…on another holiday season, and looking forward to a whole new year. there are some amazing things on the horizon for 2010, personally as well as professionally. if i’m able to reach half of the goals i’ve set, it’ll be wild for sure. before i say goodbye to 2009 altogether, i wanted to stop a second, and absorb some of the season. life goes so quickly, sometimes the only thing that helps me anchor memories into my head are photos. this was an especially fast-moving holiday season. so much so, that in the beginning, my focus was razor sharp on working and not at all on enjoying the moments. the season started off with me feeling pretty scrooge-y, in fact. much to my surprise, though, and without my realizing it, by the time it was over, i was very much in the holiday spirit…thanks to my family and friends. we filled the season with things that were not quite what we would have ordinarily done to celebrate the holidays, and i’m so glad. it was so much more fun and felt so much more real.

one thing we did differently this year was a small christmas tree. i have no idea why we waited so long. with four little kids, a small tree, meaning way less work, is the way to go. the best part, gabe was able to put the star on top.

another great thing, the only new ornaments we purchased this year were the kids “intital” ornaments from anthropologie… only because i had to have them.
it all started with “h”.

we let the kids make chocolate chip cookies for santa…from scratch, not the break apart kind.

this is the one that makes my heart do a “happy dance”. look at how smudgy everything is after letting the kids bake, without me jumping in at every step to make sure it’s an easy clean-up.

another new thing for holiday season ’09…a christmas eve seafood feast, spent with great friends, in our pj’s. although, i loved finding new ways to celebrate, this may have to become a tradition.

reindeer food, of course. in case you don’t have the recipe, it’s oats, glitter and red sugar sprinkles.

milk and cookies (and the reindeer food) for the big guy.

i looooove this. why? the christmas morning hair. the girls were loving natty-like-a-cat’s new kitchen.

seriously, he’s the most awesome kid you’ve ever seen right? ok, ok, fine, but i’m his mom so i get to say that.

so the first thing out of her mouth when she opened this vest was “this isn’t real is it?”. always worried about the world’s creature’s, my junior peta member. i assured her that no animals were harmed in the making of this vest.

it’s official, she’s a real princess.

i even made a whole meal from scratch…seriously, i know there are non-believers out there but it’s true.

savory moroccan soup and my husband’s secret recipe bruschetta.

here’s hoping you all had just as warm and wonderful of a holiday season and wishing you a fabulous new year ahead.