Happy New Year-s Eve

Tonight should be a lot of fun. As soon as Hottie gets home from work we are headed to his Mom's house. There we will celebrate Christmas and then the New YEAR! I've been busy as a bee attempting to make yummy desserts (and failing miserably because I didn't take enough time to read and follow directions. Oh well).

I've also been put in charge of coming up with some ways to keep the kids busy (there will be 9 kids and 9 adults). So this is what I made...

 surprise bags for them to open each hour. They are filled with activities, or games, or treats...

 as you can see this project was an awesome stash buster. I just used whatever tickled my fancy to decorate plain lunch bags with giant numbers. They are sewn shut, so noooo peeking....

Ok, ok. I will tell you what is in some of them...

-balloons, hole punches, small funnel (to fill balloons with "confetti" to pop at midnight)

-pipe cleaners (to make 2012 glasses)

-stick on mustaches (to stick on and look hilariously awesome)

-glow in the dark animals (to hide in the yard after dark)

-ping pong balls (for a candy game)

-watch me grow capsules

-silly straws

Then I will also do a couple of reindeer games that I blatantly stole from my little sister from Christmas...who blatantly stole them from Minute to Win It. Beyond that there will be lots of cheers-ing and eating and overall gluttony. Hope you all have a happy new year. 

Christmas Wrap Up

Believe it or not it is the 29th of December and we are still not done celebrating Christmas around here. My mother in law was out of town for the holiday and we will celebrate on New Year's Eve. So our decorations are still up (mostly cuz I am too lazy and tired to take them down). We still have gifts to give, and I will even be doing some more baking tomorrow. (At this point I am actually looking forward to January first to start fresh with eating right and running my tail off!)

Anyway...
Here is a wrap up of our festivities...
This year we were able to spoil our kids with the things they wanted most....

An xbox for Nakiah....

 The rest of the clubhouse characters for Evareaux (Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto)...

 and a computer for Aidan...

BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!! seriously.

Oh, yeah. And it turns out "the one that got away" did not actually get away! 

Good job Hottie!--I mean Santa!

Later that day we headed up to my older sister's house in Marina Del Rey for some time together.

And lots of time playing...Here are my adorable nieces...

Yes. That is Christmas in California for ya...a day at the beach. It was incredible....

We made good use of the girls' new rocket launcher...

And even managed to get a wonderful family photo that *gasp* includes everyone...*gasp* looking at the camera....*gasp* smiling! This is a huge feat for our crazy bunch and I will treasure it and scrap it (yup, already printing at Costco as we speak).

We had a wonderful holiday. I don't think it could have gone any better. The kids were thrilled and well behaved. We got to spend time laughing and making memories with family. And I may or may not have taken something like 600 photos on and around the 25th so the fun will continue as I go to preserve these memories. I will get back into the scrapping groove soon...right after our 3rd Christmas this Saturday that is.

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (& picture overload)

Get ready for a picture overload. We are all ready for the big day around here. The kids are in counting down the hours mode, so cute! I can't help but get super excited for them and my nieces, they are going to have a magical day. Here is a little catch up on what we've been up to during the hectic holiday season.

Serious about our Christmas stories...

 new family members (like reindeer Pluto)...

 Cookie decor...

 Gingerbread before...

and after (back)...

 and front (I like to go a little nuts with these)...

 "snowfall" in line for Santa (Ev did not like the foam)...

 Santa success, no freak-outs...

 Excited to give certain special hand-made gifts (thank you to Purple Apple Boutique)...

 taking in the local holiday spirit (I will never tire of the glory of lighted palm trees)...

 festive hats and silly photos...

 "ho, ho, ho"...

 never getting a simple smiling photo out of this kid...

 or this one...

 unless I tickle her...

 coolest Santa cookie jar in town...

 homemade tree out of an upside down tomato vine cage and lights...

 centerpiece fun...

 I am "that chic" who collects snow globes (one each year, up to 7 so far)...

 loving last years gift from Kiah, Ev thinks they are castles...

  This year it turned into a wreath wall...

 

Giant sparkly bow gracing the top of the tree....

Disco ball ornaments I managed to score on sale on the 26th last year...

So we are all ready and caught up. In a little while the kids will open up their traditional Christmas Eve gifts...pajamas ("Whhhhhhaaaaat?! they will say, "this is a total shock!") hehe. Predictable, I know...but it makes for great pictures on the big day. Then we'll cuddle and watch the original Grinch movie and nestle them all snug in their beds. Oh. I can hardly wait for Santa to come myself. :) I'm sure I will have a hard time sleeping.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.....

A Very Merry 2 Year Old Christmas

Recovering nicely from yesterday. Maybe I'll feel even better about my energy level tomorrow after a long awaited day off (hallelujah, amen.) The last two weeks have been a whirl wind and I have had to manage my Griswold-like expectations some. I realize that this is a combination of working for a grocery store and having a two year old. Some things are just not coming together as planned. For instance...

There is a thief among us...

 Albeit a cute one, but a thief nonetheless...

She seems to think that the tree is her own  personal toy gifting suite. She particularly loves the "balls" (don't worry, not glass).

Maybe we gave her the wrong message whilst trimming the tree...

 It makes no sense to her that she could swing them around and throw them on the ground that first night but isn't supposed to go near them now...oops, mixed messages.

It's been an ongoing process since the fir went up...she tugs, and pulls, and snatches with all of her might, and runs away with glee. and I chase her down and shout (happy holidays, I know) "NO! We DON't touch!" Then she cries and we repeat this over and over. It's a fun little Christmas game we've invented. Well, as long as it doesn't become tradition I guess it's fine. :) 

At least I was able to snap a pic of our pride and joy before she got her grubby little two year old hands on it!.....

Currently there are 2/3 fewer ornaments adorning it. 

The other thing that has had to change is one I did not think about. At. ALL. Remember when I told you that "pretty packages tied up with string," was on my Christmas To-Do list? What I was thinking was something like this.... 

I made this for a wedding recently.

It sparked my interest in gift wrap. I was excited to go crazy with my punches, paper, ribbon, and string. I even bought some kraft wrap and other neutral colors. Last week I wrapped a few gifts. And my dear little elf promptly unwrapped them (good job keeping an eye on her, Hottie ;). So now it is clear that this is not the year for pretty, perfectly quaffed gifts. It may in fact be the year for packages tied up with duct tape. (Get into THAT kid, I dare ya!) Maybe instead it's the year for using up all of those random rolls leftover from Christmases past. Maybe that is a good thing. :)

Wordless Wednesday (and happy 100th post to me)

...too tired to write....4am shifts are kicking me right in the booty, gotta love Trader Joe's during the holidays...those signs aren't just gonna draw themselves you know...(ok, so it's not exactly a wordless 100th post....and I will catch up more tomorrow)....the picture speaks for itself though....nighty night.

Let it Snow

I am not a California girl. Admittedly I did enjoy the endless sunshine the first few years I lived here. Not anymore. Now I really, really, REALLY, miss the seasons. The thing I miss most of all though, is the snow. Growing up in Montana we had no shortage of the white stuff. I have fond memories of playing with my sisters all bundled up. Sledding down this giant hill behind our house (and sometimes all the way into the street...oops, sorry for the ride little sis).

Most of the time it bums me out when I think about it. I wish my kids had the chance to get to know what it feels like to freeze their little fingers and noses to the core, get all dressed up and waddle around in a snowsuit like a giant penguin, make snow angels, peg their siblings with snowballs....or get their tongue stuck to a pole (ok, maybe not that last one...but you get my point.)

Although I remember all of those things in great detail from my childhood here is one I can't recall for the life of me...

I CAN SKI?!!!! THAT'S ME IN THE SNOW SUIT...SKIING! I CAN SKI! Haha.

Truth be told I do have a memory of skiing at a very young age. And I also remember falling down over and over and over. and I remember my bum hurting. bad. This may just be trick photography. ;) I had this weird moment when I found this picture because it is me. not falling down. in full control. doing it. who knew?....not me...

Maybe I will have to try it again one day soon. Then I can let my kids get a taste...but not of the yellow snow. We will have to teach them to stay away from that. hehe....(that is snow humor, for my California friends who don't know.) he

Holiday Cheer

 Last weekend I was in need of some extra holiday cheer. And what better place to find this then Disneyland? Honestly if you want to go on a bunch of rides and avoid crowds this is not the time of year to go. But, it is my personal favorite time at Disneyland because they do such an amazing job of making the magic of the season come to life. I'll show you what I mean with some photos.

Here is the entrance to California Adventure (brand spankin' new. It feels like you are walking into "Meet the Robinsons.")...

It occurred to me that I have never been in this park while it displays the holiday trimmings. And I did not find much in the way of this. But I do still love the skyline as you look over to the boardwalk...

I found this beautiful tree next to a meet and greet Santa...

Then I decided to make my way into Disneyland. Here is the front entrance...

 Just inside the park...

For some reason I failed to take a photo of the larger than life tree at the end of Main Street. But I did get a close up. Yes, those are doll-sized Santa's and Nutcrackers....

Main Street (Note: In this photo you can see what I meant about crowds.)...

Snow on the castle....

 This was actually taken before it was lit. They light it up at a certain time each night with music and then snow falls and...it is pure magic....I tear up every single time, like a big 'ol goober. I'll have to go back and get a photo of it lit to show you what I mean.

I love this statue of Walt (we're on a first name basis, thank you very much) and Mickey. I also love that I was able to center the beautiful tree just below their hands....

 (That girl is probably really annoyed that I am in the bkgd of her picture, oops. :)

Guess who is the most festive person in all of Toontown?

Mickey?...

 No, Minnie, it's gotta be Minnie...

 Goofy! Look how much he decks out his house!...

My personal favorite part in all of Disneyland this time of year is small world. THIS is a sight to behold....

I wouldn't be surprised if you could see it from outer space ;) I've never actually been on this ride during the holidays but I hear it may have a lot of "Jingle Bells" involved. They also do this really cool mini show on the outside with music and the lights flash and a scene changes on the face of the building. Pretty epic, but also hard to explain.

Here is a shot down Main Street towards the tree...

And the stunning lights in the trees between Downtown Disney and the tram...

 Wish I could do this at home. They are spectacular...

So after that trip to Disneyland I felt especially inspired to dress up our home and create some sort of December Daily(daily-ish cuz I am working like a dog so most days don't feel like this one did). Trying to keep the magic alive. And with that said I am off to decorate a wreath and then move on to some sugar cookie baking.