tis the season.

We are about to enter into my absolutely favorite time of year.  Thanksgiving through New Year's compares to nothing else in my book (in terms of seasons and holidays).  Why do I love them you might ask?  Let's just take a look...

Food.  I like to eat and I like all the typical Thanksgiving/Christmas foods that are placed on tables every year.  Turkey, stuffing, potato filling, green bean casserole, pies, cookies, candy. etc.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  At the top of this list just might be my mother in law's Christmas cookies.  She bakes so many different kinds and I always look forward to the first time I see them sitting out around the holidays.  I easily inhale a couple dozen of these by myself.  

Family.  I am blessed with a huge (also read loud and slightly dysfunctional) family and gatherings are pretty ridiculous.  We barely fit in a house altogether anymore but without them, it just wouldn't be the same.  I'm doubly blessed to have married into a wonderful family and enjoy spending time with my in-laws every year.  They are slightly calmer than my side, but there are still a handful of kids to make things exciting.

Friends.  I consider myself fortunate to have so many people in my life that I truly consider "dear".  Some are from high school (technically, a few go way back to when we were only 7), some are college friends that I don't get to see but still correspond with, Bible study friends, work friends, internet friends and even some new friends.  I'm always able to squeeze in a few "secret Santa" exchanges and parties with them.     

Christmas decorations, music, movies and shopping.  I LOVE all things Christmas.  I love the atmosphere in stores as I try to buy gifts and that everywhere I turn I see garland, lights, and tinsel.  One of my favorite things to do every Thanksgiving weekend is transform our house into a temporary winter wonderland.  I make Scrooge (aka Seth) help set up our artificial tree (I have a knack for killing things so this seems more realistic) and decorate with me as we listen to Christmas songs and drink hot chocolate.  Setting out my Nativity scene has to be the highlight of decorating (yes, I even have highlights of highlights!).  I have the Willow Tree set and I carefully unwrap each piece and display it on our kitchen hutch just so.  I can't wait to share this tradition with Delia.  I will start watching Christmas movies tomorrow probably and the Christmas music was turned on today.  Favorites include (movies) The Santa Claus, Christmas Vacation and Miracle on 34th Street and (songs) The Little Drummer Boy and O Holy Night. 

Hallmark Ornaments.  Okay, so I'm not one of the crazy people who buy every single ornament that they like, but trust me, I'm tempted to.  I do pick out an ornament every year for Seth and myself though.  I've already bought his and Delia's but not mine yet.  I usually have a hard time deciding which one I want so I may take a few trips to the store to decide.

Christmas Cards.  Picking them out, signing them, addressing them, receiving them.  I am still a fan of the written word (surprise) and I actually enjoy snail mail.  Every year I've tried to convince Seth to send out a photo card and he is never on board with it.  I think he can be convinced this year though since we are about to have some family pictures taken and we have a baby.  Everyone loves to see a baby on a card, right?  I confess I've already chosen a few Shutterfly designs and all I'm waiting on is the picture!   

So I could probably continue on with this list for quite a bit longer but I don't want to make this into a book.  I think I've given you enough to realize that yes, I do really love this time of year.  It makes my heart happy just thinking about all that is to come and even better yet, this year I have a child to share it with.  What can beat that?