Holly Jolly Day

We had a wonderful Christmas this year - biggest gift to us all was health! No one was sick and I was super grateful not to spend Christmas Day morning in Urgent Care (unlike last year). So really, everything else was just icing on the cake.

Christmas Eve we spent the majority of the day with Josh's family - his oldest brother came into town for it, so it was nice to have everyone around. After opening gifts we had a nice meal and went to our niece's Christmas program at church. Then we headed home, left out cookies and milk for Santa, and some sugar for the reindeer. We love Christmas Eve because the boys are so anxious to get into bed! Wish it was that way every night :)

Nate got a few things he asked for and yet has enjoyed the ones he didn't ask for just as much. Daddy even built the boys a sandbox!

 

Nate was really into being the "present passer outer" this year. So anxious to see all the gifts.

 

After opening gifts we headed over to my family's home to celebrate the day there. We opened gifts first and then had a super yummy prime rib lunch. Delish! I always look forward to this meal every year. 

Aaron loves his new art easel! Between art supplies and new cars, he was a happy boy.

 Wonderful few days. The boys are sure enjoying playing with all their new toys, reading their new books....

 

Eddie the Elf and RACK's

This last month we have done some fun Elf on the Shelf ideas as well as Random Acts of Kindness...I'd say the RACK's were easier to stick to than deciding what the elf was going to do each night :( The days I had extra energy I did it, but sadly most days the elf just sat on different shelves. Glad the kids didn't mind! But, here are the few things Eddie was up to...

Sleepy elf

Driving cars

Reading time

Sticker fun

Only a few pictures from our RACK days -

Placed a few dollars in a children's book at the bookstore

After seeing a movie, passed a bunch of candy canes out and placed them on car windows in the parking lot

We also donated money to the Salvation Army red containers, gave extra money to waiters, opened doors for people,etc. We're currently going through all the boys' toys to give some away...good stuff. Stuff that really should be done all year round.

Baskin Robbins Birthday!

No, not that I went to Baskin Robbins for my birthday, it is just my "31st" birthday this year! Lots of fun celebrations with friends, family, and I went out of town with my boys over the weekend. I'm really proud of my cake that I had with my parents and siblings-a running themed cake! (I left this one to the professionals, my first cake with fondant!)

It was yummy, I'm looking forward to using the same place for Nathan's birthday.

This past weekend the boys and I went to Sedona for my birthday. I even got a cool birthday present- snow! It snowed on the way there and while we were there. The boys were stoked. We played in it for a while, saw model trains, Josh and I even went wine tasting...it was a fun weekend.

Snowball fight!

Gloomy

They LOVED the snow! This was Aaron's first time. Unfortunately we didn't find a hill for sledding.

Holiday Time, Week 2 !

This past week was Nate's last week of school - he had a special last day, as they made Christmas trees out of waffle cones (and mommy received a special homemade ornament) and also had a pajama/bring your stuffed animal day. The last day of school I decided to make the boys holiday lunches -

Aaron's lunch : candy cane shaped fruit, grilled cheese tree, marshmallows for dessert and Ho Ho milk (I cooked/strained some strawberries to make it red)

Nate's lunch : Santa PBJ, snowman string cheese, snowman milk, snowmen marshmallows and Grinch shaped fruit kabobs

On our first day of winter break I dished out some holiday crafts -

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Making snowflakes using tree branches

Santa slime

Hot chocolate paint

Mmmm...you almost want to drink it off the page!

Hot chocolate play

Overflowing!

 

That evening we went to the Polar Express event at our local recreation center - this year was even more fun because we ran into a bunch of friends!

Aaron and his friend Miles - they bargained and switched each other cookies

Always enjoy craft time

We love Santa!

I also spent the week finishing shopping and wrapping, and kinda some baking...darn, for all the cookies we received at our cookie exchange, I still have more to do! Looks like I'll be scrambling to do that tomorrow. Merry Christmas!

Holiday Party and Cookie Exchange

We've been looking forward to this morning all week long - getting to visit with friends and exchange goodies! A variety of treats without having to bake them ;) Now I just need a hand to jump out and slap me when I eye those cookie containers....

Drew snowman faces on marshmellows to go in our hot chocolate

....and there was additional toppings too!

Mugs for the mama's to take home

Cinnamon roll tree

Aaron helping mommy

Which cookie do I want?!

Making pinecone ornaments

Pin the nose on the snowman

 December is my favorite month (Christmas my favorite holiday, go figure!) so I was happy to host a party with friends. Even happier that it pooped Aaron out and he took a good nap this afternoon ;) Here's to more fun parties!

Holiday Time, Week 1 !

And so it begins! The craziness, that is. Each and every week this month has all kinds of things going on! It's hard to keep up with if I don't have every detail written down :)

First, Nate had his fundraising run to benefit both his school and classroom. I volunteered to help out - the kids were wonderful runners!

Here we come!

While that was going on, Nana took Aaron to make a gingerbread house -

 

The rest of the week was devoted to getting ready to be gone for the weekend - hubby and I headed down to Tucson for my marathon (!) while the boys stayed with my parents. Good thing! I'm sure the boys wouldn't have appreciated being up at 4am the day of my race (nor the loud toddler in the room next door at night, either...)

They really did get to do some fun things with Nana and Pap Pap while we were gone. They helped hang lights -

...and even got to meet St Nick, Mrs Claus and some elves !

As long as I have this candy cane I'll pose with you

They went out for pizza, helped bake cookies...lots of stuff to occupy their time and not think of mommy and daddy :) Meanwhile, mommy was running...and running...and still running. I don't mean to sound like Miss Negativity, but I was bummed with the weather - high never went above 30's or 40's for sure, and it rained all throughout the race :( Neither of which I've had experience with before. I've run in the cold, but it gradually got warmer....

So much low was my running spirit that by mile 13 I was begging Josh to pick me up, I was ready to throw in the towel (with the weather, losing some of my food on my fuel belt, throwing off gloves that later I had wanted back...) But...I got to thinking that even though in the moment it sounded like a really good idea, in the long run I would have been disappointed (nor did I want to tell anyone that I quit and didn't finish). So, though it took me six hours, I completed the marathon. I sure was happy to be done!

No more winter marathons for me! I discovered I become more stiff, not faster, in cold runs

I'm definately sore, trying to get over it as I bake and clean away for a holiday cookie exchange I'm hosting for our Moms Club this week! This part of the month is my favorite - all of the parties.