Christmas is really here

Well tonight I finally found it! The Christmas spirit is within me. I am part of an amazing group of women in my industry. Tonight was our "Holiday Party" Come on people, it is CHRISTMAS! *steps off soapbox*

My friend Sharon is one of the most generous and welcoming people I have ever met and is the one who hosted the party. It was a magical evening. I saw old friends and teared up just at that. I met a couple new people and that was fun.

Sharon lives in an area called Manchester. What this means is that she has the most amazing view from her house of the entire Seattle Skyline. It was awesome. Then as we are all chatting and having a grand time, Sharon yells "here come the boats!" For 59 years the Christmas boats have been cruising the Puget Sound and making stops along different places. Tonight was Manchester's turn. 5 boats came up and anchored. they are part of the http://www.argosycruises.com/themecruises/xmasSchedule.cfm Argosy Cruise lines. Now not only are they decorated with Christmas lights but they have a choir on board. Yes, a live choir. The choir then is put on a loud soundsystem and they stop long enough to provide Manchester residents with 20 minutes of Christmas joy.

It was a freezing night as I stood out there with other women holding my hot buttered rum. I didn't have my coat with me and Sharon says, Oh Aime, I have lots of coats. She came out with a FUR coat! Oh my gosh. I stood on a beautiful deck on a beautiful crisp December night with hot rum, a fur coat and my friends all around me listening to amazing Christmas music.

I teared up with how blessed I felt tonight. This is not about presents, or trees or shopping. This season is about the gift that was given to us. About friends treasuring time with each other and about Family being blessed to have each other.

Christmas this year, as it should be every year, will be my treasure with my family. Bundling my children to take them to Grandma's house. Seeing my sister with her family. Enjoying the warmth of the morning and the music of the day. Enjoying my parents and my day of appreciation for the things that matter the most.

I am truly one of the most blessed people in the entire world.

Random musings

My (Not so original) thoughts from the other day

When you really sit and listen to your children, you will undoubtedly hear yourself.

What do you want to sound like? Driving in the car the other day, I listened quietly while my 3 year old talked to her "little friend" Nisha. Nisha arrived around the time Ethan was born. What Jaiden said over and over and over that day was "No, not today" "Another time" "Maybe later" Wow, Nisha must have been very disapointed to hear that Jaiden didn't have time for her. Last night, I skipped bath time, and I skipped Ethan time. I went straight to my little girl's room and played castle. We built castles with the blocks her Grandpa made her. We made stairs and created a "crocodile lake". I do not say "OK, now is a great time" nearly enough.