Never too Late for Christmas Cookies

Remember when I said the days were going quickly..? We blinked and Christmas came and went. That’ll be its’ own blog post, I am just always so shocked how fast it all goes, even when I always know it will. Since our kids were tiny we have made sugar cookies and decorated them for Santa, and this year, two of our dearest friends joined us!

Kennedy Lynn is two years old now, and I am still in denial that she is no longer a newborn. We still remember well Tim and Clayton going to the hospital when she was born, bringing her home, and then adopting her! Her birthday is only a couple days apart from Reese’s, and Reese has been her claimed BFF from the very beginning. Kennedy says her name with such pride and joy, and we just love having her around to be in these memories with us!

I recently saw a post on Pinterest [author unknown] that says this:

“You will never have this day with your children again. Tomorrow, they will be a little older than they were today. This day is a gift. Just breathe, notice, study their faces and little feet. Pay attention. Relish the charms of the present. Enjoy today. It will be over before you know it.”

I know if you’re in the thick of things in those newborn days, it may seem surreal that they will be any bigger. In any stage there are moments of frustration, of anger, of sadness, of doubts, of ALL the feelings—you’re wondering if you are doing a good job. If they will remember your hard work. If they will remember the good, especially when there have undoubtedly been moments of bad. Here are my snapshots of some of our good. Decorating cookies with small children isn’t a guarantee of sunshine and roses, of complete laughter and giddiness; often there are messes and spills, tears over mistakes, and for a mama who really loves QUIET—it is generally a very HAPPILY loud memory.

Does your family do any baking together in the holiday season? What are some of your traditions? I would love to hear in the comments below, or always feel free to hit REPLY to these posts! Happy Holidays, Sweet Readers and Friends.

Don't Miss the Holiday

As you get older, do you feel as if the days are going by even faster…? I remember saying this pretty much as soon as I became a mama. The days were flying by, though sometimes the weeks themselves felt long. The same rings true today, and almost more. Somehow, my kids are six and seven years old. Gone are the baby days; the days when bottles were being heated, diapers being changed, and when my babies were snuggled warm and cozy in fleece onesie pajamas. I try to embrace each year, but guys, they’re going so fast. In this moment, I am thanking God that I invested in a good camera, taught myself how to take photos with it, and that I can use it to capture these days.

We’ve looked forward to Christmas since November, let’s face it. I married an Elf and basically St. Nick himself, so each year it seems we start to decorate and prepare earlier and earlier. I’m not complaining though—the twinkle lights, gorgeous garland, family village pieces, and the beautiful Christmas tree bring SUCH an indescribable JOY to the home. This season, we are trying so hard to just ENJOY IT. Not to rush it; not to go from one thing to the next, and not to worry about the messes being made [too much anyway.]

Have you ever wished you could simply freeze time? Just for a moment. Or two.. or for a few years. I know I have and that I do often. There have been so many days that I am running from one thing to the next, constantly thinking, “What’s next?” and this year, Asa and I have tried to be intentional to just SLOW DOWN. I suppose no matter how hard I try, the days do keep speeding by…but we are still challenging ourselves to live as intentionally as possible with them. “Don’t miss the Holiday trying to make the Holiday,” has been Asa’s mantra and I completely agree. I hope you enjoy looking through these photos our Gingerbread House memory; this was the first time we have done this [I’m not sure how that’s possible?!] and it was so fun! (And messy…) :)

Holiday Finds for Everyone with Tuesday Morning

CHRISTMAS!! You all know this is the Glass Family’s FAVORITE. With two small kids ages six and seven, we are still at that fun stage of Christmas shopping! And because we recently discovered Tuesday Morning and how much they have to offer in all seasons, we were so excited to partner with them again for our Holiday finds. As soon as we walked in, 1.) our kids were ecstatic and 2.) we knew we could buy for so many on our list! We have avid DIYer’s to think of, entertaining experts, and imaginative little ones and guess what—Tuesday Morning had SO MUCH. One of my favorite parts was that they had so many unique wrapping solutions too.

The kids wanted to help with choosing presents for their cousins and Grandparents; that part is always fun for me as their mama. They actually take time to consider each individual person, and as they walked up and down isles, I could hear them discussing with each other what, “GG would like,” and “Cousin Arie,” or “Uncle Noah,” etc. Reese put a bunch of fuzzy socks in the cart because SHE said, “Mama loves fuzzy socks so we have to get her all of these.” I laughed and told her they could wait on buying for me but that I loved how she thought of me. Both our kids have such a big heart and are showing themselves to be super thoughtful people!

What I love the most about this store is that it really can be a one-stop destination to shop gifts; there is a TON of variety of products and categories, and all for inexpensive prices. We got things like fuzzy socks for family (of course), glassware for the host enthusiasts, remote control cars for some nephews, electronic gadgets for our nieces who love technology, giant Yankee candles, and even some bath goodies. Browsing through the home decor section I found an adorable pillow that I knew would look great on our Navy couch, and then the kids walked past the Christmas ornaments. We love to help them add to their ornament collection so they each chose one which is very fitting in their current seasons: Reese is such an animal lover, so she chose a kitty, and Pierson is obsessed with all things sports, so he found a football player.

Where is your nearest Tuesday Morning? Aren’t sure?? Click here to find out so that you too can enjoy an exciting holiday shopping experience FULL of savings. You will be able to shop for so many people on your list, if not ALL, between the gourmet food options, holiday decor, bath & body, small appliances, stationery, and gift wrap galore!