It was 60 degrees the day after Thanksgiving this year, which made getting our tree much more pleasant than last year when it was 15 degrees. They also opened up the lower field of trees this year, the ones that had been growing for a looooong time now, so a) it only took 5 minutes to find a great tree and b) we accidentally bought a really really huge one.

We also managed to get a family Christmas card picture I was willing to have printed on 50+ cards to send to everyone I know. You would think that would be an easy task for an actual photographer, but the shoemaker’s children etc etc. I needed one for the family room gallery wall too, since poor Linc is sadly underrepresented. But I’m not posting the card picture until my cards go out. Luckily that will be REALLY SOON, because I took Minted up on their free addressing service and all but a handful of my cards will come addressed (I paid with my own real money but that’s an affiliate link, fyi). I can just slap a stamp on them and be done. Of course, the reason they do that is because now my address book is all typed into Minted and I’ll prooooobably use them again next year, even if they aren’t offering 20% off (which they are, right now, but not for long).

Linc REALLY loved the Christmas tree farm. I might take him back to walk around and take some pictures. If I’m feeling REALLY ambitious, I’ll take his Cozy Coupe and take a photo with a tiny tree tied on top. That would be so adorable it might be worth the effort.

Linc ran FULL SPEED towards the gator truck that collected our tree to take it back to the sales building

Best I could do. It was really sunny.

You know what, I don’t even care if Caroline isn’t looking, this is perfect.

And this is MUCH more accurate.

Almost ordered this one for the wall instead of the one where you can see all the faces.

We stayed home for Thanksgiving again this year, which it fine by me. My kids hardly eat any of the traditional Thanksgiving food so I don’t bother with most of it. I made potato bites and bacon wrapped tater tots instead of mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing and canned cranberry sauce because I love those, and 16 crescent rolls. There were no leftover rolls. I am thankful I only had to cook for my immediate family.

Linc missed the entire meal because he was napping. I would say that was super sad, but I would be lying. Trying to eat at the real dining table with a 1 year old is not the calmest experience, He woke up for pie, so it’s not like he missed the WHOLE holiday. I am thankful I have a baby who naps really well (MOST of the time).

After we ate and relaxed and watched football and ate some more, I ended up a Target in a really long but very pleasant line to get in when they opened at 6 pm. E and I decided we wanted to buy the kids a video game for Christmas and after much debating picked the Disney Infinity system. They were super on sale and I figured it didn’t hurt to try and grab one. While I was there I finished Linc’s Christmas shopping with a Little People set and a GIANT teddy bear. I cannot wait to see his face when he tackles it.  I’m thankful for everyone who worked on Thanksgiving so I could get a good deal (and I’m thankful everyone I saw that evening was in SUCH a good mood).

Also, I am thankful for wine.

Buy tater tots, wrap them in bacon, roll them in brown sugar, bake at 400 for however long it takes for the bacon to cook, eat with joy.

I’ve done bacon-wrapped, fried, Martha’s recipe and traditional. This year I covered it in a butter-soaked cheesecloth. They’re all good, but fried wins.

In case I needed to say it, that’s sparkling cider. The kids didn’t get wine.

My grandmother’s silver, my wedding china, the dining room table E built.

He’s so patient when he thinks he’ll get fed.

Football

Proper feet-up, post-Thanksgiving relaxing

I am thankful for my messy house, because it means it is full of children (repeat, repeat, repeat)

I am thankful Evan didn’t really like pie so I got to eat his piece.

My photos this week are terrible because I used my actual camera so much I kept forgetting my phone. I promise to post a whole bunch (probably way too many) of those photos as soon as I finish my client editing.

Sunday:

Lincoln really loves Caroline

Pimp my Cozy Coupe

I caught craft herpes from glitter tulle

Monday:

Outlet shopping in style

Very important iPad work

I wore this baby so much this week

Tuesday:

My face is horrible, but Linc is waving goodbye to Target, because Target is our BFF

The pre-Christmas toy purge

Ballet waiting room selfie

Wednesday:

15 Month check-up

Poor Brutus misses his kids when they’re at school

Pie maker

Thursday:

Fascinated by the parade, AS THEY SHOULD BE

I escaped my family to photograph a brand new baby

My 8 lb turkey looks so sad on that huge plate

Friday:

Christmas Tree farm selfie

Dinner selfie

Walking home in the dark selfie

Saturday:

Early Christmas present

The dudes really like the new Star Wars game

You can’t see the mess in the dark

Despite both grown ups in our house being sick at least part of the holiday weekend, we managed to get our tree, decorate, and do a large number of Christmasy-things. I have a bunch of cleaning to catch up on, since that’s always the first thing that goes when you’re not feeling great, but I’m feeling super motivated knowing I have less than 2 weeks until Caroline’s party. Fingers crossed I can get the early prep done so I have time to actually make food. It would help if I started a menu…

Last week I went to Ulta and spent a bunch of money on makeup. I haven’t bought real makeup in a really, really long time and I don’t think I’ve ever bought all the things the sales girl recommended. Because it’s really expensive. But I’ve been feeling really old (even with blue hair) and I’ve been super unhappy when I look in the mirror, so spending a little (a lot) to feel better seemed reasonable. And you know what? My selfie ratio has gone way, way up and when I walked past a mirror today I was surprised to see someone who looked so happy. I think it was money well spent. Please enjoy a lot of selfies this week.

Sunday:

Beautiful morning in our postcard downtown

Caroline loves church because a) coloring and b) coffee hour

Cotton candy sky

Monday:

His favorite spot is on my back, even when I’m not wearing him

Totally normal grocery shopping

Sleeping like a posed newborn baby

Tuesday:

The sun starts to set before the bus even comes

This coat was an excellent purchase

Waving at the big girl ballerinas

Wednesday:

Nursing, sleeping baby in Target

Even the filler paper from Shop Sweet Lulu was fun

Stars in his eyes

Thursday:

So November

They asked me to take this photo

Birthday invites from Jumping Jax Designs come with goodies

Friday:

Baby sword fights seem like a wise choice

This weather can stay

No nap baby can’t stay awake when he’s wrapped

Saturday:

Raking is the worst

That house is called Greene Gables. They’re not green and it’s pretty abandonded, but I was still pretty excited.

Pile of gravel + waterfall = best day for a 6 year old

Having Wednesday off for Veterans Day really confused me all week. I do not like random mid-week holidays.

Sunday:

The turtle’s name is Stretch, which Caroline forgets every time

Anyone need a really poorly made tutu?

Toddler nursing is a little like being mauled by an animal

Monday:

Everyone needed some love on Monday

And then he got stuck. Poor choices.

Probably the largest collection of Wendy’s kid’s meal toys in the world

Tuesday:

Shopping buddy

He is SO convinced he’s helping

Ballet has replaced swim as my least favorite activity (because I have to bring all the kids)

Wednesday:

My children asked to be locked in a closet

A friend asked me to take a picture of her bow

Evan asked me not to talk to him anymore because he was too busy

Thursday:

Bus stop weirdos

Partners in crime

The queen of snack-stealing

(FYI: That popcorn came from a free PINCHme box, which you can sign up for here. It’s free and they send you samples. I got some good stuff.)

(Also FYI: That’s not an affiliate link, they just sent me one so I would share, so I’m sharing.)

Friday:

Toddler Party

This appears to be a very low budget horror movie, filming in my neighborhood

(I think it is this movie, but there’s no real info on IMDB yet. There was a sign on the door that said Dark Pledge.)

Sleepy baby

Saturday:

Babies are not super helpful on photoshoots

I’m going to make-over that Cozy Coupe, but Linc already loves it

Caroline wants a pet “just for her”. I said no to rodents.

We had some amazing weather this week, especially for November. With the sun going down so early it is really important to my mental health that I get outside for some vitamin D at least a few times a week, or I start to go crazy. So it would be great if we could keep at least a couple warmish, sunny, non-snowing days a week for the whole winter. Then I could keep doing photo sessions too, which also make me super happy.