I've joined the ranks

So I think I am ready to officially admit that I have left the days of having any sense of "coolness" (although I didn't really have much to begin with) or even sanity, and I have entered the days of being a crazy, flaky, forgetful, clumsy mom. I am definitely not one of those cute, have-it-all-together types of moms.

Just one of many stories to illustrate this sad realization:

After a long day at work, I stopped by the grocery store to get a few items for dinner. I started my trek from the car to the store by tiptoeing across the parking lot in my fashionable boots with heels (of course I have to try and look good for work at least). As I tiptoed along praying that I wouldn't slip and fall in the slushy snow, I knew that everyone was just looking at me like I'm a complete moron. I managed to get through the store okay and pick up the few things I needed and headed to the checkout lines.

Right as I got to the register and put my food on the little conveyor belt, I realized that I forgot to get a head of lettuce. I begged the guy at the register to let me just run and grab it really quickly as he looked and kind of rolled his eyes at me. I started running before he could even answer me, and here again, I'm sure I looked extremely graceful trying to run down the aisle in my heels. I grabbed the lettuce and ran back to find the guy behind me in line a bit irritated that he had to wait the extra 60 seconds. I paid for the groceries and headed out of the store to trek again on my toes through the snowy parking lot.

As I made my way to the car, I had a moment of panic thinking that I left my prescription in the store, so I tried to hurry and get to the car to put the 2 bags and 2 gallons of milk in my hand down before running back into the store to search for my prescription. I got to the car and as I tried to hurry and put my bags in the car, I dropped the bag that contained a glass bottle of salsa. And of course with my luck, the salsa jar broke spilling salsa all over the other contents in the bag and all over the pavement beneath me. As I reached into the car to try and grab some napkins to clean up the salsa covered food, I then stepped in the salsa just to cover my fashionable boot with the sloppy mess. After cleaning my boot off and the food to take home, I gathered the broken glass and the salsa-covered bag and started yet another trek across the parking lot to discard the mess.

As I returned to the car and finally got in to head home, all I could do was laugh at myself and the sad truth that I am my mother's daughter.

The Reason

Every year when Christmas time comes around and all are busy with the hustle and bustle of fighting crowds while Christmas shopping, fighting traffic while trying to get the shopping done, attending Christmas parties, cooking for the parties, and just trying to live amongst it all, we are all often reminded to keep in our minds the Reason for the Season. Although we hear the phrase and many times we are the ones saying it, sometimes that's all it is -- just a phrase, and we don't take the time out of our busy lives to truly contemplate the miracle that took place over 2000 years ago for which we celebrate at this time of year. I, for one, know that I too often treat the season a little too lightly.

Tonight as I rocked Isabelle to sleep, I sang her some Christmas songs (as I have grown ever tired of singing the same primary songs over and over again). As I held my precious baby in my arms and sang the words to "Silent Night" and "O Holy Night," I was overcome with a feeling of awe and amazement at the miracle of our Savior's birth. After having experienced childbirth now and bringing such a sweet spirit into this world, I now have a deeper appreciation for the miracle of birth in and of itself, and now as Christmas is approaching, I have a new appreciation for our Savior's birth.

Oh, how I am grateful for that sweet Mary who brought Christ into this world and for my Savior who was willing to enter this world in such humble circumstances and live to one day take upon himself my sins that I might be able to return to my Heavenly Father.

This truly is such a wonderful time of the year. I hope that amongst the craziness of this month, I will be able to remember The Reason for the Season.

'Tis the Season

I wish I had the time and the energy to do separate blogs for Thanksgiving and the Christmas Season, but I don't, so you're just gonna get one short post and a few pics.
For Thanksgiving, we went to my parents house for a deliciously yummy meal. We all went to see Disney's A Christmas Carol and then went home for our good Thanksgiving dinner and some fun games afterward. The house was crazy as usual with people everywhere and kids running around like crazy, but it was fun to be with the family.


On Friday, the family went to the Festival of Trees which was long, fun, and exhausting. The traffic getting there was probably the most exhausting part. I vote next year, we don't choose a Friday night to go. We watched a little Sunshine Generation performance which brought back some good ol' memories of our Colorado Christmases with many Sunshine shows. Although, I have to say, I think ours were much better than the one we saw. What can I say? My mom was a dang good director. :)
For the first time in a long time, I stood in a long line to see Santa Claus. How could I not stand in line for little Belle's first Christmas. It was just a shame that we were there so late, cuz it was past her bedtime, and she was not quite as happy as she could have been. But she wasn't screaming or sleeping, so I guess I can't really complain too much.
Now that we went to the Festival of Trees and officially began our Christmas season, I guess I better get shopping and decorating. I'm just a bit behind this year. Is it bad if we just don't decorate for Christmas?