Little Moments

This years holiday season was booked to the hilt

with activities...busy, busy, busy. I always long for those

stiller moments full of sentimentality, where time

is taken to enjoy coziness, warmth, and little delights.

But I always have a hard time slowing down, I love

planning, to-do lists, and having exciting activities to look

forward to. So because of my over scheduling I didnt have as

many of those little moments that I had desired and got

worn down by the all the racing around. I now vow to schedule less

for next holiday, and take more time to reflect, and have

more of those little moments where I simply

soak up all the goodness.

More moments like the few that I was able to slip in

this month....

First moment....decorating the christmas tree. Growing up I

remember my mother decorating two different christmas trees

in our house. The one in the kitchen had red lights,

was decorated with Norwegian and German ornaments made

of wood or straw, and displayed all the handmade christmas

decorations my sisters and I had brought home.

And the second, had white lights, shiny brass ornaments that

would rotated on their hooks, and a stunning Christopher Radko

blown glass ornament collection. I started to see the second tree

less and less as there were so many little hands threatening its

fragile beauty. Now with the lively filling of my parents' house

every holiday with all the grandkids, I didnt know when I would

ever see those shiny ornaments again. I asked if this christmas

I could barrow those memorable decorations and put them up

in my now childless home so I could appreciate them again,

and my sweet mother agreed.

I spent an afternoon pulling out, inspecting, and hanging

every one of those beautiful Christopher Radko ornaments and

garlands, each one is so unique and creative. Then came

the red velvet and gold ribbon, silver tinsel balls, and little

white candles in their fish clip holders. I enjoyed this moment

while also watching the movie Little Women, a tender movie

in my family as we too are a family of four girls. ( I would also

watch that movie a ton as a girl because of my huge crush on

Christain Bale who played Laurie). But the nostalgia and

tenderness of the activity was just so delightful.

Reece's parents had a tradition of giving their kids a nutcracker

every year under their pillow... this year the "sugar plum fairy"

doorbell ditched our home and left us some very adorable

ornaments of all the characters in the nutcracker suite.

Here is our cute Clara and the Mouse King who after being

hung turned to whisper and scheme with the Santa hanging

next to him. (I love the expression of that said Santa, looks like

he is hearing something scandalous)

There were so many different kinds of garlands: trains, Santas

and toadstools, sugared fruit, birds and nuts, snowmen and trees,

candy canes, and multicolored pine cones. They really

are a fantastic finishing touch.

Then one night although it was late, my sweet husband and I

made hot chocolate (the first perfect temperature hot chocolate

that I have had in so so many years, just hot enough it wont

burn but will shock and relax your throat on every swallow,

that maybe a funny description but the best I can do)

and then we curled up, wrapped in my faux fur blanket in front

of our glowing tree and read Jan Brett's The Mitten. I adore

all of Brett's books and dream of having my own collection of them.

Her Norwegian illustration style is so intriguing and I love how she

incorporates future events or a second story in vignettes on the

boarders. Half way through the story we had little Dubie jump up and

want to be part of our little family activity.

The next morning I made german pancakes, a new favorite breakfast

food of mine now that I know how fast they are to make. And we

enjoyed eating our cakes and drinking eggnog while again,

ooo-ing and Ah-ing over our tree.

Then after these very few but sweet moments we raced off

to join the hustle bustle at my very full parents house for Christmas

eve and day.

I am so glad that I had these charming yet quite moments this year,

I will remember them lovingly.