It feels like Christmas!

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at the Rittgers home. Everywhere you look....The tree is up and decorated. The stockings are hung. The gifts are wrapped and under the tree. And most of the homemade Christmas cards are sent out.

We have been enjoying Judah's first Christmas season this December. Judah has been taking in all the sites and sounds of the Holidays for the first time. I think he feels the excitement as he often smiles and giggles a lot.

Our family festivities this year started with getting our Christmas tree down near Cumming, Iowa, at Howell Christmas Tree Farm. We did manage to get a live tree this year but we did not cut it down ourselves. One Sunday afternoon we piled up the stroller, bundled up in our coats and hats, and went to the tree farm. Judah slept through the whole process of walking the tree lots for that perfect tree. Seated cozy in the stroller we wheeled him around trying to find a tree. After an hour or so we finally selected a White Pine that had already been cut down and a wreath for the door. Judah finally woke up in time to load up the tree and catch a glimpse of the toy train in the shop.

Thankfully we got our tree put up before winter made its way to Des Moines. The weather outside has been frightful especially with the first storm mid-December dumping 16 inches. The fire inside has been delightful though as Judah and I turn on the fire every morning when we first come downstairs. Playing on the floor, we turn on the fireplace and tree lights each morning before we get our breakfast of cereal and homemade muffins.

During the first snow storm, Tim was snowed in from work for almost two days. Fortunately he had his computer so that he could work from home. Hoping to decorate the tree while being cooped up, we started getting out all the Christmas decorations only to discover that we did not have enough lights for the tree. So instead of decorating, Judah played with the decorations, toppled the nativity scene, helped wrap presents, and bounced to Christmas music in his swing every evening.

A week later we finally decorated our tree after buying more lights. Judah was fascinated with the tree decorations and lights. He sat on the floor watching us string up the lights, put on red beads and bows, and even helped daddy with the star and his ornament, a silver rattle. He tuckered out just in time to put up the rest of our homemade ornaments. What a night of fun!

We finished cleaning the house and decorating in time for our first annual Youth Leadership Initiative Holiday Party. This year we hosted a small group from Tim's work making the evening into a dinner party with all the fixings: cranberry salad, spiral ham, green bean casserole, corn, stuffing, potatoes, and rolls all topped off with homemade apple pie and ice cream. Judah, or course, was the center of attention in his Christmas Penguin Elf outfit. We did enjoy the evening with our guests sharing fun memories of YLI.

The next evening (Friday) Tim and I went out on our first big date since Judah was born to hear Tonic Sol Fa in concert. We started the annual tradition with dinner at Centro, downtown Des Moines with some friends. This year we took an intermission to come home after dinner and before the concert to feed Judah (since he refuses a bottle now). Returning downtown to Hoyt Sherman, we enjoyed our double date listening to a capella Christmas carols and laughing at Plastic Santa.

While we were at the concert, Judah had Miss Julie (his babysitter for the evening) wrapped around his finger. The pair enjoyed playing and playing and playing. I am not sure who had more fun, Miss Julie or Judah. Mom was relieved to know everything went fine.

Since we had our Holiday dinner early, we enjoyed leftovers for a few days, even entertaining more friends. Judah received gifts from friends and so he opened his learning puppy, Christmas penguin pajamas, and Winnie the Pooh ornament early. He learned quickly how to rip the wrapping paper and eat the shiny bows.

Of course the season was not complete without getting ready to celebrate Jesus' Birthday. This advent season, our church did a wonderful series on the names of Jesus: "....and He shall be called Wonder Counselor, Almighty God, Prince of Peace, and Everlasting Father (check this out at http://www.pointofgrace.com/site/)." We wait for Christmas day by reading our advent verse for each day and playing with the Nativity. Merry Christmas Judah!