I love all things Christmas, from the music to singing in choir at the midnight mass, from Santa and Rudolph to happy children excited about the presents under the tree. The day after Thanksgiving, I bring out all the decorations to make my house festive and we trim the tree. (As an aside: It always takes me forever to figure out how to hook up the lights on the tree. Every. Single. Year. This year my six-year-old grandson Boo figured it out for me. He’s a genius, what can I say?)
Anyway, this year was a challenge for us as a family because my nine-year-old granddaughter Busy Bee was in the hospital. We put out a few Christmas decorations but of course we wanted her to share in the fun, so we waited on most. It’s been a rough season for all of us. Consequently, my Christmas cheer is absent and I am WAY LATE in getting organized for Christmas. I haven’t bought presents, much less wrapped them. Gah!
Busy Bee is home now and the house is decorated. Our church choir is heading down the home stretch on Advent and Christmas music. I’ve made a list and am checking it twice, being Mrs. Santa around here.
To help me really embrace the Christmas spirit, I thought I’d share some of who is bringing joy to the Kastner home this Christmas.
Kids and dogs. Because…kids and dogs!
Busy Bee and Boo
Busy Bee with Jack-Jack and Boo with Mea
Sadie and Missy
Boo dressing up in my Rudolph onesie.
Busy Bee putting the angel on the tree.
And last but not least, Joe and I were finally able to catch The Texas Tenors’ Deep in the Heart of Christmas show this year. (Okay, seven shows, but who’s counting?)
With Marcus Collins of The Texas Tenors
With John Hagen of The Texas Tenors and his lovely wife.
With JC Fisher of The Texas Tenors.
The Texas Tenors Deep in the Heart of Christmas
Your turn! What do you do to get in the Christmas spirit?
Merry Christmas! Need a last minute gift or a stocking stuffer? 
~~Love Courageously~~ Publisher's Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of 30 novels, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational western stories set in small communities. She feels especially blessed to be able to include faith as a natural and genuine part of her characters' lives. Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors are her fav), singing in the church choir, and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
HI Deb, thanks for sharing your photos- love the Christmas poo bear and other stuffed animals in front of your fire place:) Glad your granddaughter is home and sharing Christmas joy.
My kids have finished school, I finish at the end of this week- then it starts to feel more like Christmas! I love good Christmas music and giving Christmas presents and wearing Santa hats- provided it is not too hot! We have had a few late nights lately so have actually been able to see the Christmas lights.
Blessings:)
Merry Christmas Deb! Thanks for sharing your holiday photos of grandchildren, pets and holiday concert with the Texas Tenors, whose concert we attended Friday in Amish Country – Shipshewana, Indiana. I empathize with you, because I am way behind this year with my holiday decorations and shopping. Watching our 11 month old granddaughter Seeley four days a week is exhausting – especially since she is teething, has an ear infection and is finally confident to toddle. My holiday decorations consist of a Fisher Price Santa Village, Fisher Price Manger Set, holiday bears including Winnie the Pooh, Clarice the Reindeer, Gingerbread people, and a dozen holiday board books and children books. Bella, our Elf on the Shelf, is exploring our house just like our toddler. Our 4 year old granddaughter Maddie was speculating, where Bella would be hiding today. Maddie visits our Nativity Advent Calendar. My day is filled with answering a thousand “WHY, OMA? Why?” On Saturday we will be celebrating our grandson’s 10th Birthday, our Christmas blessing the year my mom passed. Seeing the holidays through the eyes of children is a blessing. Glad your granddaughter is doing better. Hoping to put up and decorate a small tree this weekend. Next Tuesday is the Bryon Lubeck Rejoice Concert. Best wishes.
Your photos were fun to see! We listen to Christmas music, watch Christmas movies, read Christmassy books, turn on the village lights every morning, and drive around to see the Christmas lights, such as Christmas in the Park.
Glad your grand daughter is home! We had our house decorated by our ambitious 9year old grand son, Leo. He was so excited at thanksgiving. Our son and son in law got the tree down from the attic. Leo took over and got an uncle to help put it together. He kept asking different adults to help until the whole house and tree were decorated.
So glad to hear Busy Bee is home and happy. Blessings on your Christmas!
I loved seeing all of your pictures. I put up my tree on Black Friday and I have been listening to Christmas music since that time. Sitting in the dark with just the tree lights is a favorite thing for me. Merry Christmas!
Enjoyed your pictures. We had a neighborhood Christmas get-together on Dec 3, so had the decorations up for that, all except for the tree. Hopefully we’ll do the tree tomorrow. We’ve been to a Christmas concert and got to see a high school do “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I love listening to Christmas carols in the car and at home as I cook. I’m way behind this year on buying presents too… A lot of people may be getting gift cards!
Goodness, you’re certainly busy! Praying your little granddaughter will get well. I lost most of my hearing to ear aches when I was a small child. No fun, for sure! We have an old ceramic nativity that has seen better days. I think we bought it our first year of marriage 31 years ago. Missing a wise man and a donkey’s ear. But we also put out a little plastic Precious Moments nativity that the little ones can play with. It’s a great way for them to repeat the blessed story to themselves. And of course I’m glad to hear you caught The Texas Tenors’ show. =}
I love looking at the lights, but we seldom get around to it. We do have a fellow down the street from us that goes all out, enough that folks park and walk through his yard (which he encourages.) We put our tree in front of the window, but that’s all the “outside” decorating we can do this year.
I’ll admit I don’t just listen to Christmas music at Christmas. For one thing, our choir pulls out Christmas music as soon as we’re back from our summer hiatus, because we have so many challenging pieces we sing. Also, I generally write at least one Christmas book a year, sometime in the spring, so I use music to get the writing atmosphere going.
How adorable! I love watching the glow in the kids’ eyes when they decorate.
Thanks, Val. We’ve been through a lot, but God is good, all the time.
Sitting in the dark with just the Christmas lights on is something I savor every Christmas Eve. Santa gifts are out, stockings are stuffed and we’ve just returned home from celebrating Christ’s birth. There’s something so peaceful about that moment, no matter how crazy the rest of the time has been.
I still can’t seem to wrap my mind around making sure everyone not only has gifts, but the same number. Getting the little ones a bunch of cheaper gifts so they have something to unwrap. I’m usually much more organized this far into the game.
What fun pictures – love the dogs! I hope Busy Bee is all better. I watch Hallmark movies and read Christmas novels to get in the Christmas spirit early. In December I get out the nativities for the real reason for Christmas.
Thankful Busy Bee is home. Merry Christmas ??
No Deb! Good to know Busy Bee is back home! Enjoy your Christmas time!
It starts to feel like Christmas to me when I get out all of our traditional decorations. I love how cozy the extra lights on the trees and garlands make the house feel.
I read books about Christmas! Great pictures. Thank you for sharing. And I hope Busy Bee is doing great now.