Merry Christmas

THE LORD HIMSELF WILL GIVE YOU A SIGN:

THE VIRGIN WILL BE WITH CHILD AND

WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON,

AND WILL CALL HIM IMMANUEL.

Isaiah 7:14

thoughts so random it hurts

All the presents are wrapped and under the tree.  I have even cleaned up my gift staging area and gone through the Christmas bins to Goodwill the things I know I won't use next year.

I do however have 5 baskets of clean clothes in my bedroom that have been waiting all week to be put away.

Today I vowed to stop eating chips.

I haven't made it to the gym three days a week since July{hence the chip vow}.

Next week I vow to make it to the gym three days a week for the next 8 months.

In eight months Todd and I have our 20th High School reunion{I possibly need to stop eating more than chips}

Speaking of Toddy, today is our 11th Wedding Anniversary.

This is the text he sent me this morning. *Happy Anniversary. I love you, it has been bliss, and even when it wasn't I still loved you madly* Don't be mistaken people, this is romance at it's finest!

 {I love gingerbread houses.  This is Asher's creation}

I am possibly looking forward to taking down the Christmas decorations.

I want to repaint the entry way hallway so bad it's making me itch.

I'm thinking I should have bought myself a Panini press for Christmas.  I'm not sure why I think this.  I warned you these were random.  {yes, for the record, I did all the Christmas shopping for myself.  I'm as excited as the kids to rip open my gifts and I already know what they are!}

 {Starbucks ain't got nothing on me}

This morning on the way out of the gym{for the 2nd and last time this week} Sloan and I opened the door for the very interesting "woman" walking through, After the door shut Sloan said "That's not a mommy, that's a boy!". 

This is the boys new favorite Christmas song. It's not new at all, just to us.

 {this picture is making another Christmas song come to mind}

I'm making this cocktail on Christmas eve{I wish I was drinking one right now.  It's 3:00pm}

I'm also making this appetizer

I would like to wear dresses with boots for the rest of my life.

{ I think this cute dress is making the fact that my forehead is huge less noticeable. well, on second thought maybe not}

I'll be 38 next month.

Have I ever told you I hate my birthday.

I'm thinking I will not do another "What I Wore" entry until I get a mirror some place other than in my bedroom.

 {this guy makes me feel young}

 {that guy looks like he's struggling to have fun}

I'm thinking about going to a Zumba class

I'm really hoping that December 26th doesn't find me upset that I'm not in Des Moines

I have to find a rug for my kitchen

When Sloan wakes up at night{which he does often}, he yells that there's a big bad monster in his room.  How could I not go in there just to check and then sneak him into our bed.

{Santa's death grip on the back of Holden's neck is cracking me up}

I'm thinking about not going to Target for 30 days to see how much money I save, but I'm scared.

I love Target.

I need to finish baking Christmas cookies. 

the elf on the shelf blog entry from last week is still making me laugh.

I hope that you are all finding some comfort and joy during this busy holiday season.  I'm off to dip some peanut butter balls in chocolate.

you'll thank me for sharing

A friend forwarded this link in an email yesterday and I am still cracking up.  If you need a good laugh{especially if your a mom}, you have to read it...

http://peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.blogspot.com/2011/12/over-achieving-elf-on-shelf-mommies.html

Christmas: a home tour

Merry Christmas from our house to yours

{the mantel}

{the sunroom}

{the kitchen}

{cherished}

{the tree}

 {a kiddo and his little friends}

{peace and love}



I'm joining the party here



Sloan tested. Not so big brother approved.

"Jingle" is this years Christmas stuffed animal at our house. Some people, I won't name names but they are six and eight, thought he was dorky...

 

he makes cute little noises when you read certain lines in his Christmas book...

 

lucky for me I have Sobee....

christmas cards are the "s" word

Back in this post I did a little venting about Christmas card pictures.  I'm still a bit bitter.  I vow next year to have them professionally done. I know my mom will be all broken hearted over it, as she was probably really looking forward to watching me have another melt down :) 

Getting these people to do anything these days is tough, and sometimes my wonderful husband can be the biggest bump in the road{hello fake smile and wandering eyes!}.  After looking a this picture a million times and thinking how we all looked cute except...Todd...I was going to use it anyways.  That was our only chance to get a picture and I thought up a way to get around "the bump".

 Ok, it was a desperate act, but these are desperate times for a desperate me.  I talked my self into it, I was three seconds from placing the order, but something told me to ask Todd for his opinion. He came over to the computer and was nearly  speechless.  He accused me of not liking him very much if I was going to actually use this picture.  I accused him of being "the bump".  I decided in order to save my marriage I should move on to plan B. 

This does not happen to be plan B, but wouldn't it be awesome if it was. 

note: I don't think Christmas cards are the "s" word{stupid for those of you who don't have an 8 year old}. I love them, really I do.

making that again: the holiday entertaining edition

Well, I guess the holidays are in full swing, even if I'm not quite there yet.  I did however find myself humming Christmas carols while I was shopping this morning, so I think I will get in the spirit eventually.  I wanted to share a couple recipes with you that may be helpful with your entertaining this year, or if you need to take something to a breakfast, a cocktail party, a potluck...

I only have a picture of the coffee cake{what kind of cooking post is this?}but trust me when I tell you I will be making  them again.

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

{note: I made the filling a day ahead.  It comes back to life after it is heated in the oven}

Queso Potato Soup

{note: it calls for half the bag of hash browns, but I would add nearly the whole bag}

{If you are making this for more than a couple adults, I would double recipe}

Overnight Coffee Crumble Cake

{I left out the bourbon in the icing...I was taking it to church...it was still yummy}

Enjoy!

gettin merry up in here

The tree is up, the garland is hung, it's beginning to feel a little like Christmas{it's 65 degrees today}.  I even finally got my act together and the Advent calender is out{3 days late but who's counting...Holden was}.  I know I've gone on and on before about the Advent calender, but I love it.  I virtually do the same things every year{that's what a tradition is right?} and the morning I give the yearly ornament is one of my favorites. 

Is it just me, or are cute ornaments hard to find?  I mean, this is important stuff people.  My children compare and take inventory against each other while they trim the tree.  My ornament hunt is not something I take lightly.  This year  I found three cute little puppies and the boys thought it was pretty funny that I thought these little stuffed dogs were a representation of their personalities.  The one with curly matted hair is certainly Holden, preppy puppy is without a doubt Asher and the floppy eared goofy pup is Sloan.  See what I mean, no need to mark them with initials, I'll never have a problem remembering who these belong to ;)

I dreamt {dreamed, am dreaming} of a white kitchen

Every time I walk down the stairs and into the kitchen I love it a little bit more.  I'm not sure if it's because it was a gradual renovation, so it's been a gradual appreciation, but I am really happy with how it has all turned out.  I am mostly thrilled with how my "dream kitchen"{for this house at least} came out looking like the one in my head.  I love every element.  I love that it was on a major budget and still looks pretty{7,000.00 including appliances-that's fabulous}, and I love that my husband said yes to everything. He encouraged my vision and never even questioned butcher block counter tops, I think that's pretty amazing. He trusted me and for that I am thankful.  I have to admit that I haven't always trusted his ideas and this project has made me rethink how I can approach his "dream"plans better.  He deserves an emphatic YES! a lot of the time.

  Still working on the open shelves, but things are looking better.

Pottery Barn saved this organizing mama{again}.