Christmas 2015 Recap!

I'm going to go ahead and say that this was, by far, my most favorite Christmas EVER!

Having kids is so much fun and I'm so proud to call these little people mine.

A few days before Christmas I was scrolling through IG and came across one of my all-time favorite blogs, Bower Power Blog.  Well, Katie, her majesty of The Bower Power, came up this list of photos to take during Christmas:

I loved this idea.  What a great way to keep track of those precious moments, right?!  She's a genius.

As a result, Jon and I were sure to take plenty of pictures and I'm so, so happy we did, especially considering the gingerbread houses were eaten in 20 minutes, the cookies were decorated in 10 minutes and the gifts were unwrapped in 0.15 seconds!  

Those moments are gone.  

Over.

As much as I want to be IN the moment, for me, I like to remember the moment through photos, too.  

#worstmemoryever

Like I said, we took lots of pictures.  Are you ready?

The kids made gingerbread houses.

 

Henry (the goof-ball) made pancakes.

I prepared the children for a million pictures.  Don't they look thrilled?!

"Kiss each other!  Perfect!"

Eliza and Henry made cookies.

 The kids decorated the cookies...and as you can see, Eliza made Type 2 Diabetic cookies...

Whoa sugar-on-sugar!

The kids drank eggnog.

The Elves arrived with our Christmas jammies!

"Kiss each other, again!  Yes!"

We waited for the big guy...

...and waited...

...and waited...

...and waited.  Luckily Nubs was around to keep us occupied.

Then we waited some more.

"Hey, you guys...kiss each other over by the tree, again!  Beautiful!"

(Are you noticing a theme, here?  I might have a problem... Does anyone remember that SNL where the family kisses everyone on the lips?  Yeah...'bout that...okay, okay...we're not THAT bad.)

Then we waited some more and watched the ending of a Christmas movie.

Henry looked up the chimney to make sure it was ready to go!

All good.  

Henry set out carrots for the reindeer.

Santa said to leave him cookies and pizza.  We didn't disappoint.

Everything was ready.

Then the kids waited some more...

Wait!  Are they trying to sleep right there?  In front of the tree?  Nice try, kids, nice try.

To bed, sweet babies.

I read them, "The Night Before Christmas."

"The children were nestled all snug in their beds..."

Wake up!  Santa came!!!

Our morning was short-lived, yet amazing, then it was off to Grandma and Grandpa George's house (a two hour drive away).

The kids were excited to see Grandpa George, Grandpa Terri, their cousins and of course, to open more presents!

I was excited to have a family photo.  We're terrible at taking the time to smile for family pictures during special occasions (thanks to the photo list and Aunt Rachael for taking this picture).

Here's something funny, at one point, my nephew, who received a magic kit as a gift, told my kids to keep their eyes closed while he performed the 'ole-rabbit-out-of-a-hat-trick.  You guys, Henry and Eliza were so patient and understanding while they waited to see the trick.  It was a very sweet moment.  I'll let the pictures do the talking...

Exhaustion.

Next up, we traveled over to my parents' house!

Oh and ignore the classy hole in Henry's pants...I swear every pair of his pants has a hole in the knee area.  Anyone else have this issue?  LOL!

Oh wait...look at how cute they are!

"Kiss one more time!"

Oh and Christmas can't be Christmas without these chocolates from Macy's.  My parents buy them every year and they're addicting.

This is my niece-ter and I (she's my niece, but pretty much my sister) texting my sister to get to the party!

Check out this plate I made circa '93.  I found it at the bottom of my Mom's dinner plates and immediately took it out and had Jon take a picture of me with my one-of-a-kind work of art.  It's pretty sweet.  I particularly enjoy the green blob bell.

Eliza received a ton of play jewelry and Henry received a cool Star Wars toy.  They got a bunch of other toys and clothes, too!

Some of the grandkids (minus two of them) hugged and called it a night.

Phew.  What a weekend!

Seriously, you guys...

Best.

Christmas.

Ever.

Lots of love,

Marie :)

Christmas - Around Our Home.

Christmas Eve is tomorrow and Christmas day is in two days?!  Wow.  I feel like this was the fastest December in the history of Decembers.  Who's with me?

Regardless of how fast the days have gone, we've managed to decorate, shop, wrap, laugh and cuddle all month long, which in my book is perfection.

We still have a few little things to accomplish, but all-in-all, I'd say we're good.

The one thing I haven't done is share my Christmas Home Tour.

I kept it pretty simple and low budget this year.  Let me show you around. 

It's amazing how a super long $12 garland from Home Depot can be used all around the home and transform a space.  Love it.

The branches are from our only tree in our front yard and the tin, cones, and the-oh-so-beloved-blog-land-skis are all from the Target dollar spot.  Score!  

The Joy sign I made with Sara, from The Hayes Homestead, last year at a Home Depot workshop.  It was free to make, but we had to purchase the lights if we wanted battery powered ones.  The mirror (already had) is from Hobby Lobby and I already owned the cute little wreath.  We don't have any special stockings to put up year after year (I love that some of you do...*sigh*), so I'm a little cray cray every December and purchase a new one...or two...okay, okay...I have a stocking problem!  This year I was good and only purchased one, repeat ONE, and it was from the grocery store.  

Score numero tres!

Heading over across the room (I'd show you the entire room, but that would entail shoving the toys again that I just shoved to the side to take this picture *wink*) you'll see this pretty decorated bookcase that Jon and I bought from an estate sale that was held this past year here in our town.

It's been serving its purpose well, and I was thrilled to decorate it for Christmas.

I once again used the garland from Home Depot, I borrowed the mirror, the lantern, the chalkboard, and the pitcher from different rooms in our home, and I displayed a Pottery Barn-inspired-glitter-tree-craft, as well as a photo of my kids with Santa.

Oh and I drew antlers.  Then I stopped.  Because...well, an artist I am not.

But...see the framing around the chalkboard?  It's actually very thin and blue.  I wanted a thicker look when I suddenly thought to put my burlap and gold trimmed ribbon around it to give the appearance of a thicker trim!  Umm...it should probably go viral.  I kid, I kid...kind of...

LOL!

But seriously, I was so proud that I didn't feel the need to go out and purchase a new chunky looking chalkboard.  The possibilities with ribbon are endless.

Henry made this blue gingerbread man as a gift for Jon and I.  He also made a little orange star.  I'm really loving all the things he's been making this year at school.  It's all so special.

The cute kitten behind the gingerbread man was my Grandpa's ornament.  My mom gave it to us and I'm so, so happy she did.  Isn't he the cutest?

Here's Eliza's little tree in her room.  She wanted a pink tree.  She picked out the ornaments and decorated it and everything.  I think I've only moved a few ornaments for her, other than that, I've left it to be her original Christmas display.  She loves pink and all bright colors.  In fact, when we were at Hobby Lobby picking out our trees, she also fell in love with a lamp with a bright pink lampshade and a bright orange base...not really sure it would go with the color scheme of her bedroom.  

Love her!

Henry also has a tree in his room, but I didn't want to move his current "project" that's taking up the entire room (AKA all-the-things-everywhere), so I'll just show you this Storybook Quote Art that I made for him with some cute little Santa hats draped over it.  Simple, cute, and easy!

The kitchen has some Christmas flare, too!  I purchased this cute, little boxwood wreath from the Painted Farm Girl Flea this past fall from The Golden Sycamore.  I've had it hanging in this place ever since and I loooove it!  Perfect for any season.

The other side of the kitchen displays another Painted Farm Girl Flea find, the Michigan cutting board.  A bottle of liquor from my neighbor from last Christmas and a sign that our good friends had made for us are also displayed on the counter.  The sign is super fitting because Jon actually grew up on a Christmas tree farm, so it's pretty awesome.  I think I might actually leave it out on display all year long this year.

Well, there you have it.

Our simple little Christmas Home Tour.

I'll leave you with this adorable photo of my kids with Santa (at a safe distance, of course)!

Happy Everything, everyone!

Best Wishes,

Marie :)

Five ...err.. Six on Friday

Wow!  You guys, I'm waaaay behind with my blogging and my blog reading.  Where-oh-where have these last few weeks gone?  I mean, I know I was sick somewhere in there, but man - I feel like it was Thanksgiving, then BAM!  Here we are.

Okay, okay - put on my girl pants and deal with it, right?!  LOL!

It's Friday.

Let's get to it.

{one}

The kids and I have been having a lot of fun together lately.  I've been trying to slow down and embrace these special moments.  Normally, I wouldn't show you these photos because:  (1.)  It shows a bit of Eliza's bedroom before the big reveal *gasp*.  (2.)  My awesome outfit.  (3.)  I had been practicing my makeup on only one eye for the Ball/Gala, so naturally I look like a hot mess!

...But I just couldn't resist sharing our fun.  Henry loved pressing the self-timer and we were having a blast being silly.  I love my people.

{two}

Henry's school pictures.

What a difference a year makes.  This is the photo currently on display in our family room and it makes me smile every time I look at it.

This boy...this boy has stolen my heart.

{three}

The Ball...

*hair flip* *twirl*

Jon and I had a great time - we danced so much.  It was needed and well-deserved.  We attended the Ball with some great friends, two of them being the awesome, Sara of The Hayes Homestead and her fantastic hubby, Jason.

I'll let the camera phone pictures do the talking.

{four}

Yup...

{five}

My Sweet Savannah shared this home on her IG about a month ago.

*drool*

I'm off to convince Jon that we need to move.  ;)

{six}

Last night Sara, our friend, Ashley and I attended a snowman painting party.  I was terrified that mine was going to be terrible (I can't draw...like, at all), but it turned out!  Everyone had an awesome snowman and we all had so much fun.

I'll definitely be attending more painting parties in the future!

Thanks for stopping by this little blog of mine.

Have a great weekend!

Marie :) :) :)

I'm linking up with April, Natasha, and Christina for the Five on Friday link-up Paaaaarty!

I'm linking up with A Little Bit of Everything, Momfessionals, and Grace and Love for my Friday Favorites!

I'm linking up with September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for the Oh Hey Friday linky party!