Weekend Christmas Fun

Our weekend was packed full of fun Christmas activities!

It all started off with our annual breakfast with Santa. Colin was so excited! He couldn't wait to see Santa and sit on his lap. He talked and talked about Santa. We got to our breakfast and both boys ate a plate full of waffles. Then of course Santa came out to see everyone! Colin was still super excited until of course picture time and he refused to smile or even really look at the camera but at least he wasn't screaming!

Daddy and they boys at breakfast
Cade and Colin waiting for Santa to come out
Sitting with Santa but of course not smiling
After breakfast we headed on over to Grammy's house. Everyone was already there when we got there so we had lunch, made gingerbread houses, did the Chinese gift exchange, and went to see Santa again!

My mom and I put the Gingerbread Houses together the night before for all the kids. We actually bought the small gingerbread village which came with five small houses so it was perfect for the kids.

Carson and Cade working on their Gingerbread Houses.
Della working on her tree
Colin working hard on his house and tree.
Della and Colin finished their houses and trees first!
Alicia was working hard on her house, too!
Alicia's finished product
And the Gingerbread Girl herself...Sweet Lily!

2011 Christmas Mantel

I scoured Pinterest for ideas for my mantel this year. I found lots of different ideas that I loved and variety of colors that I loved as well. I decided I still wanted to stick with my original color scheme of red and gold so we created the following...

I am pretty sure I blogged about this before however I didn't have my stockings from Pottery Barn yet! I will admit, this was the best $80 I have spent. I LOVE them! They look so beautiful hanging on the mantel. I think I am going to order the tree skirt next year to match.
I bought these bells at Hobby Lobby and added the poinsettia to each one. Then I hung them on both sides of the mantel (or should I say Larry hung them for me).
The wreath was one of my favorite pieces! I found it and feel in love. The Santa was NOT in the wreath. I found him and thought he would be a beautiful little addition to the wreath. Larry added him in for me and I love the way this looks together.
I added two items on each side of the mantel. A star (which I showed earlier with our elf, Mario) and this adorable little metal tree which says "Joy to the World". I love this little tree! The stocking holders were originally silver and bought on SUPER clearance. We solved that problem easily with a little bit of spray paint!
Make sure you check out Home Stories A 2 Z for some amazing mantels as well!

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for this sweet boy!

Tonight before going to bed he sang me Jingle Bells to me! It was the most precious thing I have ever heard! I wish I could have recorded him but he would have stopped if he saw me pull out the camera! These are the moments that I never want to forget and that I am most thankful for!

Christmas in the Park

This weekend our town hosted Christmas in the Park! It was super cute and the kids had a great time. There were a ton of different activities for them to participate in. They were able to write letters to Santa, talk to Santa and receive a stocking, play games, visit with the Grinch, and of course they had Bouncy Houses.

Marissa and I at Christmas in the Park

Everyone with Santa.
I THINK we are going to use this as our Christmas card picture. I haven't taken any others that I love of all the kids together so this one might be it. I would do it in black and white but I am going to give it until the end of the week before I decide for sure.
Notice, Colin is NOT crying about sitting with Santa!
That kid LOVES Santa! He even said he wasn't going to cry and he couldn't wait to sit in his lap. It is the strangest thing especially for a child who does not like strangers at all!

Just because it is our last season in overalls...
And of course look what Mario did to our bathroom...
That elf is just silly! But the boys love it and Cade wakes up every single morning looking for what he is doing next! It is so much fun!

Crafts

Today, Cade came home from school as an Owl!

Brothers helping each other... so sweet!
This was just a precious idea and I am considering doing my 1st graders as Penguins! BUT I am going to experiment on my own boys first!

Colin also came home with a precious craft today as well.
Baby Jesus in the Manger
Cade really wants to make one of these as well so I have decided that over Christmas Break this will be one of our craft projects!

The Many Adventures of Mario!

I know you have seen him around before, but he came to our house again this year! We are beyond excited!!!

Another introduction is needed I am sure... So please meet our Elf On The Shelf, MARIO!
He has been hanging around in the oddest places! The other morning we found him in the lamp in the living room. We found him again hanging on my Christmas Mantel Decor. We also found him in the Christmas Tree and the toy room, playing with the space shuttle!
He is just so silly and funny! He keeps moving all around our house and we are having so much fun looking for him each morning. My goal is to try to post all the silly funny things he does so I can remember them for next year!

I also wanted to include this adorable Santa chalkboard I got on super clearance at Hobby Lobby after Christmas! Cade loves changing the days on it each morning!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It really is starting to look like it around here!

We pulled the trees out and decorated them! We decorated the mantel as well.

It all started with this tree and these plastic totes!
Then two boys who were more than willing to help!
We finally had a completely decorated tree!
Now, for the mantel - I just LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
I got the idea for the mantel from Pinterest. If you haven't checked it out, you really need too! I found three different mantels that I really loved and I just created my own version with my own colors. Ok, so I really didn't create it - Larry did! I told him what I liked the colors I wanted. We went to Hobby Lobby picked out everything I wanted and then he pieced it together for me. I am so happy with the way it turned out! I will have to post an updated picture later when my new stockings arrive from Pottery Barn!