Oh, what a difference 6 months can make! Back in my last post in May, I gave you all a quick update on where life had taken us over the last year. I had no idea that another turn was waiting just around the corner, this time for my career path. You all know from reading this blog what I book lover at heart I am, especially since I’ve volunteered as a pre-K – 8th grade school librarian for so many years. Well, this summer, I was granted a wonderful opportunity to start working for our local school district as a 5th-8th grade librarian. I jumped at the chance to work with students again in the library setting. I’m happy to report that the transition has been wonderful and I’m really enjoying turning over this new page in my career. Getting the chance to help kids discover a love for literature and reading is so fulfilling.
With this new change has also been some adjustment. I’m working a lot more hours during the week, but having all the same school days off that my kids do is very nice, and I’m really looking forward to enjoying the summer break home with them, too. With our oldest already 2 short years away from high school graduation and heading off to college, I’m trying to soak in as much family time together as possible.
Speaking of family time, we’re already in the thick of the holiday season, and as my kids are getting older, I’m realizing that some our long-standing family Christmas traditions are also turning a new page. For example, this is the first year in which all the kids have fully admitted that Santa no longer stops at our house, if you catch my drift. 🙂 In some ways, not having this tradition anymore in our home is bittersweet, as it marks the end of that magical childhood wonder, but this change is actually ok with me. After all, if I no longer have to remember to hide a certain red elf every night leading up to the 24th, it’s not the worst thing to ever happen in the world, you hear me?
Even though we did choose to celebrate our St. Nicholas Day stockings tradition on December 6th, I poked fun of this disbelief a bit by gifting everyone in our family a different Santa ornament. Mine is a Santa doing yoga! Since recently taking up practicing yoga again, (it’s a free perk offered to employees in our school district) it couldn’t be more fitting.
Other family Christmas traditions we have like cookie baking/decorating, driving around looking at Christmas lights, and counting down to the 25th on our advent calendars will always be ones we keep doing together since we love them so much. This year I decided to get my craft on and create some advent calendars that the kids could continue to use year after year. I bought these adorable little countdown kraft boxes with 25 drawers, decoupaged them with festive holiday scrapbook paper & numbered stickers, and added tiny little treats inside each drawer. Some days have candy or mints, some a new chapstick or dollar bill, or a new pair of Christmas socks! Every year I can keep refilling the boxes with different treats for them to enjoy the countdown to Christmas fun.
It’s so hard to believe that Christmas is only a little more than a week away! We’ve definitely decked the halls from top to bottom around the house, so here are some pretty views for you to enjoy of all the holiday decor. Merry Christmas from our home to yours!
Congratulations Katie On your new job! It’s the perfect fit for you. And when did you find time to decorate? Lol Your house looks beautiful and have you started making cookies? If so, what are your holiday favorites?