Holiday Recap 2011

Whew!  It's been a while!  I don't have many excuses friends, other than sheer exhaustion this holiday season.  I've been feeling a little off lately I guess you could say.  The holiday season has been packed with preschool recitals, shopping trips, family gatherings, decorating and all sorts of fun stuff.  The only down-side to all those festivities was that by 7:30 every night, I was exhausted.  I couldn't even hold my head up.  So I apologize for my break.  I will try to fill you in on everything you missed (a few posts at a time)....

Up first - Will's preschool recital.  Oh my goodness at the cuteness.  Will attends a rather small school here in our hometown and he loves it!  I really like it too.  He gets lots of one-on-one attention and he surprises me every day with all of the new things he's learning.  Here are a few of my favorites photos from his Christmas Recital -

(They were showing a slideshow of the children on the screen above the stage.  Will decided that was more interesting!)

Skip a few weeks to Christmas.  I'm terrible about not taking pictures at family events, so forgive me.  I usually take my camera, but I never get it out because I spend most of my time chasing children and feeding little hungry mouths.  So I only have a few pictures of Christmas morning, and a few of them were taken right after Santa arrived, before the kiddos were up.  

Santa wraps each boys presents in a different paper.  This is an easy way to keep each kiddo occupied with their OWN stuff and not deal with tags.  Will had the blue Mickey paper and Brooks had the red Thomas paper.

Santa had a hard time getting the teepee under the tree.

Brooks is checking out Will's presents here.

Santa left both boys an umbrella in their stocking, and fittingly enough, it was raining on Christmas morning so Will got to go out and try it out.  

We had a wonderful Christmas.  Unfortunately, I just couldn't find my Christmas spirit this year. Chalk it up to my feeling "off" and us rushing to get the basement completed before the holiday.  I just didn't want to shop.  I didn't want to wrap.  A week before Christmas, I had to pull it together and finish shopping, start wrapping and finish decorating.  The boys' excitement was cute enough to pull me through however.  Will's favorite gifts included his scooter, his Mobigo (a gift from my parents), a remote-control crane (a gift from Brandon's parents) and his umbrella (but he has truly played with every single thing he received and loves them all.  These are just the ones he wakes up talking about.)  Brooks' favorites include Will's scooter, Will's Mobigo and Will's crane.  Go figure.  

I leave you with a couple of cute Buzz Lightyears, doing what Buzz does best :)  

I promise not to keep you waiting on more posts.  Maybe I'll get another one in this weekend :)

Holiday Gift Guide

Gifts for Her

The next installment of the holiday gift guide is for us girls.  There are actually only a few men (that will admit to it) that read this blog, so I will also include gifts for mom, sister, daughter and mother-in-law.  Let's review here ladies - if your husband doesn't read this blog and needs a little assistance in the gift-giving department, be sure to remember: print, circle, leave in the bathroom.  I say bathroom because I know that my husband isn't the only one who spends too long in the bathroom.  Up first -

Snuggly Warm Ugg Mocs via Ugg ($100)

ahhhh - who wouldn't want a pair of these babies?? If the Uggs are a little out of your price range (or you have a dog that chews shoes) - LL Bean offers a more affordable alternative.  Rather than the shearling lined Uggs, the LL Bean version is lined with fleece.  

Le Creuset Classic Wide Dutch Oven via Williams-Sonoma ($130)

I know what you're thinking.  Who wants cookware for Christmas!? Well, Le Creuset changes the ballgame girls.  Their products are awesome.  They will outlive even the most adventurous cooks and extra bonus points because everyone else will be jealous ;)

Smashbox Snap You're Fab Lipgloss Set via Sephora ($30)

Excellent gift for your daughter, BFF or a little stocking stuffer for yourself.  Their lip products are great and this little baby boasts a $90 value.  Not bad!!

Sweater Robe via Victoria's Secret ($45)

Every mother needs a robe.  You just never know when you're going to need to get up and dash through the house.  Fresh out of the shower and hear a giant CRASH!!  or maybe a middle of the night "moooommmmmmyyyy".  This stylish robe will get you there and you won't be naked - and you won't be cold.  Awesome.

PB Classic Apothecary Jars via Pottery Barn ($39-69)

I don't know one single woman who couldn't find a use for these bad boys.  Soooo pretty.  And you can even have them monogrammed (Crystal!)

Frye "Cameron Flap" Satchel via Nordstrom ($448)

If you have been an extra good girl this year, or maybe you held your husband's hand as he underwent chemo (was that subtle enough?) this bag is for you.  Have I mentioned how I love the smell of leather???

Lucky Brand "Pave Clover" Ring via Piperlime ($35)

Sooooo cute.  This is an awesome stocking stuffer or gift for your BFF.  Because everyone has a girlfriend who likes a lot of bling ;)