I find myself feeling the same way about the holidays as I feel about most other areas of my life.  Less is more.  I know some people love to rush around shopping, visiting Santa, going to the polar express, shopping for all those perfect gifts, but you know what?  Somewhere along the way, that stuff started meaning less and less to me.  I'm a home body.  I like staying in our pajamas until noon, watching Home Alone with the kids, and just BEING TOGETHER!  When did it get so out of hand with all of the rushing around and gift buying?  Perhaps always but I was just too young to notice. 

I haven't gone to the mall in months, we haven't taken pictures with Santa or sent out holiday cards, and that's okay.  Part of the reason this year is that we've been so sick.  Between sinus infections, two back to back flu hits, and my dislike of rushing around, we choose to just stay home.  The kids have a few presents already wrapped, but I'm honestly not worried about it.  I want them to grow up and look back on Christmas as a time we spent together...watching movies, playing "Sorry", driving around looking at Christmas lights, baking cookies.  I just don't care about the other stuff.  Hopefully they'll look back fondly at the things we did and not feel like they missed out on something.  HOPEFULLY.  We are going to the Nutcracker while in Seattle, which I am thoroughly looking forward to, but that's about it.  We'll snuggle and hang out with grandparents and love each other hard...because isn't that what it's supposed to be about anyway? 

Hit pause for a second and ask yourself if you need to be doing everything you're doing this week.  I choose simplicity, to be damn grateful for my (almost) health, my husband, my kids, our home, and that fact that we get to fly home in just a few short days and see family and our dear lifelong friends.

Happy holidays, friends!  Take it easy, enjoy every moment, and wear whatever you want and feel good in!!!!  XOXO

*Pictures taken by the truly beautiful and talented Tiffany Redmon