The 3 Day Weekend…
I’ve been bitten by the Christmas bug. Normally I can hold out until about Thanksgiving, but this year, it’s already hit full-force! I’ve already watched Elf. Twice. Along with whatever Christmas movies have been on Lifetime and Hallmark! My Pinterest board is overflowing with Christmas-ness and, unlike other years, I want this season to go by slowly. I don’t want to blink and miss it. I don’t want it to be Christmas day yet. I want to savor weeks of movies, lights, hot chocolate, music, sweatpants, eggnog, and cookie baking.
My recent excitement for Christmas may have something to do with the fact that it was cold here this weekend. I actually broke out a hoodie and my gloves for the Saturday morning soccer game this week! I think they match perfectly with the red Starbucks cup (add that to the list of Christmas-y things that make me happy!).
We tried this French cafe on the other side of town for breakfast after the game and it was fantastic! We’re going back sometime very soon to indulge in their bakery treats, which we were far too full to try.
My brother-in-law joined us for breakfast and went with us to see Wreck-It Ralph right afterward. It was such a cute movie! Sorry for the super dark picture…I promise there are faces there.
Sunday was a big day.
I spent the morning in the nursery with two sweet little babies.
I spent the first part of the afternoon going out to lunch and shopping with some ladies from church (thank heavens for girl time!) and the second half of the afternoon baking Hot Cocoa Cookies!
Which happen to be just as delicious as they sound.
Especially just out of the oven, while the chocolate is still oozing…
The cookies were my contribution to the dessert potluck at our annual celebration at church, which would be exciting enough on its own, but was even moreso, because Daniel and I became members! I love our church so very much. We are so blessed to be a part of that group. 
And then I tried to make Daniel a patriotic Veteran’s Day present of white chocolate-dipped massive marshmallows in red sprinkles. It didn’t turn out quite like I was hoping, but it’s still red, white, and blue!
I still remember Daniel’s time in Iraq like it was yesterday. It was heart-wrenching and terrifying, especially on the nights when he’d have “fun” stories involving him sleeping in Humvees and waking up to gunfire. It was awful when he’d go out on missions and I’d have no idea what he was doing or when I’d hear from him next. But, he did so much good there. I am so very proud of that man. He tended to wounded, took care of the sick, helped rebuild their cities, trained Iraqi police, handed out candy and played soccer with Iraqi kids…so very proud.
