies! Our #1 Christmas movie is, "It's a Wonderful Life". We quote almost the entire movie + smile so much while we watch it. "I wish I had a million dollars...HOT DOG!" 

A few new traditions this year...

6) Picking out 1 ornament every year for James. This year he had to get the standard "Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament, but next year we will let him choose his favorite.

7) 4 words: ELF ON THE SHELF. Yup, I begged Mitch to give me the "ok" to get one for James. He was so reluctant, but if you come to our home, you'll see Maurice perched on the top of the Christmas tree!

So what are your Christmastime MUST DO's?!

Christmas...

it's coming! 

Wonder // Christmas 2012 from ROCKHARBOR on Vimeo.

This month///Santa Baby!

In the past month we've been to 2 baby birthday parties (Happy birthday Miles Fox + Graham---James loves you both!), decorated our home for the holidays, taken James to pick out his first Christmas tree, been to New York City for the first time (post coming soon!), Christmas shopped/wrapped gifts, sent out Christmas cards, made TAMALES (post coming soon!), and have been to 2 Christmas parties!

All that to say, I'm sorry blog. You've been neglected, and for that, I am sorry! I'm SORRRRRY. Ok, enough of that, I'm back.

Oh, I also wanted to share this...

We're the worst parents ever. Merry Christmas!

32 weeks...

Ahhhh! In only 8 short weeks this little boy we have been dreaming of, preparing for, and LOVING will be in our arms! I can't believe how fast time has flown by! I've been so worried about his development and how he has progressed as the weeks have gone by, that I have completely failed to realize how precious our time together (mine & James) really is. To know he has been safe & secure in my womb, growing into this beautiful baby boy is a little overwhelming since he is almost here! We have so many dreams and hopes for this little boy, I can't begin to tell you how many there are. Let's just say, the first dream has already happened, him just being alive and growing on the inside.

And so as we prepare for this coming week of Christmas, it has been such an honor to be pregnant at this special time of year. I am reminded of the Virgin birth and hear phrases like, "a waking baby in her womb", and think, "Hey! That's like me!" It really is an amazing gift that God gives women, and I am truly thankful for it (despite all the aches and weird things that happen to your body).

So Merry Christmas week y'all! Let's get this party started!

Joy is Here.

"In the midst of individual heartache...JOY IS HERE."


Joy is Here from ROCKHARBOR on Vimeo.

Join us for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service! Details here y'all: http://rockharbor.org/events/christmas/

Christmas Village...

Merry Christmas eve! We are now hours away from the most merriest day of the year! And according to google maps, Santa Claus is now in Shannon, Ireland (side note- I once ate at a McDonald's there). 

I thought my gift to you dedicated readers would be some festive photos of my Christmas village.

Every year I get a new building from Mitch & this year it is "The Chapman House"...

2010

I like to pretend this is C.S. Lewis' house, how cute is that armchair & fireplace? 

2009

2008

2007

And what would a village be without people? 

The wood cutters & a small squirrel...

The village carolers...

Mom & daughter mailing out her Christmas list to the North Pole...

The village lamplighter...

 Have a merry Christmas!  

Merry Christmas...

Love Mitch, Ana & Teddy.

Christmas Time...

It's here, it's here, it's finally here!

And I can't keep up.

Actually, I am trying my best to keep up, it's just happening so fast. I want time to slow down a little so I can soak up the Christmas-y events and cherish them.

Alas, this past week was made up of a few mentionable Christmas events...

We went to the last movie showing at the Fox Theatre and I know the suspense is killing you so I'll just tell you what the movie was....

HOME ALONE! 

It was freezing, but oh so worth it. I didn't need my fingers or toes anyway...

And tonight we got our freshly cut Douglas Fir Christmas tree!

Doug is about 5 foot tall, and has a few funky branches that are really long, actually, they are seriously long.  But we still love him...

 

And tomorrow night we will be attending our traditional trip to Disneyland Park to see the Candlelight Ceremony where the nativity story is read straight from the bible. Accompanied by a full on choir and orchestra, It. Is. Amazing. 

It really puts the entire season into perspective for me, not to mention the fact we sing hymns/traditional Christmas music together as one big crowd. Every year I wonder to myself if that is what heaven will be like, unified voices praising the Lord... so amazing. 

God is so good to our little family, and we love Christmas time so much, see?

Mushaboom...

Taken on Friday, November 19 2010 at Disneyland

I finally read the lyrics to a favorite song by Feist the other day & immediately thought, "Hey. That's us."

By the way, I am loving this holiday season with my little family...really, I am. And here are those lyrics that made me smile & appreciate the boys in my life...

"Helping the kids out of their coats
But wait the babies haven't been born oh
Unpacking the bags and setting up
And planting lilacs and buttercups oh

But in the meantime we've got it hard
Second floor living without a yard
It may be years until the day
My dreams will match up with my pay

Old dirt road,
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
knee deep snow
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
Watching the fire as we grow
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
o-o-o-o-old

I got a man to stick it out
And make a home from a rented house oh
And we'll collect the moments one by one
I guess that's how the future's done oh..."

To hear the rest, click here.

These Days...

We are busy!

With only 7 weeks left of school, this means only 8 weeks until Christmas!

But for now, we are preparing for a little road trip to Arizona. I am doing a research paper on American Indian art, and one of the best museums featuring contemporary American Indian art is in Phoenix. This also means I get to see friends and family!

In spirits of the season around the corner, we snagged a little sweater for Teddy for $5. I love the reindeer on the back, so sweet. Not as sweet as Teddy laying his head on Mitch's head. How cute are these guys?

Have yourself a merry little Christmas...

Ok, so I'm a few months ahead of myself with this post, I know...the heat proves this. But it's never too early to let you all know what I'd love this holiday season, right? Right. So...

A typewriter ring from Qacreate, on Etsy...

Plum wool Tom's, perfect to keep your toesies warm during those cold winter nights...

Fugifilm Instax Film, so I can keep taking fun photos like this...

"Daisy" by Marc Jacobs, because it smells so good if I wasn't married I'd date myself...

& how cute is this crossbody purse by Fossil...

Last, but most definitely not least, I'd love to fall asleep with "The Art & Flair of Mary Blair" in my arms everynight...

list idea stolen from 'You Are My Fave'