Pre-Christmas?

I know, I know. It's not even fall and I'm indulging in Christmas...for two reasons.

1) Because I'm going to be with my mom, dad and two sisters for a WHOLE WEEK. This, in itself, is like an early and WONDERFUL Christmas gift. And, to top it off, the only nephew and husband there will be Bennet and Jason. Don't get me wrong - I love, love, love, love the rich time I get to spend with everyone when Dan, Jeff, Nate, Mercy and Ben can be with us. But I think the timing of this is perfect - there are some family talks we need to have sans distractions. I can't remember the last time the five of us were able to get together, adult-to-adult without tons of other chaos in the background. It will be a beautiful, incredibly meaningful time. Every time I imagine it I almost burst into tears. (The only thing that keeps me from actually doing that is the fact that usually it's when I'm at work. So...yeah.)

2) Last night while I was updating my iPod for my trip on Saturday, I made the horrible judgment call of listening to Over the Rhine Christmas music. Dan had to make me stop. (Well...insomuchas I yelled upstairs to him, "Dan tell me to stop listening to Christmas music!" and he yelled back, "Babe, stop listening to Christmas music!" and I did.) But I started to think about that cozy feeling of snow outside and twinkling lights on the tree and garland...and wearing slippers and cozy house sweater around. Ah...perfection. And that, my friends, led me to peruse some Christmas pictures from years past. And I couldn't help but share these :) The epitome of my parents (both MY parents and my in-laws') Christmases...

Mimosas at the Schumakers on Christmas morning

It ain't a holiday without a breakfast casserole!

The Immel Christmas scene - Schweitzer Mountain in Sandpoint, ID. Could a Christmas scene BE any more ideal?

Okay...now that I have the pre-Christmas itch out of my system, I'll go get ready for fall :) Hopefully Seattle will be a nice taste of what's to come here in Michigan! High's in the low 70's all week. Hello, layering weather!