"Photo-a-day..." Day 30

"Your Winter Wonderland"

Fortunately, we had snow the day after Christmas and it has kept coming, so today's picture actually looks like a "winter wonderland."

Our house early in the morning

 Katie and I bundled up today, scavenged for a couple of garbage can lids, and went in search of a hill to sled down. This was much harder than it sounds. We did more walking than actually sledding. And the hills that we found weren't very long or exciting. But we did have fun.

"December Photo-a-Day..." Day 24

"Favorite Part of Christmas Eve"

"What could be in these boxes?"

It's hard to say what part of Christmas Eve is really my favorite. I love the Christmas Eve service: all of the singing and reading the Christmas story. My family's church began their service with a Christmas carol flash mob which was, in Katie's words, "Awesome!"
Then we did the traditional songs and Scripture readings. Someone in the church put together a hysterical video of the Christmas story told by the little children and performed by the youth group.
And, of course, there was Silent Night and the lighting of the candles.

When we got home we had a delicious fondue dinner (another great, and recent, Christmas Eve tradition).
And of course, there is the annual Christmas Eve gift, that we always pretend not to know about. This tradition is much older than I remember. Apparently we've (I've) been getting pajamas on Christmas Eve for 23 years, rather than the 16 that I remember.
Needless to say, I just love Christmas Eve.

"December Photo-a-Day..." Day 22

"Tradition"

Every year my mom puts a small manger under the tree, before even one gift appears. When we lived on Palomar Mountain she would go to the barn and get a handful of hay and put it in the manger. Christmas morning, Katie and I would come out and there would be a baby-doll wrapped in a cloth and lying in the manger, surrounded by all the gifts, a visual of the gift that we are the most thankful for.

"December Photo-a-day..." Day 13

"Family"

I know, I'm back-tracking a little here, but it's the only time that we were all in the same picture. This is Christmas Eve, just after church.

"Photo-A-Day Challenge..." Day 23

"Tree Topper"

"Photo-A-Day Challenge..." Day 18

"Stockings"

"Photo-A-Day Challenge..." Day 15

"Favorite Christmas Song"

I think it would be easier to list the Christmas songs that I don't like, rather than Christmas songs that I like. I went through all of our Christmas song books and had a hard time picking the ones that would feature in the photo shoot. I like fun Christmas songs and beautiful Christmas songs. 

My favorite Christmas carol that does not speak about Christ's birth is Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. I just feel like I need to start swing dancing every time I hear it (though it would be helpful to know more than the basic steps).

Joy To The World is pretty amazing when played by a full orchestra and sung by very talented people (it's a great song, anyways, of course). It's one of those songs that makes me excited that it's Christmas. (We just heard it played/sung by Katie's school orchestra/choir).

But my favorite Christmas song is Breath of Heaven. I like the idea of imagining what Mary was thinking for all of those months. Luke tells us that she praised God and knew that she was blessed by Him, and that "all generations will call me blessed." But what about after that? Nine months is a long time to think about the enormity and importance of her role. Nine months is a long time to turn the fact over and over in her mind that she would give birth to and raise the Savior of the World. I know that I would think about it over and over and then I would panic (and then I'd think about it some more and be ok. And then I'd think about it again and panic again, and it would be this great cycle of thinking, panic, thinking, ok, thinking, panic, and then somewhere in there I'd remember to pray). 

But then maybe Mary didn't worry or fret at all. Maybe she had peace and confidence that God would give her what she needed to be the mother of Jesus.

"Photo-a-day Challenge"... Day 14

"Christmas Tree"

"December Photo Challenge..." Day 8, 9, 10, & 11

I'm a little behind on the December Photo Challenge. We spent the weekend in Buffalo. Katie's school performed a concert in an old Presbyterian church. We also did some Christmas shopping and had lots of fun. I did keep taking pictures.

December 8 - Ornaments

This is the shop window of the Pottery Barn in the Buffalo mall. If you look carefully you can see Katie in the background.

December 9 - "Something Your Reading"

I'm known in my family for reading multiple books at a time. When I was in grade school I had four books stacked on my desk. I'd read a chapter, then go on to the next one, read a chapter, go on to the next one. I thought that I could read faster if I read them all together. However, I soon figured out that's not the case. So, now I just read two at a time. Fiction for fun and something else that is history, theology, or just seems interesting. Currently, I'm reading Moby Dick and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking. 

December 10 - "Wrapping Paper"

I haven't started wrapping anything yet, but this package turned up in our living room, so I decided it would do for the wrapping paper photo.

December 11 - "Green"

Perfect time to get our tree, don't you think? Can't get much greener than a green Christmas tree. 

I haven't taken a picture for today, so I'll do another post later with today's photo.

"December Photo Challenge..." Day 7

"Bright"

"December Photo Challenge..." Day 6

Today's "Shopping" photo came on the perfect day, as my mom, Holly, and I had already planned to go to the St. Jacobs Farmer's Market this afternoon. 

There were lots of booths outside, but hardly any people. All of the shoppers today chose the warm inside of the building to the freezing cold outside. There were lights and wreaths and even some tiny Christmas trees throughout the building. 

Here are some more pictures from our trip:

Jams, Jellies, and Pickled Veggies
make a festive booth.

Delicious Apple Fritters. Holly
didn't eat them all - we each had one. :)

"December Photo Challenge" Day 5...Theoretically

Via pinterest, I found a "December Photo Challenge" on this blog. I thought that it sounded like a lot of fun, so I decided to do it. My mom and Katie and I are going to do some scrapbooking while Katie is home for Christmas break, so I will include these pictures of December and it will be a fun day-to-day memory of December 2012. I am a few days behind, so I may add the first four days of December here and there throughout the rest of the pictures.

Today's photo challenge was "Today's Temperature." I took this at about 12 or 1 o'clock p.m. There were a few lone snow flakes dancing around in the air, but not anything that you could really even call snow flurries.  Now, almost 12 hours later, it's 18 degrees colder. I'm very thankful for my flannel sheets and down comforter tonight.