We're BAAACCCKKK!!!

My computer is in my hands. It is working. I have my pictures. I was missing a part of me....pathetic, I know. So much to update you on....so stay tuned :)

Detached

I've been detached from the blogging world. My Christmas card post was my last thought going out into the world before Christmas came and went. Came and went all too fast. I love Christmas...I live for it...and I tried to soak up every last minute with Jani. For the first time in 5 years, I was not sick at Christmas. Stomach flu and Christmas have gone hand in hand for way too many years and this was the first one I got to enjoy. With this odd weather, we played outside on Christmas....without snow pants, or really hats and gloves. It was amazing and weird all at the same time.

But since Christmas I went under the knife and had a hernia fixed, our computer went down needing a new charging port, and I am trying to stay connected on my new iPad. I don't have my pictures to show you, nor do I have the ease of my trusty keyboard to update you. So until then, we are good, we are healthy (almost), and we are ready for snow!!!!!

The Christmas Card...

Remember when I posted a Christmas card giveaway? Yeah...the only two to enter were my sisters and I ended up using the third code as a thank you to the man behind the camera for my Christmas card photo shoot. I love Shutterfly. Love, love, love them and picking a card was no easy feat. I did however, have an idea of the picture I wanted to capture for the front of it.

I am a fan of coffee. Particularly anything that ends with the word mocha. Doug hates coffee. Particularly anything that ends with the word mocha. Jani loves the idea of coffee and particularly loves saying the word mocha. Doug indulges my addiction, surprises me with coffees on occasional Saturday mornings and will even go so far as to go to a coffee shop with me to talk (he orders hot cocoa). I love the warm feeling coffee gives you, like that feeling when you climb into the shower in the morning and your feet are so cold and the hot water hits them and it's almost painful but the rush of warmth that follows is totally worth it. Yeah, that good :) This was the feeling I wanted our card (or at least the picture) to evoke. So, it seemed fitting to have us all with our own cup of joe. So one very cold Sunday morning we went to church and then proceeded downtown. Doug got his hot cocoa, I got my peppermint mocha, and Jani got her milk. All in our pretty little Christmasy coffee cups. Our friend Jordan agreed to meet us and took our photos in a variety of downtown locals. I love them all. I love our coats, I love Jani's hair, I love how warm we look, I love the rosy cheeks...I am getting one of these framed because I am filled with that warm fuzzy feeling every time I see them. So thank you Jordan, thank you family, and thank you coffee :)

I Heart ABC Family

Every year this happens. ABC Family suckers me in with their 25 Days of Christmas marathon of Christmas movies. Tonight was no exception. The kicker? December isn't even here yet and I'm hooked. Those ABC movies get me every time. I know the acting isn't phenomenal and the plot lines are completely predictable but there is something about a cheesy Christmas movie that puts me in the holiday spirit. Going along with my vow to really cherish winter and enjoy every moment, I'm promising myself I won't be a scrooge. I always LOVE Christmas but I let myself get too worried about keeping everyone else happy and trying to appease everyone. Make it to every party, have every present wrapped just so...but this year, little things will not stress me out. I will not spiral down the tunnel of bah hum bug and I am going to remember what the real reason for the season is. I'm focusing on family, and friends, and my faith. Happy that we are healthy and able to celebrate together. This month I want to do more "ABC Family movie" type things. Little favors for people, Christmas surprises, random acts of kindness. I know our lives aren't the movies and not everything can be perfect, but I can work at it....and to keep me motivated I'll just keep watching those cheesy Christmas movies. Everybody needs a little holiday cheer. Snuggle up and enjoy one. I know you'll love it...and you don't ever have to admit it!

Winter Wonderland...and Being Thankful

Here it is the night before Thanksgiving. My break has started. I had today off to just enjoy my husband and daughter. I am so thankful for all that I have...all that I've been given. We did some shopping, had our favorite lunch, and are now located at my in-law's in preparation for the holiday. It's no secret that I absolutely love the holiday season. Unfortunately, I don't respect the turkey. I love Thanksgiving, don't get me wrong it's great to focus on everything I am blessed to have, but I had to put up my tree last weekend. My hubby and I put on fun pajamas, dressed Jani in her Santa jams, and played Christmas tunes while we strung lights, put up the tree, and placed our favorite ornaments in all the right places. We had a fun time walking down memory lane, remembering all the times we had put up the tree and where each ornament had come from. It was wonderful and just what I needed to put myself in the holiday spirit.

I think here in Iowa, it's easy to enter a state of depression when winter draws closer. Everyone says they hate the cold, they hate the snow, they hate the darkness. We complain, and complain, and complain incessantly about how we'd love it to be done and how summer just needs to get here. I realized last week how easily I slip into this state of mind. Then, while listening to my fav Christmas CD, I started really hearing the words..."Walking in a winter wonderland", "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow", It's a marshmallow world in the winter"...These songs make winter seem so amazing, so completely wonderful. How is it that years ago, winter was embraced? And now we wish it away?

So I swore to myself...this year? I'm embracing all that is winter, all that is Christmas, all that is Iowa. I'll go for walks in the snow, savor my hot chocolate and peppermint coffee, put a smile on my face when the weatherman says to prepare for a storm. I'm going to enjoy seeing winter through my daughters eyes, wearing warm sweaters and comfy fleece pants, and cuddling with my husband on dark, snowy evenings. This year, the seasonal depression isn't going to get me down. I'm not going to spend winter like a typical Iowan. I promise.

And in two months, when there is three feet of snow on the ground, it's 30 below, and our heating bill is sky high, please remind me of this. I'll probably need a gentle nudge :)

All Smiles

We finally got Jani's 2 year pictures done. Since football is done, Doug is with us on Saturday mornings now. So we packed up the camera, drove through Starbuck's, got mommy a mocha, and headed to Hartman. We had a great time on a beautiful morning. Jani was all smiles and was ready to ham it up for the camera. I never know what I'll get from her. Sometimes she wants to perform for mommy...other times she just wants mommy to hold her. We got lucky on this one :)