crewcuts photo shoot...

Hailie was excited to wear her new crew cuts outfit from Grandma Kathy and mommy was excited to play with her new camera...

one new years resolution started..

just purchased some of these baggu bags

no more paper or plastic...

hope everyone had a very merry christmas..

ours was amazing and super relaxing...

except for the part when I almost passed out and fell off the couch Christmas morning when my husband had me open this present..

out of control I tell ya... I literally sat there dumbfounded...

he said now my blog is about to get sicker...lol.. thanks for supporting me baby..

relaxing weekend..

we were just driving back home from having a super yummy lunch at PF Chang's and we spotted these hot air balloons getting ready to take off.. Kyle pulled over so the kids could get out and watch them take off.. it was pretty cool..

Hope you had a..

amazing photo card designed by DeanWorks Studios

nutcrackers..

Luke has been obsessed with nutcrackers this year for some reason..every time we went to the store he begged for one.. I finally gave in when they went on sale at Target for $10 bucks..
he was so excited picking one out and I didn't realize they have the dates printed on them..which is nice.. we brought him home and daddy thought it was so cool too.
he thinks Luke just started a new Christmas tradition of buying a new nutcracker every year..

I also spotted this book over at cool mom picks

I think it would be fun to get this to read to them too..

festive wrapping...

I absolutely love wrapping presents for Christmas in fun and creative ways...
I had a ton of green and red felt left over from a Christmas project I did last year..
so I just cut circles out while I watched a movie...
sewed them together to create an extremely long garland...
and when I was at Target I picked up a gigantic roll of brown mailing paper for $2.99 to use as wrapping...

used the felt garland as ribbon and alphabet stamps to put everyone's name on their presents and now I have seriously adorable wrapping for a seriously economical price!

O Christmas tree...

the hunt...
the extreme concentration..



the grand finale..

from this to that..

I bought these two huge down pillows on clearance at Homegoods for drum roll please... 5 bucks each..
not bad right.. not exactly my style covers though.. no problem..
I have had some fantastic fabric just waiting to be made into floor pillows..


the kids seem to be enjoying them..

santa..

night started with dinner at Joes BBQ with the cousins...
then off to the lighting of the towns tree
and then onto Santa...

a star is born

Hailiegirl had her Preschool Christmas Program and she was so excited about her pink sparkle dress and mommy couldn't resist topping her off with a mini tiara.. a little over the top maybe but she is my princess..
Man was she the star of the show.. I am thinking dance lessons are next..
She knew every motion, every word, and she was totally into it.. We were all cracking up when this guy in front of us turned around and asked if we were talking about the little girl in the grey and we were like yeah, and he said, "She is amazing"
That is our baby...

I heart this dress so much..

I need Kyle to take me somewhere that I can wear this...

oh my..

LUV

advent calendar

Hailie has been asking since Thanksgiving how many more days till Christmas..

enter some cute moda fabric..
the unbleached cotton that I love..
and some red yarn=

super cute advent calendar for the kids...
they have been having so much fun searching for the day and seeing what little surprise is in store for them... and now when Hailie asks me how many more days, I tell her to go see how many pouches are on the tree..

Ballard cork board knock off

Ballard has these amazing cork boards that were exactly what I was looking for to hang my Christmas cards on this year... but at well over $150 bucks..way out of my price range..

enter an old frame I had sitting in the garage.. used the bronze paint on it I had from the Thanksgiving letters I painted...a roll of cork board I bought from JoAnns with a 50% off coupon.. so it was only 7 bucks...

and here is my own version of their cork board now displaying the beginnings of the Christmas cards we are receiving..

Hailie Girl..

last night I asked Hailie to pick up her room..
a few minutes later she came and grabbed my hand to show me her accomplishment..
while happily pronouncing.. "see mom, all spic and spanish"
hilarity...

(loving this gorgeous room for her by the way..) hmmm

branch wreath at JoAnns..3.99
greenery at Hobby Lobby.. 3 stems at 2.49 each
wood chip letter A at Hobby lobby..1.77
wire ribbon at Hobby Lobby...1.25
red metallic paint at Hobby Lobby...99 cents

the first wreath I ever made...priceless..
hehe okay cheesy..but can you believe I made this for under $15 bucks..
I think it turned out really cute...

Two days of Thankfulness...

The bread chef and his sous chef..
the table setting..


the spread...

the two most precious things Kyle and I are thankful for...
day after Thanksgiving picnic in the park...

Luke sure knows how to make me laugh...

While tucking Luke in last night he looks up at me and says....
"Mommy, Christmas will be nice for you and daddy..all of our toys will be free, because Santa will bring them"....

That boy cracks me up.. ahhhh innocence