i typically save all of the christmas shopping until december, which ultimately leaves me stressing and unable to sit back and enjoy the magic and wonder of the christmas season. so this year, given that my clinicals won't resume until january, i set a goal to have all the decorating, shopping and wrapping complete by december 1st! the past couple of weeks, we've decked the halls (it feels a little weird because it's so warm out), and just this morning santa finished the last of our gift shopping. as gifts arrive, i wrap. and with this new trial, i'm looking forward to the next several weeks of holiday fun! the girls are rehearsing for their studio's production of the nutcracker, lucy and eloise are deep in christmas eve mass choir practices each week, we have a lights and limo night planned with friends, our big baking day with meme, visiting santa of course (betsy still very much believes), a wine and advent prayer night with friends, and betsy and lucy both have their holiday solo auditions to sing at a retirement home with their dance troupes in a few weeks. i'm intentionally moving through the holiday to-do's with a present heart. it's so easy to become overwhelmed, especially as someone who already functions at a baseline higher anxiety level than i'd love in a perfect world. 

i'll let ya know how this slightly manic plan plays out ;)

eloise had her tongue tie release earlier this week, and immediately could pronounce her R's so much clearer! fingers crossed and i hate to jinx it, but she hasn't had a migraine since... even after a couple of triggering events that may have led to a full-blown migraine prior to the release.

brave girl! 

my bb-

dance besties-

highlight of her life was winning the princess raffle basket at her studio's performance last weekend! i gave her $10 to spend on raffle tickets and she put them all in this one basket. when "betsy d!" was called, you'd think she'd won a bajillion bucks.

eloise and jon spent a day raking the yard and putting lights around the perimeter of our property. these are the days where core memories are made-

xoxo, 

-ivy