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?

Oh Santa Clause

You always come around this time of year
With your big ole bag that's full of Christmas cheer
And when it starts to snow the little boys and girls
All know, soon they'll hear the sound of your reindeer

Now sometimes grown ups grow up to believe
That you don't really come on Christmas Eve
But I don't think that's true, cause I know I see
you in the sparkling little eyes around the tree.

Oh Santa Clause, I still believe in you
There's still a kid inside of me that still believes your true.
Oh Santa Clause, the kids are tucked in tight
And its time to play ole Santa Claus tonight.

Well I don't see how anybody could ever doubt
That there's really a Santa Claus
Not if they've ever seen a little girl with her arms
wrapped around her baby doll, so tight.

Both of em' waking up mama and daddy way before daylight.
And Grandma and Grandpa are looking young and full of life
Just knowin' that their grandkids are
gonna be alright.

And Mama and Daddy, they'll be waiting up to answer
Ole Santa's call
Cause tonight they ain't worried about paying bills
Lord they're just lovin' it all.

Oh Santa Clause, I still believe in you
There's still a kid in all of us
That still believes you're true.
Oh Santa Clause, the kids are tucked in tight...
we're turning out the lights...
And I'll be waiting up for you tonight.

One of my all time favorite Christmas songs, pretty much sums it up.

Happy December my friends, hope its magical.

Thanksgiving Highlights

Going to keep my words short and sweet and let the pictures do the talking this time. Thanksgiving was the most perfect day. For me, it is when the holidays all begin, all the anticipation of it all wrapped up in one beautiful day. Filled with family and blessings. I don't mess around with the black Friday business. We defintely go shopping at some point during that weekend. But I refuse to do that on Thanksgiving. It breaks my heart to see stores opening earlier and earlier. Families planning their dinners earlier so they can go hit the sales. I have no problem with the day after. Why not. But on Thanksgiving. Come on. Give people that one day with their families. We try to not even go to a movie that day. Leave that for the weekend. Anywho....thats my spill on that. It was just a perfect day that really left me counting our blessings.

It included a snuggly babe in footsie jams..

all cozied up by our Christmas tree.

Little boys who I let sleep in as long as they wanted to.

All kinds of artwork and coloring.

Made for some beautiful pantry door artwork.

Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as I got a quick run in on the treadmill, then calling out to my boys as Santa made his debut.

My boys. My heart and soul. What every holiday centers around. Just them.

New clothes for all of us. Including me.

This little family of mine. Oh how I love them.

We're off....to Grandmothers house we go!

More....cause they're just too cute!

My mama's. My heaven on earth. Her home is still my beacon, my lighthouse, my serenity.

And the little gal behind it all. You guys, she is amazing. This little lady. So blessed to have her.

Most beautiful place settings and tables. Heck her whole house is out of this world beautiful for the holidays.

Kids table, complete with pre dinnner craft. There is no detail left untouched. My mom does it all.

How she manages to pull off a meal that huge with absolutely no help. Seriously, my aunt brought a few pies but the rest is all my mom. She refuses to let us bring anything. Likes to provide it all on her own.

Just a little snack.

And a granny I love.

More of this family I love. In front of my mom's huge tree. And just so you know, this is one Christmas tree of like 7 in her house. She has the most amazing trees.

Baby Boston and his great grandma.

And this meal. Oh my heavens. I wait all year long for this meal. It is as good as it looks. Out of this world. Yumminess!

And the pies. Oh the pies. For me the pies is what its all about. I had some of almost every single pie. I don't feel bad. Not even at all.

And the pictures ended after that. But the party did not. Washing and drying dishes with my mom, most favorite aunt, cousin and sister. Boys watching football. Kids running around and playing in my moms toy rooms. Us ladies visiting the night away. Then we pull out the leftovers. More pie. Turkey sandwiches. Another round of sweet potatoes.

Perfection. It was a lovely Thanksgiving!