there you have it. the final song on my mom’s christmas cd.
this song is so touching, it gives me chills every time.
every christmas morning, my parent’s would make us watch this clip before we could go downstairs + tear into our presents.
a tradition that i love + want to incorporate in my own little family.
i hope this christmas season fills your heart with the true love of our savior.
thank you to my incredible mother for compiling + sharing her testimony through these songs.
a very merry christmas, from us to you.

if you haven’t seen this movie – please go watch it.
it’s free on netflix + you won’t regret it.
if you don’t have a netflix account, email me – i will let you use mine.
it touched my heart + i know it will touch yours too.

this 12 days of christmas adventure has turned into a big game of “remember when” for me.

every time i hear this song – i think of home alone.
every single time i think of home alone – i think of the plaza hotel.
every single time i think of the plaza hotel – i automatically think of NYC.
every single time i think of new york city – i think of when jon surprised me with a plane ticket there.

that jonboy. he has never not been all that + a bag of chips.
look how little we were back then.
he’d kill me for bragging, but who asks their girlfriend on a date to wicked out of nowhere?
bang-a-rang.

love you, new york city.
love you, green fanny pack.
love you, jon michael parrish.

this is the first year, in all of our years together, that i’m not making jon’s christmas gifts.
on our first date, he requested that every gift i ever give him, i make myself.
i mean. . .
whaaaaaaaaat the. who says that? on your first date?
he’s not particularly a softy – he just appreciates handmade gifts. {or already owns everything he needs}
i’ve made blankets, treasure maps, scrapbooks, bags, robes, boondoggles, treats, ties, photobooks, gloves, etc.
you name it, i’ve made it. {or my mom made it, while i tried my hardest to stay awake}
+ in the end, i am so glad that i did.
i love christmas.
it is full of magic. but can i just say, it’s even more magical with little j in the picture.
this year, we have had a blast planning, making + scheming for him t o g e t h e r.
we’ve always claimed that you become a grow up when you get married,
but recently, we have come to the conclusion that we didn’t become r e a l grown ups, until jonah was born.
i’m sure that jon wasn’t looking too far into the future with his gift request,
but whether he knew it or not, he established a fun little tradition for our family.
christmas morning can’t come soon enough.

if you were to ask me what christmas song reminds me the most of my dad – i would tell you this one.
every year on black friday, he turns it on + sings every word.
surprisingly, he sounds e x a c t l y like ole’ vince.
i love my dad. i love how much jonah loves my dad.
i also love the relationship he shares with jon.
when i ask jonah “where’s grandpa?” he runs to the computer to skype him.
dad keeps the cupboard stocked with our favorite circus animal cookies because he knows how much i love them.
ya know, the pink + white frosted sprinkle ones? nothing better.
as a relatively new parent, i find myself turning to him for advice more often than not.
he keeps me in line + helps keep the important things in perspective.
but, he is also the biggest tease this side of the mississippi. obviously!
jonah has learned to “spit properly”, drink dr pepper, not go to bed on time + play catch with any type of ball. {or round decoration}
it’s fun to watch him as a grandpa. his grandkids are his pride + joy.
he has perfected the balance between the true meaning of christmas + the material world.
i pray that i can teach my children the same.

song for day four //
let their be peace on earth

on thanksgiving we snapped a few family pictures by grandma’s house.
dan was in town + we knew it was the last time we would all be around before christmas.
the only problem – – there was NO SNOW.
where are you snowflakes? where are you christmas?
i don’t remember the last time there wasn’t any snow on the ground for thanksgiving.
let us all cross our crossies until the snow finds us, shall we?

song for day 3 //
where are you christmas.

this is a far cry for a special birthday wish to our favorite brunette sister.
although, i do feel like it sums up some of our personalities quite nicely. {mostly, mo}
i know i have a better picture, but i figured if i took the time to find it –

i would probably :
a – get side-tracked
b – miss your birthday
c – fall asleep before i get it done.
d – all of the above.

ash, i love you!
you bring spunk to our family that no one else’s got.
you’re an incredible mother + have crafting skills i can only dream of.
thanks for making our family feel complete + taking such good care of my brother.
personally, i cannot imagine marrying in to a family with A L L sisters.
but you didn’t seem to bat an eyelash. you are a champ!
we are so lucky to have you, + little collins as well.
always know that you are very loved!

i have found myself with a lump in my throat + a tear in my eye for the last couple of days.
the tragic shooting in connecticut is so incredibly devastating.
those precious children, courageous teachers + all of the innocent families who are left behind.
it seriously breaks my heart over + over + over imagining how someone could do something so awful to such perfect little beings.
i don’t think we will every truly know the why’s behind all of it, but i know without a doubt that heavenly father will bless these families.
he is mindful of our every need + will never leave our side.
the gospel is very real + it is extremely reassuring in trying times like these.
i know, without a doubt, that these little angels are in a better place.

jon has encouraged me to look for the positive.
to find ways in my own life to appreciate motherhood on a deeper level.
to be a little more patient, a little more kind + to be sure that jonah always knows how much i love him.
it is my prayer that we will all find the peace + comfort we need in the hard times to come.
_____________________________________________________________________________
these newborn pictures came to mind when i heard the song for day number two.
the older jonah gets, the more precious these pictures become.
i have a hard time remembering him ever being this little. it goes by so quickly.
i am most grateful for the light that he brings into my life each + every day.

song for day two //
away in a manger.

{mom chose the mo tab rendition, but grooveshark didn’t have it. so, the fray will do.}