Goodbye 2011

I thought about doing a recap of the year. But I thought if you read my blog you probably don't need me to recap. Then I thought about doing a post similar to what I did last year where I listed things that happened on the last day of 2010 except it would for 2011.

However, I decided not to do either!

I am going to end 2011 saying that I feel like I have been truly blessed this year. I have an amazing family who I just couldn't live without. Two precious boys that keep me on my toes, one teenage daughter who makes me crazy (in a good way), and one wonderful husband who loves me more than you can imagine.
I also have some pretty amazing friends as well - I am pretty sure you all know who you are!

As we ring in the New Year, 2012, I have goals NOT resolutions! Things I hope to accomplish throughout the year!

Get more organized is my main one ~ or at least that is what I keep telling myself.
Keep the house cleaner!
Decorate the living room (or buy a new house - haha)!
Re-decorate the boys room!
Get new furniture!
BUY LESS STUFF and that includes CLOTHES for the littles!
Stay in touch with family who lives out of town more often!

Happy New Year Friends! What are your goals for the New Year?

The BEST toy

I think we have all had a few days to enjoy our new Christmas "toys". I am wondering what were your hits and what were your misses?

Cade's big gift that he asked for was the Kinect for his XBOX. Santa came through and brought it to him. He loves it! So it was a HIT for us! Santa also brought him Skylanders. He wasn't overall excited about it when he saw it Christmas Morning but now that he has played it - it was a for sure HIT! I think the only miss for him right now has been the Disneyland Game for the Kinect. It is a little too difficult for him to operate and even for Larry to operate.
Colin didn't really ask for anything this year. He LOVES his Buzz and Woody Dolls that Santa brought. Actually, he LOVES everything that he got for Christmas. However, this Buzz Light Year Space Ranger Space Ship with the blow up wings has been one of his VERY favorite things! He has played in this thing for HOURS! He watches movies in it, eats lunch in it, and he would probably sleep in it if I let him! The very best thing about this spaceship is the PRICE! It was sooooo cheap! Cheap to the tune of $1.99! No kidding! I bought this during the summer from Kmart during one of their toy clearances so I was super excited that he loved it so much.
Notice Dumbo, Buzz, and Woody in the Spaceship! The wings that are as big as Colin! Now of course since we have all these new toys we must make room for them in the toy room! What a disaster! Haha! I looked at that room for about three days before I even attempted to do anything at all in there. Then finally it hit me that I should try to set it up like a classroom. What a genius idea!
This storage unit has been in the toy room forever! It now has two containers full of Imaginext items as well as some bigger Imaginext items on top of it! The other bins contain Wii items, Geotrax items, Thomas Items, Dinosaurs, Cars, and Race Cars!
We just added this storage area in the toy room! I need to add the bins but I am thinking I am going to use clear bins in this one! I thought it would be a great idea to divide the room with the toys we have already! So I used the kitchen and the new art desk to create two different areas in the toy room.
Kitchen Area
Art Area
Still trying to figure out what I want to do over here!
Just because I want to leave you with some cuteness! Here is Colin today in an adorable Bailey Boys outfit.
He wouldn't look at the camera - little stinker!

Santa Came...

Merry Christmas!

Before Santa came to our house!

After Santa came - looking into our living room.

Marissa's Santa Stuff

Cade's Santa Stuff
Colin's Santa Stuff

Dad's Santa Stuff
Joint Santa Stuff for Cade & Colin

Christmas Eve - Part 1

The house is a buzz with a million things going!

Baking, Food, Kids, Presents, Family, Friends (who are like family), Christmas Music, etc!
This is one of my favorite days of the year! As a child growing up we always went to my Memaw's house for Christmas Eve. We would arrive about 4pm and spend the whole afternoon, evening, until late in the night. I looked forward to it every single year. We always had appetizers for dinner and visited with family. I can still remember my Papaw sitting his chair watching his favorite Christmas movies while I begged him endlessly about opening presents! "Papaw, PLEASE can we open them NOW! Please, please, PLEASE!!! I can't wait any longer!" Normally, about 8:30 or 9:00 he would cave and let us open presents! I am pretty sure he was just as excited about opening presents as us kids! These are memories I will always treasure - traditions.
When Larry and I got married - I had a ready made family so to speak - a husband, a step-daughter. His family already had traditions - Christmas Eve was a big deal for them as well. When we had our first son we still did the Christmas Eve thing with his family, but I also wanted to create our own family traditions so we started there. We always do two presents on Christmas Eve - new pj's and an ornament. This is the second year we have been at home for Christmas Eve so this year we are starting our Christmas Even activities in our home. Avie and Ashton are over for the evening. We are having appetizers, exchanging gifts with the kids, going out to look at Christmas Lights, and just some good company with each other! We are so excited! However I will admit that I am a little sad that this might our first and last year doing this with Avie and Ashton. They could be moving during the summer and that breaks my heart but I get it!

So without being too crazy sappy here are few things from our Christmas Eve
Avie and I
Marissa and Avie
Marissa and I (yes, yes we are matching)
The Three Of Us
Larry the Sickie :(
Me and My Boys
Avie and I started a tradition last year with our boys that they get to open their presents to each other on Christmas Eve. They couldn't wait! They were so very excited!
Ashton went first! He received some super cool Tech Decks and a large box of Knex.
Then it was Cade's turn!
Walking Ironman that shoots! So very cool that all the boys loved it and played with it!! Poor Colin he was so ready to open his present!
He really did wait patiently. I was so proud of him.
Do I see Buzz Lightyear?
Toy Story 3 ~ We couldn't get this toy out of the box fast enough for him!

Bake, Bake, BAKE IT UP!!!

It's that time again! Baking Time!

Yesterday, December 23, 2011 was declared as our Annual Baking Day!
Avie and Ashton arrived early in the afternoon and we let the fun begin.
We had a list of items were making this year, although a bit shorter than last year's baking day or maybe not shorter just different!

Our list this year included:
Kissy Cookies
Cake Balls
Rice Krispie Treats
Peppermint Popcorn

First up was the Kissy Cookies! These are so easy and oh so yummy!
This what you will need to make these cookies:
You can also use sugar cookie dough if you choose!

Preparing the pre-made dough...haha!
Working on those cookies
TEAM WORK
While the cookies are baking you should be opening up those Hershey Kisses because as soon as those cookies come out you are going to want to put these right in the middle of them!
But while you are waiting you must have your teenage daughter make a heart out of the extra kisses and dough that has not been cooked, because what else could be more fun!
Finished product of YUMMY GOODNESS
Next up was cake balls! We only made one kind this year instead of two like we did last year.
There will be more pictures of these to follow! These was a two day process for us this year and we actually love how they turned out this year! We used Almond Bark this year instead of White Baker's Chocolate and it was so much better!
Ready to Dip!
Dipping and Drying
Finished Product...
Peppermint Popcorn was so easy! It is one of Avie's favorite Christmas treat!
This what you will need: microwave popcorn (I used Pop Secret Homestyle)
Almond Bark (White)
Peppermint Candy (candy canes or peppermints work just fine)

First you will need to pop your popcorn and then lay it out on a baking sheet with edges. I suggest putting it on wax paper.
Then, I would suggest picking out all the unpopped kernels! After, picking out the kernels you will need take three baggies, okay maybe not really three, put some peppermints in those baggies and crush them UP! You will need them to put in your melted Almond Bark!
Now you will need to melt that Almond Bark! After it is nice and "melty" you will need to stir in your crushed up peppermints! You are all READY to pour that yummy goodness over the popcorn! Get your hands ready because you are going to get MESSY while you are coating all that yum-o popcorn!
Let it cool! Then store it in an airtight container! I am sure some of you have realized that I haven't posted about our Rice Krispie Treats! Please know that is in our Christmas Eve post! So be on the lookout!