It's that time of year.

Christmas is in two weeks? What! Since when did that happen? Our stockings and stocking holders came this week. As I was setting them up on the mantle, one said DAD, one said MOM, and one said DAVIS. Mom and Dad... Wait, is that Ryan and I? I had an outer body experience for a second. I mean, I know that I am Davis' Mom, but to see it and call myself Mom and to call Ryan Dad, for some reason it just felt a little weird. I'm sure it will sink in one day-- maybe.

We bought our very first real Christmas tree together as a family. It is perfect. We decorated it a few nights ago, it is simple and nothing special but I love it. Sometimes at night, or during the day I plug it in and just stare at it. I don't know what it is about Christmas trees all lit up, they just do something to me. I really love this time of year. It makes me re-prioritize my life and remember what my purpose here is. It makes me want to be more selfless. I bought Davis his first pair of Christmas pajamas. They have little red and white stripes all over them. Growing up it was a tradition that every year on Christmas Eve we got to open one gift. To our surprise, it was always pajamas. As I was wrapping them and putting them under the tree tonight, I got a little, okay a lot emotional (yes, over silly pajamas). Maybe it was the realization that this year I won't do that with my whole family, or maybe it's that I am carrying on a tradition, for my own family now. Either way, I am thankful for traditions, I am thankful for my own little family that will only continue to grow, and I am thankful for the family that I came from. I love them and miss us all being together.

With the decorations up, palm trees wrapped in lights, holiday pine candles lit, peppermint bark in the candy jar (not really, I still have left over Halloween candy, but it sure sounds good doesn't it?), and Christmas presents slowly (I'm a last minute shopper) being put under the tree, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Howes home. The coco motion has been in full swing too, and I found peppermint whip cream at the store. I had no clue they even made that, amazing! Now all we need is a snow making machine.