Memories For My Memory Bank

As my kids are getting older I am cherishing this "simple" time with them even more. Maybe not more, but realizing how quickly this time in our lives is flying by! This year, so far, I have been able to structure our days to include some well needed fun and a lot let chaos than in previous years. I always strive for relaxed holidays but I have completely failed in that area. Last minute baking, shopping, service projects... everything seemed to always be last minute! I vowed NOT to do that this year (God willing and with many of my prayers heard, this wont happen!)

My kids LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about Christmas! The music, mood, family, friends, giving and getting. I think I've implanted the love of Christmas adequately in their heads and I know I got this from my mom. She LOVES Christmas too! She always went all out in the house and on the house. Dad always went along drudgingly putting up Christmas lights galore! Mom always seemed to have it all together, never stressed, fire in the fireplace, Christmas music playing in the back ground. Now why couldn't I have gotten that amazing talent?   So far I have the lights up on the house, the kids were a HUGE help! This Sunday we plan to get our tree and the inside of the house is almost totally decorated for this special time of year. I even have a few Christmas gifts bought.

The kids wanted to make sugar cookies so we made the dough and I found a recipe that did not need to be refrigerated for hours before we cut!  With dough made and flour everywhere we began to cut cookies!

We really did have a fun time and I stayed calm, cool and collected! Yeah me! We iced and decorated to our hearts content! I even have dough saved for future cookie cutting... we just had that much fun! 

Here is where I got the Cookie recipe, I used two different types and they were both fabulous!

http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/cookies/sugarbelles-perfect-sugar-cookies.html?p=24

and

http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/dessert/cookies/cream-cheese-cut-out-cookies.html?p=6

 My hope is to inspire you to create life long simple memories with your kids, the age of your kids doesn't matter (grab that teen and cut some cookies, make holiday crafts or do a service project together) and they will remember these memories far more than the gift that was given! May this be a holiday season of new beginnings for your family, just as it is for mine! ~Nicole

OUR 21 DAYS OF HAPPINESS CHALLANGE... WONT YOU JOIN US???

Wikipedias definition of Happiness is: Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.

I have chosen to jump on the bandwagon and join the 21 Days of Happiness Challenge.  I am excited to do this!! For 21 consecutive days do the following: 3 Gratitude's. Write down three new things that you are grateful for each day. Journaling: write about one positive experience you had that day. The idea is that you are reliving the positive feelings of the event by writing about it.  Meditation. Exercise. Random Acts of Kindness: reach out to at least one person each day and do something kind, and in no way expect something in return (this can be via text, email, card, facebook, can do a pay it forward act).

I started this a week ago and really probably have only done about 3 days so, why not just keep going where we are and not look at what hasn't been done. :) 
My Gratitude's: I am grateful for the hard work my husband does to provide for our family.  I am grateful for friends I can call when I'm having a rough spot during my day.  I am thankful for my kids who will always give me hugs and kisses and tell me they love me.

Journaling:  I met the nicest  phycologist today. I LOVE her! She is bubbly, engaging, receptive, responsive and just seems to be the type of phycologist we need.  I'm thankful for her guidance during this time. 

Meditation: I will really have to work on this. Carving time to just sit and reflect isn't always easy. 

Exercise: I ran around the house getting everyone ready for school and Dr. appointments today, does that count? (I'm thinking it does not).

Acts of Kindness: I have sent "I'm thinking of you" text to a good friend of mine today.

Now I am also having my kids do some of this, although they don't know its a "21 day challenge" I'm hoping that by me doing this it then becomes a habit, not only for me, but for them too. I will post some pictures of the things they make, and some of there adorable quotes.

It's a few years ago... but this is Happiness!!