Merry Christmas!

It's practically here!

We are kicking off Christmas festivities tommorow so Reese and I spent the day checking the lasts things off our list.

One was a little craft for Grandma Brower:

Yes, She is rolling her eyes at me.... :)

We hope everyone has a happy and safe Christmas!

Christmas Play Date

We have been crafting away this Christmas! Today, we had a Christmas themed play-date.

We had reindeer cookies for snack...

juice boxes {these two look up to something}...

and made our own Christmas ornaments!

Nicole had a very simple recipe for equal parts applesauce and cinnamon - one suggestion: mix and let it sit to harden some before cutting out your patterns.

Reese was very sure to press firmly on hers!

They had so much fun and now our house smells like cinnamon :)

Gingerbread House

We made our first gingerbread house! Although it was fun to make, I can't say much for the quality!

It fell over before we were even finished! Oh well, we had fun!

"Family Maintenance" Day

I always said Robert took for granted everything I did as a stay-at-home mom but this Christmas I have realized I took for granted everything I could get done during the week!

This Christmas, our weekends have been full of house projects, decorating, ornament swaps and of course shopping! So today, I took a personal day. No painting, cleaning or babysitters! Reese and I slept in, we did some things around town and then, her favorite, went to CHUCKIE CHEESE! Reese kept saying "Is it a PARTY?!"

**Her hair is straight because "Mar-Mar" cut it! NOT because I straightened it :)

We finished the afternoon with a quick trip to BassPro and guess who we ran into...SANTA!

I wasn't going to push the whole Santa thing this year after our traumatic experience last year. But, I thought it wouldn't hurt to try. Turns out, she did great! We went to BassPro {which I would highly suggest.} There were no lines so she could take her time.

Her list to Santa:

1. A putter...computer

2. A baby doll

3. A puppy....yea I don't really know what we are going to do about that one!

We were absolutely exhausted, but it was the best day I have had in a very long time. She is so absolutely sweet and growing wayyy too fast. I say this every year but, I think this Christmas will be the best yet! She is more aware of everything and can actual help us pick out gifts. We are all three counting down the days...10 to go!!!

On A Cold Sunday....

We like to cuddle up and read...

Today's book of choice is "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" because Reese has asked 3 times to read it! My favorite part:

"Maybe Christmas," he {The Grinch} thought, "doesn't come from a store."

"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

Other than reading we are just hanging around!

"Tales of a Bad Blogger"

That should be the new title to my blog! I've never pretended to be a good blogger but the last few months have really been pitiful. In my defense, I have moved in with my parents, then moved out, taken on a whole house project, gone to work, lost my camera, bought a new one, broken it...not to mention I have a two year old that I am still trying to get to sleep in her own bed!

But what better time to start back blogging than the holidays. After all, everyone has soo much extra time around Christmas anyway, right?! So I am starting early on a few of my 2011 resolutions.

#1 Blog!

I'll try to hit the highlights of the last few months, but let's face it...I'll be doing good to post what's happening now! Hope you enjoy!

Big Cousin

Being "home" has some serious advantages...like having Payton over to play!

/Saturday, she came over to visit - they made mudpies outside, she cleaned Reese's room while Reese took a nap then they made cookies!

Payton is so patient with Reese and Reese just loves her Payton. I feel like Payton should still be Reese's size!