Santa Claus is coming to...NO NO NO...Santa Claus CAME to town!

Yep, that's right! Santa was here! For the second year in a row, Joe and I had the joy of playing Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club's Santa Breakfast. I felt so much joy as I watched the little kids come see Santa - they LOVE him. It was so sweet watching kids give Santa the lists they made, giving him hugs, asking about what kinds of cookies he likes, and wanting to hear his "Ho Ho Ho's!" It brought back all the fond memories I have of believing in Santa. I remember leaving cookies, trying my hardest NOT to fall asleep so that I could actually see him, wondering how he made it to all the houses, and thinking how amazing it was that he brought me exactly what I wanted for Christmas! Oh, the days of believin'. I can't wait to repeat those traditions with our kids someday. This year we decided to make a visit to mom and dads! Had to make the best of the suit rental!! We also got to visit Kate and her niece, Courtney (who's visiting from Australia). Not sure what Courtney thought of us...haha!! I must say, I think I pulled off the Christmas moo-moo okay. Here's a few pics of the fun!

Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Yikes...it's been almost two months since my last post! I cracked up when I realized my last post was "All things fall..." and here I'm posting Christmas and we are headed full on into winter...chill in the air, snow in the mountains, Frosty the Snowman on the radio, and the smell of Christmas trees everywhere I go. Whoa, how time flies.

As I was reading over the fall post and about how much I was loving fall, I must say I am loving winter and Christmastime JUST AS MUCH! I've concluded that I'm loving the seasons more than ever because I'm actually getting a chance to experience them this year. For the past two years, my brain has been geared towards school...even during the holidays. As school has been winding down the past couple months, I have noticed that I'm actually able to take in the sights and sounds of the seasons...and what a wonderful feeling it is!!

In one week (from today, exactly) I will be graduating with my Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy degree. Pretty crazy thinking that I have my masters! I'm really not sure what it feels like to NOT be a student...even during the two years off from school, I knew I was headed back so my mentality was still "school." I've been dreaming for the day that my mentality shifts from "school" to "career" and I am in shock that it is here already! While I'm excited to get a career going, I am more excited to feel like I have a life again! It's been a tough journey, though I'm so thankful for the experience.

So, in the spirit of Christmas and graduating and all the other exciting things to come, cheers to what's ahead! And may we never forget the true meaning of Christmas...the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

And now for a few photos of the "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" series...Enjoy!