Getting ready

Trying my hardest not to let procrastination take over as I plan for Anderson's little after-school party next week. But it's sooo hard.

Christmas Recap (just a bit late)

It is hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone and I am beginning to think about Valentine's Day decorations. So easy it is to say that I am late in putting this post together because I have been so desperately busy for the last few weeks, but the truth is I have just not wanted to come to terms with the fact that such a great part of the year has already come and gone. It's not even that time is speeding by as it usually has a tendency to do at this time of year, I just simply made enjoying the moments of December a priority over documenting them in real time. December went something like this:

We chose our tree

and built a gingerbread house.

I made, addressed, and mailed the cards

and the boys and I made cookies for friends (but we ate most ourselves!) and cupcakes for school.

We sang tons of Christmas songs and Anderson performed a few favorites for his school concert.

The boys visited Santa

and Santa visited them.

Anderson ate his weight in candy canes

but he saved some for his friends.

We celebrated with the extended family

 and tried desperately to get a decent family picture

repeatedly

I made little gifts for teachers

and wrapped a few for my boys

only to be over-shadowed by the awesome wrapping job Gabe did for me.

Santa delivered the rest

and the boys played all day

but not before the obligatory "everybody in front of the tree looking terrible in your jammies first thing in the morning"picture

Yes, there were a few more things in there (light viewing, dinosaur tail sewing, glass etching, DIY decorating and way more glittering than I care to admit), but I either failed to take photos or took some too lousy to do the projects justice. Maybe next year.:)

 

All in all it was a really great month. We were fortunate to spend a lot of time together as a family and really focus on involving the kids as much as possible. I am sad to have wrapped it all up as I removed the wreaths from the front doors yesterday, but I am so excited for this new year and all of the possibilities it holds. Here's to January! 





Baby Beck turned one!

We had a little party for Baby Beck to celebrate his first year. We have been trying to keep things simple around here so we had a small family party and kept the decorations easy and minimal. There was no theme other than to celebrate our baby boy. The weather wasn't very nice and at the last minute we decided to do everything in the house. The great thing about turning one is that you have no idea what is going on and, unlike your older brother, do not have overly specific requests for cakes and decor. It was a happy afternoon for a happy little one year old.