We will begin with the randomness...
This is my sweet sous chef. Ella was with my mom one afternoon a couple of weeks ago so Nicholas and I decided to bake some banana bread together. He loves to be in the kitchen with me and I enjoy the company. We listened to Christmas music, sang, and danced around the kitchen while we baked. It was such a fun afternoon! And I am impressed that Nicholas knows almost all the words to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." He just amazes me everyday.
This is a photo of my few hours of solace each week. Every Monday evening I play indoor soccer with a fun group of women, so I arrive home tired and sweaty. Usually my family is in bed by the time I get home so I fill the bathtub with steaming hot water, light a few candles, create a play list that suits my mood, and relax in the tub until my skin starts to become wrinkly and soft. I think it's so important for busy moms to carve out some "mom time" each week, and this serves as my weekly treat.
I was very sad to have to get rid of the rug that has been Nicholas's nursery since he was born. It's the green and blue one on the left. It was one of the first purchases I made for his nursery before he arrived and I know its silly, but getting rid of it made me kind of sad. It's not hard for me to get rid of newish stuff, but anything that Nicholas or Ella got as babies, I have a hard time parting with. But it had to go as it was stained in several spots where Nicholas' formula leaked out of his pump. I found the rug pictured on the right to replace it (and got a great deal on it) but still it was hard to throw the original one out.
Last Friday we got some snow!! It was a rather light dusting of snow (we never get much) but the kids were excited to watch it fall from the sky.
The temperature never made it above freezing so even though it didn't snow much, it stuck around for a few days.
On Saturday it warmed up some so Ella bundled up and headed out to play in the little snow drift in our side yard. Nicholas went out too, but it was a little too cold for him at 28 degrees.
On Friday evening Jeff and I went to Kiewit's Columbia Shop Christmas party. We had a great time...there was music, yummy food, free wine & beer, and amazing desserts. I just love the people he works with and their wives, too. Michelle and Dena are my two favorites!
Last Saturday we got our perfect little (free!) tree. Jeff got up early and went to his co-workers tree farm and picked out a 4 ft. tree. Originally we placed it in the middle of our living room, but after a couple hours with it there, I found it difficult to see around it and felt that it was taking up valuable space in our small-ish living/dining area, so I moved it...
I placed it in the corner of the room next to the sliding glass door and put it up on a crate to give it some height. I like it much better there and I also like it being up a bit taller, it gives it some much-needed grandness (is that a word?).
Saturday evening after mass, Ella and I went to Target and purchased a new tree topper...a beautiful glittery star. Normally we have an angel topper, but when I pulled her out of the decoration box this year, one of her wings was bent, and she looked kind of shabby. So Jeff and I decided it was time for a new one. Ella placed it on the tree with daddy's help when we got home.
Then we spent the rest of the weekend decking the halls...
I love this season of Advent, we're halfway through the countdown and the kids and I couldn't be more excited for Christmas!!
