Countdown...

Wishing I still had 12 days left until Christmas. The reality is there is just TWO more days. I LOVE having small traditions we do each year. It makes for such a magical time of year with little kids. Our countdown advent calendar has been a favorite of the kids over the past few years. The kids take turns each day as to who turns over the little card. They get soo excited when it's their turn. I also found these cute little vintage Santa mugs. They're tiny and the kids have LOVED using them for everything from hot chocolate to just drinks of water during the day. I'm on the hunt for a vintage Santa cookie jar as well. I've seen lots of reproductions in stores but nothing that I've loved.

I put these wreaths together for our kitchen windows this Christmas. I had purchased fresh bay leaf wreaths which was incredibly beautiful but it dried out much more quickly than they ever have before me. It went bright orange which didn't look quite right for Christmas. I then saw the fresh white pine garlands at Trader Joe's and was so happy. I knew I could make wreaths out of garlands. I just cut one long garland in half and tied everything together with strings and then added the red satin ribbon and I think they looked pretty cute.

We have a strict rule that only Christmas music can be played (including in the car) and all TV shows and movies have to be Christmas. The kids laugh and it's actually really fun. The problem is that I've been sooo busy that I haven't had time to post any pictures. The days just FLY by for me at this stage of my life. I'm in shock (and denial) that Christmas is just 2 days away! I'm wishing desperately that I could make the clock stop... I once heard a man I admire say, "happy childhood memories = healthy adults." I think of that often. My hope is that we are creating happy memories for our kids as they grow up.

Thankful

I've been trying so hard lately to just focus on the most important things in life. The things that really matter. It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day stresses of life and to completely miss the "big picture". I have felt that I really needed to reassess lately. I've been doing just that and I can't even express how it has changed my whole heart as of late. I have much to be thankful for.
This picture was taken with my iPhone on David's 50th birthday. These little kids have been blessed with the most loving, kind, fun and devoted dad. He puts his family first and I'm thankful that his example is what they will always associate with what a husband and father should be.

Cape Fear Fair

❤ I sure love these two ❤

For years I've been wanting to take the kids to the fair. Last weekend we took Summer and Forrest to the fair for the first time. They were soooo excited. The fair has music playing, lots of kiddie rides, a small petting zoo and of course lots of cotton candy and caramel covered apples. I think we've started a new tradition. I wish I could bottle them up - I want to remember them just like this forever.

Halloween Pictures

These actually aren't the pictures I took of the kids on Halloween but it is pretty darn cute if I do say so myself. The talented Renee Saunders of Millie Holloman Photography took the kids' pictures thanks to a hot tip from a friend.

I love it so much. It was so much fun!

Summer the Little Mermaid Ariel

Summer and I had gone into a Halloween store over fall break. She searched and searched for the perfect halloween costume. When she found this Ariel costume the search was over instantly. She said, "other kids might say Ariel is baby but I'll say, I LOVE her". I love Summer-pie's confidence. She could NOT wait to put it on. So cute.

Forrest the Spider-Man

Spider-Man in action on Halloween

Forrest decided the day after Halloween last year that he wanted to be Spider-Man. He was very specific. He wanted the costume with the muscles. For real. I don't think I have seen a cuter Spider-Man.

Happy Halloween!

My Ariel and Spider-Man on Halloween night.

Forrest wasn't feeling well and was coming down with a cold so by the time we got home from the 1st round of trick or treating he had had enough and was ready to go bed. Summer was SO excited about Halloween that her tummy hurt. I remember doing the same thing when I was a little girl.

We were trying to remember what the kids were each year for Halloween. I linked all of the Halloween photos that I had on this blog. It was so much fun to look back at old photos. They're growing up waaaaaay too fast.

Halloween 2012 Summer

Halloween 2012 Forrest

Halloween 2011 Summer

Halloween 2011 Forrest

Halloween 2010 Summer

Halloween 2010 Forrest

Halloween 2009 Summer

Halloween 2009 Forrest

Halloween Playroom

Forrest and Summer each have their own room however they share the playroom. That's where most of their toys are. When figuring out where to place the Halloween Tree the kids got so excited when I suggested we put it on the playroom table. As soon as the box of Halloween decorations came out of the closet the two of them grabbed the tree and ornaments and ran up to the playroom to decorate it. It's something so small and simple but to little kids it's a BIG deal. The little ornaments on their tree were moved about 1,000 times over the past few weeks. There's even a chip on top of the pot because of it tipping over so many times but I don't care a bit. That was the whole purpose of this little tree. It's theirs and they can play with it as much as they like.

Extra Halloweeny

This little girl is very excited for Halloween. Summer chose the orange bow this morning so she could look "extra halloweeny". We have had her costume and Forrest's costume ready for the last two months. Needless to say, there have been a few dress rehearsals around here getting ready for the big day. I think she looks adorable.

Girl Scout

Here's my #1 Girl Scout

I signed up Summer for Girl Scout this year. She was so excited. Last week the girls had their bridging ceremony. The brown vest was the only thing she talked about the week leading up to it. She could not wait to put it on. I helped the troop leader, Ms. Karen, sew all the badges and the troop numbers on each vest for 12 sweet girls. I remember growing up being a brownie and then a junior. I remember selling cookies and going camping however the one thing I remember most was serving others. That is something I hope to pass on to my Summer-pie.