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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

So long, 2013!

Photo credit: Pinterest

2013 was a really good year filled with ups and downs - the natural ebbs and flows of a year.

I'm a sucker for resolutions in the New Year and I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited for the fresh start that tomorrow promises.

We're ready for you, 2014, but here is a 30 second fun look of moments from 2013.

Happy New Year to you and yours! xoxo

Monday, December 30, 2013

Christmas, in pictures

Christmas has come and gone and I've neglected my poor little blog. So here's a glimpse of our pre-Christmas-Christmas day.

This year Kathryn's letter to Santa read: "Dear Santa, I've been a very good girl this year. Can I please ask you what I can have for Christmas? Could I please have a talking Elmo that says 'I love you', a toy store and more lots of toys. And that will be all it."
Decorating the house...wearing only our finest sweatshirts. It was a family affair.
The finished product
Our annual trip to visit Santa
A couple of weeks before Christmas, Amanda took me out for my Christmas gift. It was the ultimate girls night: pedicures, dinner, Starbucks and a movie. It was perfect!
Off to mail Christmas packages at the post office
Tracking Santa on Christmas Eve Day
We hosted Christmas Eve at our house again this year and it went really well! This year we went more with the traditional food theme. E. J. made the most wonderful turkey and stuffing, there was ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole (if you need a recipe, the Williams Sonoma recipe is the best ever) and everything in between. I didn't remember to take any pictures, so this is all I have!
Showing off one of her handmade projects from school
Skyping with Nana and Pop Pop on Christmas Eve
Before heading to bed, opening up one gift - Christmas jammies
Prepping Santa's plate
The Night Before Christmas
In-progress of prepping the gifts under the tree
Kathryn saw a canopy in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog months ago and never stopped asking for a "princess tent". I found a canopy (for much less $$) and E. J. had the idea to install it while she was sleeping. With just a tad bit of prep work before the big night, he was able to just hook it on ever so gently without her noticing a thing. At 4:15 a.m. she came running into our room and told me "Mommy! You need to come into my room and see what Santa left me. It's so exciting!" I've never been so awake at 4:15 a.m. She was (and still is so happy) with it. And luckily she went back to sleep for four more hours.
Testing out one of the dress up outfits from Nana
Matching jammies with her baby
 New helmet
I'm so excited about my necklace from E. J. that has his, Kathryn's and my first initials on each disc as well as my birthstone, a pearl. It's something that I've been wanting for a long time and it didn't disappoint.
The best gifts come in small packages.
We were very lucky to have a such a nice Christmas and enjoy the rest of the week off together. Time off of work has really been speaking to us. The three of us slept until 9:45 yesterday morning and then we took a 3.5 hour nap today. I don't even know who we are anymore and I love it. I don't want this to end!

Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 1, 2013

A Thankful Weekend

As the long weekend comes to a (unfortunate) close, I'm now looking forward to Christmas even more not only because it's my favorite holiday, it's completely magical and I love everything about it in general, but it means that I'll have two weeks off from work and that is pretty much priceless to me.

I asked Kathryn what she was thankful for on the morning of Thanksgiving. Her exact response was: God, Jesus, the Earth, mommy, daddy, and all of our family and friends.

Pretty solid answer.
 The only pictures we got of each other on Thanksgiving

 
We were able to pack lots of activities into our precious time off (including weeding through some closets and sorting through and trashing junk...one of my favorite things to do).
Dinner with great friends (Amanda and Steven!)
 Adventures outside
 First board game!
We took K to her first movie in the theatre to see "Frozen." She did GREAT (I think the popcorn was a major contributor to her good behavior), plus it was a cute movie.
 In an effort to clean out the toys she doesn't use anymore, we let her know that Santa needs her help to give toys to children who aren't as fortunate (he'll pick them up from her on Christmas Eve). After a solid 20 minutes of sorting through toys, the only 'toy' she found that she doesn't need anymore is the nasal aspirator that's on the ottoman. We have a bit of work ahead of us...
Speaking of Christmas, I got anxious this year. I normally wait until the day after Thanksgiving to decorate the house, but this year we started two days before Thanksgiving.
Reindeer pancakes!
Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Country Girl

Kathryn completed her last rodeo about a month ago rounding out the series. After she finished riding Dr. Pony, E. J. gave her a lesson is taking off the saddle of Dr. Pony.
This miniature horse is more my speed.
On top of her last ride, it was also the awards ceremony.
Patiently waiting for her name to be called.
Proudly displaying her award, a new belt buckle.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Halloween 2013

Halloween was extra fun this year now that Kathryn is excited about everything holiday-related.  The night before Halloween, E. J. and Kathryn tried out pumpkin carving. I won't even bother explaining how Kathryn felt about it...
Don't mind my obnoxious laugh in the background.

I think E. J. did a pretty great job with these!

Happy Halloween!

Sweet little peacock

Thanks to Nana for the awesome costume!
 It was a hit even weeks before Halloween. K dresses up in it constantly.



Halloween wasn't even over and she was going through catalogs, 
circling gifts she wants for Christmas.

We're pretty excited about the holiday season around here!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Three and a half

Sticking with tradition, I made a "half-cake" for Kathryn to celebrate her half-way mark to four. FOUR!?!

Despite much explanation, I have thoroughly confused her as to why we're celebrating, although any excuse to eat cake is just fine with her, and me too.

Happy 3.5 to our sweet little girl.

Oh yes, and we're still taking monthly bedroom chair pictures.