Bits of Christmas

We started our Christmas season on Christmas Eve with Pook's family. There are 7 grandchildren on his side of the family, which is so different from mine (at least for now). G & C love spending time with their cousins and all of the other extended family. This is the first place they got to open presents (or parties, as Claire calls them). Both received something that kept their interest the rest of the night



This was fitting for Claire because just the night before, she'd slept in her pink tutu over her pj's.


I've resisted the Leapster long enough & decided this was the year to cave and let someone get him one. I figured it's better than watching TV, right?


After an evening with his fam, we headed home to finally hang our stockings. Claire actually crashed in the car, so I didn't take any pictures of Grant putting out cookies for the big guy. I forgot to leave him milk, but I don't think our Santa likes milk anyway :-).


We then settled in for an evening in the den with the ultimate Christmas movie.


The next morning, Grant woke up first, but not too early. The first thing he said was, "Merry Christmas!" His daddy almost sent him down the hall alone to check out his gifts until I freaked out because I didn't have out the video camera! Please tell me that is not the memory that will stick from this year!

Sheriff Woody was a must have this year, as were several other Toy Story items.


All Claire wanted was a baby doll. She didn't get one the night before & she was sure she would. She tried to steal her cousin's doll & stroller virtually all night. This doll was nothing special. I just picked it up to lay in the bed that I found at a consignment store for $7! It used to be a dark brown finish, but thanks to a friend, it's now white. (I'd planned on painting it myself, but they offered so I figured why not?!)

My youngest brother & Grant checking out their electronic devices.


The mess that ensued shortly after waking.


A new toy for Daddy, I mean Grant.


Big brother helping sister into her new "princess" shoes.


In true Claire fashion, she put on pretty much everything she could over her pj's. Notice below, she then changed into some of her new PJ's.


Because my brothers are all living elsewhere now, there'd been no time for the annual gingerbread house. If you read my post last week, you know this didn't bother me a bit. During the lull that is mid-day on Christmas, they took a little time to decorate. I think Claire was just there to eat the candy.


After getting duded up to go to my mom's house, Claire spotted some candy in the bottom of a gift bag from the night before & went after it.



Finally, at mom's Pook had a seat & the dog found a spot on him. We really are not dog people...like other people's dogs, but don't really want our own. This was right after we got there. Her dogs love him!

Claire put my brother to work putting together her new stroller. The whole time she was asking, "where the baby? where the baby?" notice the new panties over her outfit. I took her to the couch where she opened her bitty baby and she was happy as a clam.

Grant had another brother at work with Toy Story pop up play world. Claire ALWAYS gets in on the action too.



Blurry family pic! Poor mom just can't take one that isn't blurry!


And the next day, braving the freezing temps & wind to ride new bikes.




We were all spent after the Friday, but had tons of fun. Claire was really into Santa this year & Grant is already asking if he's real....at 4? I don't want to lie to him, so I just kind of blow it off & change the subject. I need the fun just a little longer..please! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas & are gearing up for a happy and fun New Year!!

Alexa

I actually took these photos right before Thanksgiving, but haven't gotten around to posting them until now. This is Alexa, my friend's "little" girl. She's just not so little anymore. I started working with her mom when she was still a tiny thing, and it makes me feel too old to think about how grown up she is these days! She's a beautiful girl inside & out and I love how some of these turned out! She had just gotten braces and I, for one, I'm jealous of how great she looks with them!

The Best Gingerbread House

..is one that's made by someone else! Last Weds. night Grant's teachers at church, Mr. Rick & Mrs. Pam, gave them all these cute gingerbread houses. They were the perfect little size for my boy & his sister.





Never before, have I let them eat a gingerbread house. After all the sweat and tears that goes into them, I always feel like it's such a waste to destroy it. Patience is not a virtue that I possess and I have major control issues when cooking with my kiddos (or anything really!). I'm working on it! However, when someone else makes it, that feeling isn't there :)

I have absolutely no idea why Grant is wearing this stocking hat. It was his when he was a baby, but his melon is a little too big for it these days. He's so much like his daddy. In high school, Pookie always wore his hat crooked, but not in that thuggish kind of way :)! That's kind of the vibe I'm getting from this look here too.

and just for kicks, my crazy girl




is the countdown on at your house?? it is at mine. "is it the next day?!" is the question of choice right now! have a great one!

Christmas Card Carousel

I've never done this before, but since most of my Christmas cards have now been mailed, I thought I'd join the fun. I LOVE getting / giving Christmas cards. My children love seeing all of their friends / families' faces arriving in our mailbox & looking at them throughout the holiday season. Although trying to get the "perfect" shot was tortuous this year, after a little editing, I thought this one flowed with the retro feel of the card. The top picture was printed on what I guess is the front & the bottom one was on the back of the card. Click the link above to see more Christmas cards that are spreading holiday cheer!

Christmas Tour of Homes

I snapped a few pictures of our decorations this year, since we actually put most of them out. I'm not very experimental with my decor, but have lots of ornaments here & there.


our mantle - only the stockings aren't hung. Those snowflake hangers way a ton & my husband is paranoid that one of the little people will pull one off on their head resulting in a trip to the ER. they're residing on top of the refrigerator for now :-)

i got this red berry garland a few years ago & it is by far my favorite Christmas decoration. the lights i put under it make it sparkle so much!


our main tree which is in our kitchen / dining area. we don't really have a good place for it, so we just take the leaf out of the table & stick it in the corner. there is no theme to our tree, just a mish mash of ornaments.

this is probably my favorite ornament. i think i stole it from my mom some time ago :-).


this is just for the nester! i feel like i should mail it to her.
i have all of my grandparents christmas ornaments, and there are LOTS of antiquish glass ones that are so fragile that they'll break if they're just touched wrong.

my favorite little undecorator.

onto the scary ones....these were also my grandparents & i think they are sooo funny. Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. You never knew she was the scary one did you?!

and the scarecrow..wow!


This is Claire's little tree that is in her room. silver & sparkly

Grant's tree doesn't really have a theme, but turned into the vintage tree. He has all of the old unbreakable / non-glass ornaments from the grandparents.





Merry Christmas!