Our White Christmas

Our area had it’s first White Christmas since 1963. While we didn’t wake up to a blanket of snow on the ground it did eventually come and when it came it was gorgeous. I’ve taken several pictures of the snow but for this wordless(ish) Wednesday I thought I would share a few of Keagan taking a trip on the sled.

As you can see he was extremely excited when the snow finally started to fall:

Waiting for the ride of his little 4 year old life: 😉

Taking a ride with Daddy at the “wheel”…

Uncle Tye & Keagan’s turn:

WIPEOUT!!!!

Of course we can’t forget Easton. This was his opinion of the snow:

And while I’m at it I  might as well show a few pictures of quite possibly the ugliest snowman ever made. ;), Daddy & Mommy posing by the beaut of a snowman, Uncle Tye and Aunt Jeni, and Nanna’s house all pretty and white.

Great great White Christmas!!

Christmas Morning 2010

We had a very magical Christmas this year! All the preparing, all the anticipation, all the excitement….and it was everything I could have hoped for. The boys made out like a bandit. Keagan’s big presents from Santa included a basketball goal he’s been wanting and a big monster truck remote control car. Easton received lots of noisy….very noisy toys- (Thanks Santa! ;)) Daddy made out with a brand new grill that is both gas and charcoal, a new tent, and of course his own remote control car to play right along side Keagan. And then me…Santa was very good to me also. I got a greenhouse for my little seedlings, a snowsuit for our winter camping and cabin trips, new hiking boots, a set of 10 wall frames to put my own photography in…Soooo happy about those!, some picture albums, and quite a bit of smelly good stuff from Bath & Body Works. We all must have been very good boys and girls this year to receive such great presents! I am very grateful and thankful!

Here are a couple of snapshots taken along the way….Our house is pure chaos on Christmas morning so I had to snap these quick when I could get them.

After Santa's Visit

Stockings full of so many goodies!

Thanks Teague & Clayton! I think it was a hit!! 🙂

Complete with winter suit & hiking boots-Let's CAMP!

Christmas 2010 ended with a bang! We did indeed have a white Christmas. As I type this we are preparing to go out and play with our 5-6 inches of snow on the ground. It also marked the 3rd year anniversary since Gram’s death. I felt her presence with me the whole day. I miss you mom. Merry Christmas!

We’ve almost made it!!!

Have I mentioned yet how excited I am for Christmas….Oh let me see, I think I have a time or two….but we’re almost there!! Tonight Keagan is staying off at Nana’s house so we took the opportunity to pull everything down from the attic, make sure everything is wrapped….Count all the presents because yes, I am one that presentation is everything! Each present may not be something huge but I want them to walk into the living room and think WOW! I’ve gone through each of the boys stocking stuffers….and at last, I think I am ready! Not only are Keagan and Easton going to be excited by Christmas this year but a little someone told me that Santa is also going to unexpectedly leave Aaron and I a gift or two….or three…and I can’t wait to see Aaron’s face too. 🙂 What fun! Now just get me through the rest of the work week and I’ll be okay!

Also to top it off….We’re being threatened by the chance of a white Christmas. Don’t think for one minute I’m not watching the forecast on an hourly basis. 😉

Christmas Cards….

I love Christmas cards. They provide the perfect decoration every year and the fun thing about it is you never know what you’re going to get. I’ve been staring at my Christmas cards all day. Each & every one of them have their own personality and match so well to the family they came from. We received a coffee mug card from my sister and family who in my mind are famous for their love of coffee. We received a snowman card accompanied by  little birdies which would only fit my parents & their love for watching the birds. Only a football card would come from my friend in Colorado and as often as my other sister visits the beach in NY it was only logical for her family to send a card with my precious nephews on the beach. We’ve received several Christmas cards this year and I have enjoyed taking the time to look at each and every one of them and thinking about the thought process in picking out or creating them. I thank all my friends and family for sending them to me. They truly complete a perfect decoration that otherwise my home would be absent of.

**Last but not least…I may not be around much this week…Between work and Christmas-it’s a very very busy week!!**

2010 Visit With Santa

I was so excited to take the boys to see Santa this year. Keagan has really gotten into the whole Christmas thing and all he’s talked about is, “When I see Santa I’m going to tell him I want this, and that, and this….” practically every thing he sees on TV or in a store. I saw that our city was doing a visit with Santa and a train ride at one of our local parks-hot chocolate and candy canes free and the train ride was only a $1. Perfect!!!

Well it ended up not turning out so perfectly:

Keagan was scared to get near Santa…And then tried to convince me that he wasn’t Santa but rather his brother….

The train ride wasn’t a huge hit….We had just watched The Polar Express the night before. I think that left Keagan disappointed that this train wasn’t really going to the North Pole. They did get some amusement over watching the train though.

The hot chocolate was delicious.

and apparently the candy canes were too. 😉

The boys also enjoyed playing on the playground and climbing on all the trees.

…and maybe next years visit with Santa won’t turn out quite so dramatic for Keagan…. 🙂

Our Christmas Tree

I think if you know me well then you know that I LOVE Christmas ornaments. In my family growing up each person always got an ornament hanging from their stocking every year. It wasn’t just any ordinary ornament but something unique and in some way or another fit each individual. That tradition made such an impression on me and I vowed to keep it going. Decorating the tree each year reminiscing over past years and then waking up on Christmas morning to see what ornaments we’ve collected the current year are one of my favorite parts of the holiday.

I stumbled upon a post today on another bloggers site where you can link up your Christmas Tree. You can choose as many ornaments as you want to show off and if I had my pick I would show them all. I finally had to limit it and choose a random 12 that mean a lot to me.

1. I love this ornament! It is so special to me. My mom and I were very close. She passed away Christmas Day 3 years ago. I had this special ornament made since she is now my guardian angel.

2. Over the years I have received a very special collection of Danbury Mint ornaments. This one is my personal favorite of the Irish Claddagh Symbol. I still wear the Irish Claddagh Ring on my right hand that Aaron bought me 6 years ago.

3. This was one of our first family ornaments. I was pregnant with Keagan-Hence the marshmallow wearing a baby shirt. 🙂

4. Keagan’s 2009 ornament. My little farmer boy. 😉

5. My ornament from Aaron….uh, I mean Santa in 2008. Apparently he thought Aaron was my frog turned into a prince….I guess I would agree.

6. No explanation needed here. How could be NOT have a GA ornament or maybe 2, 3, or 4, Georgia ornaments on our tree! Go Dawgs!

7. haha…Aaron loves this one. I would say its his personal favorite. It was given to him by my Dad. Let’s just say it may have been, could have been, a shotgun wedding… 😉

8. Everyone needs a Christmas Pickle! It’s an old german tradition and while we don’t hide the pickle on the tree we do enjoy hanging it each year.

9. This was Keagan’s art turned into an ornament. I believe this would have been 2007. I can’t wait to start collecting ornaments like this for Easton also.

10. With this being Easton’s first christmas he doesn’t have a lot on the tree…YET! I actually love his ornament Santa will bring this year though! I also love this one. This was given to him by his Pop and Lulu last year.

11. This would have been Christmas 2009 given from Santa to me…Not quite sure the meaning behind it but hey, everyone needs a beer drinking cactus on their tree!

12. King of the grill! That would be Aaron’s ornament in 2007. It was true then and it still holds true today!

I had so much fun doing this post! I could take pictures of all our ornaments and sit here and reminisce what each one is but I won’t bore all the readers. Thanks to hi, baby for posting this link up. It was a lot of fun!

Blogging Break Tonight…

….for a little Christmas wrapping party!!
Keagan is away at Nana’s and we’re getting busy trying to make our wrapping pile a tad bit smaller!

M is for Mountain of Presents!! 🙂

Zoom Zoom Little One….

I know I mentioned briefly on my Thanksgiving post that Easton was now a walker!! 🙂 He isn’t a pro by any means but if you dangle something in his face that he loves (Oh, lets just say a cookie, or maybe his paci….or perhaps a CHRISTMAS TREE!!!!) that’ll get him walking for sure!!

I bought this little diaper cover the other day because I couldn’t resist it and like a natural camera ham-he took off after our tree and posed for the camera. 😉 Okay, not really….He had no clue I was taking a picture of his bum but it turned out really cute nonetheless.

I thought this picture was perfect for Trendy Treehouse’s theme of Zoom Zoom!!

**He’s going to zoom zoom his way right to our tree!!**

And while I am at it I wanted to thank Trendy Treehouse for chosing my picture as a favorite in their Shutter Love Tuesday Theme of “Give Thanks.”

I was certainly giving thanks on this day!!

Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree….

“You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear….voices singing, “Let’s be Jolly; Deck the halls with boughs of holly…”

Does that song make you think of Home Alone??? Does me!!

I am dreaming tonight of a place I love…..

I love Christmas time! Decorating the house for Christmas…Getting the family excited for Christmas..(which isn’t that hard with a 4 year old in the house…) 🙂

Today we went and picked out our tree. We go to the same guy every year. We’ve become regulars-as a matter of fact he even gave us a $5.00 discount this year (and off of $60…We’ll take it!.) We come home and put the lights on the house, set out our stockings, play some Christmas music, and decorate our tree.

**Daddy, Mommy, Keagan, Easton, and even little Boodro’s stockings hung by the chimney with care…***

**Decorating the tree is a very special time for the family. Each year we all get a special ornament from Santa. I also pick up special ornaments throughout the year and our family always gives us some good ones too…This is Easton’s first experience with a Christmas tree. I believe it’s a hit!** (Aspire’s photo challenge…It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!)

**I took a peek as an outsider to see in my home…From an outsiders perspective it looks like pure bliss. Nice big tree, warm cozy fire…I could see the silhouettes of all the boys wandering around. It warmed my heart watching this.**

**I couldn’t go without snapping a picture of my two boys by the tree. And even with the picture a little blurry, both of them are the poster child of happiness **