That's Pinteresting! - birthday edition

Birthday parties were a big deal for me growing up.  My parents were both so creative and they went to so much trouble to make my birthday parties special.  In fact, I sometimes had to reign them in from going way, WAY overboard.  I don't know how they did it either.  We were living paycheck to paycheck during the BEST of times.

All that is to say that I am absolutely thrilled to begin that tradition with my G-O baby.

In April, she will be celebrating her FIRST birthday.  I'm not gonna lie, I've been pooling ideas together for months.  I sent out save the date cards...in January.

Yeah.  I'm crazy like that.

To get an inkling of where my inspiration has come from, here are some of the pins from my 1st Birthday Ideas board.

I'm not a professional and I did not hire one.  I will be making most things by myself, so please don't expect our party to turn out (quite) as fabulously as the pictures above.  For the most part, they came from party planning companies.  The inspiration is there, though.  I've got a goal.  But, of course, there may now be a crimp in my plan.  I thought I would have all of March to put the decorations together while Baby G-O slept at night (she's not too much of a napper and has recently decided she only wants to take one, short nap a day).  As it turns out, we may be packing and moving...just before the party.  Of.  Course.

So my plan needs to be rearranged.  Still, I'm excited.  I am SO excited.  It should be fun.  I'm open to additional suggestions and recommendations, too--especially given my new time constraints.  Ideas are appreciated!  Gah.  I am so EXCITED!

Silent Night

This video is for the families of Calvary Chapel Burbank, our home church.  Our preschool through first grade Sunday School students will be performing this during the main services on the last Sunday before Christmas.  Please be gracious with my voice...as per the post below, I'm almost fully recovered from being sick...

The lyrics are:
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace


Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born


Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth

A touch of Christmas...

So, remember how I said that I like to decorate for Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving?

Well, I started tonight.

Not a whole lot...

Just a touch...

Here and there...

But it adds just enough sparkle to these quickly darkening nights.

And it's enough to get me through Thanksgiving before I REALLY start to decorate.

I am lucky to be so blessed!

Holiday Season

The colors of the changing leaves are a sign that the holiday season we love so much is being ushered in.

The cool, crisp air…

The tastes of cider, cinnamon, pumpkin pie, and peppermint hot chocolate…

Snuggling up in flannel pajamas…

Baking with friends and family…

Christmas music…

Vanilla and gingerbread candles…

The scent of Christmas trees (or room sprays that reproduce the smell at home)…

…all simple pleasures that we savor.

Now, I'm the type of person that loves Christmas so much that I begin listening to my holiday music in early November. (Yes, the tunes have already been playing in my car and home.) I like to decorate before Thanksgiving, but if I must, I’ll wait until the day after. I love the warmth of a cozy home, great friends, and a toasty cup of cocoa. I love celebrating my Savior's birth. I love that complete strangers tend to be just a little bit nicer to one another at this time of year. I find that you'll see strangers smiling, sharing, giving, and just plain expressing kindness. As in all things, you find what you're looking for.

And I see God's fingerprints all around.

I love the holidays!