I must have been good this year......

What a Christmas!!! Well the plans got changed just a little bit this year to accommodate the whooper of a storm that we got (I think around 2 feet total over the whole weekend). We decided to let Khloe open her presents from us on Christmas Eve morning. Just to spread it out a little.


She had a great time and got lots of cute things (they should be....since I bought them.) She loved her makeup bag, purse, and quiet book.

Troy and I always say we are not getting each other anything, but I usually always end up getting him something. Usually he doesn't get me anything.....but only because I tell him not to. The last time he got me something for Christmas I opened up a Carhart Coat (well in his defense I had complained about getting cold outside while I scooped) and....wait for it......wait for it....a square green little machine with a crank on it.....that I had no clue what it was for. Turns out you put de-icer in it and turn the wheel and it spreads it all over your sidewalks. I'm still learning how to use it properly. So you might find it hard to believe, but after that Christmas I told him there was really no need for him to buy me anything.

So imagine my surprise after everyone had opened their presents that there was still a box under the tree. I knew immediatly what it was once I held it....which always ticks Troy off that I ruin the surprise. I opened it up and found a new phone. Now before you start thinking that this is as bad as the previous gifts, this one I actually was excited about.

My mom had gotten us a new phone a couple of years ago as a Christmas present and I swear after about 6 months the phones went bad. So instead of buying new phones....because why would I want to spend my hard earned money on a boring new phone....I am just constantly running around the house switching phones because the batteries die before you can finish a conversation. So this was a great gift for me.

Troy really went all out on this phone. He kept asking me if I liked it....I think he wanted me to say no so he could take it back. It must have been expensive! It has three handsets....because I always lose the two that we have, caller id, call waiting, digital phonebook, speakerphone, hold and it even announces who is calling. That way if you are on the couch and don't want to get up you can wait and hear who is calling....and then decide how important they are! Not that I would ever do that......hmmmm


We did make it out to my parents....just in time. We ended up having to skip Christmas mass this year which was a huge bummer. I think this is probably the first year ever that we have not gone to Christmas Eve mass. But with the ice and snow we just didn't think it was a good idea to have the little ones out on the road after dark.We opened some gifts that night and Khloe, yet again, got some really cute gifts. This was a dollhouse that she got.....I turned around and found Troy playing with it....look where he put the man...just relaxing in the bathtub. He's just lucky I didn't show everyone the next picture of him I took....he realized I was shooting some pictures of him and held up one of his fingers for me. It wasn't his ring finger either! hee hee He knew right where those pictures were going!

Khloe got the cutest little bag from my mom...I really wish I could have taken credit for this one. Maybe next year after I learn how to sew. It is supposed to be their backyard setting....complete with Khloe's swing. LOVE IT!!!!

I was actually successful in stumping my dad this year for Christmas. Every gift he gets he always knows what it is (probably because we get him the same stuff every year). So this year I decided to put his Ebay gift certificate in a box and I dumped in a handful of M&M's. He just couldn't figure it out! HA HA

Khloe lucked out Christmas morning and Santa was able to make it through the storm to Grandmas house. She got a little salon chair for her babies along with too many other toys.

As for me.....I must have been exceptionally good this year because I think I got just about everything on my list that I gave this year. There was one gift that I was really wanting and after we arrived at my parents I went to the tree and thought I scoped it out hiding in the back (good try mom). Yes, I am still like a little kid at Christmas, shaking all the boxes. Usually I don't have tons of pictures of myself at Christmas. But when it came time for this box to come around I handed Troy the camera and told him to start shooting. I got my Wacom Bamboo Craft Tablet and was I excited! These are 3 of the 32 pictures Troy took of me. I can't wait to try it out! I also got a tripod for my camera, a remote for my camera, a new camera strap and TONS of other stuff. I think mom forgot she had told us she was cutting back this year.

We got stranded at my parents until the day after Christmas.....and we only live 10 miles away and I really love my own shower and bed....if that tells you how bad the storm was. Their electricity went out on Christmas Day around 11:00 so the ham didn't get cooked and all we could do was eat of the platter of cookies and treats....oh darn. Lucky for us they have a generator and within a few hours we were up and running with some electricity. Not that it mattered...besides the heat of course....we had a great time.

Dad made a ping pong table so we had a few little tournaments...I must add, I didn't do too bad.

All in all it was a good Christmas....but it is always good to be back home. I actually started taking some of the Christmas decorations down today. I get almost excited about putting up my winter decorations because I love all of the silver glittery stuff.

Well if you are still reading this....congratulations....you made it through one of the longest posts I think I will ever have! Hope everyone had a great Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas......

........from our house to yours!

Christmas madness

Of course she has to test the first one out of the oven

Don't worry...I'm sure there were only one or two of her hairs that actually touched the cookies....she got to eat that one afterwards! :)

Khloe's new little rolling pin that I gave her for Christmas....well a little early....got a lot of use! We were busy the other night making cookies. I think the whole process only took us about 6 hours and I'm not even kidding. When we were done and I was looking around our kitchen that looked like a tornado hit it I was wondering if it was all worth it. But Khloe seemed to have fun and the cookies tasted good so we will probably get crazy and do it again next year!

Below is the finished product!

I think the trees could have used a few ornaments....but I was out of energy by the end! Whew, good think Christmas only comes once a year!

I also wanted to post the other box that I finished. I decided to make a new jewelry box. I couldn't find one that I liked without spending a lot of money so I just decided to make my own. Here is the end result...I'll probably paint the box once I decide what color. Yes, it could probably take up to a year for me to decide! ha ha

I keep all of my jewelry in the drawers....along with my cute little flower clip that I made. It works out pretty good for being able to sort through and find what I want.

I hope everyone has a fun weekend planned! I finally get to go see "New Moon." I'm soooo excited! Troy has been refusing to see it after I made him sit through "Twilight" (though I like to think he secretly liked it and won't admit to it). Finally today I found someone who hasn't seen it yet and wants to go, which means I don't have to go sit at the theater by myself...although I was willing to do it to see this movie!

last minute shopping....

Here are a few more Etsy finds....for some last minute shopping if you are like me and still needing to find just a few more things!

For all of you Twilight lovers....this bag is actually used by Bella in both "Twilight" and "New Moon." Well not this exact one...but the same lady made this bag and the one that is in the movies. Take a look at the description on her site...she tells all about it. Pretty exciting for her!

I thought these aprons were pretty cute. She also makes them in kid sizes!

Since I am on my laptop all the time...I thought it would be fun to dress it up a little!

What a cute baby gift! Who doesn't need some cute silverware!

This is actually the exact bag I got for Khloe for Christmas. She LOVES to play in my makeup so I thought she could have her very own makeup bag! (I know the link says sold, but I think she might have more in her shop!)

For the garden lover! She is even upgrading shipping so you are sure to get it before Christmas! She has lots of cool stuff in her shop...look around!

Cute, cute, cute....if Khloe were just a little bit older she probably would have gotten one of these this year! (I know her shop says Christmas orders are over...but you can always print the picture off and give it as a gift certificate...just an idea!)

I thought I would save one of my favorites for last....isn't this cute?!?!?! Yes, I know it's a little spendy, but keep in mind that these people on Etsy are making these handmade....not in a factory so they take a little more time and are a little more expensive....but no two are alike! That's worth something, right? :)

I hope everyone has their shopping almost done and has found that perfect gift for everyone. I still have one more day left if this weather would cooperate!

illumination....

Here is a little peek into our house at Christmas this year. If only we had a fireplace I think the decorations would be complete!

This is probably the last year that I will decorate the tree in our living room with ornaments from when we were kids. I remember being at home when I was younger and my mom always wanted to do a "theme" tree. We would never let her because we always liked seeing the ornaments that we picked out on the tree. So I thought before Khloe gets too much older and gets attached to the tree being this way, like we did when we were kids, I am going to get her a tree for her room next year when she is a little bit older and let her put whatever ornaments she wants on it. Maybe I can snag a good deal on a tree after Christmas. Then I can do a "theme" tree in our livingroom next year.

I had seen a stocking holder similair to the one that is shown above on Etsy last year and it was selling for an enormous price...much more than I was willing to spend. Luckily for me, my dad can do some amazing woodworking things and I unwrapped that as a gift last Christmas. I was soooo excited this year to get it out and put my finishing touches of a little bit of paint and a small picture of Khloe in it. I think it turned out better than I imagined...and much better than the one on Etsy. Thanks, Dad...I love it! You couldn't build me a fireplace this year to sit it on could you?

I love laying in our livingroom at night just looking at the tree....I'm dreading the fact that there is only about another 2 weeks of this left. Tomorrow we are baking sugar cookies so hopefully I will have some fun pictures to post!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

I just wanted to share my December Daily entry for today. This storm has really put me in the Christmas mood! Hope everyone is staying warm!

Be sure and enter to win the "Inspire" vinyl phrase on the post below! Don't be shy! :) Comments close on Thursday night!

Oh and by the way if you now want to listen to some Christmas tunes while you look around the blog scroll to the bottom and my playlist will activate!

Life is....fun

Here is Khloe's new favorite spot.

We set up the Christmas decorations last week and this is where she camps out now sometimes. She loves to try and sneak the figurines out of the nativity....she just glances over at me to see if I'm watching and gives me a big smile and then waits till I leave the room to snatch them all out.

The fun part is she thinks she is being pretty sneaky. What she doesn't know is that I love playing this game with her. She gets the cutest look on her face when I tiptoe back in the living room and catch her in the act. I can't resist!

I know, I know, it's all fun and games now....just wait till she gets older, right? As of right now, the guilty look on her face always gives her away. I'm hoping I can always spot that look!

I picked up the "Elf on the Shelf" this weekend at a Hallmark store. It was 20% off so I couldn't pass it up. I can't wait to get it out after Thanksgiving!

Oh the joys of Christmas gifts.....

Well if you can't tell from the pictures we are the proud owners of a new lawn mower. Someone thinks she is pretty special that she can push a little button and make this thing go. The steering is not the greatest so someone still needs to follow behind and make sure she doesn't run into anything. We wonder why all of our jeans of holes in them. Anyone know where we can get cheap batteries? We may go broke keeping this thing going.

Here is Khloe on Christmas Eve after church.

Molly and Ben opening their gifts on Christmas morning.