Christmas is coming...........

Right smack in the middle of December. 8 days to go. All the usual going on around here. Advents, shopping and shipping, stories in front of the fireplace, hot chocolate every night, rosy cheeks and big fat puffy coats, snow that ain't melting, freezing cold temps, wrapping, sorting, baking....you know all the good December stuff.

Coordinated my boys one day after school, brought out a few of my inside decorations as props, stuck them in front of the house (freezing cold mind you), told them to put their arms around each other and give me a good smile. This is what I got. I'll take it.....it has now became our Christmas card. Stamped and in the mail....family, they are coming at ya!

Halls are decked. Who am I kidding....they have been for 5 weeks now. Just can't help myself.

Buddy's back. This is our third Christmas spent with the little guy. This year it's all about my Lincoln boy. He is obsessed with this little elf. We have had him waking up in the middle of the night, trying to find Buddy. First thing he does every single morning. And boy does that elf get in some predicaments. Linc has asked me on multiple occasions "mom, Buddy can be kinda naughty, but we still love him, right?"

Not two seconds later, and over excited Lincoln boy pulled the entire stocking and holder off the mantle. Busted the holder. A new one now sits in its place. It was unfortunate.

Took our annual shopping trip over Thanksgving weekend. Kissed our boys goodbye for 24 hours and shopped til we dropped. Got almost completely done. Felt good. We also got to enjoy a yummy dinner at Station Park and brunch at Grand America then next morning. I kinda loved that weekend.

Attempted to build a gingerbread house with the boys.

Attempted. Zero success. The stupid pieces were completely uneven, couldn't get the house to line up. Boy was Thiago cussing that little house. This kinda thing gets him all riled up!

Finally ended up giving them the house pieces and said "here, decorate these".

Not ideal. But whatever, they were happy. It worked.

Nasty chocolate calendars, wouldn't be Christmas without them.

We are ABC family freaks in this house. Every week I go through and see what is playing on their 25 days of Christmas, then I set the DVR to record it all. Here is Drake bug one morning watching "Winnie the Pooh and Christmas too".

Lots of hot chocolate, lots of stories in front of the fireplace.

A few serious snow storms.

And of course some sugar cookies with Ash and the kids.

We're feeling the magic..how bout you?