A Christmas Recap

Well it's over.  I can honestly say that I am ready to pack up the Christmas tree, take down the lights and stay out of the kitchen.  Christmas was good to us this year. 

Brody made out like a bandit, of course, and I managed to snag a few awesome gifts myself.

No more dreaming about that pirate ship!  I think he played with this a good ten minutes before he even realized that there were even more presents under the tree!

This was a sort of impulse buy on my part - I was finished shopping for him when I saw this.  It's like the policeman one I thought about, but it's a racecar helmet.  and since Nascar is in the family, I thought it would be perfect, and it is!   He loves it!

Oh wait, back to the pirate ship. Who cares about all those other unwrapped presents.  Here's one of me and him.  He thinks it's really funny to make faces when I want him to smile.  I didn't get a good one of the two of us all day!

Here's a few more, of Brody playing with a few of his favorites!

and what did I get??  Gift cards to Menards (I have a new house and have several projects started or on a list, so those are GREATLY appreciated!!!)  an Apple AirPort Extreme (for my new laptop), and... 

I bought this dining room table with the rest of my cash/bonus check!!!  I am in love...

Just a quick one -

Okay, so I promise I'll post a real post later today, I'v been sooo busy and I swear I've got a Christmas hangover -

But both John Deere Mom and Finding Normal are having Blogiversary Giveaways, so in the meantime, go check out their blogs!!

A Christmas Tradition...

Meet Skipper. He is our Christmas Elf. Santa sent him to our house to keep an eye on Brody. Every night, he flies back to the North Pole to tell Santa all the good (and bad) things Brody may have done that day. Then he flies back and hides somewhere in the house. When we wake up, we have to find him.

Here he is, sitting on the mantel in my Christmas Village. He likes to sit up high, so he can see everything.

He came to us with this wonderful book that explains everything. He is not allowed to talk to us, and we are not allowed to touch him. It might make his magic disappear!


We read our story about him every night, and then go and talk to him, telling him if we've been good, and which room we think he'll be in the next day.


This morning, we found him next to the computer in a lampshade! You just never know where that crazy elf is going to be....

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Some Christmas Goodness...

Yesterday might have been the longest day of my life. First, I woke up at 5:30. and excercised for 45 minutes before even starting the coffee and taking a shower. Then, I couldn't find the keys, couldn't find Brody's left boot, and I still have no idea where his mittens went. It had snowed the day before, and the streets were packed still, and of course, my house is at the bottom of a hill. After 3 attempts to make it up the hill in my little car, I finally gave up and went down 5 blocks to a flatter street. To the post office we go.

Because of the snow, I hadn't made it there the day before, and knew I had a few packages waiting. One, from my secret santa was a HUGE box! I coulnd't wait to open it! But, I had to get to work...

So I get to work and it was crazy, of course. I actually was only going to work unitl noon, because I took my very pregnant with twins friend (tomorrow is the big day!!) shopping in the afternoon for some much needed baby essentials. Finally around 12:30 I got out of here and headed to the city to pick her up.

After shopping for a few hours, not really accomplishing much of anything, (I have forgotten how when you are really pregnant, bathroom breaks and rest stops are very needed, and they take up a lot of time....)we had to head home. I had to work my other job, bookkeeping at a feed lot last night, and needed to get back. So, a quick stop at Grandmas to drop off the Brodster, and 2 1/2 hours of invoicing later, I pick him back up and FINALLY head home.

I saw the big box sitting there and wanted to open it sooo bad, but I couldn't just yet. First, (and fast, since it was almost bedtime) we had to make treats for Brody's daycare Christmas party, and wrap those presents. (Puppy Chow, pretzels and M&M's, since the originally planned chocolate suckers would take too much time).

Then, finally, after Brody was warm in bed, I got to open the huge box that had been calling my name since 7:30 that morning. I tore into it. First, I saw this:

Then I looked inside! Everything was individually wrapped and it was so much fun!! (But I don't have the patience to take pictures like that, I dug right in.)

Inside the purse, I found goldfish crackers, TWO bags of brownies, a pack of gum, bath salts and body wash, two suckers, a washcloth, and an adorable Christmas apron and oven mitt! I couldn't be happier with my secret santa, Jody! I can tell she read through my blog and really thought about what to get me!

She also sent this wonderful little note, explaining why she got me certain things:

The fish - because you love seafood NOT!

The bag - because you are a girl after my own heart.

The bath stuff - time for you to relax and take a time out.

The brownies - HELLO.....

Gum and suckers - to share with your cute little son.

The apron - Make sure to find joy and happiness in all you do!

Thank you so much Jody! It was the PERFECT ending to my day!!! I wasn't even tired anymore after I opened it and was sooooo tempted to make some brownies...



I also participated in an ornament exchange, and I received this adorable Santa music box. I should have taken a picture of the inside, there are reindeer and a sleigh that go in a circle as the music plays. I received this from Bonnie, I don't have a blog for you, Bonnie, but thank you! Brody loves it, and so do I! I hope things are getting easier for you, too!


One last thing, I purchased this snowman print from Sandi Lou. It is wonderful and I love it! If you haven't been to her blog, go! She has several prints for sale, VERY reasonably priced, and they are all ADORABLE!!!

Fiestaware

Ravings of a Mad Housewife is giving away 4 place settings of Fiestaware!! Click here to check it out!

Getting ready for Christmas

We made a Gingerbread house this weekend. This picture was taken about 10 minutes before it completely fell apart. (Pretty sure that a certain young boy had something to do with it. Big crocodile tears and all.) He thinks I'm going to buy another one. I think I'll just print off this picture instead!


Here's little Ern Dog. I couldn't resist. He hates it of course, but I did manage to get a few good pictures. I still haven't taken Brody to see Santa yet. I was planning on taking him down yesterday, but then I had company and the weather was horrible, so we still haven't gone.

He is starting to get a little anxious that Santa will forget him. (right.) So hopefully this week. My friends twins are also due to arrive this Friday, so we are all excited for that too!!

I still need to finish shopping. I'm starting to feel a little stressed. It seems there is never enough time!

Christmas Shopping (again) and a haircut

So last night I took Brody to my parents house so that I could go Christmas shopping by myself. (for toys.) Doesn't it seem silly to you to make a special shopping trip to buy $200 worth of toys?? I think so.

But I got in the mood pretty quick, and I am so excited. I found great deals. On pretty much EVERYTHING that was on my list for him. Which means, I ended up buying even more than I had planned. So, 5 stores later, he is going to be sitting with a whole lotta new stuff. I decided to go with $300 budget again, because honestly, that is more than enough.

I ended up spending $354 and some change, on $540 worth of stuff (regularly priced). A lot of what I got is stuff we would have gotten anyways, like new socks and underwear. (I don't know why, but instead of using them now, I'm going to pretend Santa gave him new underwear. Pretty sure my parents did that to me too.) I also got Wall-E and that Horton movie, which I would've bought anyways.
I can't wait to see him open everything on Christmas morning.

Also, I cut my hair. The wedding is over, so I am "allowed" to do that now. (Heather wouldn't let me before.) This is about the best I can photograph myself, but I really like it.



Cute and sassy, like Reese Witherspoon. (At least according to my hairstylist. I think it's a stretch.) But now I don't like my coloring. I think it needs to be "funner" since it's short now.