What were you doing five years ago today? As the holiday season began? Where were you? Who were you with? What did you want? What did you have?
5 years ago . . . Christmas time 2005.
Let's see . . .
Anna was just over 2 months old. And we were in love. Having a girl, a daughter, after 2 boys was something totally different for us. Surreal at first. But I was totally in love with all the pink.
We had a Star Wars Halloween so it was only fitting that we send out a Star Wars Christmas card picture. Plus, I had my rule that post-baby I didn't have to be in the Christmas card photo. I quickly adopted that rule in 2000 after sending out a family photo featuring me 2 weeks postpartum. Puffy to say the least.
We did fun things like make sugar cookies, go on the Polar Express when my parents visited early in the month, and of course our traditional bowling activity with friends. When I asked Scott to pick up a new Christmas ornament at Hallmark he came home with Darth Vader, who still holds a prominent spot on our tree every year.
Our Christmas Eve tradition of new pajamas was alive and well. I got these cute matching pj's at the Children's Place.
(I love love love this picture. I think it will be a Brown family classic.)
Christmas fell on a Sunday this year and I absolutely loved it. We got up early, the kids got to look at the stash of presents under the tree. Santa always leaves one gift unwrapped so they were able to oogle over that. Then we let them dive into their stockings and check out the candy and presents Santa had left for them. After a breakfast of Christmas morning rolls we got dressed for 9am church. It felt sort of magical walking into church, seeing everyone with their smiling faces, all on a Christmas spirit high. We listened to and sang along with the beautiful Christmas music, and really, genuinely got an opportunity to focus on and remember Christ on this special day. It was such an amazing spirit.
Once home we quickly changed back into our pajamas and opened all the rest of the gifts. :)
Looking back at these pictures I see a lot of super-happy faces and crazy-silly faces. Life with a 5 year old, 2 1/2 year old, and 2 month old. We were at home all day, we played, I cleaned, there were time-outs, that hour of dinner prep time nearly made me pull my hair out each day, we snuggled on the couch and watched Nick Jr. in the morning, there was naptime, sippy cups, and lots of time spent feeding mouths & changing diapers.
But . . . Life was pretty uncomplicated then. This was before the days of soccer, and basketball, and ballet, and piano lessons, and cub scouts. I was in the Relief Society presidency and Scott was in the Young Men's presidency. Other than our callings in church, we didn't have a whole lot pulling us away from home. Life was pretty simple.
What was that quote yesterday about simplicity? "There is beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity . . . " I don't know if I had much clarity in the midst of those night-time feedings and the 2 little tornadoes that ran around me all day. But there was definitely beauty.
-----------------------------------
in case you're wondering . . . . daily december prompts at radvent.
