Dear Friends and Family,
If at one time you were a faithful blog reader, I'm sure you've noticed it's been quiet on the blog front for quite some time. I was shocked when I logged in and realized it has been almost a year since I've last written. I miss writing. I love how cathartic it can be, but the biggest reason I miss it is that writing so easily preserves memories. I've never been much of a photo taker. I really love photos, but when I get my camera out I feel like I'm not truly in the moment. I know that for some, photo taking is their way of preserving memories, and I love that. For me writing is my form of memory preservation.
Our family has a photo album titled Sitting with Santa. Each year we take the kids to see Santa and order the overpriced photo package, because, of course Santa's elves have made it so you can't order just one simple 4x6. When I get home I immediately place one photo on the fridge, save some for relatives, and put one photo in the album where I record what the kids asked for, their ages, and where the picture was taken. On a side note, Edmund only wants a new book for Christmas. Can it get any easier than that?
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| Edmund Trimming the Tree |
The photo the kids took with Santa this year turned out beautifully. One might detect a hint of apprehensiveness in Evie's expression, but with just that photo you'd think we'd had the picture perfect Santa sitting experience. But don't let the photo fool you. The sitting with Santa experience this year wasn't all candy canes and hot chocolate. What the photo can't tell you is that Evie screamed as we dressed her, clawed to rip off the dress she had so excitedly tried on days before, and made it very known she did not want to get in the car. After that production, we finally arrived in line to see Santa, where Evie calmed down and eagerly awaited her and Edmund's turn to chat with the head elf. Evie did protest briefly when we placed her on Santa's lap and commanded, "Daddy, you sit on Santa's lap." In the end, she warmed up to the jolly old fellow, especially when her big brother demonstrated how merry the experience could be and mommy jumped around like a crazy woman behind the photographer.
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| Evie De-Trimming the Tree |
After I put the photo in the Sitting with Santa album last night, I went back and looked at the previous years' photos. All of the photos made my heart melt, but I really couldn't remember much about the experiences themselves. Has Edmund always happily sat with Santa? Did he ever go through the typical toddler fear of Santa stage? I couldn't recall. Then I went back and read blog posts from years before, and it turns out he really was as cooperative as he appeared in those early years.
As we move south in the days after Christmas, I know our family will experience a range of emotions as we go through one of the biggest changes we've had in recent years. Even if it's only once a month as a simple journal entry, I want to remember the silly, heartbreaking, funny, and crazy moments that are in store for our family. Who knows? You may get more blog entries than you bargained for as the Pattishalls make their mark in Florida. I hope in this season that each of you is able to preserve memories in the way that works for you and your family. That in Christmas futures as you pull out a recipe, a photo, an ornament, or even a blog entry that you'll be able to recall the things that make up the story of your family. I know that I share that desire for our family and hopefully that means sharing more adventures with you in the coming year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
Steven, Tabitha, Edmund, and Evie
P.S. If you ever need the perfect stop over on your way to visit the world's most famous mouse, look us up. We'd love the company!!
