Meg Prellwitz: our weekend :: the holidays are here!

i keep pinching myself ... really, did thanksgiving just happen? is christmas less than a month away?

i just love this time of year. i feel so giddy about everything. i find myself making mental lists of different gifts i want to make for people, bakery treats i want to make, and family traditions i want to start with our tiny family this year. i have multiple different plans for our decor and christmas tree ... not to mention the different ideas i have to celebrate advent throughout all of december. the lists, christmas music and extra sugary treats sweep me up in a euphoria of tinsel and craziness.

thankfully, last night i had some quiet time in a still house. i found myself thinking of past christmases as a little girl and all of the new traditions to come. the to-do lists and expectations began to sort themselves out as i realized the importance of slowing down. slowing down to actually soak up and enjoy this time of year. slowing down to actually contemplate and understand advent.

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this weekend we had some much needed family time. on friday night, we went to our town's christmas celebration called "dickens of a christmas". all of the shop windows are full of people in costumes acting out various classic christmas scenes, traveling musicians are caroling or playing instruments walking up and down the streets, and there are plenty of christmas cookies and hot cider. it definitely feels like you are transported back in time. i love it.

then, on saturday we went out with my husband's family to search for some christmas trees. they have gone to the same place for 20 years to cut down their christmas trees. it's fun to hike through the woods and try to spot the best tree. my husband's favorite part, of course, is cutting it down and having to drag it to the car. :)