Merry Christmas Card

Every year, I get a Christmas picture of the boys taken at the Superstore.  I don't take it seriously.  They might wear red, I try to brush their hair and they pick whatever props they want. 

I expect the shots to be terrible, and I pick the best of the worst.   It goes in the Christmas card. 

Except this year.  I forgot to make the appointment until it was too late.  So I searched for a family picture on the computer.  AND COULDN'T FIND ONE.

Ok, I found one.  From Easter.  I don't even have the same haircut. 

So instead, I did this.

It says: "Wishing you moments of peace in your house, too"

I think Jake hates it.  But our friends and family love it.  And so do I!!!

(proven here and here)

Here's to a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

During which time, I might know a mother who runs to the Superstore for a belated Christmas picture that could look terrible.  ;)

Holiday-ing Around Here

We don't really go all out.  There are 3 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  And we're away for both.  So we have two small bins of stuff and a tree. 

Translation: the kids do the decorating. 

My 1% is the niche above the tree.  This year, I found two glass trees at CB2, which were the perfect height and depth.  I only stopped in early November to measure them, but the salesperson said they sell out immediately, so home they came.  True to his word, they are gone!!!

But, as with children decorating, that cute little snowflake in a globe was vetoed because he had to come down and live with the other closer-to-the-touch decorations.  

Here is the other 99%. 

Pseudo-chocolate advent calendars - check.
Random statues, globes and mini-trees grouped together - check.
Stockings that can't be left alone* - check.
Random reindeer in the corner because he can't stand up - check.

*They lasted about 5 minutes.  The next day, George pulled on one as he walked by, causing the reindeer holder to fall, dent the floor and break into a million pieces.  Lesson learned, next year we're going with command strips.

Last but not least, although we went with the broken-tipped silver star on the big tree, warm-hearted Henry didn't want our homemade star from nobody-knows-when-it-was-made to go unused.  So he wrapped it around the top of the mini-tree on the table.  Which is in everyone's way when they eat dinner and want to watch the end of Spongebob ;)



Here's to the holidays of 2014.  And maybe next year George will finally learn not to open multiple random numbers on his advent calendar and run out of chocolate with 9 days to go. 

Merry Christmas ;)

Merry Christmas

$31.64

I am on a penny-pinching binge due to our imminent gigantic renovation.  No excuses...Christmas included.

But when I picked up the Christmas pictures at the Superstore, I couldn't help but bring home a handful of cute decorations.  All for the low, low price of $31.64.  Yes, that includes the insane 13% tax up here.

$7 Felt Snowflake Pillows

The kids use this couch the most.  I can totally accept $7 pillows getting destroyed.  Except, they're so cute, I have already used time outs as protection.

$14 Reindeer

George picked this guy out.  I fell in love with his cuteness.

His bells really jingle, which caught George.  We couldn't not take him home once the little man found that out.  The antlers aren't totally kid-proof, but the rest of him seems to be. 

The fabric really caught me because, let's face it.  This is as close to a craft show to buy Christmas decorations as I'm gonna get. 

And all from a place that gives me a receipt that I can pass off as food shopping.  Score.

Christmas in Da House!

This year we got the decorations up early.  When I say we, I mean he.  Superhusband again.

And this year, he had a helper.

Or three.

I'd love to say we have the most perfect tree ever.  With perfect ornaments in the perfect color scheme positioned perfectly around the tree.  But we don't. 

And it's fine. 

Because those three did it.

And I love it.

Especially the lower left corner.  That little area is randomly redecorated daily by the toddler.  Usually in minimalist form. 

As for the rest of the house, there are things here and there. 

Can you find the tree?

Just a little in the kitchen.  It goes with the dollar store Santa plates that are a huge hit at every meal.

The candy cane staircase went up.  A perfect compliment to any baby gate. 

And this year, I added the stockings.

It's fun to see them through the dining room doorway. 

Yes, we're a family of five with only three stockings up.  I bought our stockings when we were a family of four.  And since they're a set, I can't seem to find a fifth to match.  So instead of George getting the short end of the stick, mom and dad suffer.  As per usual.

Last but not least, the entrance.

I can't wait until that yellow wall is gone! 

Oh right, sorry, decorations.  Wreath on door, check.  Ribbons to hold cards on mudroom door, check.  Fake wreath/garland thing around mirror, check. 

Take one long last look at these shots, because it's gonna be gonzo next Christmas.  The last round of new floorplan reviewing included a discussion around where the Christmas tree would go... 

Sounds like a perfect time to incorporate five new stockings, too.

Christmas Crafty

I'm still not crafty.  But with it being Christmas and all....I thought I'd try.

Ta da!  A centerpiece and some advent calendars. 

These were so easy, a dog could do it.

#1 - Advent Calendars

My neighbor emailed me a warning about poisoned chocolate inside the store bought Cars/Mickey Mouse/Spongebob/Insert-Your-Child's-Favorite-Toy-Or-Movie-Here pre-packaged advent calendars.

Yes, I succumbed to buying those last year.  Yes, I would have again this year.  Instead, I reverted back to my kindergarten days.

I googled "santa beard advent calendar" and up popped a printable.  I printed three, glued two of them to a cereal box for extra strength (sorry, George), and here you have it.  The boys are convinced Santa will grab the completed calendars on Christmas Eve and hang them in his office. 

Of course, every good advent calendar must have chocolate involved.  For every cotton ball glued on the beard, the boys get a kiss...the wrapped kind.

#2 - Centerpiece

I saw this post from a blog I follow and thought to myself, "hey, I think I can do that!"  Rarely do I think that when reading blog posts, and more rarely do I actually follow through with any blog projects. 

So when I found my sorry self at Wal-Mart to buy plasticizing material, I bought the holiday vase items to cheer up. 

Since I took advantage of the nice weather yesterday to rake/sweep the deck AND spray paint the walnuts at the same time, I forgot to take pictures in action.

Here's the aftermath.  I bagged my hand and laid the painted walnuts on Raffi to dry.  Sorry, guy.

And here's the finished product.  I can't decide if I like it or it's totally cheesy.  I think I like it.  Only because I made it.  Well, I painted the walnuts.  That's making something.

It's way too small for the table.  But that's where we do homework, so it's easy to move it out of the way.  And it smells good.  I consider it my baby step to making one even bigger and better.

Here's an angle shot.

Photobomb! 

Christmas On Albany

I love Christmas.  But this year has definitely been the hardest.  Having three little kids to take care of leaves almost no extra time to do anything.  And that precious extra time only comes in fits and spurts. 

How does one put up a tree in the 10 minutes between putting baby down for a nap and fulfilling repeated requests for milk or a show or a pair of scissors or a snack or where are my markers or I want another paper airplane or...wait, the baby's up.  And he's crawling.  Everywhere. 

Sorry, Christmas tree.  Maybe next time.

Or, you could just have a superhusband.

Here I am!

While it may not win an award for the world's most perfectly decorated tree, Steve and Jake did it, so it's absolutely positively perfect to me.  The best part are the candy canes.  It's become tradition to pick one off the tree every night for dessert.   

Want to see what else a superhusband can do?

Can you find George's stocking?

Now find Jolly

I was floored.  Steve is the best.  Not only for putting up the decorations, but for finding perfectly wonderful places for the stockings and that-garland-y-thing now that our mantle is gone.  I love it.

And since I'm giving credit where credit is due...I must say, my husband has mad skills when it comes to ribbon application.

Card holder idea stolen from parents

Candy cane staircase

I did manage to do one thing, though.

Cheapest best wreath ever

I hung the fake berry wreath on the front door.  It took me double time because i had to re-tie the knot in the fishwire that broke last year...but the time it took to run up to the 3rd floor and run all the way back down (plus re-tie) was definitely worth it.  And I did it all before the boys could finish their mac & cheese/cheerios. 

Now let's enjoy it for the next 8 days until we leave for the holidays...  :)