Birds Of A Feather...

Our bird tree...

I can even touch it
without breaking anything...

J'adore the birds~
and the peacock feathers...

Our tree makes me happy and so
does my Kitty BFF shirt...

so happy I think I might start to...

DANCE!

We have also started
a new tradition this year...

We have used some family ornaments
(vintage ornaments from mommy's great Aunt Katherine)
and we are writing on hang tags who we are grateful for...
We do this as a family every night after dinner.
I love this part. Every day I ask mommy and daddy
who they are grateful for and they ask me.
I 'write' who I am thankful for on one side of the tag,
and on the other side I stick an alphabet sticker that
is the first initial of the person I am grateful for that day.
So, we have a tree of feathers and gratitude!
WE love this so much we think we will
continue this tradition next year...
Maybe Maggs will be able to join us then!

p.s. Our bird tree ingredients:
faux birds, faux nests, peacock feathers,
vintage ornaments, hang tags with alphabet
stickers and name of person we are grateful for,
sparkly Merry Christmas sign as a tree topper,
and brown burlap for a tree skirt.

Mommy's Thought For Thursday: My Obsession With Holiday Cards...

A few more family pics

taken by our pal Dore...

(none of these were chosen for the cards ~

there were too many other good ones to select!)

It seems like I never learn my lesson.
At the beginning of each Christmas season
I plan to make this year more simple than
the last. I make empty promises that
I will decorate a little less, and
obsess a lot less. Hmmm,
the decorating issue was a
no brainer this year.
With Paisley in tow, I did this efficiently
and only put out decorations
that are toddler friendly.
She was really into decorating
the tree and she adores her sparkly "reindeer!"

Back to moi,
Well, I couldn't let go of my type "A"
obsessive/perfectionist behavior.
I stayed up late one night this
week after I received my picture proofs
from Dore. I couldn't decide
which pictures to choose for our
annual Abdine Family Christmas Card.
To some, this is a dreaded task.
To others, it is simple. Pick a card, sign
it, mail it and maybe throw in a
picture of the dog or the kids.
But to me, this is a project I look forward
to all year long. I absolutely love it.
I labor over finding the perfect combination
of pictures and layouts to make
the perfect card. This year
was no different than the last.
I spent way too long to mention
making my selections.
And I ended up with 5 different cards.
Yes, I said FIVE!
Guess you'll have to wait and see what
design I choose to send you!
Maybe next year I will
obsess a little less.
And if I don't, I will continue
to accept that this is
what I do at Christmas.
It is a Melissa tradition.
And as they said in one of my fave
movies, Mystic Pizza,
"You don't monkey with tradition!"

Mommy's Thought For Thursday: Holiday Traditions...

Flashback...
Christmas 2007

I adore this time of year.
The chilly weather.
The decorating.
The shopping.
The eating and drinking.
The holiday gatherings.
The time with family and friends.
The giving...

This week I have been thinking
about Christmas traditions.
Traditions I want to continue and nurture as well as
new traditions I want to begin with Paisley.
(as she is now old enough to enjoy some of them!)
There are certain rituals during Christmas
that I continue to cherish.
What traditions and rituals do you hold dear
this time of year? I would love to hear...

In our home it must be Christmastime if:
1. We have made hot apple cider at least once.
2. I have obsessed over which
family photo(s) to use for our holiday card(s).
3. We have decorated the house (bedrooms and bathrooms included)
with all our little trees, special ornaments, ribbons, stockings,
and even added white lights (and sometimes ornaments)
to the Eiffel tower in the dining room.
4. We have started to anxiously await the mail
and all the wonderful holiday cards
sent to us by family and friends near and far.
5. We have put out the Carolers that my grandmother
has so lovingly given to me over the years.
6. We have hung the holiday wreath on the front door.
7. I have decided what color combination
I am using for my holiday wrapping.
8. We have planned our annual holiday trip to California.
9. I have cried at least once to my favorite Christmas song-
It got me this year while driving with my grandma in California.
I began to think of my grandpa and how I would love to wish
him a Merry Little Christmas just one more time.
10. I have attempted to plan a holiday date night with Alan
(We typically plan dates for each other instead of giving gifts.
Last year he took me to see Michael Buble. )
11. I have made Rachel Ray's 5 minute fudge for a holiday party.
12. We have decided who we are going to help this Christmas.
13. I have played my Christmas Cd's over and over.
14. I have started drinking my morning coffee out of
my special Christmas mugs my sister
surprised me with a few years ago.
15. We have walked the Trail of Lights.
16. We have read and re-read all our favorite holiday stories
every night before Paisley goes to sleep or any other
time of day because P is obsessed with books.
This is her current holiday fave. She is
so curious about this animals antlers and jingle bells!
17. I have shopped, created, and wrapped
each package with loving care...
(I love doing thematic gifts, working with holiday paper
goods, etc. I could blog on this alone)
18. When Paisley and I have new
Christmas pajamas to sport on Christmas morn.
19. We have watched It's A Wonderful Life with the fam and
I have watched Love Actually. I love that movie!
20. We have gone to see The Nutcracker or
at least listened to the music and danced
around the family room to it a dozen times.
21. We have driven around Redlands
looking at all the decked out homes.
I love the old Craftsman and Victorian homes!
22. I have done last minute
shopping at JD Myers in Redlands
(I adore Jane and she has amazing taste.
Plus, I worked there during college!)
23. We have eaten our families traditional
chicken enchilada dinner at my sister's house on Christmas Eve
and my mom's special Christmas rolls on Christmas morning.
24. We are filled with peace, joy, love, laughter and
because of this we try really hard to manage our stress...
(Which typically arises when we travel all over Southern California).
25. We think about Christmas and what it really means to us.

This year we are going to begin
these new traditions as our family of 3
counts down to Christmas:
1. Blessing Box-we will write and put written blessings
in a vintage boxand discuss with each other
on Sunday nights for the month
of December and re-read them on Christmas Eve morning.
(thanks Chauch, I love this idea!)
2. Homemade ornaments/holiday art~
anyone have a fun craft they want to share with us???
3. Holiday Cookie Baking~
any fantastic recipes you would like to share with us???
4. Pick out and decorate a
Christmas Tree as a family for the very first time!
5. We are staying in Austin until Dec. 24th so our little family
of 3 can create Christmas memories in our own home!

What are your favorite traditions?
We would love to hear what you do~
You may just give us a wonderful idea that
we would like to incorporate into our growing list!