Bethlehem Revisited

Last week, our church was putting on Bethlehem Revisited.  This is a huge event, that is put on each Christmas season as a gift to the community (& the state!).  With all the hoop-lah of tree decorating & finding the perfect gift for the perfect someone, & decorating our houses which Christmas cheer, dinner parties & too many yummy sweets & treats...we can't forget the REAL meaning of Christmas.  Bethlehem is a reminder of that.  The city of Bethlehem is recreated to what it might have been like the night that Jesus was born.  It is SO neat & if you haven't been, don't miss out on the opportunity next year!

Punkin' is still a bit young to understand what's going on & actually get to partake in any of the activity in the city...but I wanted to take him.  I want this to be a tradition of ours!  I hadn't been since HS, because I had always been away at school...so I was glad I got to go again!

It was a chilly night...so I got Punkin's big coat & mittens out for the first time!  It wasn't so cold after we got inside the walls of the city so that was nice!

There are all sorts of shops set up inside.  Story telling, rope, jewelry, candle making, candy, bread...just to name a few!  Here is a man writing Ryder's name in Hebrew.

Fish Market!  300 shekels for ONE fish!  No SIR!  

Punkin' loved all the camotion, but it was a lot for a lil man to take in! {notice missing mitten! :P}  I can't wait to take him in the years to come...I hope it's something he looks forward to every year!

...the whole reason we were REALLY there!  To see baby Jesus!  How neat!  THIS is what Christmas is REALLY all about!  I loved hearing all the lil kids around us just SO excited to see baby Jesus!  What a joy!!

Santa Clause!

We went to see Santa Clause with Pop's last night at the bank.  It didn't cross my mind that Punkin' might be scared of him!  But of course...he was!  Mommy had to sit on Santa's lap with him!  :P  There were just so many people there & different things going on, it was just a lot for little man.  I didn't get any GREAT pictures, but I got enough to make it a memory!  :P

At one point, I was trying to get some pictures of Ryder alone in front of the tree, so I handed my dad an ornament to hold behind me that Ryder might want to look at!  Of course he WANTED the ornament...I just wanted him to look at me instead of the tree!  Thene he just DROPPED the ornament.   Of course it was not shatter-proof.  It did not PHASE him a bit!  I was so embarrassed & was scurrying around trying to sweep it up with my hands before any other little kids got into the glass.  Needless to say...we got outta there ASAP & then enjoyed a yummy dinner at Stoby's with Pops!

If this doesn't show our relationship I don't know what does!  HA!  He wouldn't smile for ANYTHING!

Christmas Cheer

These pictures are precious to me.

The reaction to seeing the decorated Christmas tree in the living room of my little Punkin' the morning after the night I finished decorating it, was priceless.  He was ecstatic!  

What was this big thing doing in my living room that looks like it belongs outside?  Why were there "hawt" light bulbs in there?  What are all these pretty things hanging from the branches?

You could see all these things running through his little brain...

He was so excited, & overjoyed.  Anything & everything new is exciting to a 14 month old.

He was being so sweet with the ornaments...as if they were precious gold he didn't want to drop.

Amazed at how many different ones there were!  Which one should I touch first!?!

I love making him happy.  All the semi-hard work {time} that went into decorating the tree (& the rest of the house for that matter) was all WELL worth it to see my little man so happy.

Having a child that can actually interact & enjoy the Christmas season this year has already brought so much joy & has been such a blessing!!  It's making me see things through a child's eyes again & relive my childhood!

I hope the years ahead continue to be as exciting.  I want traditions.  I want memories.  Hopefully I can provide all those things for my sweet boy.  

Winter Wonderland Centerpiece!

Last week SNANTY2CHIC had an adorable DIY tutorial on a super cute, unique & inexpensive center piece!  I loved it, had most of what I needed, and knew where I could find what I did need!  So...I whipped up my own version!

Mine's a little bit different...& I should have light the candles inside the jars for a pic, but didn't even think about it!  

Super cute & super cheap winter centerpiece!  All I paid for where the snowflakes & snow!  The rest I already had at home!

Check out there site for a complete tutorial....

Cookies With My Punkin!

Saturday was National Cookie Day & I had some cookies in the fridge so decided we would make some!  I like these cookies cause their ALL chocolate!  My favorite kind of cookie is triple chocolate so these are PERFECT!  Punkin' even helped out a little bit & he even got his first taste of some yummy cookie dough!  :P

Thinkin' about it..

 "Are you sure I can eat this yummy goodness?!"