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Hey friends! It's been a few weeks since you've heard from me, and I've missed being in your inbox. Today I'm sharing what we've been up to, why the girls' favorite Christmas gift wasn't actually a gift at all, and what I'm feeling called to focus on in this new year.

This past week in a minute:

My time off… It's been a minute since I hit send on my newsletter! Three weeks, to be precise. I was planning on taking just a week off from writing here, which quietly turned into two, and then three. And honestly? It felt really good to practice what I preach: slow down, recharge, and let go of the pressure of (self-imposed) deadlines.

Christmas recap… The holiday felt slow and relaxing and somehow a complete blur all mixed together. We shuffled back and forth between our extended families, soaking up time with everyone. We had some super sweet moments with the kids. It was Isla's first Christmas, and she thoroughly enjoyed the wrapping paper and cardboard box pyramid far more than anything that came inside them.

We spent our days doing simple, slow things. A little bit of cooking. Watching old movies (and even making a trip out to the movie theater, which felt like a big event). Making a dent in our still-not-completed 1,000-piece puzzle. Polishing off our advent calendar. Playing games around the table.

It was exactly what we needed.

Now we're ready for a bit more routine again. Getting back to more normal bedtimes, cutting down on the sugar, and settling back into the rhythm we know works for our family. But I'm so grateful we took that time to just be together without any pressure to produce or perform.

Our girls’ favorite gift this year

After our extended family packed up and went home, it was just us. Our family of six. Some quiet, alone time to enjoy each other and catch our breath.

It was unseasonably hot here in Texas, so we made sure to send the girls outside to recharge, breathe in some fresh air, and get away from any type of screen. Just them, the breeze, and the open yard.

Jordan was working on a project nearby, sawing and assembling something while the girls played around him. I slowed down for a moment to just watch them, and I'm so glad I did.

There was no mention of the many toys and games they'd just received a few days earlier. Not one word about them.

Instead, they played in their sand pit. They made a pretend restaurant, dragging over a bunch of scrap lumber for a table, some old folding chairs, and other random bits and pieces they found lying around.

Every so often, they'd pull daddy over to sample their latest culinary concoctions, giggling as he pretended to taste their "soup" or "special cake."

In a flash, Lacey ran inside. I thought maybe she was going for a toy or asking for screen time. But no. She came back out with food coloring and spoons. That's it. That's all she needed to keep the magic going.

I settled in with Isla on the porch and just watched. And I felt so grateful.

Their favorite gift this year? T-I-M-E. 

Time with each other. Time with their mom and dad. Time with their grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

So often I forget that as we work hard to provide for them and make the holiday season feel "special." But this is what they'll remember. Not the gifts. The time.

What y’all loved this week 📱

Okay, this post kind of went crazy over the past week, and I'm so glad y'all enjoyed it as much as I did! I decided to surprise my girls this year with a HORSE for Christmas. Well... kind of. It's not a real one (Jordan would have actually killed me), but I had so much fun painting it, and even more fun surprising them with it.

It's been a while since I've painted something this large, and honestly, it's been a while since I've just painted purely for fun. No deadline, no client, no product launch. Just me, a paintbrush, and this big beautiful project. It took a little while to get back into the rhythm of it, but once I did, I absolutely loved every minute. I'm really proud of how it turned out!

@tabithapaigekids

She asked for a horse 🤷🏼‍♀️… I can’t wait to see their faces on Christmas morning! Stay tuned for the big reveal. #artistmom #christmasgi... See more

If you want to see the girls' reaction, I just shared that video too. We created a little scavenger hunt for them with clues leading them around the property. It took them a while to figure out the very last one, but when they finally did? Pure magic. It was so sweet watching their faces light up.

Now I'm feeling inspired to keep going. What should I paint next? I'm thinking about decorating a few more things around here. Any ideas? 🙂

 — Tabitha Paige, Author/ Illustrator, Speech Therapist & Mom

Sometimes I make books & other pretty things…