Dare to Dream {Big}

a childlike innocence

I love that Keaton was so excited again about Christmas this year.  His childlike innocence and enthusiasm was contagious.  Here he is in Hawaii writing a letter to Santa Clause and here's a picture of the envelope. 

Keaton left it one night for Twinkle Star to take to the big man himself.  He actually forgot the first night, but then remembered the next time.  Who is this Twinkle Star?  Let me introduce you, if you don't already know him.  

This little guy is the star of December.  For Keaton, Twinkle Star has made the last two Christmases full of joy and anticipation every single day of the month.  Twinkle Star makes the wonder and joy of the holiday season real, even for me.  He comes everyday and sits in a different place and leaves little surprises for the boys.  He creates pure magic.  It's hard not to believe.

letter to self

Dear Self,

I know it was an extra crazy-busy December because you took two weeks out of the month to relax and bask in the Hawaiian sun.  But there are a couple of things I would like to remind you of next holiday season to maybe make things go a little more smoothly.

Christmas Cards- It's January 4th and you haven't sent one Christmas card in the mail yet. I know that you had great intentions of getting your Christmas cards mailed BEFORE you went to Hawaii, but it just didn't happen.  It could have been the two weeks you spent 24/7 at the elementary school for Book Fair in November.  Since you'll most likely be in charge again, just remember that those two and half weeks are toast.  Nothing will get done except bare essential.  Let's try to get those cards out earlier next year!

Mantels- I love my decorated mantels and this year I did things totally different with them then in years past.  It has been good to shake things up a bit, but I really missed having the full mantel effect.

Downstairs-  I'm really serious about making the downstairs our new home for Santa stuff. It was great having all that room.

Parties- It's okay to not have a lot of parties each year and different kinds of parties with different people.  Christmas at our house was all about going with the flow and really making things easy.  I liked it.

Pictures- Remember for next year that it's better to use the good camera with the flash on. They were great pictures and I'm glad I didn't just use my iphone!  :)

Happy 2010 self and we'll see you next holiday season.

Love,

Me

our favorite 2009 christmas memories

My favorite Christmas memory will be the boys waking up to Santa's annual room wrapping job, except this year, he wrapped the downstairs instead of the upstairs.  There seemed to be more room to spread out instead of cramped in my office upstairs.  This may become a new tradition.

Jacek's favorite memory is of Asia.  She got lots of doggy treats in her stocking and Jacek just happen to be the one that opened the bags.  Asia was constantly begging from Jacek all day long and even into the days beyond.  We finally figured out why she was doing it to him.  It will be a fun memory to laugh about for many years.

 

twenty ten

Know how I know it's going to be a great year? 

 I got my highlights back!

Happy Twenty Ten to me.

 

happy new year

New Year's Day 2003 at the stroke of midnight.

This photo is just another reminder to me how quickly time flies.  

Happy 2010!

 

6 favorite photos from 2009

 
 

happy 21st anniversary

Cory,

I would do it all over again in a heart beat!  I love you!

Kim

 

thank you for coming to our house santa

 

merry christmas eve

"The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be there."

 

going to see santa

I loved going to see Santa Claus when I was a kid.  I remember being so excited to tell him what I wanted and then getting a candy cane afterwards.  I tried a few times with Jacek when he was a kid to get a photo of him with Santa Claus.  He was having none of it!  He refused and was really afraid of him. So I don't have one photo of Jacek with Santa Claus.

Keaton, on the other hand, couldn't wait to see Santa this year in St. George.  He actually begged me to go to the mall so he could see him.  I'm go glad I did because we didn't have to wait and now I don't have to fight the crowds in Salt Lake.  Keaton was cute because he and his cousin Kaiden drew pictures for Santa Claus.  Instead of a candy cane, Keaton got a little coloring book.