Simplifying Christmas

James and I decided (before Isaac was born!) that we would be simplifying Christmas greatly this year. A house with a newborn really should just be in survival mode and Christmas is not life and death ;) In a way our house looks like the house that Christmas forgot. Guess what? We are OK with this!

We actually decided one night "ok we are doing the tree after dinner and whatever is done on the tree before Isaac needs to eat is all we are doing this year". I fixed a quick dinner and James got the tree out of storage, we ate dinner, and then we got to the tree. The tree is standing and thankfully we have a pre-lit tree. Lydia makes allot of crafts during the day and has thoroughly enjoyed decorating the tree. Amazingly she has filled the tree up with her crafts!

I talked to Lydia before Thanksgiving (and before she read books or talked to friends about Christmas!) about what she remembers. Lydia remembered - drumroll please - stockings "hung by the tv with care" AND taking walks after dinner to look at Christmas lights. That was it. We decided to make an effort to take walks and hang the stockings. Those were both VERY easy things to do with a newborn.

Lydia decided last week that we needed a wreath on our front door. (I was thinking to myself - I am barely making it to the grocery store this wreath thing is not happening sweet girl!). I have to say Lydia was SO excited that she made a wreath at Bible study in the following days. Probably this was not meant to be hung on the front door and I am sure our neighbors shake their heads at our wreath. BUT Lydia is thrilled to have a wreath on her front door! I do think in many years we will look back and love the wreath that Lydia made for the front door (infact I think it is pretty cute now and makes me giggle every time I see it!).

Next year, we will resume Christmas cards (and some special people are still getting Christmas cards you can thank the resident artist if you are one of the lucky ones!). This year though we are sitting on the floor playing toys. Considering making Christmas treats and keeping local bakeries in business because we NEED cookies ;) Reading many books. Watching many Christmas movies and hours of football. Lots of cuddles with the baby. Making plans that when our kids are older about repaying the favor for other young children and decorating the outside of the house. Oh, and changing lots of diapers, giving many baths, doing loads and loads of laundry, warming up leftovers like a gourmet chef, and apparently Lydia's goal is to see how many times she can get a stomach virus in 3 months (we really aren't doing nothing!).

So this long post is simply to say, "we LOVE your Christmas cards and treats". If I got out of the house to run errands I would totally get pictures developed and mail Christmas letters. But this season I leave you with this online message and an invitation to read our blog - it is filled with the happenings of the year!

Highlights of 2013

Isaac's plea to be rescued: http://stojanadventures.blogspot.com/2013/11/rescue-me-people.html

Cuteness: http://stojanadventures.blogspot.com/2013/12/isaac-and-lydia.html

Lydia being Three: http://stojanadventures.blogspot.com/2013/10/4-no-3-kisses.html

DeAnna Done Being Pregnant: http://stojanadventures.blogspot.com/2013/10/hello-world-from-baby-stojan.html

Lydia's birthday: http://stojanadventures.blogspot.com/2013/06/birthday-girl.html

Lydia's Take on Disobedience and Satan: http://stojanadventures.blogspot.com/2013/01/disobedience-from-two-year-olds.html