A Big Ace Tree

Last year TG surprised me with a trip to downtown DC so I could see the National Christmas tree. I was beyond thrilled because it has definitely been something I've wanted to do for a while. At the time Riley was almost 2 and I was about 5 months pregnant with Camden. After we walked around a bit we went to one of our favorite restaurants for dinner.

This year we got to make the return trip with my family in tow! My mom and sister both love Christmas as much as I do and I really wanted them to be able to see the tree. After a perfectly timed afternoon nap for Camden, we plucked him from his crib, got my family from the airport, and drove directly to the tree with all of us crammed into the car, luggage included.

It was bitter cold, but completely worth it. I think it was prettier this year, even though my parents weren't convinced that there was a live tree underneath all those lights.



My parents were waiting at the airport wearing these Santa hats. Aren't they the cutest?



Riley was not too keen on having her picture taken, but she loved all the lights and told me that it was the best tree eber!



Camden, however, was a willing participant. As long as he's snuggled close to Mommy he's happy as a clam.



My adorable family posing in front of the Kansas tree, just a week ago. I already miss them so terribly.



We spent about 20 minutes at the tree before we raced back to the warmth of the car. Then we wrapped up our evening with dinner at the same restaurant we ate at least year.

P.S. Can you tell that someone got spoiled in a big way for Christmas this year by their hubby???

It's Beginning

to look a lot like Christmas!

Okay, maybe it looks a little like Christmas threw up in my house. I just couldn't help myself. I haven't been able to go crazy decorating since I married TG.

But now we have our own home, we'll be here for the holiday, and we have two sweet children. It's like unleashing an OTC Martha Stewart into a cardboard box armed with trees, ornaments, angels, lights, snowmen and more.

So without further ado, I present our home for Christmas 2010.

Our tree. I do not have a matchy matchy work of art tree. Our ornaments are a collection of memories from our first Christmas as a married couple to our cruise last year.



Tree twinkling at night.



Our stockings are hung on the bannister with care. (Sadly no fireplace)



My buffet. It's a mash up of my Jim Shore angels, OTC coffee filter tree, OTC "Noel" banner, some tree trimmings and a mix of candles. You can see the reflection of my snowflakes hanging from our light fixture in the mirror. If you look closely you can also see the reflection of my OTC card holder hanging on the wall at the top of my stairs.



My dining table centerpiece. It's already undergone a redo since the first time I had a large glass hurricane sitting up on a cylinder. Riley was "jumping rope" one day and the whole thing came crashing down.



From the other side. I love my reindeer.



My little tree. All of the ornaments are Winnie the Pooh. My mom has been collecting them for me for years.



And that's only my main floor. :)

Have you decorated your home for Christmas? I'd love for you to comment and leave me a link so I can visit!

Our Tree 2010

Last weekend we headed out to a local Christmas tree farm to cut down our tree.

Before you fake tree people get started let me just tell you that we've seriously contemplated a fakie every year. We know they are cost efficient, don't make a mess, are perfectly symmetrical and can stay up longer. But we just can't give up that smell of fresh evergreen. And I'm sorry, but no candle, room deodorizer, or spray smells as good as the real thing. (Although I'd have to admit Yankee Candle comes close).

So we bundled up the babies and hit the road on a crisp and sunny Saturday afternoon and headed west.

When we pulled in and Riley saw all the trees she said, "Wook Mom, it's farm world!" You can plainly see she was excited.



After walking around for ten minutes where TG kept turning down every tall and skinny tree I liked I finally gave in and let him choose something a little wider (that about perfectly sums us up as a couple) and he got to work.



Our little quality control workers.



After TG did all the hard work Riley said, "Let my try!" so we gave her a quick turn.



Camden just loved being outside and watching everything. TG and I couldn't help but think ahead to next year when he'll be running through the trees with his sister. But we definitely stowed away this little memory of him sitting so happily amongst the trees showing off his big boy teeth.



My boys.



My sweet girl.



She helped TG drag the tree down to be shaken, wrapped and purchased.



And we wrapped up our visit with some hot apple cider.

Seen and Heard

SEEN:

Our little friend Elfie. We read the story and named our Elf on November 30th. Day 1 - she was skeptical, like she wouldn't go down the stairs once she spotted him sitting on our tv. So I told her that the gift each day in the advent calendar tree was from Elfie. Now the first thing she says after "Good mer-nin Mom" is "Where Elfie? I tinks he brought me a pr-wesent!". She always waits until she spots him to check her present tree. It's too cute.


Riley helped decorate our "widdle twee". I think the hair things give it a nice touch.


TG and Riley hung lights on our door. She loved it.


Posing with my sweeties by our door. See my burlap wreath in the background?


HEARD:

Riley pitching a fit because she doesn't want to put a jacket on over her pw-etty dwess.
Riley: I don't want to.
Me: It's cold out Riley. You have to.
Riley: BUT I don't wanna wear dat wacket!
Riley: It dont matches my shoes!

Listening to her little daycare friend babbling to her.
Riley: I'm sorry Bud. I have no idea what yous sayin.

Looking at our tree all lit up and decorated.
Riley: Mom.
Riley: I wubs our bid (big) tr-wee.
Clasping her hands.
Riley: It's wub-wee (lovely).

Camden is trying to play with the little baby laptop Riley has.
Riley: No no no brudder. in a very sweet motherly voice
Riley: Lets my see her. What can I gibs you to keep you busy.
Tapping her finger on her mouth with one hand on her hip surveying the toy baskets.
Riley: I knows! Mickey!

This Is

My happy.

Gobble, Gobble, Cough!

Thanksgiving 2010 didn't turn out quite as we had hoped.

Because our county furloughed it's teachers this year we had an entire week vacation. We had been counting down to this for a few months and were just waiting to get some rest, fun times with family, and delicious turkey. At least we got the delicious turkey.

The trip started off well. We made it safely to Gigi and Papa's house in record time - there was hardly any traffic on 95 at all which means either we hit the traffic jackpot or everyone flew for Thanksgiving this year.

Sunday we visited with the family and hung out at the house.

Monday, Riley's nose started running. No bigs. I mean most of you with kids know a constant runny nose can be the norm this time of year.

Tuesday, Riley's voice was hoarse. It was so bad it seemed like borderline laryngitis. When she tried to talk at her usual octave she couldn't. Camden's nose started running. Uh oh.

Wednesday, Riley woke up with a slight temp. Again, not a big deal. She seemed a little run down so we took it easy and went on our family date to see Tangled. Camden's voice went hoarse.

Wednesday night, I sat up in my bed at 2:30 am. I'm not sure what woke me, it might have been her, but I didn't hear anything. I went to the bathroom and went to check on her (we are in a jack and jill at Gigis and Papas). When I got to her bed she started hollering some mumbo jumbo about a scary cat in her room. I went to hug her to calm her down and realized that she was burning up and soaked in sweat. I spent the next two hours with her wiggling beside me in bed waiting for the motrin to kick in and bring that fever down to a tolerable range.

By Thanksgiving day she was a mess and Camden was too. Both of them had high fevers, nasty coughs, and hoarse little voices. We made the decision to take them to an emergency center. Where they insisted on taking a rectal temp for Riley. While I was holding her. Causing her to pee all down my leg and onto my shoe. And not a little bit. It just kept coming. When she finally stopped the nurse said, "Well, at least we know she's hydrated."

Camden was a dream at the doctor and only fussed when his older sister was screaming her face off, which was every time a nurse even tried to come into our room. They diagnosed Riley with a virus and an ear infection. They took chest x-rays of Cam and then diagnosed him with just the virus.

We spent the rest of turkey day in bed. I felt so terribe because Gigi had worked hard all day to make a meal that was absolutely delicious. Matt and I barely managed to get out of our pjs for dinner and kept having to rotate away from the table to check on Riley and to make sure Camden was still sleeping.

Riley, despite her illness, kept referring to it as "the best day e-ber Mommy" due in large part to the fact that she got her first experience eating in bed off of a dinner tray, unlimited movies and lots of attention.

Camden merely slept his face off on a combo of motrin, tylenol, benadryl and a cool mist humidifier.

So I guess from the kids' point of view Thanksgiving 2010 was a success!

Now that I'm typing this it's been almost a week and they are finally feeling a little better. Here's the few pics that I got of our trip.

Riley hanging out at the craft table Gigi set up for her.


She loved that it was a little table full of things for her to do.


A freshly washed chubbers in a fluffy white towel. Love it.


Modeling the new bunny slippers Gigi got for her.

Seen and Heard

SEEN:

A holiday dinner of Christmas tree pb&j complete with Target baby puff stars and yogurt raisin snow mounds.


Miss Potato Face.


Riley and I snuggling before bed time.


Being forced to wear the candy cane headband from the Target $1 section. Can you tell she was still pretty sick in this photo?


My sweetie in a Tinkerbell dress and bow holding a "bee-u-tee-ful wose".


A picture of Camden and me that Riley took with my phone!


HEARD:

Riley coming into the kitchen where I'm feeding Camden.
Riley: Mom...I need to tell you sumpin.
Me: What's up sweet pea?
Riley: I knows you ta-wold me to be careful wit dis (it's a 20 cent wreath pick)...but I breaks it. (the paper price tag has come off)
Riley: I so sorry Mom.

Riley: Mommy? You gives me one liddle bear hugs? Wike dis? (quietly) grrrrrrr.

Watching The Wizard of Oz with TG.
TG: See, Dorothy lives in Kansas.
Riley: Kan-sw-ass?!?
TG: Yup.
Riley: Like Gammy and Gampy and Tata! That's my fabe-or-it fam-a-ly. I gonna gives dem a big hug! (she hugs herself)

Watching Tangled in the movie theater.
Riley: I don't wike dat scar-wee witch!
Me: I know.
Riley: She a tryin to get Ra-cun-zel and dat Fa-winn Rwider!

On a side note, Tangled was such a cute movie. It's definitely one of my favorites and if you have kids (or even if you don't!) you should go see it! We saw regular, but I'd recommend 3-d because there was a part in the movie that would have just been amazing in 3-d!

Christmas Vinyl Giveaway

Well, you all know how much I love Shelley from House of Smiths. She has an amazing vinyl company called Wonderfully Wordy.

I've purchased her vinyl before and I love it. I've also entered lots of her giveaways. I haven't won yet, but man would I love to win the one Perfectly Imperfect is hosting right now.

It's for a Christmas vinyl package. See, Shelley did a post about her mantel display and she made some custom pieces for it. You have to check it out.

The contest ends tonight so head on over to Perfectly Imperfect to enter.

It's a never ending

job trying to get a decent photo of both of them.

Fail.



I asked her to smile. She gave me this face. He dropped his mum-mum. FAIL.



He just wanted to eat. She just wanted to watch Mickey. EPIC FAIL.



Perhaps my favorite of this set. He's eating. She's primping. Neither one is paying any attention to their Mama. It sums us up perfectly right now.