Christmas 2017

I can't even believe the holiday season is over...December seemed to fly by!

We had a WONDERFUL Christmas and am already sad to see my favorite holiday gone.  Here's a little recap of what we were up to!

Emma made a snack mix to give to her friends for Christmas...

Her cards she made were amazing!!!

On Saturday we had my mom and her husband over for supper.  I made chili and it was just such a nice relaxing evening!

Christmas Eve we got the most beautiful snow...we didn't get much, but it was beautiful and exactly what I was hoping for Christmas!

Emma made us a special breakfast...

We headed to Brad's sisters in the afternoon to celebrate.  Everyone brings appetizers and we just munch all afternoon.  

Our Christmas Cheer drink that we made was a huge hit!  We bought large square ice cube trays to use for the drink

We were home by 6:30 and enjoyed our evening opening gifts with the girls ( mom and dad got SPOILED!!!) and grazing on more appetizers.  We finished the night watching "Christmas Vacation" for the last time this year.  I thought Emma was going to cry, haha!!  The girls always sleep in Rachel's room on Christmas Eve, they watch movies and I love this tradition they have!

Even Maci was wiped...

Christmas morning was more gifts, mass and then to the farm to spend the day. My favorite part of the day was when we all sat down to go over our goals for 2018.  I found a fun printable that had you fill out your favorite memories from 2017, and different things you want to accomplish in 2018.  It was so fun to hear what everyone's goals are.  I must say that everyone put a lot of thought into it and we look forward to doing this every Christmas!

Brad and I both had Tuesday off which so nice to just relax after a few busy days.  Emma attempted to teach us how to do calligraphy.  Lets just say it didn't go well.  Brad's paper says "Emma sucks", but it looks like "Emma ducks", lol!!!

Brad and Rick took the two little to see the latest Star Wars movie, she loved it!

This weekend has been glorious, yesterday I took all the Christmas decor down and cleaned the house from top to bottom.  Today is just a relax kind of day.  The house is clean, laundry is done, meals are planned and groceries are bought.

I will say that 2017 has not been my favorite year, but I know that it can only get better from here.  I am excited to see what is in store for our family!

 

What's Up Wednesday

Linking up for the LAST What's Up Wednesday.  How sad is that?  This year FLEW by!

WHAT WE'RE EATING THIS WEEK:

Monday:  We had some friends over for supper and had pulled pork sandwiches (Brad had smoked some pork on Sunday, YUM!) and homemade mac-n-cheese.

Tuesday: Beef Pot Pie: Brad had also smoked a steak we had in the freezer that we needed to eat up, turned out awesome!

Wednesday: Tacos

Thursday: We are heading out for supper with friends

Friday: Girls will be at my moms overnight so not sure yet what we'll do!

WHAT I'M REMINISCING ABOUT:

Last year at this time I was in full on stress mode as I had my trial in January (I was in a car accident several years ago and decided to sue the insurance company to pay my bills).  We didn't "win" per se, and we are still fighting it, ugh.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO:

Fitting in all the last minute Christmas stuff.

Sunday my mom and I met for lunch and decided we needed to make that an annual thing, just to get together before the holidays!  Later that day we went to our local brewery for a Christmas show.  Rach had to work and Alayna was at volleyball practice.  It was fun to see all the Christmas outfits (and drink the beer!)

Tuesday night we did our annual drive around town looking at Christmas lights.  We whip up some hot chocolate and tea (for mom) and drive around.

So beautiful!

WHAT I'M LOVING:

Emma had her girlfriends over last Friday night for a Christmas party.  They are such sweet friends and they had a blast!  I made them a hot chocolate bar for breakfast.

WHAT I'M DREADING:

Taking down Christmas decorations??

WHAT I'M WORKING ON:

Getting my goal sheet done for 2018.  I like to write everything down and then look at my progress throughout the year.

WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT:

Need I say more?

WHAT I'M WATCHING/READING:

We're still watching allllll the Christmas movies!  And of course listening to all the Christmas music.  As far as reading goes, this month I read "Still Alice", oh my goodness, SO good, but also so heartbreaking.  It's about a woman who finds out she has early onset dementia.  I also read "Delicious" which is about a young woman who moves to New York to work for a food magazine.  I liked it, but got somewhat bored in the middle.  

I had to include a pic of this little scheister.  She seems to think my book light is a play toy...

WHAT I'M WEARING:

The same, nothing too exciting!  I did find a really cute reindeer Christmas to wear on Christmas Eve!

WHAT I'M DOING THIS WEEKEND:

Christmas!  Saturday my mom and her husband are coming over for supper, then Christmas Eve we go to Brad's sisters in the afternoon. We come home around 7, and enjoy appetizers and our family Christmas.  Christmas Day we go to church in the morning and then to Brad's parents.  It will be busy!  I took off the 26th and am excited to just relax!

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:

Nothing specific, it's actually going to be crazy with Rachel and Alayna being in club volleyball.

I hope and pray that each of you has a wonderful Christmas and that you are able to spend time with those you love...

Merry Christmas!!

Life Lately

We are in full on Christmas mode around here, I can't even believe that Christmas is only a week and a half away?!?!?!?!  Seriously, this month has flown by.

Here's a little of what we've been up to...

Billy the elf has been up to his shenanigans again...

St.Nick came and left the girls some pretty cute Christmas jammies and candy.

Emma has been busy doing more calligraphy.   I might be biased, but this girl has TALENT!!!  The detail on the Grinch's hand is crazy!!

Brad and I decided we needed a signature cocktail to bring to Christmas Eve, a few years ago we made candy cane martinis that were a huge hit, this year we found a drink to make a week in advance so the flavors can blend, I'll let you know how it turns out!

Emma had her swimming banquet last weekend, so fun!

Monday night we had a Christmas party at a local brewery that friends of ours hosted, we had a blast!  They had yummy food, games and the BEST cranberry beer!

Tuesday Alayna decided to make her gingerbread house.  Lets just say we ended up hot gluing  the damn thing... We also made our first batch of Grandma Omi's molasses cookies.  They are THE best cookies.  And they're almost gone....

My mom and her husband were asked to be Santa and Mrs.Claus at our local health care center (they both volunteer at our local hospital).  How adorable do they look??!!  And what a wonderful memory they made not only for themselves, but for everyone else who got to visit with them!

Tonight we got around to making some cut out cookies.  Honestly, this is my least favorite Christmas tradition.  I'm not a big sugar cookie fan, plus they never ever turn out for me.  I have tried a bazillion recipes and they just never seem to work.  Plus no one eats them, lol.  And my kitchen is a holy disaster after.

And lastly, a few pics of our home during the holidays.  I loooooooove our house this time of year, it's so cozy!

And my sweet angel, how cute is she??!!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

If you know anything about me, then you know how much I love Christmas!  I love it all, the meaning, sights, sounds, smells, the food, everything.  We start listening to Christmas music the beginning of October, the girls love it just as much as I do!



 Now, being that I am working full time outside of the home, our Christmas tree has been going up earlier and earlier, haha.  This year we put up the family room tree and decorations a couple weeks before Thanksgiving.  I still keep up all my fall decor on the main floor because I still love all things fall!

The Friday after Thanksgiving we put up the rest of the decorations and the living room tree.  This is Brad's favorite activity.  He especially loves stringing lights on an already pre-lit tree.  #wheredidthelightsgo.

Alayna's favorite thing, putting the angel on top of the tree.  I bought this angel on our first Christmas together 21 years ago!

Poor Maci always gets roped into wearing the santa hat.  #spoiledcatprobs

 

Saturday night we had our annual Christmas with the Rothsteins.  This year I came up with some fun minute to win it games that we played with the kids.  Oh my word, did we LAUGH!  This one you had to suck the skittle with a straw and place them next to the plate.

And that was while wearing a pantyhose on your head with a baseball at the bottom.  So.freaking.funny!  We also played beanboozled which was NASTY!  

Tuesday we finally got the ornaments on the tree!

Thursday Alayna had her holiday concert, which was so good!  They actually sang real Christmas music which was really fun.  Our previous school did not allow any sort of holiday music, or decorations.  

December 1 brought back Billy the elf.  He brought a new book and a family ornament.  It's really fun for about 2 days, then I get pissy about where in the sam hell he should go.  We don't go all out, that's far too much work.

Last night Brad brought out a tv out on the patio and got it hooked up so we could watch "Christmas Vacation" and "Elf" while soaking in the hot tub!  It was GLORIOUS!  The weather was gorgeous too.  We decided this will be a yearly tradition.

So that's a little bit of what we've been up to.  We don't have a ton of stuff planned this month which I love, we're just trying to soak in all the Christmas music, movies and family time!

Thanksgiving 2017

We had an absolutely amazing Thanksgiving this year!  For the past couple years my brother and his family have come down for Thanksgiving, along with my mom and her husband.  We always have such a blast!

Thursday morning Brad and I were up early to prep the turkey.  I had gotten the mashed potatoes made the night before and had the stuffing ingredients already prepped and ready to go.  I also tried Mels crescent rolls this year, while they were super tasty, they didn't rise the best (nothing to do with the recipe, just human error) and it was a little more work than I was thinking.  I will absolutely make them again, just not on a holiday maybe. 

There was an uninvited guest at the table, apparently she thought she could sit with the adults, haha!!

We had SO much fun, everything was wonderful.  I love nothing more than seeing my family together enjoying food and laughing!

My sweet mama and her husband.  Thanksgiving was also her birthday!!!  It was so fun to be able to celebrate with her!

After we gorged on dinner and pie, we decided to take a hike back into our woods.  The weather was gorgeous!

Cousins

My fun and crazy sister-in-law.  We laugh waaaaaay to much at ourselves!!

We did do some black Friday shopping.  We went out around 5:30, so not crazy early.  The crowds were all gone by then and we still got some pretty great deals.  I was EXHAUSTED by the end of the day!  We started watching "Christmas Vacation" at 8, and I think I was sleeping by 8:05, ha!