Christmas Card blues

So I have a gripe! Each year there are two times to really look forward to opening up your mailbox (cause any other time you just get bills!) --- that's your birthday and Christmas!

I look forward to getting those photo cards, year-end letters, and even the few hand written ones people still do! It helps me connect to those I only hear from maybe once a year; to see how big their kids have gotten; and what they've been up to all year!

To those of you who sent one! I loved it! THANK YOU!!!!! I hope you received mine! I take it very seriously and pine over which photos I include, how it looks and be sure that it's a bit different than last year's.

YES, yes ... I know that some people never send cards, but come on now! Have our lives seriously gotten that busy that we have lost the touch of physical communication. I guess I should consider the FB posts to my wall or the mass texts sent as my Holiday wishes from some of you. But I refuse!!!!!!

That's right I am stomping my feet, fists in the air, yelling I REFUSE!!!!! I am so bummed that out of the 45 cards I sent..... I recieved 10! (one doubled as a birth announcement for their child from June!) I was gone for 3 "mail days" and received none!!!!

So - where has our life taken us? As I have mentioned to Family and Friends; soon we will all be walking around - clueless of things and people around us - as we carry those i-pads and do all our communicating thru a computer. Hell I'm doing it right now and not that I am against this new age of communication - heck I talk to more relatives on FB than ever before -

but all I ask is once or twice a year (keep Hallmark/shutterfly/post office employed). Send a holiday card - especially to someone who takes time to send one to you!

Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Tex'mas Y'all!

So here we are, just a few days before the blessed holiday of Christmas. As I scramble around to find just those perfect gifts for my last minute shopping, I read a post on facebook that reminds me of all the things I should be "worrying/focused" about and grateful for. This will be our 3rd Christmas without my Grandma, plus numerous other loved ones. This year we will have 2 celebrations of gifts as our family is split (Klay will be at his Dad's this year), but instead of focusing on all the time consuming events/tribulations of shopping, traveling back and forth, and frustrating traffic... I thank God that I am with my family, that I am helping create memories for my child that I hope he treasures forever as I have with my memories. So please take a moment in the hustle bustle of the holidays, shopping and traveling to hug on a loved one, stop and read a story with your child, be amazed by the lights and sounds around you, and cherish Christ.

Ok - enough with that..... what's Trevor been up to?

Well his love for Ninja turtles has stayed strong....enough to send us into a shopping frenzy trying to find something so that "Santa" will not disappoint. His visit to Santa was interesting as well. He was all excited until he sat on his knee; then he went limp noodle and needed coaxing by Klayton and me to even muster a look at the camera. AS you can see by the picture - I did NOT get a smile out of him! Then he panicked after we walked away that Santa did not hear what he wanted for Christmas. Luckily Klayton had passed his message along.

Trevor also got an Elf on the Shelf for the holiday season. He named his elf Thomas and has been really into it. It helps when he is having "one of those days." So I totally recommend it for any of you with youngsters! What a great tradition to start as well!

This year has been full of ups and downs....but thankfully we still have each other, good jobs, a roof over our heads and lots of family and friends love! So here's to you and yours! Happy Holidays!