December... so far, that is.

Okay, so I TRIED to have a relatively laid back week off before the kids were out of school, but with me having to work and keep up with their Christmas parties, etc., I didn't have much time to myself. However, I had ONE delicious afternoon where I managed to stay in my pajamas, eat pizza rolls, and nap. That *ONE* day was worth it all!

All of us have been passing around a nasty bug. Bryce had a fever for a few days. Sophie got hit the worst. I just hope it's GONE before Christmas morning. If one can remember, all 4 of us had the FLU last year. It was HORRIBLE. I feel like Christmas 2010 was taken from us, so the kids really deserve to have a happy and HEALTHY Christmas 2011.

Bryce missed his field trip to the Enchanted forest with his class, but once his fever broke, I took him, and he and I had a really fun time together. It was nice just having an afternoon out with my baby boy.

Sophie's cold came on right at the end of "Christmas week" at her school. She felt pretty crummy for her class party, but she reeeeeally wanted to go. She woke up the next 4 days with a fever after that, though. Again, I'm just SO glad she's feeling better.

CHRISTMAS PARTIES ~




Bless her heart. I'd be willing to bet she was running a temp here. :(


So I know I've rambled on and on about finding good deals. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a clearance shopper to the CORE. Want to know what we did with the $2 Wilton Halloween "Haunted Gingerbread Houses" I got at Walmart about a week after Halloween? Add 3 bags of dollar store candies, what already came in the box, and a homemade batch of royal icing, and you have yourself a VERY sweet pair of gingerbread houses! (Plus Bryce's "tree" he made at school from an ice cream cone.)


Sophie's lovely little green house...


Bryce's RED HOT house...

I've also been trying to keep the fun going at home... We made reindeer pancakes the other morning... I made chocolate doughnut reindeers, too, but was in a hurry and didn't take a picture.


Reindeer on the right: "I dunno, man. I'm kinda nervous. That one kid was lickin' his lips at me."

Sandra, my mother-in-law, treated us to a really swingin' balcony suite at the Gaylord hotel in Nashville, TN. It was BEAUTIFUL. Twinkling Christmas lights EVERYWHERE! The various wings of the hotel have themes, and the one we were in was called "The Cascades." There were waterfalls and all sorts of beautiful plants. We also got to do some fun things while there like take a nighttime ride through the different parts of the hotel (in a boat, people). My dad and Bonnie, my stepmom, came to see us, as well, and we had ice cream and walked around the hotel. It was really fun, and the kids enjoyed seeing them, too.

The lights at night in the hotel were breathtaking. :) The kids loved it! I wish I would've taken more nighttime shots with our camera. We have most of it on video instead of in still photos.


One of the waterfalls in the hotel...


That tree was HUUUUUUGE, man!


From the hotel balcony....


The fam.


And lastly, Chris is still very much loving his photography. His newest "thing" are his TTV photos (through the viewfinder). He uses a digital camera to shoot through a very old vintage camera. The result is an older-appearing picture. Check out my modelesque kiddos!


Doesn't this dude look like a GAP kid?


Love my girl's freckles!

Husband has a BLOG, too! ----> JEANS TTV