Holy Cow!

Annnnnnnnnnnd we're back.

Just like that.

Holy cow!

I cannot even pretend to fit it all in one post.

The past 2 weeks have been awesome.

For real, friends.

And do I have pictures.

Lots in fact.

New York was incredible.

We spent 4 days with Ryan's parents checking out places

like the Adirondacks and Niagara Falls,

and then Ryan and I took the train into NYC

for 3 days of New Year's shenanigans.

We had THE best time.

But...before I go there, I must first recap Christmas.
Picture quality = bad.

Bear with me for a few.

Christmas morning 2010!

Ready, set, open!

 No, my children do not have matching Christmas pj's.
They sleep in their tighty whities.
That's how we roll here.
I used to buy the cute matching pj's when they were little.
They would laugh at me now if I tried.

No time to look at the camera, Mom.

Carter trying out his "My First Shaving Kit".

Sweet boy.

We surprised Austin with an iPhone.

He thought he was getting an iPod Touch.

Excited teenager.

Poor little Lulu was a scared of all the screaming boys and wrapping paper flying.

She stayed close to Daddy.

Smart.

Our musical kid.

We just know there is music in this kid's future.

He also received drums and a guitar!

Carter.

My only child that still asks for toys.

It is so weird, friends.

It is so sad.

Our kids are growing up.

 Carter and Trysten had a blast playing with Carter's haul.

Later that morning, we drove out to my parents to celebrate with my whole family.

Their home always looks so beautiful at Christmas.

Thought I'd share a few of my favorite spots.

The family room.

Are there enough presents under the tree?

 And...I think they need one more stocking holder.

I love their majolica collection.

 My parents buy the musical Hallmark snowmen every year.

The grandkids LOVE them!

My mother has an enormous Santa collection.

 And some snowmen too!

The grandkids' table

There's my handsome man in the background.

Look at all their silver and crystal!

Can you imagine that in my home with 4 boys?

Not so much.

But it's so pretty.

The adult table.

The Teenager officially joined us this year.

I was so proud watching him pull the chair out

for my grandmother to sit down.

He can be such a great kid.

Isn't this room beautiful!

I remember this buffet in the foyer of my childhood home.

One of my favorite vignettes in my parent's home.

A collection of antique pipes and such.

My mother is so talented!

After I took all of these pics, I think I forget to pick the camera back up.

Nice.

It's always a little chaotic trying to wrangle all the circus clowns.

Good times though!

 I did manage to get these few.

Here's my precious niece, Alexis.

Really?

Any cuter?

Not possible.

And the leggings paired with blonde ponytail?

Love.

The grandkids.

Love every one of these awesome kids!

My sweet sister, the librarian, reading to Addyson.

What a great day with great family.

It comes and goes so fast.

I feel so blessed to have my family.

When we left my parents' house, we dropped my boys at their dad's,

and Ryan and I spent some precious

one-on-one time with Trysten.

Those times are so few and far between

which makes them so special.

The next morning,

we took T to his mother's house,

and head straight to the airport bound for New York!!

Come back tomorrow

for a post all about

the good times in the great state of NY!!

Some Many Great Things, So Little Time!

I'm going on hiatus until after the holidays, my friends.

So many great things going on.

So little time to document the holiday hoopla.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Years,

and I'll see you after Ryan and I return from

watching the ball drop in the big city of

NEW YORK!!

Don't Forget The Bus Driver!

I decided to give the boys' bus driver, Mr. Allen, a little something

for Christmas to thank him for being so great.

The kids love him.

He's awesome.

He pulls right up to our front walk to pick the boys up every morning,

waits patiently if one of them is taking a little more time putting

on a coat or finding a missing left shoe and never complains.

He greets them by name, sings songs and runs an orderly "ship".

Since Mr. Allen loves movies, we opted for a movie gift card.

Here's what I started with:

I had everything on hand other than the glass container,

school bus, red letter stickers and gift card, all purchased at Walmart.

The first step is to tape off a square on the jar to spray with chalkboard paint.

Easy.

While waiting for it to dry,

I decided to work on a quick gift tag to attach to the jar.

Place the premade tag

{You can buy these at any craft store.}

on scrapbook paper, tracing and then cutting it out.

Easy.

Next you'll need these guys:

Glue the paper to the tag, punch a hole for the ribbon

and ink the edges to give it a more finished look.

Easy.

Wrap some ribbon around the tag,

and tie that bad daddy in the front or back.

Easy.

Notice a trend.

I'm easy.

You know what I mean.

Add an embellishment annnnnnnnddddddd DONE.

Later you'll add a ribbon through the whole to attach it to the jar.

Oh, look.

It's dry.

Pull off the painter's tape, and what do ya know.

It's a chalkboard right there on the jar.

Awesome.

Fill it with peppermint candy.

Write Merry Christmas...or whatever your message is...with chalk or a chalk marker...love those things.

I added his name to the top.

What's the #25 for?

His bus number of course.

I placed that toy bus inside just for fun. 

Tucked the gift card down in the jar

Tied a ribbon around the jar, and that's it!

Don't forget your child's bus driver!

Off to make Rice Crispy treats with the boys.

I love this time of year!

Linking to:

Just a Girl

My Guest Project Post!

Go checkout my Christmas project tutorial over at

Tatertots and Jello!

I am so excited!

Happy
Thursday, friends!!!

Artwork & A Teacher Gift

Sweet little Carter is an artist.

He is constantly drawing, coloring, cutting, gluing, creating.

Ms. Levy is his teacher.

I love that her loves her.

He told me that his teacher taught him how to make a butterfly.

Yes, she did!

Sometimes he makes a little something for me.

Priceless.

Carter's portrait of an airplane.

Love it, although it kind of looks like the guy in the back has a gun in his hand.

He assured me he was just knocking on the bathroom door.

Thank goodness.

I've begun framing his artwork.

He loves it.

Cheap $5.00 matted frames from Walmart made him so happy.

That makes me happy.

I did the same with my other budding artist's work.

I love his creativity!

Preston's gallery.

His frames came from IKEA.

They're so proud of their work, and so am I!

On another note, the boys' teacher gifts have been bought.

I was going to make something for them,

but I found these chalkboard signs at Frisco Mercantile...shocker...and knew they were perfect.

I changed out the bow they came with,

wrote "Merry Christmas" on them with a chalkboard marker

and had the boys write their names on the back.

When I was a teacher, I loved when students did that for me.

That way I could remember who the gift came from years later.

The gingerbread man has a magnet on the back,

so you can remove it and replace with one fitting the occasion.

A cake for a birthday, a pumpkin for Halloween, a firecracker for the 4th of July.

Super cute.

I hope they like them!

Happy Thursday, friends!

Time is Flying!

Can you  believe it!?

I can't.

Eleven days.

Time is flying, my friends.

Elfie is running out of places to hide.

Beating.

All the presents are wrapped and under the tree.

We have had to threaten the boys with

giving their gifts away if the pick them up.

Why, you ask?

In years past, presents have "accidentally"

been ripped open a bit after having small hands all over them repeatedly.

Oops, it ripped.

Maybe I can peek in and see what it is.

Catch my drift?

Everything usually seems so rushed during the holidays,

but for some reason...maybe because I'm not working...things seem more calm.

I finished Christmas shopping so early this year,

and as the presents were bought or came in the mail,

they were wrapped and placed under the tree.

Typically Ryan and I rush at the last minute wrapping all the gifts at once.

I am so excited to have our little family all together

for Christmas Eve and Christmas day this year.

It only happens every other year,

and when it does,

it's a very special time.

Cannot wait.

Know what else is exciting?

Ryan and I are leaving for New York in 12 days.

Awesome.

  

On a random note, guess who is doing a guest post at

Tatertots and Jello

this Thursday?!

Yep...ME!!!

How cool is that!?

I was completely honored when she asked me

back in October to do a Christmas tutorial on her blog.

Be sure to check it out!

Lots more ahead this week.

I am volunteering at Carter's holiday party at school,

we have Ryan's work Christmas party on Friday,

and a kid free weekend full of newlywed fun.

Is it really only Tuesday?

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Weekend Recap!

What a great family weekend.

It was cold outside, my friends.

 Lots of fun together indoors.

The boys played non stop and got along so well all weekend long.

That can be a challenge when you have 4 boys under the same roof.

Trust me.

Even better, the Teenager was a complete joy to be around all weekend.

That too can be a challenge.

Trust me.

Speaking of The Teenager, he accompanied me on a

few errands Saturday, where I picked

up a few things for a little Christmas vignette for the foyer.

Ryan thinks this Santa looks creepy.

No, Ryan.

He looks vintage.

Not creepy.

Ok. Maybe a little, but I like him.

Can you see the squirrel?

You likey?

I decked out the stairs this weekend.

That's always such a beating, but I like how it looks.

I spent all day Sunday in the kitchen making

THE Pioneer Woman's

Creamy Lemon Crumb Squares

for a neighborhood cookie exchange.

SIX dozen of them.

Ryan squeezed and zested...is that a word?...about 36 lemons for me...that's a good man...

while the boys made homemade lemonade.

Yum.

Trysten helped me out.

Sweet boy.

Layered greatness.

Aren't they pretty?

Remember the pic Ryan and I took

holding our local newspaper in NOLA?

The boys were super impressed this weekend

to see we made into the current printing.
Pretty cool.

And last, but certainly not least,

the tooth fairy made an appearance this weekend.

How cute is this smile!?

Happy Monday!!!