Birthdays…and more Christmas
This weekend we celebrated Christmas some more.
Our annual trip to the Festival of Lights did not dissapoint.
Also included? A night out with friends.
Livie had a Christmas program at church. The cute overflowed.
And then? My baby turned 9.
We woke up Sunday morning to a 9 year old who was wide awake and whispering “It’s my birthday!!” to us. She opted out of a big party in exchange for money to go shopping. It’s official. My baby is not a baby anymore.
Did I mention she asked for Coach purses for her birthday or Christmas?
It’s been a busy week with birthdays and Christmas and last minute EVERYTHING. It’s exactly the kind of busy I want to be. Hope your week is just as eventful.
One last thing? Someone has big girl panties on.
Potty training has begun. Hold me.
Almost there!
Christmas is 9 days away.
NINE.
Coincidentally Hannah will be 9 on Sunday so the number 9 is engraved in my brain at the moment. I again had plans to bake some cookies this afternoon with the girls and while I was in my closet I spotted the pile of presents. I’m easily distracted. I’m the person who went into the kitchen for garbage bags but noticed the dust bunny so before I know it I’m sweeping the entire house and the garbage is still full in the bathroom. It doesn’t surprise me that the cookies still aren’t baked BUT I wrapped almost all of our gifts.
I did get some baking done Wednesday though for Hannah’s little class party for her birthday today.
I baked easy things like cupcakes. My mother in made freakin fudge and it was all I could to while it cooled do to NOT just eat it while it was liquidy and hot.
Some fun Christmas extras?
Livie asked for coffee yesterday. We gave her chocolate milk in a coffee cup. She sat there with a smirk on her face…she was so happy to be just like Nana and Mama.
And like last year, I made Hannah a little Santa video from the Portable North Pole website. If you have kids that still believe in Santa, you HAVE to do this.
She sat there holding her elf, Greer, amazed that Santa once again sent her a video telling her he’s proud of her for being so nice. She believes in Santa and believes that her elf really does come alive at night, eats the crackers she sets out, and hides in new places. It’s magical…YES magical to watch your children believe in something so much and see their faces light up when they find their elf or see Santa on the computer.
It was a busy but good week. Next week is Christmas week.
I can hardly stand it!
Christmas cute
I was going to bake today. I had plans of the dozens of cookies I was going to bake and ice and top with sprinkles.
But the kids fell asleep and then I dozed off with them.
And when I woke up to the sound of a crying baby I realized my baking would have to wait until tonight and instead I’d edit pictures and blog because for some reason the sound of the keyboard clicking amuses this baby boy.
And so here I am with a quick midweek post.
Hannah’s been begging for a magic elf for weeks. NOT the elf on the shelf. Don’t get it wrong. She wanted the magic elf the kids in school had that you could hold and sleep with and take with you BUT it still reports to Santa about your behavior.
Since I knew The Man’s cousin was giving her one early for her birthday, I went out and got Livie one too.
Hannah took hers to school today. Livie’s carrying hers around. Success!
And last but certainly not least on my quick Christmas cute blog…ya ready?
…….
I give you the cutest picture ever taken in all of the world.
I can’t handle any more cute. See y’all Friday.
Christmas obsessed
I will admit I’ve slacked on taking photos on my actual camera even though I keep promising myself I will. What I HAVE been taking pictures of? Coffee cups in front of Christmas trees.
See? Not joking. I’ve combined my love for photography and coffee and Christmas and mashed them all together to build quite an obsession. It’s probably annoying to just about everyone except me and yet I can’t stop. I predict there will be more because I discovered this iPhone app called Big Lens that lets me have SO much control over my photos and bokeh and focus and OH EM GEE. Just stop me.
Something I can’t do as well on my phone though? Bokeh Christmas tree lights.
Pretty huh? Other things that are pretty?
My girls.
Totally off topic because I blog like my brain thinks- randomly. My buffet has some Christmas cards on it!! I get so excited to check the mail every day in hopes of new cards. I fill up the whole buffet by the time Christmas day comes.
Speaking of Christmas cards…a sneak peak of ours this year. We had a friend take the pictures this year as to not make my head spin and I am ever so grateful that we made that choice.
Lots of exciting things coming up for me and my family, including Hannah’s NINTH birthday in a week and a half. I choose to live in denial about that til about this time next week.
I’d say remind me to freak out then but I’m sure I’ll handle that just fine on my own.
Have a wonderful rest of your week.
Home sweet home
We got back after being gone in Ohio for 10 days on Monday afternoon. 5 days in Ohio. 5 days in the car. 22 hours each way. Thousands of miles in between and yet, Ohio and Texas…they are both home.
Our life together began here. We had our babies here. This is home. But when we go to Ohio and see our family, it’s home too. Family that we adore but family that we don’t see but once or twice a year. The time we spend there is precious.
Grandmas and Great Grandmas
Sisters
Cousins
Our family is a melting pot of races and cultures and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My friends are home to me too. They live so very far and yet are so very close because they also live in my phone…we text and email daily. I love them.
It was a good, good visit.
On the way home we decided to stop in Nashville for the night to see the famous Christmas light display at the Opryland Resort. Um, yeah. You know me with Christmas. This was the most magical Christmas light display I’ve ever seen. I kind of wanted to live there.
But, then it was time to go home. Our Texas home. The home I love the most. Coming back to this
and this
and this.
Ya just can’t beat it.
It’s December which means Christmas is 25 days away. Let the giddy-ness continue.
Relaxing with a side of holiday excitement
My goal of relaxing was met this week.
Mostly.
I will admit I did conquer some Christmas shopping because now that I’m not working there is no way we’d be able to handle buying it all in 2 weeks like we usually do. The Man and I are last minuters…if that’s even a word. But besides buying a few things and walking slowly up and down aisles at Target a couple times this week, it’s been just the kind of week I planned and needed.
This week included:
Baby E
Could he be any cuter? Word is he got a haircut today. Can’t wait to see him Monday.
Early Christmas gifts
This rocking horse was supposed to be a Christmast gift. We happened to walk by it at Sam’s Club and there was no way we were gonna get out of there without it. Since I was going to get it for her anyway, I just figured she can have it now. She’s 2. She won’t notice she has 1 less gift on Christmas day. Score 1 for Mom. Plus, it made her so happy.
Relaxing at Nana’s
We spend a lot of time with The Man’s mom. Any free time we have we’re usually at her house or out with her. We get to talk and have coffee and the girls get to play with their cousin or each other. It’s a win-win for us all.
Buying a “oh my gosh please stop pointing and whining just take it so we can get out of here” toy. Thanks for tempting my kids endlessly, Target.
Again, she’s happy so another score.
I can almost smell the turkey and pumpkin pie baking. Can you?
Thinking, not doing…yet.
My weekend started like this…
A surprise Taylor Swift concert for Hannah.
My weekend ended like this…
With my girls coloring together. Hannah’s idea. My babies. Loved it.
Yesterday afternoon The Man’s mom reminded me that this is the last weekend we have at home before Thanksgiving. We’ll be traveling to Ohio again as it’s become our yearly Thanksgiving tradition. This is the 3rd annual 22 hour drive that is somewhat traumatizing and yet worth it once we’re there with our family. I said all that to say that since this is the last weekend before Thanksgiving it means that it’s Christmas decorating time. I’ve done this the past 2 years before we went to Ohio and it’s the most awesome thing to come home from an exhausting trip to a beautiful, decorated Christmas tree. Y’all know me and the holidays. But with decorating comes organized chaos so I’m choosing to spend this week relaxing and pulling a bare minimum week because from Saturday on, we’ll be busy until New Year.
That is not an exaggeration.
Sidenote: Hannah turns 9 next month. NINE.
Moving along…
I have Baby E 2 to 3 days a week. Livie was jealous of him for like the first week but since then? She’s all about “the baby”. If he drops his toy, she’s right there picking it up for him. If he cries even a little Livie’s all “MAMA! Baby’s crying!!!!” I remember when Livie was just born, Hannah thought she was a better mom to her than I was and constantly told me if Livie even made a peep. Livie? She’s the same way with this baby. While we’re done having kids, it’s nice to see that if we did ever have another one, she’d be a sweet big sister.
Lots of planning going on in my head about our drive to Ohio, Thanksgiving spent up there, Hannah’s birthday, and of course Christmas. Going to spend the week thinking and not doing…yet.
Thanksgiving is in 2 weeks and this one can’t stop talking about turkeys.
She’s a smart girl.
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