It's Christmas Time

It's Christmas week, and friends, I am still not ready for Saturday! Are you?!

 Earlier this month I decided to "declutter" Christmas if you will. We typically try to squeeze in some holiday fun daily in December, and this year, my heart just wasn't in it. I just wanted to slow down. Life has been crazy, and I didn't need the holidays to be jam packed either. And, it's the best thing I could have done.  

Don't get me wrong, we've been busy, but piling in the extras on top of the other events just didn't feel good this year, and looking back, while some of our usual memories weren't made and traditions weren't had, we made some new memories and maybe even new traditions that we weren't planning on. It's just been a good change and a refreshing change of pace. 

 I hosted a cookie exchange earlier this month and I'm so glad I did! I have friends from all these little groups and it was wonderful to bring them all together; some of them I had only met on social media! But. we all agreed it was needed and so good to just be together and away from kids and responsiblities. 

I made krinkle cookies and sourdough banana bread- yum! 

As well as chocolate covered potato chips- double yum! 

We had fresh baked sourdough, dip, and a charcuterie board, as well as hot chocolate, wine, and lots and lots of cookies! 

DJ and I attended UT's athletic department Christmas party, and had a great time seeing everyone. 

We had food and drinks and we were able to catch up with some staff members who are returning to Texas and chat with friends; it was a great night out! 

And how fun is this balloon Hook 'em?! It was set up for recruiting and I had to get a picture. 

On Wednesday night, we had a signing day party with the staff; and again, it was fun to have a night out, but I was beat the next day! 

And on Friday, we celebrated 16 years of marriage with a date night to Steiner Ranch steakhouse, and then we looked at Christmas lights in Round Rock. 

The trees were so pretty! 

Sunday afternoon we managed to squeeze in our visit to Santa! I'm not sure how many more years the girls will tolerate this, so I'm cherishing it now as much as I can! 

We walked around Bass Pro and then had lunch at Hat Creek, because that's what we did last year. It's funny that I didn't remember that, but Megan sure did! 

As we've slowed down this Christmas and not tried to "do it all" we've really been blessed. I'm not stressed trying to make the holidays perfect and we'll make sure we have time for our super important traditions and just let go of the rest, and it might be the best gift of all this holiday season.