Caroline’s 5th birthday party is DONE! Today, she and I went to see The Nutcracker done by the ballet company where she takes ballet. Next Saturday, on her actual birthday, we’re going on the Polar Express to see Santa at the North Pole. I’d say she’s turning 5 absolutely in style. This last week was crazy but now it’s over and all I have left on the to do list is wrap one million presents before Christmas.

Sunday:

Tree decorating at church

Making lemon curd

They look so nice, but they’re terrors

Tuesday:

E’s favorite method of babywearing

Trying to see how close he can stand to the edge without falling off

So, Many. Desserts.

Wednesday:

Santa baby thinks he looks HILARIOUS

PARTY MENU PREVIEW

Never tired of looking at our tree

Thursday:

So dark, no one wants to get up in the morning

Who needs a coat, it’s only DECEMBER.

Grandparents are so good at reading

Friday:

The day started a little foggy

But the sunset was pretty spectacular

Like I said, grandparents are super good at reading

Saturday:

Babies are very helpful when it comes to setting up bounce houses

DECEMBER BIRTHDAY IN NEW ENGLAND WHAT

Such a super fun day with my girl!

Because my parents are the best, almost all of the party stuff is already cleaned up and my only job is eating leftovers. And maybe making time in my schedule for some exercise, because it’s too nice outside for me to already gain my winter hibernation weight. I should go jog on the beach or something. As much as I love the idea of a White Christmas, the longer it stays mild the lower our heating bill and the less school the kids miss and I don’t want to sell them to the circus.

Stay tuned for an epic party post – the photos are done so all I have to do is get them (and the links to alllll the places I ordered from) into a post!

Sorry, planning a party, no time to remember anything else including my blog, my children and where I put my keys.

Sunday:

CUTEST PRINT EVER

My town can be pretty cute

Driving directly into the sun – scenic but inconvenient 

Monday:

The only time he is EVER still

We introduced Evan to video games

SO HELPFUL

Tuesday:

He’s pretending to be the more mature one

I MADE THOSE WHICH IS NOT AT ALL CRAZY

Editing and watching Arrow, two of my favorites

Wednesday:

HAPPY PEPPERMINT SEASON (ignore my nails)

Thank goodness he loves sleeping

Caroline is in that box

Thursday:

Doin’ important baby work

SURE HAVE A COOKIE JUST STAND STILL

She’s very excited Darth Vader is on her pajamas

Friday:

Post-flu-shot faces

She got send home from school for “feeling sick”

Hot chocolate stirring spoons: chocolate marshmallow, white chocolate peppermint, salted caramel

Ok, be back next week when I can think straight again and not spend all my time trying to imagine Nutcracker themed names for various cookies.

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.

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