Friday, December 12, 2014

Stockings and Presents

This is the first year that Christmas actually means something to Jonah. He will be two and a half the day after Christmas and this holiday season has been just the best ever. To see the wonder in his little face when he sees a house lit up with Christmas lights.It's amazing. We pulled up to my parents house and he exclaimed in a high pitch little voice, "Ohhhh, Papa's lights are SO beauuutiful!!!" it totally made my Dad's day! :)

I have been making a point to do something special each week (go for a walk at dark to see the lights in our neighborhood, build our first gingerbread house together) to make the most of the holiday. Has this season always been so short?? It feels especially so now that he's growing and I want it to last and last.

We've been talking about the true meaning of Christmas with Jonah as much as possible. We've explained the Christmas story, read several books to him and are just trying to put the spirit of giving into his little mind. He's not so fond of it, really. It's pretty funny. We talk about giving presents to other little kids and he automatically says, "those toys are for me, Momma" and I gently remind him that they are not for him.


We adopted a 5 year old little boy named Josue for Christmas and picked out his presents carefully. I prayed over his gifts as I was wrapping. I know that sounds a bit silly but I just wanted to send extra blessings to him and his family this season. We are trying to teach Jonah in all the best ways about the JOY that comes from giving to others!! I am so thankful for my blessings big and small.

Along with giving to others- I've had the BEST time assembling Jonah's stocking stuffers. I have been thinking about it awhile now (nerd alert) and knew I wanted to give him fun, original toys and candy. I picked up the candy at Candylicious on West Alabama and most of the toys came from World Market. I was blown away by their fun toy section. So original! I can't wait to see Jonah's face when he tries Pop Rocks for the first time!! Also, if you squeeze the chicken a squishy egg (complete with yolk) pops out. It's the funniest! He's gonna love the chocolate tools, too.

Christmas is definitely for kids (okay, and Momma's too!)...


Happy Christmas, everyone!

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Party like a Strickland: Jonah's first Christmas Party!

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Really, truly!! I've been on a blogging break mainly because I am filling my time with existing in our moments. Everyday moments. Cooking. Baking. Working. Crafting. Parking. (with Jonah, not with Jeremy. Ha!) Churchgoing. Festivaling it up. Who doesn't love a good festival?! Totally digging into this holiday season and making each moment count!!

I just wanted to pop in to share a few photos from this past Monday night. I hosted our first annual Christmas Party. I really plan to make this a tradition in our house! This year I invited a few of our friends over and we made salt dough ornaments, laughed, devoured tasty hot chocolate, chased the boys around our tiny apartment and had the best time ever. The boys had a blast and Jonah was completely zonked the next day. All of the fun wiped him out!

*The salt dough recipe can be found here.








And, on Sunday we headed down to Galveston to explore Dickens on The Strand, the annual Victorian Festival that the City of Galveston hosts each year. We had the best time shopping and trying the festival food. I stopped a lady passing by on the street and asked it she would snap our photo. I never do that, but I am SO glad I did!! I'll cherish this photo of us in such a fun moment-