Christmas Goodies

Last weekend while Pat was at a rehearsal for a Cantata - I was home alone with the kids, so we made "Christmas Goodies"...fudge(chocolate, peanut butter), Christmas Crack (white chocolate covered chex mix), pretzels and bells.  I had some good helpers...and taste testers too!  I always make our 'goodies' and use as gifts to my colleagues!

Leah's Christmas Recital

Tonight was Leah's first dance recital at her new dance studio.  She did have one little in-studio recital at Halloween, but tonight's was an hour-long show at a local school auditorium.

We gave Leah flowers and a balloon after her recital

Memaw and Hippa even came!

Max's Christmas Program

Tonight we were able to enjoy Max's first Christmas program!  Even Hippa made the four hour trip to see Max.  Max's only request for the evening was a bow tie!  Afterwards we surprised Daddy at his Jazz band concert and then headed to UDF for ice cream!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

So…it's been way too long since I have posted.  Summer was just so crazy and then school started and then all of a sudden it is December!  I do plan on doing a 'catch-up' post about what we have been up to, but I was sitting here tonight enjoying my warm and cozy home with Christmas lights and knick knacks that I decided to take a few pictures of our home.  I used a flash on my camera - still haven't learned how to use the settings so the 'cozy' factor isn't visible in the photos.  Enjoy!

Our family tree.  Includes ornaments we have collected since Pat and I were married in 2006.  We cut a live tree every year!

Our newest tree!  An artificial in our bedroom.  All of my childhood ornaments and Pat's childhood collection of 'planes, trains and automobiles' are on this tree.

A pencil tree in the basement that has ornaments from the kids' grandparents that do not fit on our family tree.

Another pencil tree in our kitchen.  Decorated with wooden ornaments that Pat has made since 2002 and decorated with a paper garland that Leah made two years ago in preschool.

Our stockings!  I made each one - a tradition I am continuing from my mom. 

Mine - perfect for me since I love to bake - especially at Christmas time!

Pat's - while we were dating and I live alone, Pat always put up my Christmas lights!

Leah - For the kids, it was really important to me that their stockings were of Santa

Max

Noah

A Pinterest project - Leah painted the tree, Max the top snowflake and Noah the bottom snowflake.  This weekend I may change out the snowflakes for something more "Christmas-y" and put the snowflakes back up in January.

Two of my Clothtique Santas

A collage of photos of my dad reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas"…a tradition that continued until 2008 when Leah was born…then Pat took over the reading of this special story

This was a gift from my mom a few years ago

Willow Tree Nativity

Ceramic trees made by my Aunt Becky - reminds me of one my Grandma and Grandpa Snow had

Carolers

Ignore the Algebra 2 book!  Ha!

Artwork by Leah (tree top right), Max (top left and mittens bottom right) and Noah (Santa bottom left - he colored it lightly)

A small tree on Leah's dresser

A small tree on the boys' dresser

And Flubby our Elf!  I'm sure he will have his own post this holiday season!

Backsplash

It all started with this...

Then this...

And finally this!

Thanks Dad!  I love you!

Looking Back

I am backing up my computer and going through old CDs tonight and found this video.  It is of Leah the spring/summer when she turned one!

I hope to get back to blogging soon - I have so much to catch up on.  Hopefully this video will do for now :)