Breaking out the hot chocolate

This morning I made myself the first cup of hot chocolate of the season. When I walked outside this morning to take kids to school, I saw my breath (also for the first time this season) and knew I would come home and treat myself and Gage to a nice hot cup. Is there anything better? Well, yes actually, if I could get a hold of an Einstein Bagel's cup of hot chocolate and a chocolate chip bagel toasted with light butter, then life would really be good-but there are no stores around unfortunately so I must settle with Swiss Miss. I am rapidly getting used to the winter time in this neck of the woods. It rained hard all day yesterday but is sunny today for our park outing planned later on. The mountains surrounding us are covered in snow and I think it makes a nice far away picture-with far away being the key word. My Christmas shopping is done-which wasn't hard since we are just doing one big thing this year. The kids have parties all week at school before they go off track. My Christmas cards are sent off-which is absolutely a first for me being so early, if at all. I have had a couple of random vinyl orders to keep me busy.Life is good. This season has been one of patience ( with kids being on vacation rather than at school), one of reflection (as I realize, once again, that this season is now all about my kids-as far as gift giving goes), one of personal growth ( I am no longer a Turkey dinner virgin-I cooked my first Thanksgiving meal and it was DANG good!) and one of helplessness ( I see the usual 5 or 6 homeless people walking around town, but yesterday as I saw them walking around in the pouring rain it made me wish for money to go buy them each an umbrella or something). I feel my age as my kids get older and start telling me the story of Christmas. Since when were they old enough to formulate their own thoughts. Something has happened in the past 3 or 4 years and I am absolutley loving it. I told Cole yesterday that I like the kids at these older ages. I can actually have conversations with them, they are really excited about Christmas, and they can pick out their own gifts for each other rather than me buying them and slapping their names on them. Traditions are forming and they are so excited about each one we have put in place. Right now it is the 12 days of Christmas (yes I am doing it before Christmas-not after like you should do), later it will craft day , and baking day, and wrapping day, and Christmas Eve dinner with candlight (where we will be at Kate's house this year but they assured me I can do my traditions there)and the story of the Nativity with the kids dressing up (that one is Cole's tradition from when he was little) . Anyway, I am loving the season, loving the area, loving family, and feeling extemely blessed.