a look back

I have to admit the holiday season got away from me. It was fun and remains my very favorite time of the year but I constantly felt like I was behind, and I think I had a grand total of one day during the month of December when I felt like everything was under control, my house was clean, and I could relax. So here we are at January 7th and I realize I have not blogged at all in a very long time. Before the new year gets underway in full-swing, I want to take a moment to record some of my favorite moments of Christmas 2008 and also to make a short list of things I want to do differently next year.

My favorite moments of the holidays this year:

- Receiving an unexpected birthday gift in early December from my friend Barbi -- a Christmas cd that I instantly loved and played all through the season.

- A weekend trip with my sister and her family so the kids could attend a holiday lights event at an amusement park together.

- The Nutcracker, which has become a holiday tradition in this house. I first took my oldest when she was 3. She is now 10 and both she and her sister perform in our local ballet troupe's performance. This year we took the girls to watch a professional performance of The Nutcracker in a nearby city, and they loved it. Even my husband commented that it doesn't seem like Christmas until we see The Nutcracker.

-My cookie party. This year I tried something new and hosted a cookie exchange. Even though it was one more thing jammed into an already overcrowded month, the party turned out great and everybody seemed to have a nice, relaxing time.

- Christmas Eve. I love Christmas Eve. This year's best memory is that of my youngest daughter's sweet face illuminated by candlelight as she wholeheartedly sang Christmas carols at our church's candlelight service.

-The letter I got from Santa this year. On Christmas morning there were two letters left next to the plate of cookie crumbs on the hearth. They were neatly typed and decorated with stickers, addressed to me and to my husband, commending each of us for the great parents we are because we always spend time with our kids and teach them about God. Apparently my oldest had been working on this project for weeks without me knowing.

- My dad's reaction to a book my girls wrote and illustrated for him for Christmas. "Do you like it?" I called to him over the chaos of excited kids and flying wrapping paper on Christmas Day. He nodded and choked out a "yes," and I realized that he was trying to not to cry.

- That my girls got to bring a friend to our family New Year's Eve bowling, pizza, and game night. They had a great time and didn't even complain (that much) when we headed for home before midnight.

Things I want to try/try to do differently next year:

- Christmas cards. I need to revamp my card situation. I have fallen into the habit of making my cards, which I love to do and most people love to receive, but this year I started the process way too late and it became the single most stressful thing about the season. So for next year I am resolved to either start making the cards early or not at all.

-Gingerbread ornaments. I came across a recipe for gingerbread cookie cutouts that I would dearly love to make and hang on the kids' tree in my family room. I got the idea way too late this year, but my sister and I are resolved to make this our Thanksgiving Day craft in 2009 so that they'll be ready for use during this Christmas season.

-Less gifts. Every year I resolve to buy less for my kids and every year I end up with more stuff than before. This year I want to propose an idea that we take on a family project of consciously planning to receive less and giving more to some type of Christian charity effort. I have not approached the girls with this idea but am hoping that it will be well-received. For now I'm trying to figure out the logistics of how it would actually work.

So goodbye 2008. Hello 2009.