Goooooood Monday morning; how are you doing? Did you have a good weekend? I had a full and festive weekend, which has me a little tired, but happy to have gotten to hug so many friends over the past few days. I don’t think I’ve put make up on three days in a row since I can’t remember when. Let’s rewind…

Friday kicked off with our co-op’s Christmas party. It was so sweet. The kids made snowflake slime, decorated cookies, made ornaments, played Christmas charades, reenacted the Christmas story, and overall had a jolly ol time.

Once we got home in the afternoon it was full on Christmas party prep time. David and I throw a little shindig every year to welcome friends into our home to celebrate the season. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed but historically have stressed over. I worry about having the right food or drinks, if people will have a good time, and if my home is set up well enough. It sounds silly when I say it out loud, but it’s true.

This year, for some reason, I didn’t worry about those things. Maybe the last couple of years have highlighted that those things don’t really matter so much. Having an opportunity to spend time with the people we enjoy, whether our home, food, or drink set up is perfect or not, is such a gift. It ended up being a wonderful, low stress time with a bunch of wonderful people! David put a slideshow of past Christmas parties on the TV, which is why it’s a random picture of Hailey and friends being highlighted in the picture below, ha.

A special shout out to my friend, Danielle, as she and her husband have basically become our co-hosts over the past couple of years, which definitely helps take some of my pre-party jitters away. We had roughly 30 friends join us and they brought some incredible food to share. David also set up the photo booth as usual with some silly props and it never fails to make me smile to see the pictures afterwards. Two glass of wine Brittany also apparently gets adamant that no one sneaks past it…

Saturday was full of clean up, basketball practice, and a mini nap. That evening David and I had a benefit for The Christian Mission, a local organization that provides services and programs to help local families with basic needs, from food and clothes to work programs. They do amazing things for our community.

We dressed back up and went to get some delicious Pho at Hello Me in Langtree (highly recommend this place, local friends). The event was beautiful and the work the organization is doing is powerful. It was a great event, though I was excited to get in pajamas and crawl into bed when we got home that night.

David worked Sunday so we got in an early workout, then I got a long overdue walk and catch up with a friend. I got to the grocery store and the girls had basketball, and in the afternoon I attended a gorgeous baby shower for a friend that will soon welcome her fourth baby girl. I made baked potatoes and salad to go with the best dang steak. We ate on the early side so we could ride around our neighborhood and see the luminaries. They were beautiful!

Once back home, I took a long bath, got in pajamas, and we all watched Christmas Chronicles by the fire and just relaxed. It was a wonderful weekend, but definitely more go-go-to than our usual. Today we’re baking my favorite thumbprint cookies and probably watching another Christmas movie or two… 🙂

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today! I hope your Monday is low is stress and high in contentment. <3