Merry Christmas!

This year our Christmas did not go exactly as planned, but it was still wonderful!

Poor Emma got sick that Monday morning with a high fever, and it held until Wednesday {Christmas Eve}. Then as we were literally about to walk out the door and head to our festivities for the night, she started vomiting. So we obviously did not end up going.

Luckily her fever went down a little bit, and she was decent for Christmas morning. She was such a trooper! The one year we didn't get her a flu shot {parent fail?}...

Needless to say, we will not be forgetting to do that, ever again!

This year was our year to host the holiday at our home, and it was a nice, cozy, all-day affair! Howard, the girls and I woke up at 6am and opened our presents, and Santa's of course! He then promptly left at 8am to ride with the Fire Department, and their Santa, to pass out presents and candy canes down the streets of our district! He loved it, and it was fun to watch him do it! 

Our families got to our house around 8:30, and unloaded their gifts. We ate breakfast together, and waited for Howard to come down our street. Once he got home, we started opening family gifts. Once that was behind us, we started dinner. 

It was definitely nice how it lasted all day long, rather than just finishing with the festivities quickly. I did not capture too many photos, since I was busy hosting, taking care of a sick kiddo, and chasing after a 15 month old! 

Yup, that's right! Haylee turned 15 months old on Christmas Day!

But here is a little of what I did manage to capture this Holiday Season:

We hope your Holiday was just as amazing!

Holiday Inspiration!

I have been completely engulfed in the Holiday Spirit this year!

Which is very exciting for me, since last year I feel off the wagon a little bit.

But this year, it will be different! It is different!

Yes...I have already broken into my Christmas music stash, and have started my holiday shopping a little earlier than usual.
And since this is our year to host Christmas at our house, I am into it more than ever!

Thank you to our dear ol' friend Pinterest, I have been extremely inspired with how to decorate! And since I am feeling giddy, like a little kid, I feel the need to share! 

From betweenyouandmeblog.com

From aestheticnest.com

From bringrestoration.blogspot.com

From bhg.com

From blogs.dizimatik.com

From yellowblissroad.com

Where do you get your inspiration from?!

What Christmas Means To Me

 1. What makes Christmas such a special holiday for you and your family?  
Absolutely everything! It has always been my favorite Holiday, and time of year. Even as a child, it was never about the presents for me. Granted, they are an extra bonus, but for me it is all about being with Family. Hanging together all day, enjoying each other's company, and never forgetting the Reason FOR the Season! The birth of Jesus!  You will never find me abbreviating the word Christmas. To me, it is just lazy and disrespectful. It does not take any effort to type or write CHRISTmas! Please do not forget why celebrate this best time of year! And now we have started a new family tradition with our girls - The Elf on the Shelf! Emma just loves it!
The music, the happiness, and the joy that everybody feels this time of year all adds up! I have always wished that it really could be Christmas all year long! Could you just imagine?!

2. Were you told the truth about Santa Claus by your parents, or did you find out another way? 
 I found out the truth all on my own! Every Christmas my Papa would dress up as the Big Guy and hand out presents. But one Christmas Eve I noticed that my Papa was not in the room with us. I looked around a bit, and recognized Santa's wedding ring! It was a dead give away for me! I was not upset however, and I played the game until my cousin's new the truth. It was, and still is, fun to believe! 

 
3. Do you plan on telling your kids about Santa (if you have them or plan to have them)?
I want my children to believe as long as possible. Emma knows why we celebrate Christmas, and what it is all about. But she is starting to catch on to the whole Santa thing. I want her to believe in the magic and the innocence of it all as long as possible. There is so much hatred and battered innocence on an everyday basis as adults, that I believe children should hold on to it for as long as they can. Some people will argue that letting your childern believe in Santa and keeping it up, is lying to them. Perhaps it is technically, but I survived the truth, and so will my girls! 

4. Real tree or fake tree?
 Growing up my mom and I usually had fakes, while my grandparents had the real deal. I loved both, and still do not necisarilly have a preference for one over the other. And since we have lived in our own home, it has been real. And will continue to be. More for the tradition than anything else.

5. Do you open presents on Christmas morning, Christmas Eve, or both? We usually do one on Christmas Eve, and the rest on Christmas morning. That way the kiddies don't get so anxious! 
 

6. What is your favorite Christmas movie to watch, and favorite Christmas song to sing or listen to? 
Where do I begin?! While my Papa was alive, we had a tradition where we would watch all the old classis Christmas shows; Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, Santa Clause Is Coming To Town, Jack Frost, Charlie Brown Christmas, etc...and now I have passed that down to Emma! We also LOVE to watch Elf, A Muppet's Christmas Carol,  The Grinch {both versions} and so many more!
Now when it comes to the music, which I begin listening to the week before Thanksgiving, it is hard for me to pick favorites! I grew up listening to The Carpenters, Anne Murray, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, and all the classics!
I made my own personal tradition about 10 years ago - every year I make a point to purchase the Starbucks Holiday CD! Whether it is good or bad, I just have to have it! They have such a great mix of the classics and modern day artists combined! I highly suggest you check it out! :)

So there you have it! What Christmas means to me! I wish you, and yours, a very Merry Christmas, the Happiest Holiday, and an even Happier New Year! XoXo

Happenings As Of Late:

Let me begin with Haylee's two month check-up! It went good...well, except for the vaccination part. I forgot how hard it is to go through as a parent! I told myself, "Oh, I've done this before..I'm good. I'm good." But I wasn't! I cried. Admittingly!

As of last week {her appt}, she now weighs in at 10.08 lbs, and is 22 in long. Just like Em, she is a petite little thing. Clocking in at 25% for both height and weight. But perfectly healthy and happy! Now keep in mind - she was three weeks early, and only weighed 6 lbs 9oz at birth! So in comparison, she is growing like a weed! Must be the formula! :)

I am in so much Love with this grin!

Next on my list, Thanksgiving: it will definitely be one that I will not soon forget. Long story short, that night I ended up having to go the Covington E.R. {which is really nice, by the way} for what ended up to be a gallbladder attack. Let me just say, I am not one to quickly go the doctor or hospital on a whim. So for me to head to the E.R. should clue you in on the pain I was feeling....

Today, actually, I will be meeting with a surgeon to discuss how quickly I need to get it removed. Needless to say, I am not looking forward to having surgery. Especially with two littles at home to take care of. This should be interesting! I have had about thirty people tell me that they had their gallbladder removed, and that the recovery is only about 2-3 days. Phew! That's a relief to hear!

Hello, and Good Morning!

Also, I recently found out that my Best Friend is moving back home from Wyoming! I could not be more excited about that! Let's just say that there are days when I could use a good friend around! Not to mention our kiddos will be thrilled to see each other!!

And now I have to mention my new business venture! It kind of fell into my lap, and couldn't pass up the opportunity. I recently became an Independent Consultant for a company called Thirty-One. It is a faith-based company, all about helping and supporting strong, independent women! They even have a line of products called Thirty-One Gives, where each purchase donates a portion to a charity that empowers women and girls! Right On!

And in case you are wondering what this company sells, it has a little bit of everything! 

From stationary and bags, to totes, purses and bins, to accessories and wallets, nail files and makeup bags! All of which can {mostly} be personalized. Basically, anything you need to get organized in style with, Thirty-One offers! 

 This past Friday night I held my Launch Party, and I would like to Thank everyone who came out to help me get started!

And if you know me at all, you know how much of a organizational freak I am! So this company is pretty much right up my ally! 

If you want to check it out, here is the link to the site!

Thirty-One Gifts

And last on my list, the Holiday Season! My favorite time of year has finally arrived! 

I have my decorations up, and now we just have to decorate our tree that we got yesterday! 

Now with Christmas, comes Hermy - our Elf on the Shelf! Emma absolutely LOVES him, and looking for him each morning is quite possibly one of her favorite things to do each day! 

I think I may love him as much as Em does!

Santa DOES love her!

 I am so excited to kick off this Holiday Season, and celebrate it with our newest little addition! Babies first Christmas is always so exciting, don't you agree?!

Checking In!

I know it's been a little while since my last post, again! But with the Holidays and all of Emma's festivities, it becomes hard to remember everything! {How do people do it with more than one child?!} 

Since my last post, Howard and I have celebrated our three year wedding anniversary {10 together, though}! During that day, I was at my moms wrapping Em's presents. When I got home, I opened the door to a most pleasant surprise! Howard and Em had cleaned the whole house! Now, that may not sound like much to some people, but to me...I LOVED IT!

Also, Emma had her Pre-K Christmas Program - SO CUTE! There is nothing more precious than witnessing a room full of 4 and 5 year old's singing {or shall I say yelling!} Christmas songs at the top of their lungs! Each child also had their own special line, a solo moment if you will! Em's line was: "...bringing gifts they came to see..." I was a little worried that she may get shy in front of the audience, but she did PERFECT! I was, and AM, so proud!!

We also went to visit Santa! Emma gave him her Christmas list, in the form of a letter...TOO CUTE! She has never been the kid who has been afraid of Santa. She has always loved him! Been more than Happy to sit with him, talk and smile pretty for the camera! Thank goodness for that!

Also, my not-s0-baby-girls birthday is coming up in a mere four weeks! SHE. WILL. BE. FIVE! I am having a little bit of difficulty coming to this realization. Do you know what five means?! Kindergarten! Aahh! What happened to my precious, tiny baby? The one who didn't know how to talk back? The one that would take naps on a regular basis? I know where she is - here with me. Only almost all grown up!

With the Holiday Season in full swing, we have definitely been feeling the Spirit this year! Have you? It comes and goes so quickly...I wish it could stick around a little while longer. The silver-lining to this, however, is that it WILL be back again in one year! 

Festive Christmas Favorites!

 
Favorite Christmas Movie?

That is a tough one, considering I have quit a few! Any of the originals, Rudolph, Frosty, A Charlie Brown Christmas, etc...I would watch those as a child with my Papa each year. They are all near and dear to my heart. But I can't forget about Elf! Gotta get those laughs in!

Are you on the Naughty list or the Nice list?

I am hoping for the Nice list! Although, we all know that only Santa knows that answer! He, he!

Have you ever had a White Christmas?

Yes, a few times in the past. I especially remember two years ago. It was beautiful!

Where do you usually spend your holiday?

We do our family gifts at home in the morning, then usually head over to my in-laws for breakfast and more presents! Then we head over to some extended family members for a great big Christmas dinner.

What's your favorite Christmas song?

There is NO way I can pick just one! I love Christmas too much to pick! But two of my faves are: "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Johnny Mercer & Margeret Whiting, and "Cool Yule" by Louis Armstrong!

Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?

Not usually...but it would be fun!

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?     
On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen! On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen! Don't forget about Rudolf!


What Christmas tradition are you looking forward to most this year?

Getting our tree and decorating it! Oh, and my Christmas cards! But this year we are starting a new one: Elf on a Shelf! Our elf's name is Hermy! Emma loves him, and the whole idea behind it! I love that she believes!!!

Is your Christmas tree real or fake?

This is our second year with a real tree. We started last year, after moving into our house. It smells so good!

What is your all-time favorite Christmas sweet treat?
I don't have one favorite in particular, but usually anything involving peppermint is good in my book!

Do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts better?

Honestly, BOTH! However, the giving of gifts, and watching them open it, is best!

What would be your dream place to visit for the Christmas season?

I would love to see what the Holidays are like in Italy...I can only imagine how beautiful it must be!

Does your family have a special Christmas recipe you like to help make?

My father in-law has THE BEST Christmas morning cream-of-wheat recipe ever! He won't share it with me though...YET! He, he!

Are you a pro-present wrapper, or do you fail miserably?

It is definitely NOT my strong suit! But I do like to pick out the wrapping paper, boxes and bags!

Most memorable Christmas moment?

Oh my...I literally have so many. From when I was a child, with my Papa and family, to my daughters first Christmas, to now...my list would be too long!

What made you realize the truth about Father Christmas?

Are we talking Santa? 'Cause if we are, then I know exactly! I noticed my Papa's wedding band, and realized he was not in the room when Santa was...let's just say that I put 2+2 together! But if we are talking the true meaning of the Holiday, then it would be when I was younger, and went to church every Sunday...

Do you make New Years Resolutions? Do you stick to them?

I NEVER make resolutions! In fact, I wrote a whole post about this last year...I believe that making resolutions, is setting yourself up for failure in the coming year...

What makes Christmas special for you?

FAMILY! TRADITIONS! MEMORIES! MUSIC! LIGHTS! PRESENTS! GIVING! EVERYTHING! Sometimes I wonder, 'do I love Christmas too much'?! But then I think to myself: 'NO! Not possible!'