Wrapping Christmas gifts...

I have already finished shopping, and I am done wrapping presents. The last few years I have been pretty sloppy with my wrappings since it just gets torn off and thrown away anyways. However, this year I have definitely been into making my gifts look P-E-R-F-E-C-T! 

Holiday Traditions

We have many traditions in the Marshall household. Some have been going on for many years, others just a few. One of our very favorite traditions is getting to open one gift on Christmas Eve, this gift is always pajamas. The pajamas we get are what we wear that night, and of course, they always match....so that on Christmas morning, all three of us match! :] Of course we follow the basic traditions, leaving cookies for Santa, writing Christmas cards, taking family photos, etc. One of our most recent traditions started about 3 years ago. All of us go out a few days before we decorate our Christmas tree, and we all pick out a new ornament. Our ornmanet always matches our personality, and is always colorful and fun! Makayla always seems to get ones that are animal related (leopard print, furry, etc.), Haylee always gets ones that are old and antique looking (keys, nutcrackers, soldiers, etc.), my mom always gets one that is very unique and beautiful, my dad either gets one that represents him being the man of the house (crown, king, etc.) or a football ornament (Dallas Cowboys, of course), and I always get one that is very bright and fun (lots of bright colors, fun shapes, etc.) Bryan has also joined in on the tradition the past two years, and his always seem to match mine. I think thats pretty cute ;]  The picture is of my ornament from this year! 

Sights of the Season

Oh the wonderful sights of Christmas! :]

To Do List -

During the Holidays, I feel like my To Do List is never ending, I am a complete scatter brain. Especially since the first 3 weeks in December is when I am working on my big term papers and studying for my finals, as well as sending out Christmas cards, buying gifts, wrapping gifts, decorating, taking pictures, finishing up Holiday crafts, etc. See...I told you ... its a never ending list. However, I do have to say that I am VERY proud of myself this Holiday season, for I have finished shopping COMPLETELY! I still need to buy a few stocking stuffers, but thats no biggie. I still haven't sent out my Christmas Cards, because I haven't printed out my Christmas letters yet! But, soon, I will have them sent out. 

By the way, I don't feel as if the pictures go along with journaling, more with the crafting (which unfortunantely I do not do), so I have not taken pictures the last two days. Hopefully the pictures get a little more Christmasy! :]

Back in the day -

Looking back on past Christmas's there are many, many memories that I can recall. Most of my fondest memories are back when I was quite young, when EVERYONE spent Christmas together (the ENTIRE Clark family), when everyone could get together for dinner and good times, and of course ALL of the grandchildren would be there and would open their one Christmas Eve gift (which of course was our PJ's). However, there were a few not-so-fond memories. As a child, I so badly wanted to know what all of my gifts were, so I would always go snooping. I would always seem to find them, no matter where they were. When Christmas morning rolled around, I just wasn't as excited to open my presents, since I already knew what they were. However, even though I knew that I hated not being excited on Christmas morning, I continued to do it every year for about 5 years. Now that I am much older, I have learned that snooping and spying takes all of the fun out of Christmas morning, so I taught myself to be patient. :] ( I have no pictures for this entry, boohoo :[ )

Counting down....

In my family, my sisters are our advent calendar. They are the ones that keep us informed on just how many days we have left until the big TWO FIVE! The girls especially love Christmas. They enjoy hot cocoa (all year long), Christmas songs (Nat King Cole and Elvis are their faves!), writing their letters to Mom & Santa, decorating the house, buying our traditional annual ornament, receiving our one present on Christmas Eve (always pajamas), and of course opening presents on Christmas morning. We have a few cute decorations around the house that have countdowns on them, but they are rarely changed. We don't need advent calendars when you have Makayla and Haylee! 

Day Dreaming...

Honestly, day dreaming about Christmas isn't something I do often. There is never anything that I want during Christmas time, that I don't have. I have my family and friends, a beautifully decorated home, a gorgeous Christmas tree, hot cocoa, and Christmas music. My Christmas' are always perfect, as long as I have all of those things! :]

Q&A about Christmas Cards

1. Do you buy them or make them?

Answer: Sadly, I buy them. There is not enough time in the month for me to make my Christmas cards. However, I do write Christmas letters.

2. What day of the month do you try to send them?

Answer: I usually try to send them the second week of December. 

3. When do you usually send them? How many do you send?

Answer: I usually send them the second week of December, if not the beginning of the third week. I send about 30. 

4. Is it just a quick address and sign job or do you relish the oppurtunity to write a long lost friend a nice letter? 

Answer: Well, I write a quick personal note to each person in the actual card, and then I write the same letter to every person on my Christmas list, just to update them on how my year went. 

5. If you recieve a card from someone you didn't expect, do you quickly send a card back? 

Answer: If it is someone I am happy to hear from then I send a Christmas card back, if not, then I don't.

6. What is your system for keeping address and names ready for the job? 

Answer: I list all of the people I will be sending cards too on a Word Document, and then I type each address next to it. It keeps it easy when I am writing out each envelope.

7. What is the price of a postage stamp this Christmas?

Answer: $0.42

8. How many cards will you send?

Answer: This year I will be sending about 30-35.

9. How do you display cards you receive?

Answer: I hang them on the back of my door for everyone to see! 

Winter Weather

Winter in Southern California is no where near white. More like yellow Christmas, the sun shines bright all day long. Occasionally there is a chilly day, but its rare. California air is crisp and clean during Winter. Walking outside early in the morning, breathing in the air, and smelling the trees is how I describe my Christmas weather. Crisp and beautiful. I love my Yellow Christmas's! 

I declare ...

that this Christmas will be unlike any other Christmas. I will create memories and new traditions that will last a lifetime. I will find the joy in being with my family and friends, rather than recieving gifts. I will allow myself to dedicate time to my journal every day for the next 36 days. This is the start of something great. Remembering the past, enjoying the present, and looking forward to the future.