Thanksgiving and Tree Pickin' {2012}

I was far too busy cooking and eating and eating again to chronicle Thanksgiving Day on my phone.
I did however take advantage of the 70 degree weather we were having.
Rounded the kids up in the yard for a long overdue photo shoot with my real camera.
Yes I still own one.

I'm glad I had my phone nearby though...otherwise I may have missed this shot.
Maggie and Bo.
His sweet face.
Her beautiful face.
I melt.



Guesstures with the family {extended included}
A Thanksgiving tradition.
Boys vs. Girls.
Lots of smack talk goes on here.
I'm talkin' someone from each team has to keep score.
No worries.
Girls remain victorious.
Every. Single. Time.
Boom.



The hubby obliged to head out on Black Friday with me.
He's not a sore loser.
We didn't do crazy people hours.
Got out around 8am....got everything we were looking for.
Take that sleep deprived crazy people.



Day after Thanksgiving is Tree Pickin' Day at our house.
We visit the same farm every year.
Tradition.



The kids picked the most beautiful tree I think we've ever had.



Before.



After.
Not one decorative ball on my tree.
Nothing but handmade ornaments from the kiddos and souvenir ornaments from our travels as a family.
Even the star is made from a cone-shaped water cooler cup and a coffee filter.
My sixteen year old made it when he was five.
Wouldn't take a million dollars for it.
Take your magazine cover worthy tree.
I'll keep my tree of memories.



No tree trimming party would be complete without some Holiday tunage.
Possibly my favorite Christmas song.
I dare you not to cry.



And on a less serious more heathen note, if you don't have some JB on your Christmas playlist... you are missing out.
We were jamming to this song tonight on the way home and Aidan said, "Mom, who is Shawty anyway??"
He was dead serious.
I didn't know whether to laugh or repent.



Have I told you lately how much joy this boy brings to my life?
Or how big he is getting?
Or how much I don't like it?
Or that I plan to keep him little forever?



This is my world right now.
Boo hiss.
I'm pretty much miserable and whiny.
But I ain't gonna lie...I get a little too excited when it's time to take those gloriously green horse pills up there.
Nothing like Nyquil sleep.
Nope.



"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Keeping Christmas Simple This Year {Tour of Homes}

Christmas.

I kept it simple this year.

It is where I am in my life right now.



Welcome.



I love my tree.

The only thing on it are lights and ornaments that have special meaning or memories attached to them.

Nothing decorative.

Simple.







My grandparents always had oranges and nuts laying around at Christmas.



I got this table on Craigslist for 75 bucks I think. I had seashells in it this summer.

I wasn't sure what I would do with it for Christmas.

Then I found the box full of our through the years Christmas pictures and I knew right away that I would take them out of the frames they were in, and display them in my table.

Love.



In the top left corner there is a picture of my husband on Santa's lap.

And to the right of that is yours truly...unwrapping gifts at the age of 3.

Under those is my now 15 year old.

::sigh::



Traditionally for my mantel I go with the typical reds, greens, and golds on a bed of balsam.

I had no idea what I wanted to do this year.

While drinking coffee one morning I noticed an old ladder outside in my yard and had an epiphany.

Paint it turquoise, put it on my mantel, and build around it.









In the end I felt it was exactly what I was going for.

Vintage.

Whimsy.

Natural.

Simple.



Ultimately, this is what it is all about.

The coming of the Messiah.

In our home it is tradition that baby Jesus arrives on Christmas morning.

For years I have walked past this scene without giving a second thought.

This year, I walk by this scene and I am overwhelmed with a flood of emotions.

The posture.

The reverence.

The waiting with hope.

Anticipation.

Longing to see a miracle.

Expecting He will come.

I am humbled...and I am left with...ouch.

Christmas....I'm keeping it simple this year...it is just where He has me in my life right now.

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

See you back here in 2012!

Linking up to The Nester's Tour of Homes and The Inspired Room

14 Elf on the Shelf Ideas {Need some?}

Twas the week before Christmas and all throughout the homestead..
Mom and dad were haunted by thoughts of "what the heck are we gonna do with this elf tonight?!?! racing around in their head.
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Meet Buddy.

He came to live with us this year and he has been so much fun.

All day he watches our brood of three to see if their behavior has been bad or good...

Then while they are sleeping he reports back to the North Pole to fill Santa in on the deets.

No worries though...he is always back in time to greet them good morning.

Funny thing about Buddy...he seems to like a little mischief himself.



First night here and he managed to eat his way through a whole bag of my white chocolate truffles.

I seriously considered kicking Buddy to the curb for this.

But then I realized he had bigger eating issues than I do so I may want to keep him around to help me feel better about myself.



Buddy "rolled" our mini Christmas tree.



"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup."



"Baby it's cooooold outsiiiiide."



Buddy was really missing the snow back home.



Who knew elves were so tech savvy?



Buddy "elf'd" the kids.



Wonder what he charges for a sitting fee?



Maggie went to a sleepover one night this week.

This is how we found Buddy the next morning.



Heartbroken.



Elf Art.



"Good job recovering my hat guys. I'll take it from here." ~Sheriff Woody



All I can say is that Rudolph isn't the only one that woke up with a red nose that day.



Red and Green Milk.



Buddy the Geography teacher.



Under the weather.



Buddy just couldn't resist antagonizing Woody with his hat.

Looks like it came down to a snowball fight.






"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

That Time I Shamelessly Fought For A Snuggie {InstaFriday}

Our tree is up and I am in love.

Our prettiest tree yet I think.

I love my tree most because there isn't a decorative ball on it.

Only ornaments my kids have made over the years and souvenir ornaments we have picked up while visiting new places over the years.



The teenager had the honors of placing the angel on the top.

He made that angel in Kindergarten.

This thought depressed me a bit.



So I self-medicated with my very own tube of frosting and a plate full of sugar cookies.



My little sister turned 27 last week.

Which means I'm getting old.

I may need another bag of frosting.



My mom's birthday was the very next day.

I celebrated their special day by eating my weight in this cake.



Layer upon layer of...Chocolate. Raspberry. Ganache.



I'm pretty sure she was humiliated.

And that she hates me.



If you've never had an Italian Cappuccino from Olive Garden...do yourself a favor...get one.



My husband had his Christmas party for his employees this week.

One Dirty Santa later and I had myself a Snuggie.

Did not even care if it was High School mascot blue.

Or that I stole it from a lady in her 60's.

I have no idea how I do not already own a Snuggie...or two or three.

Wearing it as I type.




This was our last week at Tutorial.

The day was filled with Drama skits and Music class performances.

And Maggie's favorite...crafts!








That is how they celebrated the close of another Homeschool semester.




This is how I celebrated.

Come to this {tired, ready for a break, checked out mentally at Thanksgiving} homeschool momma.



When I find these, it can only mean one thing.

My girl is cooking up a canvas.

Is that turquoise paint I see on there?!?!




I found this on my front porch this week.

And I did not win it on Regis and Kelly.

Thank you Aunt Darth!!!



I was having coffee one morning and looked outside at an old ladder laying in my yard.

I believe it was to a once used treehouse.

In a moment of genius {don't pass out} I had an idea for this ladder.

I grabbed a can of primer and a can of turquoise paint and you will see the results when I link up to Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes.

I am late to the party I know.

It has been cloudy, rainy, and gloomy here all week. Think Seattle.

Not the way I want to take pictures of my Christmas lovelies.

Better late than never though. :-)





"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"