A Good Start..

Hey there...hows it going??

Well, we are a full week into December now. So far ours is off to a good start. I seem to kick my motherly skills into high gear the month of December. Don't get me wrong, I always try my best to make sure my kids are soaking up every good drop of sweetness that life has to offer them. But I do find that I try just a little bit harder during this time of year. I try to just slow down a little and let them "feel" that special Christmas spirit. We make the time for the little things that really make this month magical. Its a big responsibility for us mama's. Making sure these littles take away the very best memories of the holidays. After all we are the ones writing their life stories up to this point. We are the ones weaving the traditions and creating the memories. Years from now when they think back on their lives I want them to remember us curled up by the fireplace reading Christmas stories, or scooping that extra spoonful of chocolate into their hot chocolate. So I am trying my darndest to let go of the not so important things and say yes, yes, and yes to every little detail that really means something.

Just a few of our happenings up until this point:



Our house is lit up from the inside out. The boys had so much fun watching their dad scamper around on our roof. It took a few test runs to make sure everything was hooked up and ready to go. However, we finally got it. Its no Clark Griswold, but it makes us smile.


We have a few of these funny little light up friends hanging in the boys' bedroom windows. Their windows face the front of our house so they add a nice little touch. I remember when I was little my mom had these little candles that lit up and she placed them in my bedroom window. I was always so happy and comforted falling asleep to their soft glow, hopefully my little monkeys feel the same way.


Buddy's back and he is sure is full of it this year. He gets a little creative in his hiding places (with a little help from our dad) and he leaves the boys giggling every.single.morning. Heck, Carson wakes up at 5:00 every morning, finds Buddy, and then goes back to sleep for another 2 hours. Makes me a little nervous for Christmas Eve, if he is that excited to find a little elf, how is he gonna sleep knowing the big guy is on his way.


Our little advent house is another favorite....


filled with Starbursts for Lincoln and KitKat's for Cars.


I have to check this thing daily though, somebody keeps sneaking candy out early...hmmm...could it be Lincoln boy.


We sat down one of the last nights in November and put together these little countdown chains.


Have I mentioned that a certain someone started crawling. Well, he did. Drake is officially on the move and his first target each day is right towards the chains. We have caught onto this though and tuck them up so he can't reach. It was World War Three when Drake accidently pulled one of Lincoln's links off. Oh boy.


Good old fashioned advent calendars..



nasty chocolate but fun memories.

As you can see my kids are busy each morning, making the rounds on their countdowns.


Got what I felt was a fabulous deal on one of Carson's book orders. 10 new Christmas books for $15.00. And they are adorable little stories.


Once Carson got them home and checked them out himself,


he let me add them to our Christmas collection. We pick 2 each night before bed. I love it just as much as they do.


Lincoln boy keeps himself busy with my little village. Thiago keep telling me to not let them play with it. And usually I would agree, my decorations are off limits. However, with this I just don't have the heart. I remember doing this when I was little. So I let them, and he broke the bench.

Nothing a little super glue couldn't fix.


What are the holidays without a few favorite treats. I am usually not a huge fan of oranges but this time of year they are so juicy and delightful. Especially the cutie clementines. We eat about 10 a day between me, Carson and Lincoln.


ohhhh, and the peppermint oreos. These are mine, just mine.


Carson is currently deep into an artistic phase of life. This kid whips me up artwork like no other. He is also turning into a pack rat. He saves EVERYTHING. Stores it all under his bed, which absolutely drives me crazy. I go in once a week while he is at school and throw a few things away. The kid is out of control.


Received our first Christmas card, lets keep those guys coming. I love getting the mail everyday.


Got ours back, now I just need to address them and get them in the mail. That can be tomorrows project.



Decided to throw these pictures in amongst all of our happenings. Met up with my favorite girls for dinner and then "Breaking Dawn". Just a little holiday girls night.


Lots of parties and family get togethers. This is here is Mavi, we love Mavi. Her and Carson are the same age, 3 months apart and they have been best little buddies their whole lives. No relation, just a good family friend so maybe we will line them up when they are older. haha.



and last but certainly not least. It is not Christmas for us until we have loaded up the babies, stopped for some hot cocoa and drove through town to see the lights. We've gone once and I am sure we will go a couple more times before the big day. We just love it.

Thats it for now, I better go get something accomplished before it is time to pick up my boy from school. We are headed to the inlaws tonight for gingerbread houses so that leaves me a few hours to get some real housework in.

Housework in December, whose got time for that....