Christmas Crafting

I always love Christmas pillows and the comfy cozy charm they add to a room for the holidays but they're so not cheap and then I have to store pillows for the rest of the year!! SO, during last weekend's Ikea trip I stocked up on pillow covers with intention of crafting some custom festivity and using the pillows I already have rather than buying all new ones. Because I like to REALLY test my patience I decided to enlist Nora's help for the project. She helped me pick what shapes we would do and she gave input on colors. After we selected, sized and silhouetted we ironed the stencil (made of freezer paper) onto the pillow cover and she got to work painting with fabric paint. She only had 2 pillow covers in her today, which is fine, we can make some more in the coming days. Most importantly, we're both really happy with how they came out and she got to help with a fun and kind of different Christmas craft.

Lights That Won't Light

In true photo-documenter fashion Nora snuck this picture of me while I was wrestling with the fuses in the garland light string today. My efforts were futile, the lights still won't light and our garland is lacking some serious festivity. Meanwhile, decorating while cleaning is proving to be a challenge and the house is in that partially decorated partially trashed in-between phase. Kyle's headed to Detroit tomorrow so I'm hoping to get things somewhat put back together by the time he gets back. A girl can dream right?

Time to Trim!

Well it wasn't the complete traditional tree trimming evening but the ornaments are hanging - kind of spread out thanks to some specific instruction and pointing to high branches from Nora. While we didn't watch Elf, or have a fire, or Christmas punch, or cocoa...we did have Christmas music and a VERY enthusiastic Nora elf to check out all of the ornaments and excitedly pick spots for each one. That's what it's all about right? Sure there were some drops while she was learning what a "strong enough" branch is, some ornaments are hanging backwards and there are some clusters at Nora eye height right in the middle...but I'm liking it! While pulling out and putting up decorations today it was fun to see what things she remembers (very clearly) from last year and things that she wants to do again this year - YAY traditions!! I'm getting pretty excited to do the holidays with her...although she has quite the to-do list...and she wants to do ALL THE THINGS - right now!! Christmas tree decorating?? You bet!
Fa La

It's Happening!

Hard to believe it's already time to hunt a Christmas tree!! We went to our traditional tromping tent for the 10th year and it didn't take long for us to find this year's tree. Nora deemed it the one and home it came. We got a couple cute pics and Lincoln didn't leap off the roof of the car so we'll count it as a win!! Now I can look forward to my decorating "helper" for the rest of the week! I think it's time to kick off the holidays!
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Back At It

So, this picture isn't technically from today, but by the time we got back to Orlando last night, it was pretty close! The trip back was uneventful but also sans sleeping children. Nora immediately wanted to run over and see the big Christmas tree, which was too cute to pass up! Even after the flight and checking out the tree, both were wide awake until Lincoln finally passed out in the pouch while waiting at baggage claim and Nora was snoring pretty much by the time we were out of the parking garage. There was I was out cold as soon as my head hit the pillow. Needless to say, today was a little bit about recovery, a little bit about cleaning and a little bit about some planned and unplanned shopping on our evening trip out. We capped off the day hanging out with Jessica. Lovely Sunday to finish off the holiday weekend! HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPY!!

GAME DAY!!!!

GAME DAY!! Thanks to my mom and dad we grown-ups got to head to campus early this morning and spend the day cheering on the Bucks!! We started at Out-R-In and then Kyle, Sean, Erin & I headed to the shoe while Marty & Kristin hit up the Varsity Club. The game was...well...we didn't do a lot of sitting and we did do a lot of yelling!! It was the loudest I'd ever heard the stadium in all the big games I've been to and definitely the most gut wrenching. And, thanks to Sean's stellar seat picking skills we had very little trouble getting onto the field to celebrate the victory after the game! With everyone in good spirits we met up with Marty & Kristin on the oval after the game and then headed home to check in on our littles!!! Some quick packing and a little over a half hour later we were at the airport and headed back to Florida with two kiddos who had no interest in sleeping!

Drinkin' & Smokin'

Kristin and I snuck out to do a bit of shopping today after we got back to Columbus while the boys hung out with the kids and worked on smoking a turkey and a brisket. Sean joined us early this evening and we had a tasty turkey dinner with sides provided by Bob Evans himself. Highlight of the day had to be watching Nora giggle and play with her bestest friend Sean haha! Early morning tomorrow!!