prepping for the Holidays

I love Christmas! Obviously one of the best parts to me about Christmas is the anticipation of this special day! It has been wonderful for me this year to get ready for the Holidays. This year was especially good because of the #lighthteworld initiative that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched. It has been sweet, the joy my little family has felt as we have been asked then taken the challenge to look outward this season. We made a paper chain and each day performed an act of service. Everything from playing at a home for  the elderly with my cute violin students, to performing at Messiah's, to sharing oranges and cookies with students at the Law School as they prepared for finals, to sharing our food with the homeless to just saying a prayer of thanks. It has been amazing to feel the unity with others as we turn outward and think of the Savior and what He did while He was on the earth, and what He continues to do for us today.

We have also had fun decorating, making cookies, wrapping presents, writing letters to Santa, listening to endless Christmas music, and having a few of our friends over for a holiday breakfast. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ, and how He lights our lives and gives us so much happiness and peace.

Mason stayed up one night after Stanley went to sleep and helped me wrap presents!

this smell of orange peel and cranberries, along with cinnamon and cloves was heavenly this season

this boy - he melts my heart

love these little snowflakes we made together

since we are spending Christmas and New Year in NYC this year, we decided to let our boys open a few of their presents early since we can't take everything with us, and since some of the presents would help us enjoy the holidays and travel :). 

this year they got presents for each other

Stanley got Mason a Santa hat 

and Mason got Stanley a bear (since Stanley was always taking Masons from his Aunt Jenica :). So sweet to see them feel the joy of giving. Mason earned his money that he used to buy this bear for Stanley ($5) :)

lets just say that Stanley and his bear have become quite good friends

a breakfast brunch with some of our best friends in Charlottesville

haha  - love when Nate plays the piano that Stanley climbs on his back. Mason has been taking piano lessons from his Aunt Alissa, so those are his books there. He is learning so well, thanks to his wonderful teacher!!

Mason started writing a letter to Santa (see above), and then asked Nate to help him finish it - here he's asking for a violin for Christmas, and some chocolate, a gingerbread house, and some candy canes.

sucking on a mint, and excited to send his letter :)

can't handle his cuteness right there. He grabbed that stool himself, so he could put his letter in the mail box.

enjoying some electronic Advent Calendar here while sipping green drink, Anything to keep these boys healthy this season :).