Merry Christmas!!!

...and the stockings were hung

We are all (almost) snuggled up in bed, we have the stocking hung by the chimney / fireplace with care.... we are ready for St. Nick / Santa to visit!
Sleep Tight & we'll see you in the morning!

It's The Day Before The Night Before Christmas

When I was little we had the BEST Christmas record, it was by the Caroleers & there was a song called The Day Before The Night Before Christmas & I always sing the song on Christmas Eve

It's the day before the night before Christmas and I'm busy, busy, busy being good... on the day before the night before Christmas, I'm gonna do everything a good boy should... I'm making up a list about 10 pages long.. I'm on page 10 now & still going strong... on the day before the night before Christmas, I'm busy, busy, busy being good... (Hi- mom, Kim & Jenna, I know you are all singing it right now!)

In the mood for nostalgia, we took the trips to see the Vinton Lights tonight. The Vinton Lights are a huge Christmas display of lights and custom made decorations put to music by the Kershner family just outside the town of Vinton. They have been putting up the display for 43 years!! I have been going to see them since I was little & I was very excited to take the trips this year. They really didn't get it quite yet, they all stayed in their car seats & kind of looked at the awesome lights display- I enjoyed it. Next year they will love it!

Here are a few photos of getting ready to go "bye-bye" & a couple of the Lights. At the end of the display there is a giraffe "Shorty" to take donations, I used to love to "feed" the giraffe money when I was little.

Christmas is almost here!
Are you ready for Christmas? I don't know about your household, but we are ready, but not ready for Christmas- if that makes any sense. I love Christmas, I love this time of year, I LOVE Christmas music (could honestly listen to it year round!) I love giving gifts & seeing the person's reaction. I love all the yummy goodies (but hate them come beginning of January, can you guess my New Year's Resolution?) But- there is still so much to do! I have lists all over the house with what I still need (or want) to get done. I don't have all the presents wrapped, heck I still have some that need to be put together! I need to make a few more dipped pretzels. I need to CLEAN my home!! We are supposed to have our first Christmas tomorrow, but the weather is looking yucky, but very Christmasy..... I'd take some more snow, but not on the days I have to travel- yes, I know I can be picky =)
ok- so, it's back to work! Maybe I can get a few things done before my babies (I mean toddlers!!) wake up.
Trip down memory lane......here is a picture of the trips last year at Christmas. My babies are growing up so fast (too fast!)

A visit to Santa

Last week we took the trips to see Santa at the mall. They did a great job!! I was very impressed, it always works out better if I assume the worst (like all 3 screaming!) then when that doesn't happen- it's a good night! Caitlen started to cry a bit, but somehow we got her to stop! No one is smiling (except Santa) but I think it's a great picture!


New chatter around our home...... we have a few "Santa" items around the house & the trips walk all over saying "Tanta, Tanta...Ho..Ho..Ho. Heck, any man with white hair, he doesn't even have to have a white beard & he is "Santa".... Poor Geppetto in our Pinocchio books is Santa... the Skipper to our bath time Tugboat is now Santa. We had the show "Duel" on last night & there was a gentleman w/ white hair & a white beard- the kiddos couldn't take their eyes off him- "Tanta" "Ho, Ho, Ho" it's just too cute!!

Christmas Baking
I love Christmas goodies- cookies, candy- oooohh, yummy!! I was planning on making some goodies this year & I was talking with a couple of friends (Michelle & Karla, my morning workout buddies... funny we were discussing baking while working out!) & we decided to get together & make some stuff- it's always more fun to do just about anything with friends!
We started a couple weeks ago with a "Cookie Night" over at Michelle's- besides making quite a mess....We made, Sugar Cookies, my personal favorite, but can take a long time, the making of the dough, chilling the dough, cutting out the cookies, baking them & then you still have to frost them!-- That is when it is much more fun to make them with friends & a couple bottles of wine! We also made Monster Cookies, Peanut Butter cookies w/ Reese's Peanut Butter cups (not sure the actual name for those cookies) & Chocolate Chip Cookies. Then we got together the next day to frost- we only ended up frosting 1/2 the cookies the first day. About a week later we got together again & frosted the remaining Sugar Cookies- that is quite a feat! We did make it a little bit of a competition- we each made our own Sugar Cookies and after they were all done & decorated we had a tasting contest. For Michelle's sugar cookies, she relied on her personal favorite- Betty Crocker (yes, the package where I think you add just water), Karla made cut out Sugar Cookies & I tried a new recipe Sour Cream Sugar Cookies. And the winner was.............. Karla!!!! We decided to just make one kind of sugar cookie next year & divide up. It's hard to have 3 different kinds going, taking them out of the oven & trying to remember who's was who's.
Then last weekend we got together at Karla's house to make some Christmas candy- we were mixing & dipping....& dipping.... & dipping for I think close to 8 hours!!! We made Wreaths (similar to krispie treats) dipped pretzels, dipped Ritz w/ peanut butter, cake balls (white & chocolate)- this was my first year for cake balls & I highly recommend them- yummy! Oreo balls, peanut butter Bon Bons... humm, I think that might be it. It was a lot of dipping- I think everything except the wreaths were dipped in almond bark! I forgot to take pictures, I did take a quick one towards the end, but some of the candy had already been boxed up. I then divided the candy & cookies up- handed a few goodie boxes out to my neighbors, got the goodie trays ready for Christmas at my mom's & Christmas at Sharon's and we have some to nibble on around the house this week...ooooo, so, yummy!

A big THANK YOU to Michelle & Karla for getting together with me to do some Christmas baking, I know some of the days were longer than we thought & at times our backs & feet hurt, but it was fun & I really hope we do it again next year!

Happy Thanksgiving!
What a busy week & I ate too much! We had a great Thanksgiving, we started out on Thursday going to D.J.'s cousin's house- Jeff & Lisa (thanks so much for inviting us!) D.J's aunt & uncle were up from Atlanta, it was good to see you Chris & Les! We went a bit early (11:00ish) for a 12:30 dinner assuming the kiddos wouldn't make it to the big dinner & that would give us a little over a hour to visit & then we'd have to leave. Much to our surprise the kiddos did great! It's always hard at someone elses home & lots of people, I think there were 50+ people-- that is a lot for the kiddos to take in. They played well, all sat down for us to feed them... ok, semi sat down, we corralled them on the floor & fed them- heck they'd do about anything for food =) Around 1:30, getting close to nap time, we headed home.

Then on Friday we had Thanksgiving dinner at Sharon's around 1:00pm. Debated a little about heading out shopping early Friday morning, but didn't this year, my mom was only a maybe & I didn't want to go alone.... come to find out she did go! Maybe I'll go next year, I always say that, but every year I hear how rude the Black Friday shoppers are & I really hate that!

The kiddos fell asleep on the way to Nanna's house, had to pause & enjoy the silence! Oh, don't they look too cute sleeping away!

We got over to Sharon's a bit early (yes, we still try to get everywhere early, I don't like being late.... for those of you who know me, this is old news) We got to Sharon's & fed the kiddos, they played a bit reading books & destroying Nanna's house. Then they headed off to bed.... which worked out great-- Me & D.J. got to sit down & eat a dinner without trying to feed the kiddos or having little beggars! It was a great dinner! The we just hung out, ate some dessert & it was time to get home.




Saturday was my Thanksgiving at my mom's & also her Birthday- HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! Don't you love the Pumpkin Pie/Birthday cake (I think we are missing a few candles?) We did the same at my mom's, we got there, fed the kiddos & then me & D.J. were able to eat! I LOVE Thanksgiving dinner, I think it's my favorite... turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, greenbean casserole.. yummy!! Then we enjoyed the rest of the day chatting with my family. We swapped Christmas lists (I don't know when the heck I'm going to get shopping!) Watched all the kiddos play (mine didn't seem to want to nap too well!) Heard about Jenna's surgery, yes, my poor little sister had to get her gallbladder out Wednesday night! Glad it went well & she is feeling better!! Then we had to head out a bit early because Austen was feeling a bit warm. After we got home & fed the kiddos some dinner, I headed back down to spend the evening with my mom. I really miss just sitting and chatting with her, got really used to it during the summer when we stayed with her so much! Happy Birthday Mom, Love you!
Here are a couple of pictures of the kiddos getting ready for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving morning after breakfast, who needs toys when you have fun red cups?

Here they are all dressed & ready to go!

CP Girl's Christmas Party
Each year me & my high school girlfriends have an annual girl's Christmas Party. This year we had it a bit early (last Wednesday, November 22nd) and EVERYONE was able to make it!! That is the first time in, I don't know how long, that everyone could come!! Thanks girls, it was such a fun night & so great to see everyone. Some of us brought our children..... I will be rethinking that idea next year, it was fun to see the kids that were able to make it. We have children ranging from 3 months old to 17 years old & in college! I really enjoy our get togethers, love catching up & oh, we laugh soooo hard!!!. I love that after all these years we still get together & enjoy each others friendships! I feel blessed to have known you guys for... omg, some of you 28 years+! True friendships, so hard to find!
I love you guys!
l-r/f-b: Debbie, Amy, Karla, Michelle, Traci w/ Brady, me, Heather & Beth.

Here's a picture of the kids that were able to make it.

Here's a big group photo!

Go Vikings!!

Here's a couple of pictures of the kiddos in their Viking outfits. I think they look absolutely adorable! Love the girls cheerleading outfits (thanks Nanna!)

Touchdown!

Elf Yourself!
I love this!! It's too cute!!! It makes me laugh every time. Check it out & then do one of you &/or your family. It just makes ya smile!
I had done this last year, but you could only do 1 elf, this year you can do up to 4 at a time.
Too fun! Enjoy.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9516007425