Decking the Halls 2012

Much like every one on the planet in the US; 2.4 seconds after Thanksgiving is over we start decorating and planning for Christmas.

First up {and this was before Thanksgiving} we packed boxes for Operation Christmas Child. We have done this every year. I do one boy and one girl, just like us. How clever of me. :) However, someone once pointed out to me that the older kids (7+) usually lack on the boxes...so I now aim for those ages when packing them.
Leighton was so into it this year. I love her simple, servant heart. She methodically packed both boxes. Bless her.

And can someone bless me? Because God bless me I braved WALMART for some of this stuff. If you know me at.all. I do NOT do Walmart. I am a Target girl through and through...and don't act like you don't know why! We had to get a doll for the girl. Lo picked her out special and let her know another little girl would soon love her. AWE!!!

{Tree Decorating}

We contemplated a real tree this year, but then I chickened out.

Once we I got the tree up and lit, it was time to decorate. Of course just call me Monica Gellar, but I like my tree a certain way. Just sayin'. I kept saying "wait until I tell you to put the ornaments on." Nope. Just didn't care and did her own thing. She did 75% of the tree decorating.

My love bear that kept needing a little affection every 3 seconds.

I went really low key this year on decorating. I just am not up for uber decorating and really think simple is best at this point.
Tree. check.
Stockings. check.
Nativity. check.
All done. check.

{Laying under the tree}

{Lo's pink tree}

Cuteness.

Sometimes you have to stop and take a rest break in the tree box.

{And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care.}

Presh.

{Reading the Nativity Story}

Look at my face. "BEEEEE CAREFUL! Cool it, this is suppose to be a family moment...breathe breathe..."

This is 100% NOT my idea, but my bestie Ginger's family grew up putting hay in a manger for Baby Jesus to come on Christmas Eve based on the kids getting "caught" doing selfless servant type behaviors. I don't know all the ins and outs of it yet {hint hint Ginger} but it sounds like a wonderful idea and my kids are really into it! Best pic I have of our "manger" as the kids tackle me!

And of course this cute little Elf (Izzy) aka Christopher Pop-in-kins is visiting us this month. Lo is so into it. More to come on his antics! {This was taken before his magic started...no worries he is ok!}

I use to be more bahumbug about the holidays, but seeing the PURE joy in their faces as they look for Izzy the Elf and getting to put "hay" (aka construction paper) in the manger and watching their video from Santa. well it makes it all worth it and so much fun. I just love the magic Christmas brings and it makes me a little giddy too!

What are you doing for Christmas fun?!

The Magic of Thanksgiving

Well we celebrated Thanksgiving although I have little to show for it as I forgot my camera at every.single.thanksgiving. we attended. yep. We had 3 to go to. Have I mentioned how much I love thanksgiving?! {insert sarcasm}. Not really a fan. I love the concept and appreciate a season of thankfulness, but not a fan of the food or the month {no legitimate reason for that just don't like it. :)}

For example, Chad and I started dating in November once upon a time and then he was a jerk and broke up with me two-ish weeks later and then 1-ish week later told me he was stupid and we got back together a few days before December...know what? I dislike November so much that I changed our dating anniversary to Dec. 2! I need medication I am sure for my delusions. Who does that?! Crazy people that is who.

Anyway, we went and we enjoyed family and really that is all it is about. However, at my MIL they fried a turkey and it was actually really really good. 1. I am NOT a fried food fan and 2. well I think you know how I feel about turkey. But I was pleasantly surprised on how tender and moist it was, plus they did a cajun injection to mix it up a bit. Nice touch.

MW is teething those last 4 incisor/canine teeth and screamed and threw fits most of the meal times. It was awesome. Said no mom ever!

So here is what I do have in pics random as they may be:

Last minute Thanksgiving Day shopping. These two are really too much. Oh the cuteness.
Side bar--Chad hates LOATHES getting these little shopping carts or the big race car. Now am I a fan? nope. but it brings them so much joy! I tell him every.single.time that I remember going to Dillons with my mom around Lo's age and getting to push my very.own.little.shopping cart and OH! How big and proud I felt, especially when I got to bring my little doll with me! I was such a mommy (back then. :) ) So I tell him to hush it, b/c these are the memories childhood is made of!!

 Moving on...to Christmas decorating. I started fluffing the tree branches while watching the Macy's Parade. The kids were fighting so I told them to get along. BAHAHAHA! {have you seen this idea on pinterest?!} Well, it was funny and they actually love being stuck together like this!

Now for the Magic of Thanksgiving.
Every year we get a good family pic taken by the self timer...I am always amazed that we get it in just a few takes! Although MW is making it harder and harder.

{More outtakes}
Smile and take the picture....

 {Good ones}

 {Be goofy...oh so then it is just me then?! 'kay}

 {Good. But I think you can do better...}

{There we go!}

 {WAIT! WE ARE NOT DONE YET!!! where is MW?!?!?)

 {Rockin' our nearly undefeated KSU Wildcat pose!--although like a moron mine is backwards geez.}

 Hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving! There is always much to be Thankful for, even if you don't like turkey or stuffing or pumpkin pie. :)

How do you eat an elephant?

One bite at a time.

Chad is always saying this to me as he watches me get overwhelmed with my to-do lists (that's right I have multiple lists).
Sadly, this happens far to often. My personality is all or nothing. I have no middle ground or speed.
I don't recommend it. :)

Lately, I am on a purging/organizing/decortaing kick.
I do this at the very least 2x/year. I really wish it didn't always coincide with the holidays, but it does. I suppose when you go digging around for Christmas lights and stub your toe on curtain rods that you are saving for windows you don't have, something triggers inside of you that says "GET THIS CRAP OUT OF HERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRE!" I may or may not have used a different expletive then crap. Just keepin' it real. :)

Now while I believe myself to be Superwoman, I recognize that Superwoman can't get anything down with two little people vying for her attention 90% of the day and when she does Little Wonder boy destroys it and Hyper Girl decoupages it. So I took a deep breathe, with little to no prompting from Chad, thank you very much, got out my awesome mom calendar and wrote out my plan of attack.

Instead of wasting most of my precious naptime/quiet time on pinterest imagining a perfect home, I decided I start working on one. Well, you know as perfect as a home with two little people reigning in their destructive terror can be.

Can we just take a moment to remember what life was like PLP? {pre-little people} Gosh, I thought I was so busy then, oh and tired! Wow, I had no clue what tired even looked like back then. But I wouldn't trade them for anything, even crayon free couches and carpet without the red juice stains. :)

Back to the organizing. So I am eating this HUGE JUMBO elephant one teeny tiny little bite at a time.

First up closets because that makes sense, since it is getting colder out. Oh, wait no it's not...let's go with cooler.

Next up the bathrooms. Seriously does anyone need 6 boxes of Nyquil? Yeah, didn't think so.

Oh man clean and organized. Makes me feel so much better already. Well, until I walk out to the living room and kitchen and see the walls that are screaming to be painted! {it only took me 6 weeks to get that done}.

But in the mean time I finished other projects listed out on my lovely mom calendar such as purge play room of all "baby" toys. Check. {2 boxes full to be exact}
No pictures because it is never clean in there.ever.

Organize office files. Check.
Shred office files. partially check. Look even Hyper Girl can help. :)

Re-finish these great $4 frames from goodwill. Check.

{ugly goodwill frames Before}

 

{Beautiful goodwill frames after, complete with their initials! Who doesn't love a good monogram?!}

This arrangement makes me giddy with gladness every time I see it. LOVE! {don't tell me you hate it because I WILL cry, lie to me. 'kay.}  PS that whole collage cost me $20 pictures included.

Make entry more family friendly. Read: place to dump crap and it look nice. :) Check.

This past week my sister Meg and I finally painted the kitchen! Woot woot! And I am so happy! My kitchen was in need of a serious make over. The countertops were an ugly dark green. {who does that?!} Complete with a hideous border and green walls. FYI I am not against green, just that particular shade of green and in MY KITCHEN!!!

So my beloved hubby called our contractor friend who helped hook us up with new counter tops. PRAISE JESUS! They are actually laminate again, but somehow they just ripped the old laminate off and put new down. Who knew?! And it was really affordable and sure beat me painting them, which was my originally idea.

{Counter tops Before}

{Counter tops After}

Next up wall border down! Don't you peel wall border off in fancy clothes? I find it makes you work harder. HA!

Then just leave your kitchen in complete disarray for 6 weeks. Picking the perfect paint color was so hard. I really wanted a kitchen like this

Source: bowerpowerblog.com via Michele on Pinterest

but it just wouldn't flow with the rest of the house. Sad face. But I was dying for something different. I thought about red, but was against it because red makes you eat more you know?! Yeah, it does google it. :) So after much debate I color matched the living room paint to Behr (best paint on the planet, just sayin') and settled for the neutral. And I love it. Now I can just add pops of color and change things as I see fit with out worrying about paint colors etc.

I am not sure the direction the kitchen will go in the end, but I somewhat sadly packed up all my wine/chef stuff. I had way too much and I was ready for something new! Yay, for new!

So here is a little preview of my new-ish kitchen! A work in progress for sure, but I love it.

Now onto the rest of the house like this room! Scary right? I think the shadowy effect gives it that extra dramatic feel.



However, after writing this all out I do feel much better about the state of organization I am in. I actually have accomplished something. :)

And if you made it to the end, here are our Thanksgiving day picture outtakes. :)We did get a good one, because the magic of thanksgiving wins again! HA!

MW 22 Months {Watch Me Grow}

The months just keep sneaking up on me. Weird how when Lo was this age I was practically moments away from giving birth. Let's just let that sink in for a moment...

Wow. MW you are almost the same age Lo was when you were born. CRAZY! Has it really been that long?! To think that at this age I was desperately trying to get Lo into a "big girl" bed. Holy cow flag on the play! I could not even imagine doing that with you right now. Are you kidding me you are way too young for that business! Right?! {although thanks to you being such a climber this may come to fruition soon. very.soon. :( }

Lo at around 22m

You are still a babe to me. I know everyone else comments on what big boy your are and so do I, but in my mind and heart you are just my baby bear. That tiny little boy I brought home from the hospital weighing 4#11z.

Um, hello?! Are you 2 or 3 now?! Geez...stop growing up so fast.

 

I just love you to pieces. You wear me out daily, but when you run up to me and grab my leg and say "mommy, I luze ju" in that sweet little boy voice, I melt. Every.single.time. Oh my word child you have my heart.

There are no words for the imagination my kids possess! HA!

You are my snuggle bear. I am SO thankful I got one cuddly child. Lo could take a snuggle or leave it, but you, you just love to crawl up in my lap and watch your shows {"hoppy show" aka Max and Ruby, "dake," "oopy" aka Snoopy, "pooh," or "SID!"} or read a book {"ELMO!"}. Sometimes when I am busily running around trying to get things done you ask me so nicely to "it ere momE" {sit here}, a lot of times I don't want to because I am "busy," but I love when I do because you lay your little head in my lap and snuggle me.

Moms of little girls, I am telling you this boy WILL be the perfect husband. You should see the love and respect he gives these dolls! I am just sayin' he is definitely a tender heart love bear...

You have been quite the sleepy bear this month {growing?!}. You go to bed around 8p {and sleep until 730a}, but some nights it can be a struggle to keep you up that long. There are plenty of nights you just lay on the floor and say "eepy" {sleepy}. What?! A child who actually wants to sleep?!?! I just may love you more for that. HA!

 Mommy fail.

Naptime is suppose to be 1p, but since the time change you are wanting to go down by 1230p. Really weird and then you nap for like 2.5-3 hours! I am not kidding. It is mind blowing.

Chopin? Beethoven? Mozart? Someday maybe...

I spent 3 weeks pre-time change to switch your schedule gradually and it was a complete success. I hope it will be that easy next time, when we spring forward...

It's Saturday morning so why not kick your feet up and enjoy a little Dinosaur Train.

 

You are still very accident prone. I count it a successful day if you only hit your head once per place we visit per day. I hit my own head twice yesterday and once I ended up on the floor crying in the fetal position it hurt so bad and all I could think about, outside my own pain, was how MW must feel a hundred times day. That child needs a helmet.

You do ask me about 300x/day "WHY? Why? WHY?" This is beyond way to early for this sort of thing. Most kids {as far as I am told} don't start this until closer to 2.5/3. Lo just got over it about 6 months ago, so I can't even blame her for this! HA! I wonder how smart he would be if he didn't hit his head so often?! hmmm...

I feel bad because I don't have much to say this month. Nothing new, and I can't remember anything funny you have said or done. :( You just hang with the big kids. I am excited for you to turn two! You are growing up so fast. I love you my little bear!

The zoo with friends. Where shortly after this he hit his head so hard on a rock I had Ginger googling concussion on her phone! I am not joking about the helmet thing!

He does this thing when he hits his head really hard, where he stops breathing for what feels like 2 minutes, then his eyes start to roll back in his head. Talk about your heart dropping. I am getting use to it and we are learning to blow in his face to get him to take air, but man. Not cool. On this particular day it took much longer to get him to breathe and I while I try to look cool and collected I WAS NOT! He will be why I go grey early. Thank goodness for Clariol.

Oh wait here is one nice and embarrassing thing you do to me now. You refuse to poop in the potty. Why? Who knows. It doesn't hurt you b/c you have no problem going in your pull-up at nap, or the kidzone, or the church nursery. You KNOW when you need to go you just won't. So instead you go around yelling "POOP!" at the top of your lungs and making a grunting noise. This always happens when we are out in public places and I am just mortified, because you won't stop and even if I took you to the potty, which I try and do, you refuse to go. Therefore, I get to listen to that serenade for hours! HOURS! One day I know you won't freak about it anymore...so until then...

Stats:
Height ~32 inches
Weight ~25#
Teeth: all but those 4 incisors, although I think one of the bottom ones is about to break through!?!
Clothes: 18m tops, pants.
Pull-up/Slip-on Huggies Diaper 3