…and there is only one shot that will work with our Christmas card.  And it’s blurry.  So, HH is phot-shopping the heck out of it as I type.  If he can’t work some serious magic, we’ll have to use one of these:

This is what about 60 of the shots came out like (except Bug usually sports a more confused look).

Can you tell that we’ve hit a “silly” stage?  Or perhaps it’s just a genetic fondess for KISS.

Of course, we got a good 10 frames of this pose.  Classy, don’t you think?

How about the caption “Eye Love Christmas”  or “Arrgh!  Hope you get lots of booty from Santa!”

No explanation needed.
And it just might make it onto the family Christmas card this year.

In keeping with my Simple Christmas, I only put up a tree this year.  But I just couldn’t bear not participating in Boomama’s Christmas Tour of Homes.  So, let’s have a tour of my tree.  I’ll show you a few of my “ordaments” (Woggie’s term, not mine)!

So, here’s the tree:

I love Santas of all shapes and sizes.  So, when I saw this Santa star at our church’s Country Store Market this year, I just couldn’t resist.

A few years ago, I had an accident just before Thanksgiving.  I was on painkillers well into the new year.  It was the craftiest, most productive Christmas ever.  I swear!  (I, by no means, am advocating the use of prescription medication to take one’s craftiness and/or productivity to the next level… but if the doctor is insisting, you may want to just hop on board the funwagon!)  Anyway, I made tons of these ornaments that year.  Here’s the one I kept for myself (it’s to the right, the one on the left is Buggy’s first Christmas ornament from her Grammy):

Here is Woggie’s most prized “ordament”…. and it talks.  I’m surprised I actually found it on the tree when I went to take the picture:

And lastly, here are my favorite of this year’s new additions.  Both were made by Woggie– the nativity at my parents’ church’s Christmas festival and the “Baby Jesus Star” at MDO.  He is very proud of the glitter on them.  (To be honest, his love of glitter paired with his love of my strawberry lip balm has me a bit worried.):

Thank you so much for perusing my tree with me.  And for bearing with me and my artistic use of light and dark love/hate relationship with my flash.  You guys deserve a treat.  But I didn’t bake anything.  Remember my manifesto.  I’m sure you can find some Goldfish in my couch cushions… so eat up!

I’m very excited about Christmas this year. Not only will it be Bug’s first Christmas and the beginning of Wog’s understanding about Advent, but it will be my first Simple Christmas. This girl’s taking it WAY easy this year. I’ve been aching to do it for years. But then Wog was born and I felt like I needed to overdo EVERYTHING to make his first Christmas over the top. Then last Christmas, I felt like I needed to be Super Christmas Mom, baking, gifting, and chocolate-covering everything in site… just like my Mom has always done. What I ended up with was a grumpy, mumbly Christmas attitude.

Then, out of nowhere, here come the holidays. Again. By October 1, I was completely overwhelmed and defeated at all of the things I wouldn’t be able to do for the holidays. I mean, as I think you’ve picked up on already, I wasn’t exactly succeeding at the everyday stuff as a mom of two. I was in no way delusional enough to think I could bake the first tree-shaped cookie with a whiny Wog and a fussy Bug. Then, at a work staff meeting that I wasn’t at, my last year Secret Santa recipient expressed her displeasure with my gift-giving abilities in front of, oh, THE WHOLE STAFF (and, yeah, she called me by name). Then, this happened. Bye bye went the Christmas mojo.

Did you notice what was missing from my Christmas thoughts, stresses, worries and woes? Yeah, Jesus. The “Reason for the Season” and all. It’s been a long time since Jesus was the Reason for my Season. For me, it’s been about gifts no one really likes (my nephew actually tried to give his gift from us away last year and my mom gave me my niece’s gift from us back once it’d been left at her house -unused- for over six months), casseroles no one really eats (my mom is the cook of all cooks and no one else’s can compare), and decorations that no one really sees (our house sucks and I don’t invite people over–ever). What a way to spin my wheels for all these years.

So this year, friends, here is my memo mission statement manifesto on Christmas:
I will have a Simple Christmas. I will spend time daily reflecting on the Savior’s birth. I will put up a tree for Woggie’s Buzz Lightyear ornament. I will string lights on it as a reminder of the Bright Star of Bethlehem. I will give simple gifts that are meaningful and/or practical (realizing that not all of our family members appreciate the former). I will not bake, unless requested by my family. I will not attempt to craft. I will not purchase any magazine that urges me to do either of the aforementioned. I will send cards to close friends and family only. I will take time to enjoy our families, quirks and all. I will talk to Woggie about Santa and how he demonstrates charity to others. I will teach Woggie about Advent, taking the precious opportunity as he learns, to relearn the True Meaning of Christmas.

Sometimes it feels like the whole world has lost the Real Christmas Spirit and that those who manage to keep Advent at the center have lost the ability to have fun with the other stuff. I think you can experience and enjoy both. At least I hope you can. I am already feeling the joy of a lighter Christmas load. What about you? What are you doing that is different this year? Something simpler? Enhancing a special part of your family’s Holiday?