10 on 10 December | Decatur, GA

It's hard to believe a whole month has gone by and I haven't blogged. Then again I'm not surprised either. November started out as a really fun month full of looking forward to the Holidays but it also became one of our busiest and most difficult months in 2013. I never finished my 30 days of gratitude but I'm planning on giving myself a break this year.

To explain the last few weeks our family ended up sick for Thanksgiving. On top of that, I was so overwhelmed with how incredibly lonely I felt without my mom and the noticeable absence of my mom's presence was almost too hard to bear. I barely saw my dad and sisters who came in town and it just all felt like a do-over was necessary. There have also been other things going on that just really make me question my life and what is important. It's just been one of those months (and years for that matter) 

After our November craziness I decided it was time to put it all behind me. On Saturday the kids and I decided to head out and have a fun day of feeling the Holiday spirit. Maddie helped me pick out a wreath for our front door. I am a huge fan of the store Pollen in Buckhead. Bonnie and Chris are a husband and wife team who make some of the most incredible floral and plant designs in Atlanta. Let's just say I am always in awe of their work so I took the plunge this year and had them design a wreath for us. I would have to say that wreaths are one of my favorite Holiday items so I can't wait to pick mine up today (stay tuned for pictures!). Also, we picked up a new ornament to take to Grandma's house. It was the sweetest little felt penguin I've ever seen! If you live in Atlanta you must go see their store! Be prepared to leave with something and you can thank me later.

After bringing some cheer to Grandma we headed over to Decatur for a reading of the Grinch at The Little Shop of Stories which is one of our favorite local bookstores. We met up with some friends and hung out for awhile. Maddie and her friend Kate got pictures with the Grinch himself and the boys were just happy to play at the train table and with the loads of toys and books everywhere.

Afterwards, we walked to a casual dinner and it was a perfect ending to a fun day. When we got home we decided to trim the tree and mantle. Seeing the magic of the Season through my children's eyes has begun to heal my heart. 

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"

from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss

Now please follow our circle and head on over to see what my friend Rachel McCalley is up to this month as well as all the other talented photographers in my 10 on 10 group.