So this is Christmas

Christmas just feels different this year. Like I can't really believe it's Christmas already and the days are chugging along. Maybe it's because I finished all my Christmas shopping by the first week of December, or that I bought most of it online when I usually prefer to buy things in stores. Or maybe it's that Christmas stuff has been in stores since October so there wasn't as much anticipation.

Also, Peter and I were really boring adults this year and bought each other things we just needed for the house anyways (and we already opened them...).

Don't get me wrong, I'm still loving the Christmas season! I decorated our house, set up our dinky little tree (hopefully it's last year!), and even got to put lights ON the house for the first time ever. Okay, it's nothing fancy; just a string of lights, but it's still awesome to see my house all lit up. I've got the baking bug and I'm making a different Christmas treat almost every day (freezing and saving to distribute to neighbors). We listen to the Christmas pandora station like all day long while we play and bake and destroy things (that's the kids, not me...usually).

We went and saw the lights at the Oakland Temple. 

We also got to hear my Aunt Anne sing at the auditorium! (well, we only made it halfway with these two, but still fun)

Making gingerbread...

...trains.

of course. (totally cheated. it's from a kit)

our little tree. at least I finally figured out how to wrap the lights on it properly. 

I swear, next year we are going for a REAL one. I want to chop it down and everything!

I guess the weirdest part this year is that it's a transition year. Or maybe an end of an era year. You see, every year since we've been married we've traveled to see family for Christmas. Usually about halfway through the month we check out and go head to Grandma's house for a couple weeks. When we were students this was always a very welcomed break. And when we lived in our tiny apartments in Mountain View, it was a great excuse to leave our little place and play house for awhile. But now that we've bought a house and settled in, I feel different. I'm ready to do our own thing, make our own Christmas.

So I've been using this half a Christmas at home thing as an excuse to only do things halfway (at least, halfway for me). I didn't go as all out this year as I'd originally planned because it kinda feels not worth it, but that's okay. Less work for me! Next year will be different since we'll probably stay here and do our first Hamilton Christmas. I managed to get our Christmas card together, which is a big feat in itself since collecting addresses is ridiculously harder than it should be (why have you all moved?!).

I keep trying to play some Christmas songs on the piano, but every time I do, this happens.

Okay, so I've baked a lot of sugar cookies this past week. 

I'm kinda obsessed with finding the perfect recipe; so far, mixed results. 

Eleanor may or may not have found one of her Christmas presents... and I may have let her try it on because her reaction was so darn cute. But that's okay... she'll totally forget by Christmas, right?

Now that's it's the week of travel, I'm starting to get excited for a big Christmas at Grandma's. Jude has been talking about this nonstop since October, so I think he's ready to go. I will finally get to meet my little nephew, Atticus!

...And I don't remember where I was going with this post, so I'll just close with this: if you haven't seen this video yet, please check it out! It's beautiful and moving and just really neat. It's the new world record for a live nativity, over 1,000 people! Around 3min mark, you definitely get chills! Or if you're a cry baby like me, some waterworks. Please check it out and remember the birth of our Savior this season.