It's the most wonderful time...

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming! Happy birthday, Jesus! Christmas is coming!

I loooove this time of the year (imagine I just said that in a sing-songy voice)!

I love seeing the Salvation Army bell ringers. I love the constant Christmas music on the radio. I love the cool, crisp weather. I love shopping for gifts for my loved ones. I love making sweet yummy goodness. I love the beautiful holiday spirit that seems to make everyone's step a little lighter. There's a reason it's the most wonderful time of the year.

Every year I stress about gifts and whether or not people will like them. I'm horrible at remembering what people want and I ask for a list a few weeks before. And... they get what's on the list. But this year I have an iPhone (we have a slight love affair the two of us). One of the most awesomest things about my iPhone is the calendar App. Seriously. How did I function without hat App before? But the other is this really cool App where I can take notes... in my case, make lists. Lists upon lists of all kinds of things (trust me, it can get a little out of hand). So throughout the year (well, since I got the phone), I have been typing in what I've heard the kiddos, the hubs, and friends/family have mentioned. I have a list of things they really wanted or thought was "so cool". How stinkin' awesome is that, my friend? I'm going to kill it this year (here's to hoping!).

We'll see if my little plan has worked on the 25th at about 6:08am (you know, after we leisurely wake up and open gifts).

On top of the gifts, the kids and I decided we're making Jesus a red and green checkerboard birthday cake. Normally we just stick to the box, keep it simple and slap on some icing, but this year, we're putting in a little extra effort. It's going to be awesome!

Our Christmas Eve menu will include shrimp, s'mores, baklava, crab dip, and veggies. What can I say? We have a pretty random family.

There are so many things I'd like to do before Christmas, but as I get older (it's happening and I can't stop it...) I'm learning that I can't do it all and still have fun. So I'm picking and choosing and letting the rest of the plans fizzle quickly.

I love hearing what others have planned. It's a beautiful thing this upcoming birthday party, isn't it?