Snow Part 2-Winter Wonderland

We woke up to this.................

It was a beautiful Winter Wonderland!

I of course took Eli out to play. I did it while Lilliana was taking a nap as she does not have a lot of actual snow clothes to play. Eli loved it of course.



Needless to say he had a blast. My back was killing me by the time we came in. I may have over done it today but it was so much fun so it was worth it.

I also took some pictures of  Lilliana today. She got some new diapers today. I did some photography work for trade and I needed to add some more to our stash as we will have two in diapers for a little bit. I also am entering this in a contest.



I have to say it did not turn out as I had hoped but she was cranky and I was a little too!

Today is the last day of November which means tomorrow starts December and a day of beginning a tradition.

This simple boring jar, I so sloppily decorated is full of fun!!! This is our Jar of Christmas. There are around 25 things in there to do related to Christmas. We will begin tomorrow. Eli will get to pick out an activity once a day. I will probably have him do it the night before so I can make sure we have what we need. So bring on 25 days of Christmas!!

Snow Part 1

I could not resist going out in the snow. It may have been dark and late but we just had to. It was the first good snow of the season. It was perfect for snow man making. Eli had a ton of energy that needed to be used. I needed some fresh air. On top of it all one of my fondest memories was a huge snow storm we got one year growing up. My mom took us out to see how much we had gotten and it was dark. There was something magical about it. So we played tonight and we will play tomorrow. It is that snow that sticks to everything and makes it a winter wonderland and absolutely perfect.

Lilliana loved it. She didn't get to stay out long but just enough to sit and look around. She was eating it as it fell from the sky.


Eli just loved it all. He walked and talked and ran and told us all about it. After Anthony took Lilliana in he and I made a snow man. Funny thing is he told Aunt Toni that the first snow he was going to make a snow man with his dad. Well, I happened to be the one to do it. He only wanted to do it to smash it but oh well. We had fun.


My snow man skills were not the best tonight as my back hurt and it was dark. Poor guy was lopsided, full of leaves, and not porportional. He also collapsed soon after we came in but we had fun!!

More to come tomorrow! So glad I have no where I have to go tomorrow! It will be great to just sit at home and enjoy all the snow!

Hopefully Back to Normal

I can't say this week has started off the best. The weekend brought a bad back for me from slipping. So I am hardly able to walk let alone do much fun stuff. Thankfully it seems to be on the mend and I am hoping tomorrow I can get a lot done.

The stomach bug also hit our house so we have decorations not complete and a wreck of a house but hopefully by Thursday that will all be complete as I have some Christmas pictures to take for my kids and a couple others.

We learned today our box man aka UPS man has retired. I am so bummed. I had a Christmas present planned. Eli was also getting a box man uniform for Christmas and we had high hopes of getting his picture taken with him. Bill will be missed!! Our new guy for Christmas is great and since I have several more presents on the way I hope we can get to know him better and he will get a present too. Unfortunately we were told we might get a new one come the first of the year. The box man hold such special meaning in our house because I love getting packages and Eli has become in love with watching his truck and getting the boxes. 

Tonight we are getting lots of snow so more fun for tomorrow with our first snow we can play in just in time for December and the start of some new traditions. Tonight we will enjoy Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and some hot chocolate.

Let the Festivities Begin

Wednesday I felt terrible and really hoped come Thursday I would feel great. I had a lot to do but no motivation. I did take my 8 week belly picture and some cute pictures of Lilliana. I had been wanting to get some winter ones of her so I did do that. They turned out great.


My poor husband married a kid when it come to the Holidays. I eat up everything about it. Every year I have grand plans and something happens like blood pressure problems or just lack of funds! Well NOT THIS YEAR!! I may feel terrible, but we are making this a GRAND holiday season.  I can't wait to put into practice everything I have in mind. Eli is getting older and I think that is why I am bound and determined to start making them memorable. He gets it now and I just love it!

We kicked it off yesterday watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It brought back many fond memories. This is how Eli decided to watch it. Perched on my step stool with his hammer in hand occassionally "fixing" the jumper all the while telling me about everything. Then he would jump down and proclaim he was in the marching band and march and bang around.

Trouble has a new name and she got put in her jumper so we could just drink some coffee as she decided she needed to get into everything.


Needless to say we had a marching band boy until we left for Thanksgiving dinner.

I don't know how I lucked out but I did not have to cook a thing for dinner. It was nice. Dinner was great!! Lilliana enjoyed her first Thanksgiving meal! She eats everything!


Eli pulled a typical meal for him and did not want to eat!! He is so picky! Grandma got him to eat though!



My bracelet became the hit toy with Lilliana she loved it!


She also loves this dog. This is Pluto. He is so cute! He looks like a mop but she loved him and is pretty soft and cuddly.

Eli torments poor pluto!!


We had a great time at dinner. It is always fun with Anthony's family. His uncle and aunt got a new dog. They like Great Danes so they had a new puppy to show off. She is a rare color and beautiful. Her name is Stella. I do not want anymore dogs but I would be tempted to take her home. She was just precious and for only being 9 weeks old was very well behaved.


We caught Eli playing in the basement in a baby walker. Yes that is my kid! He thought it was grand!

And since he was so good the entire day with no nap he got pie. I have to say I was so impressed with his manners and attitude all day! I was one proud mom!


It was a long wonderful day!!!!

I did not do any black friday shopping in town. I did do it online and got something for Eli I have wanted to get him for forever and I got a great deal on it! He is going to love it. We are pretty much done with Christmas presents for now!

One thing about Thanksgiving is the leftovers! There is nothing like leftover turkey sanwhiches and that was just want I wanted today.


The other great thing about Thanksgiving is the day after we get to start decorating for Christmas!!!!!!! We got the tree put up today. My little man was the best help ever! He was so good and watching his excitment made my day. It just melted my heart!

He took great pride in explaining to Lilliana she could not touch the tree...


Every year the kids get an ornament to start their own collection. Eli got to put his on this year. Lilliana got the exact same one only with an L.


He also got the priviledge of being the first one to turn on the lights. He loved it. I tried getting him to smile and just stand in front of it. That did not happen! He just decided to be silly.



We ordered pizza from our favorite pizza place and went to Aunt Tracy's for dinner with them. When we came home Eli read a book like usual with us. Then he insisted on sitting by the tree and just looking at the lights. It was magical. It is how I have envisioned my children enjoying Christmas all of my life. I am sure it was hormones but it brought tears to my eyes. I love them!


The Holiday season is underway and I can not to celebrate the birth of Jesus and start traditions with my kids. It will be magical and wonderful! Merry Christmas!