Advent Day 21 - 25

I'm finally getting around to posting this - had to wait for some pictures of Christmas from my dad's camera.

Day 21 - Build a blanket fort and read Christmas stories with our Christmas socks on.

Day 22 - Polar Express Train

Day 23 - Go see Tangled with the cousins

Day 24 - make some homemade ornaments/ Christmas Eve service/ Christmas with Mimi and Bapa

Day 25 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Christmas at home and then Christmas at Grandma Elaine's

The fort that daddy built - it was big enough for both kids to stand up inside it and for mommy and daddy to comfotably sit and relax. It was a lot of fun!! Rhett had decided that outside the fort there was a dragon that was waiting to get us and we played along - that is until he got genuinely scared. And since Addison was sick with "the cough" and ended up on our bedroom floor around midnight Jeremy resigned to the confines of the fort to finish off the night. He is still a kid at heart!! Thanks daddy for such a fun fort - I'm sure that it will be built again and again.

entrance to the fort

Eating dinner in the fort

reading Christmas stories in the fort

Daddy reading Christmas stories

Me and my kids at the North pole via North Pole Express train - so much fun!

Santa took time out of his busy schedule to take some pictures with the kids - Addison, Rhett, and cousins Avery and Emma

It's cold at the North pole

Addie with her cousins Emilee and Elizabeth - they were so excited to see Tangled!

After the movie picture - we both LOVED it!!! Super cute movie

Christmas Eve at Mimi and Papa's - after opening their stockings the first thing Rhett did was pop not one by two suckers in his mouth.

Just what she wanted!

Just what he wanted - and mommy because puzzles will keep him occupied for a long time :)

Jammies to match her Rupunzel Barbie

Buzz Lightyear Jammies - he's trying to push the buttons and then saying "they don't work" - he is expecting to hear "to infinity and beyond"

Christmas morning at home - Rhett got Toothless and Hiccup from "How to Train your Dragon"

Addison opening Darkwing Duck DVDs

Christmas at Grandma Elaine's - Rhett opening his Buzz Lightyear

Merry Christmas Grams!

Addie got a Littlest Pet Shop mobile

Christmas dinner - lots of people and lots of fun!

Advent Day 16 - 20

Day 16 - Make sugar cookies

Day 17 - Homemade ornaments for gifts (pending)/ Deliver our gift to our 12 Days of Christmas Family
Day 18 - Peppermint day - make peppermint bark and peppermint scrub

Day 19 - Church Christmas program/Christmas with the Franklins

Day 20 - Family game night with popcorn

Christmas gift for the "12 Days of Christmas" family

(cocoa, marshmellows, mugs, sugar cookie mix, cookie cutters, sprinkles, blanket and cozy Christmas socks)

Christmas decoration

peppermint bark

Christmas program (prior to Rhett tumbling down the stairs)

Christmas with the Franklins (cousin picture)

Opening Christmas presents

Family game night with popcorn

we played Disney Scene It - Addison won! And Rhett ate all the popcorn

Peppermint body scrub

making sugar cookies

Her favorite part - the toppings!

My Christmas Favorites!!

I LOVE Christmas - it's the bestest time of year and if anyone knows me well I kind of overdo the Christmas decorations a bit in my house - I enjoy it though and it makes my house feel fun and festive throughout the holiday season. As I was putting up my decorations this year I took my camera and captured a few of my favorite Christmas decorations. I know that as the years pass my taste in what I love will change so I thought I would capture what is my favorite right now.

An antique sled that Jeremy and I found in his grandparents barn. We asked if we could have it and they were more than obliged to give it away. It's one of my most favorite things and I have a difficult time putting it away after the holidays. It's just so stinkin cool that it deserves a permanent place in our house, but it may lose it's luster and awe for me if it was out all year.

I think my mom got this for me for Christmas last year. I LOVE IT!! I wish it was usable but it works well as a decoration in our kitchen.

My Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" village. I only have a few pieces but I LOVE them so much! I hope to extend my collection.

There is nothing like the voice of Bing Crosby at Christmastime - nothing!

My lanterns have always been a favorite of mine and for Christmas I put candycane candles in them and use them as a focal point in my living room.

My bright red snowflake blanket that my friend Bekah gave me a few years back. I love it's bright color and I snuggle with it every evening when we watch our favorite tv shows.

My nativity - I need to begin to collect more pieces but I love what I have.

And of course the Christmas tree - a "real" one! I have refused to join the "fake" tree bandwagon. I understand it's concept but there is something magical and Christmasy about a "real" tree. I hope to continue to beg my husband each year to keep up with this tradition. Each ornament on our tree holds a special place in my heart and as the kids grow older and make new ornaments it will begin to be even more special and will ALWAYS be a favorite!

To say that these are my only favorites would be far from the truth. I seriously LOVE all of my Christmas decorations. I just chose a few of my most favorites to share.

Advent Day 11- 15

Advent Activities day 11 - 15:

Day 11 - Addison's Birthday Party!
Day 12 - Make a Birthday Card for Jesus and put it under the tree (pending completion)
Day 13 - School Christmas Program
Day 14 - Free Hot Cocoa stand
Day 15 - Addison's Birthday - have uncle D and Aunt TeeTee over to play games and watch a movie (Disney's pictionary and Alvin and the Chipmunks)

Candyland Party

Party friends

Christmas program

FREE HOT CHOCOLATE!! (My niece and nephew joined us this year)

Enjoying a taste in between customers

My beautiful niece

My nephew Chade and Landon

Addison and Mauryn enjoying their hot cocoa

Daddy brought Addison flowers to her school for her birthday. She was so excited!! I still can't believe she's six!!

Addison's Birthday

So - for Addison's birthday this year she had a Candyland party. I was super excited when she came up with this idea last January! So, all year long I had been looking for ideas and I came across so stinkin many! However, our budget lacked the funds to create such a spectacular display as the "bloggers" I had come across. That and the lack of time for any extremely creative things. I had these grandios plans of how to decorate and the games we would play - but, her birthday party came and went with little else then a small game of "real" Candyland and Addison's made up version of duck, duck, goose (gumball, gumball, lollipop). Needless to say I was disappointed in myself but soon realized that Addison had a blast and that is all that matters. I guess I would have been more disappointed if I had planned a huge party with lots of fun games because only a few of Addie's friends could make it to the party. Poor girl was born at a terrible time of year to have a birthday :(

We decided to have her friend birthday party in the afternoon and then her family party that evening. She got to have her cousin Kenna spend the night which is one of her favorite things. It was a good day!

Invitations to Addison's party

My big "little" girl

Candyland birthday cake - Grandma Nancy made it for Addison!

getting ready to eat cupcakes!

"Happy Birthday to You"

The Party Gang

Candy display

Helping herself!

She finally got a Leapster!

Advent days 6 - 10

Our Advent activities for day 6 - 10:


Day 6 - Go see the Living Christmas Tree at College Church - so good!! Addison said that she loved it and hopes to go again next year. When I asked her what her favorite part was she said that it was the coffee shop skit. I thought for sure she would say the Christmas tree lights.
Day 7 - Color Christmas pictures out of a new coloring book and have hot cocoa with marshmellows
Day 8 - Build a Snowman stickers
Day 9 - Make a gingerbread house as a family
Day 10 - Have a playdate with aunt tee-tee