Christmas 2010

I know Christmas has come and gone but I wanted to document it.  I love Christmas.  It's the best time of the year.  And with children, Christmas is just more magical.  Every Christmas I promise myself I am going to stay on budget.  I never do.  Never.  I love Christmas shopping but hate slow tellers and doddling people! It's Christmas people let's get a move on it!  This year I did ALL my Christmas shopping with the little ones and it went better than expected!  We were constantly running to different stores searching for the right gifts for our friends and family!  And the boys were amazing!  I think the Christmas spirit was running through their veins. Every year I create a shopping list with all the names of people we have to buy for and how much everything cost...I try not to add everything up...it can get quite frightening but it's so worth it!  I love shopping!



We are in desperate need of more storage!

 I really didn't know what to get the boys this year.  We already have tons of toys but sure enough I went crazy.  I thought we'd get Nate a car seat for Christmas and although we got the car seat he never actually got it as a Christmas gift.  Once I started shopping I couldn't stop.  The boys got a little kitchen-I searched high and low for the perfect kitchen and as soon as I decided on one they were all sold out on all the websites.  I panicked.  I needed to get them that kitchen for Christmas!  It became my mission.  I spent hours every day searching the web for the Teamson kitchen.  Canadian websites had them but of course they cost an arm and a leg and your first born.  I was getting desperate.  Thankfully a friend of mine found a FABULOUS deal online and I was able to order it.  Phew!  I was online shopping every day like crazy!  And waiting for the packages was the best part!  And I made a few new friends at ship happens (I love that place)!

I knew this year was going to be extra special.  Not only was it Nate's first Christmas but I knew this year Lincoln would "get it".  And he did!  Last year I spent countless  hours wrapping gift after gift, stocking stuffer after stocking stuffer only to have myself unwrap everything.  He had absolutely no interest in unwrapping gifts.  This year I knew it was going to be a different story!  Christmas was everything I dreamt it to be and more.  I have waited my whole life for Christmas morning like the one we had-me, my hubby and our two precious boys...does it get any better than that?

We spent Christmas with Kev's family a week before Christmas.  Aunty Nelly cooked her first turkey and it was delicious!  The kids loved opening presents and of course they got spoiled!

On Christmas Eve Kev spent most of the day assembling the kitchen (thank you Kev).  We let the kids open one present which was their matching Christmas pajama's (they were so fricken cute).  And after their bath Kev and I loaded them up in the car and went to look at Christmas lights.  Once we got back home we put out milk and cookies for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph.    We read The Night Before Christmas (a classic) and read about baby Jesus and the night he was born (the reason for the season).  I love Christmas traditions and one day hope my little ones carry on the same traditions.

Looking at Christmas Lights!

And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Christmas morning was magical!!!  Lincoln woke up in such a happy mood (who wouldn't...it's Christmas).  He was so excited to see all the presents.  I thought he'd go crazy and want to start opening up presents.  I thought we'd have melt downs.  And I thought we'd have time outs.  But nope!  Lincoln loved opening up the presents.  We'd tell him to go to the tree and choose a gift.  He'd bring it back to Kev and Kev would tell him who it was for. 

My favorite are stocking stuffers.  I love them.  And Kev does such a good job every year.  Swedish berries, mascara, dental floss, travel toothpaste and toothbrushes, polident (for my invisaligns-I thought it was a joke at first), scratch and wins, shaving cream, razors, face cream, gum, chocolate bars and deodorant!  Doing the boys stocking this year was fun: toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, candy (kid friendly stuff), sippy cups, bubble bath, band aids, knick knacks...you name they got it!  I loved watching Linc open his presents!  He'd get so excited and watching his sweet little face warmed my heart!

Kev absolutely loves new socks...seriously!

The after math!

Best kitchen ever!

Kevin always spoils me.  Every year we set a budget and he always goes over.  And I appreciate it!  This year my last gift I opened contained bullets.  I wasn't impressed.  He told me we needed a hobby together.  Shooting guns with my hubby isn't my idea of a fun hobby!  But behind the bullets was a crap load of cash.  I cried.  He told me it was money for me to go and decorate our new place.  Awww I love that guy!  And not because he had given me cash...I mean I love money but I certainly know that money doesn't buy happiness and that wasn't his intention.  And I know he wasn't trying to buy my happiness.  I know he does things like this because he loves surprising me.  And he knows I want to get new things for the house.  I know he appreciates me and all the things I do around the house.  Needless to say this gift was a pleasant surprise and VERY much appreciated.  Thank you Kev:-)   

Our new tradition is eating breakfast at home as a family.  Before Kev and I had kids we'd quickly open up gifts, head to my parents, open up more gifts, eat breakfast, head to some ones open house, visit with Kevs family, head back to my parents for dinner.  And it just got to be too much!  We agreed that Christmas would be our time and we'd make it about the kids.  Kev cooked toutents (deep fried bread dough) and bacon.  Yummy so delicious! 

I love that Kevin felt the need to keep the fire extinguisher handy while he was cooking breakfast!

Later that afternoon we headed to my parents where the kids got spoiled (and so did we)! We devoured a delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings (oh I love turkey dinner).  Enjoyed some family time and called it a night!

And amongst all the gifts and presents and unwrapping I didn't fail to remember the true meaning of Christmas.  I couldn't help but think those 5 little children we bought gifts for and I hoped and prayed they had a magical Christmas!  I am grateful and blessed.  Very blessed.  We spoiled our kids but I want them to know it's not about the presents.  It's about Jesus and his birth and his time on earth.  It's about family and friends and being together.  It's about being thankful for our health and for the time we get to spend together.  It's about helping others in need.  It's about love, and sharing, and giving back.  It's important for my boys to know that.  Christmas is not about toys.  It's about the gift of Jesus and that's the most important gift of all.  I never want the true meaning of Christmas to get lost. 

Every year after Christmas I always say:
"I should have listened to more Christmas music"
"I should have put the tree up sooner"
"I wish Christmas would last longer"
"I should have said Merry Christmas more"
"I should have spent more time admiring the Christmas tree"
"I should have put up more decorations"
"I should have drank more egg nog"
I should have, I should have I should have...but I know I enjoyed Christmas to the best of my ability.  Christmas never last long enough.  And the anticipation for next year has started back up again.  I can't wait for Christmas!

Our New Place

Our new place is almost done and I can't wait to move in!  I am no interior decorator and have absolutely no vision but I try.  My biggest inspiration is the Internet (thank you Internet) and my favorite designer Sarah Richardson (love her).  I am hoping everything will come together!  Our kitchen cabinets just got installed and I love them!!!  I debated in my head over espresso or grey mist cabinets (which are in our laundry room) and in the end espresso won (and because Kev said he didn't want white cabinets). 

My kitchen!

Awww so much storage!

Family Room

Laundry Room

I love the contrast of the dark cabinets against the light color of the walls.  The wall color we chose is called Edgecomb Grey by Benjamin Moore and I actually didn't choose it myself.  My (future) sister-in-laws sisters house is painted that color and I loved it!  And since I am not a visual person it was nice to see someones house already painted that color.  The colors we have in our house now are warm so it'll be nice to have a cooler color palette in our new place.  Every time I walk into our new house I think of a nice warm cozy blanket-and I kinda like that feeling.  I worried about the color-my brothers told me they didn't like it and of course I started doubting my chose (that was also when there was only one color of coat on the walls and there was nothing else in the house).  I am the most indecisive person EVER and can be easily persuaded so there comments didn't help.  As for the color now-I am happy!

I never thought choosing lighting would ever be an issue but it was.  There is like a million lighting options and it doesn't help that Kevin and I have very different taste.  In the end we compromised-he got to choose the light in his office and all the lights downstairs.  In return I got this gem:

And it was worth the fight.  As soon as I saw it I had to have it!  I fought long and hard and my husband finally caved!  And I am so glad he did! 

My absolute favorite designer is Sarah Richardson and she was the inspiration behind Nate's room:

I love the use of different colors and patterns!

The curtains are from Ikea and I love them.  I bought vinyl decals for the wall from etsy (love that website) and although his furniture is espresso I'm hoping it'll look good.  I just need an inspiration for Lincoln's room.

We've had a few bumps along the way: the carpet we wanted got discontinued, the glass for our cabinets got discontinued, we had an issue with a cut cable, the wrong color of gutters (although in the end my dad was right and the grey ones look better), and issues with the front post.  Now that everything is picked I am hoping the next month and a half go by smoothly!

Goodness

Yesterday morning I woke up next to 3 sleeping boys...it was priceless!  And today I woke up next to 2 sleeping babies!  Love these moments!  I cherish them! 

And today the boys and I had a picnic...corn dogs and veggies-they balance each other out!  Well Nate had multi-grain Cheerios, yams, yogurt and banana!

Look at these two!  They are both just so precious!  Lincoln's reverted back to crawling...he chases Nate and Nate chases him.  They giggle and laugh!  I love the sound of laughter in our house!  It makes me smile!  And I am lucky and blessed!  And today was a good day...a very very good day!

On a side note...Avery came over to play the other day!  Lincoln and Aves had "coffee"-it sounded too feminine to say they were having a tea party-those two are just so cute!

It's Been Awhile!

Wow!  This last month has been crazy!!  But crazy in such a good way!  I'm going to be working my way backwards because I want to be able to capture the memories from this last month!  As of yesterday we finally put our house on the market!  Ya!!  Our new place should be ready at the end of February and I can't wait to start decorating!  The process of building a new home has been exhausting but yet exhilarating!

There it is...the for sale sign on our house!!!!

And yesterday I finally got my invisalign braces!!!!!!  Right now my braces and I have a love hate relationship!  I have wanted braces my whole life.  In elementary school I use to unfold paper clips, put them in a U shape and then put them in my mouth to pretend I had braces!  I use to envy all those kids that got to miss class because they had an "ortho" appointment and then they were allowed to drink their milkshake from McDonald's in class "because their mouth hurt"!  Lucky bitches!!!  Anyway fast forward 20 some odd years and here I am with braces (minus the metal).  I really really wanted to treat myself after my appointment because I thought back to all those years when all those cool kids got milkshakes...but that wasn't an option!  Either was Starbucks or Orange Julius!  The down side to invisalign is that I can only drink water with them on.  Ya!  Water!  And of course all I'm craving is juice, pop, coffee...anything and everything besides water!  As I type I'm splurging and drinking a coke from a glass bottle!  And as for snacking-I have to cut that out too!  It's just too much work!  Take the invisaligns out (which is a struggle), eat a few Swedish berries, brush teeth, floss, clean invisaligns, put back in!  Way too much work for a few Swedish berries!  That'll take some getting use to!  As for the invisaligns themselves...um...I wanna pull my teeth out and scream.  OK today hasn't been that bad but yesterday was a whole other story!  I cursed all those who have perfect teeth and who have never had to endure braces!  When they were first put in I was like "phff" easy breezy!  20 minutes later, my eyes were bug eyed and all I could think about was "there is plastic on my teeth, there is plastic on my teeth, there is plastic on my teeth."  I am hoping and praying that after a week they'll feel like they've always been there!

Any way this coke is calling my name and so is the donut Kevin left on the counter for himself!  Sorry Kev!  And I can only have my invisaligns out for 2-4 hours a day so I must get to snacking (and to watching the Bachelor that I PVR'd from Monday)!  I love PVR's!!!!