our christmas

I love that Christmas was on Sunday this year.

We were able to attend everyone's christmas parties & it didn't seem so rushed.

 I enjoy spending time with family.

 {Great food & laughing till your checks hurt}

***

On Christmas Eve, we got home late and as we were pulling in the drive way we spotted Santa walking down the street... He had already made it to our Neighborhood!

Adrianna & Andrew were worried that he may pass them up so they ran in the house & opened their christmas jammies. They quickly prepared the cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the his reindeer.

Of course, I took a few pictures of the munchkins before bed

5:55am -

xoxo

jolly old saint nick...

The night we went to see santa was "pet night"... I was amazed at the amount of people who came to get pictures not just of their children with Santa but with their pets as well. The parents even coordinated their outfits! How stinking cute is that! ALMOST made me want a pet of my own. There were several people who didn't even have children with them... only pets.

I thought Pet Night = Dogs and Cats...

nope, they allow just about any species to have their picture taken with Santa. Jeremy's co-worker brought his two goats to see santa. Goats are not the cleanest animals nor do they mind very well.

Adrianna decided very quickly that goat-setting was NOT for her! 

he has arrived...

at our house!

This is a tradition in the Well's house.

oh how i love traditions.

“Buddy” the elf came back to our house.

He watches the kids to see if they are naughty or nice.

He leaves at night to tell santa all the good things they have done!!

This morning he brought the kids a little treat... cookies for breakfast!!!  We caught him typing a letter to his elf friends yesterday.

WE love him!

It's Christmas Eve, Santa will come tonight to bring toys & take Buddy back home to the North Pole. He has to go work at the toy shop & will not return until next year.

We will miss you Buddy!

look how happy Andrew was to see 'buddy'...

christmas card love...

i was raised around an older generation that passionately believed in christmas cards.


back in the day they were always hand-written to every single person on the list.  i do take a more modern approach. all recipients on my list receive the same christmas card and I do not include a letter…however, i still passionately believe in the christmas card. even with blogging, facebook, and twitter. i can’t let the art die.

…hand-writing. typed. fun fonts. address labels with snowflakes, holly and candy canes and little snowmen  – i have a preparing/addressing/stamping party of one when i’m preparing ours.

but, this year, we didn't recieve very many cards at all.



should i stop? is it not-green to be doing so?
how do you feel about the tradition of christmas cards? a lost art? you’ve never sent one? you always send one?

regardless, i still enjoy the tradition.  and, if you are not on our mailing list – here is our 2011 card

Hope you have a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

christmas s'mores...

Have you tried this?

they are so delicious!

we went to a few stores locally and nobody had the christmas peeps!

so let me save you the time, we found them at our local walgreens.

Andrew is taking these to his Christmas party tomorrow at Daycare

my andrew...

~turns “4 yrs” old  {going on 10}

i love how he is so sassy and then can change to sweet so fast.

his personality is hilarious, he’s very fun and loud and we all just adore him.

he says the funniest things and jeremy and i look at each other with that look like, "did he really just say that?" he's a smartie!

he is not afraid of anything, very outgoing, loves to dance {hip hop} and sing!

his attitude gets him anything he wants!

he ususally blames adrianna for everything. {wink}

although he sounds kinda naughty, he has the sweetest side too, he loves his family like crazy.

every night, he tells us how much he loves us and gives the best kisses and hugs.

 

his favorites are...

hot wheels

monster trucks

 netflix cartoons

listening to music

chocolate protein drinks

all sweets {we've never had a child eat so much candy}

staying up late with his daddy & mommy

bath time!

hanging out with Adrianna & her friends

he is our best little friend.

Happy birthday baby boy, i love you with all my heart!
 xoxo

"Calling all SUPER HEROES!"

My little Andrew had such a fun "spiderman" party!

We had his party at his favorite place 'the jump place'
Everyone was loving it having the place all to ourselves.

We had a blast flipping and jumping with friends.
I was exhausted just after 10 minutes. geesh!



Andrew had a GREAT time at his party!! Thanks to everyone who came and made his special day perfect!

movies...

The Muppets

 a good family movie!
seriously. cutest movie i've seen in a long time.

Loved that my children were able to experience the muppets that I grew up with. There were some touching moments in the movie :)
***
 

Smiling.

yes, smiling.

because when i start to think of what i'm thankful for,

i smile.

i smile because i think of my husband and how good his soul is. his determination to make me laugh in my worst of moods,

he is so much more than i ever deserved.

i smile because i think of my daughter who is more and more beautiful everyday, and in so many ways a mini-me in character, and in so many ways constantly teaching me to be better.

i smile because i think of my son, his sweet little smile that melts my heart. his arms that strangle me with hugs all the day long.

i smile because i think of how many dear friends & family i have, and how fortunate my life is, and the amazing opportunities i have had.

i smile because we are healthy, and happy, and swimming in love.

...then i become teary eyed.

and all choked up.

 

because by the time i have thought of the things i am most thankful for,

i become overwhelmed with emotion, overwhelmed with how blessed i am.

overwhelmed with an immense gratitude for all i have, and who i am.

but oh the joy of being able to fully appreciate.

that is what a celebration of thanksgiving is about, to me.

happy thanksgiving!

*****

Happy Birthday...

***

My amazing husband turned thirty two years old. 

His birthday falls right in the middle of Deer Season so normally we celebrate his birthday @ the deer lease or his parent's house but not this year... Adrianna had a basketball game so he & the kids did a morning hunt and then headed back home!

 We wanted to make it special, Adrianna & I cooked him all his favorites for dinner

{t-bone steak, boiled shrimp, baked potatoe and salad}

 We didn't have time to bake a cake so instead he got a

DQ Reese's Peanut Butter Blizzard birthday cake ... I  think one slice contained 720 calories but oh my it was worth it!

He spent the rest of the night playing with his birthday gift... cabelas big game hunter 2012 on the wii.

My husband {hearts} hunting

I love you sweetie!

I hope you had a HAPPY Birthday

xoxoxo

Happy Halloween

We had a FUN FILLED day of Halloween.

It started with Andrew’s Halloween Party @ School.

He went as the yellow transformer a.k.a bumblebee.

Originally, the plan was he & his sister were dressing up as

“Rock Stars” this year but he spotted this costume in the

Halloween Store and had to have it.

How could I say "NO" to this face

He had to bring a snack to the party so Adrianna & I made these.... found the idea on  Pinterest 

So cute and much healthier than candy

Jeremy & I took the kids  Rockers treat or treating around the neighborhood and I am not sure who LOVED it more

I am so used to Adrianna coming home with all her candy

and putting it on the counter and walking away.....Well

Andrew is a different story, he was very possessive with his

candy and wouldn't stop eating it and wanted MORE!

Pumpkins...and more

this weekend...

we carved pumpkins...

we played Mr. potato head with our pumpkins,

we made spider cupcakes

we made caramel apples

we went boo-ing...

we had a family halloween dinner,

we made a pumpkin cake...

and more!

life is good...

We indulged in sweets all weekend, in fact we have ate too much sugar.

We're all paying for it...

now, we are only eating nourishment that does not involve sugar.

 

Wordless Wednesday Pumpkin Patch