Santa's Here!

We knew meeting Santa this year might be a little different than last year. I mean, you can't get more cute than this one: 

My friends Jordan and Alison have "Santa and Cookies" every year at their work. I sort of invited myself this year, since it went so well last year:)  We had been practicing with Ainsley and she has been saying "Santa. HO HO HO". But the minute we sat that child on Ol' St. Nick's lap, she was not happy. 

He even gave her a candy cane and she was still in tears. Once I grabbed her back though, candy cane in tow, she said 'Thank you Santa'. :) silly girl. After that, she got to decorate and inhale a cookie,  which she much more enjoyed. 

Then, we let them run amuck. get that sugar out of your system:) 

avery is so happy! 

Overall the night was a success. despite the 3 seconds on Santa's lap.  Here are some more pics from our week!

someone had been in the ornaments. Philip found this. 

setting up her manager from grandma 

Southland had a Christmas Party for Life group facilitators and Uncle Bri came with us! 

loves her cousin Anna Beth. and doesn't like for her to be sad. here have your paci. 

playing music with Uncle Steve (who she was enamored with) at GGs 

catching up on Elmo 

checking out Santa 

Christmas Decor

As I write this, this is my view: 

not too shabby, huh? :) it is my happy place right now. 
After having a sick little girl for the past week she is finally back to her happy playful self. Thank you to all who helped and prayed! 

It is so awful, pitiful, heartbreaking, frustrating and exhausting when your little one is sick. BUT all is well now, and praying she can stay well for the rest of this winter. 
Now, onto the decorations! I took pics of my favorite things. I think I got them all. but maybe not. theres so much ! and I love each one :)  My Dad and Philip spent ALL DAY putting up our outside lights. It was probably not the most fun task, but so worth it. well, for me at least:) 

this literally makes my heart happy. 

So this was Monday. That night, Philip and I put up the tree. We got a new taller one this year, and got one that advertised 'if one light is out it won't affect the rest of the tree!'. Philip was like 'SOLD!'. anyway, we got the tree up and I had started putting ornaments up, when we realized two whole sections of the tree were not lit up. He tried everything, and they wouldn't come on. He promised to box it up and return it for me, and have a new one before I got home from BSF the next morning. I was devastated. 

take one. not the tree we have now. 

Our annual tradition is to drink champagne while decorating the tree. Then take the cork and write the year and make it into an ornament. He had the champagne all ready when we realized the tree didn't work. He asked me if I wanted to to drink it and I refused. I was so sad and I wanted to wait until we had our fully lit tree. So the next night, we got to work and decorated the tree! 

I can't show some of the pictures because they are on our christmas cards and I don't want to ruin the surprise:) 

wooden nativity around downstairs tree 

so much awesome in this picture. my new favorite clock from Aunt Loyale that chimes a different christmas carol every hour. a handmade tree of ainsley's handprints. Buddy the Elf. a nativity set from my Mom. our stockings. and my new idea to display christmas cards on each side of mantle.  

clip the cards down burlap on each side of mantle 

Philip bought me a burlap tree for the bay window in kitchen 

thanks momma:) 

Nanny and Pop made Rachel and I 'Mistletoes' out of our girls feet! so cute. Ainsley sees it and said "ainsley's feet!" 

of course, the christmas box! it's ainsley's this year and she loves opening it every morning. 

my 'bride tree'. i love this one a little extra. 

Buddy the Elf has returned. Ainsley doesn't really get it this year, but she knows his name. and she's so observant that she notices his new hiding place in the morning. but we aren't getting crazy or creative at all this year. 

eating her fruit chews from her christmas box and wondering why buddy is in her car. 

day 2, Nanny hid in her kitchen. she found it without me knowing, and I found poor Buddy like this. 

You all know i LOVE Christmas. it is my absolute most favorite time of the year. I love having our inside decorated and our outside lit up. Being in our new home and sharing it with Ainsley has just made this year so much better. 
Next weekend is our annual Overall Christmas Family Party. Excited for that and getting to spend time with everyone. 

Thanksgiving 2014

Let me first start out by telling you that it was a Christmas Miracle around here on Tuesday (monday) this past week. Philip was working thanksgiving and the 2 nights after. We always put up the tree together, and I told him I was not waiting until sunday night to put it up. So he relented and agreed to put it up before thanksgiving this year! yay! We attempted to put the tree up Monday night, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it did not officially go up until Tuesday. Anyway, more to come on that, decorating, lights and all of our pics in the next post. Today, is about our Thanksgiving:) 

Philip pulling out the decorations for me! 

My family was able to move lunch up to noon so that Philip could eat with us and then get home and nap before work. Ainsley had been developing a cough for the days leading up to turkey day, but she seemed ok so we decided to still make the trip to Georgetown. 

woke up happy and excited! 

ready for turkey mom! 

We had a delicious spread that Mom and Aunt Ellen made. I contributed mashed potatoes, and used a Pinterest recipe- it was tasty (or I thought so at least) ! Ainsley's cough seemed to be getting worse and she ended up only eating the oranges off of mom's cranberry jello salad. go figure :) 

We made a plate for Joy and took it to the hospital that night since she had to work. Ainsley was worn out and not feeling so hot, so she got to go to in her pajamas. She passed out on the ride home :)

Since Philip was working, I had planned to stay the night in gtown at Mom and Dad's. Which means Jackson got to go run on the farm and he was one happy pup. Mom and I played Scrabble and took turns putting A back to sleep after her coughing woke her up. The next day Mom made hot browns from left overs-- YUMMM.  It actually worked out well with her not feeling so hot. I have such admiration for single moms, especially when dealing with sick babies. it's so hard! so thankful for my parents and Aunt Ellen who helped me the past few days. 

She seemed to turn the corner this morning and hopefully is on the mend. 
I hope each one of you had a food/family/laughter filled thanksgiving!