December Blur

December has flown by in a bit of a blur. I have really just been hanging on for the ride - hoping I am not thrown off. I spent the first half of the month being completely stressed out about our preschool Christmas program. I had spent weeks trying to teach the kids all the music and when it finally came time to perform I was feeling the pressure. In the end it turned out fine, and the kids did look cute. The only picture I got was not very good, but I was too busy 'directing' to get anything else. Liam is in the front holding his star and yawning. He is standing next to his cousin Gemma.

 Last Friday I breathed a sigh of relief, feeling I had made it to my finish line (the last day of work and preschool for me and Liam). My plan had been to spend all last weekend and the beginning of this week being super productive and getting all my "stuff" together before the holidays.

And then the shooting in Connecticut happened. I am not an overly emotive person, but I will say that whole thing threw me. When I heard about it last Friday I couldn't wait to get to Noah's school and put him in my car and get him home safely. And then, instead of going for a run like I planned, I spent the afternoon playing video games with Noah. Just because he asked. And because, somewhere, there was a mother who couldn't do that with her 6 year old anymore. That thought stopped me cold. Suddenly having a 6 year old boy, a sweet first grader like those in Newtown, made the whole thing too intense. We did not watch any TV coverage of it all. I didnt really want to hear more. I knew all I needed to know. It was an unspeakable tragedy, teachers really and truly are heroes everyday, and this world is a messy place desperately in need of redemption. I also know this...

If nothing else, something like these school shootings, can remind you to be really present in your moments. I did not get half of the things done this past week that I wanted to get done. I am choosing to be OK with that. I enjoyed moments with my family and with my friends and those are more important than clean floors, wrapped presents, and miles run.

So, what moments have we been enjoying this holiday season? Well, I will be happy to fill you in!

We kicked things off a couple weeks ago by celebrating Hanukkah with our friends the Davis Family. Lisa had games for the kids, wonderful food (and drink of course!), and we did a gift exchange. And there were donuts - that is what won Liam over for sure!

Noah liked the donuts too, but he was way more interested in playing Dreidel. He somehow knew what all the symbols on the Dreidel were called and what they meant. He was also super excited to have the biggest pile of gelt at the end of the game!

It was a very fun  night and we were happy to spend time with friends.

Oh. And I learned I should never take another picture with my hair pulled straight back off my face. Yikes.

Noah started basketball last this past Saturday. How cute is he?

This is his first season playing and I was worried he would be nervous, but he marched right into practice and jumped in with both feet. He asked questions and really listened to all his coach's instructions and afterwards couldn't stop talking about how much fun he had.

Liam and I spent this week just hanging out and taking it easy. (Noah was still in school all week.) We had a few play dates and ran some errands. Oh, and we had one memorable morning at the mall with Lisa and Connor.

And yes, while this picture is ADORABLE, that is not why it was memorable. No, it was memorable because of the bag of drugs that Lisa and I spotted under a bench outside the cookie store! Seriously. Small plastic baggie full of suspicious white powder, tied off at the top. I mean, I am not an expert, but I believe it to have been cocaine or heroine. In our mall!!! That place gets classier and classier every day.

So, that brings us to today. Noah is finally done with school. I think the temperature is going to possibly dip below 70 degrees. Our decorations are all lit up. Most of the presents are purchased, and the plans are made. We are ready to enjoy the holidays. With the people we love. We will make the most of every one of our moments together!