Finally...drumroll please!

So here is THE tour...since I still haven't figured out how to load pics off my cool camera without causing any kind of catastrophic incidents, phone pics will have to do.  Enjoy!
New this year is our "Thankful Tree" and no, it's not your typical thankful tree, no acorns or leaves.  It's bright, glittery and girly!!  It was originally supposed to be a tabletop tree, but when I couldn't find one that was just right I went with this $30 beauty from Garden Ridge.  When dear Shawn came home and saw it up but bare he just had that look on his face, you know the look.  I assured him not to worry because when I was done with it, you wouldn't even be able to see the tree!  Blayne wrote things that she's thankful for on chalkboard snowflakes that I made with a little spray chalkboard paint and glitter.  Bree helped too.  I then proceeded to glitter everything else I could get my hands on.  And the net!  Oh how I love this stuff.  Picked it up at The Nutcracker Market, and I will be sure to get more next year. I have some for the front door, but I just ran out of steam, so that fabulousness(yes, that's my word) will have to wait another year.

                   

And of course, the family tree, which is just that. It has ornaments from both my and Shawn's childhood so it is so special.  Some of my favorites are the felt ornaments his Grandmother made for them every year, and of course the pictures, he was SO cute!

      

                  

This is Blayne's newest "favorite" ornament, the ballerina.  Ironic since she won't take ballet!  But she sure is pretty.

               

Then there are the snowglobes that Grammy gives the girls each year, so magical.  I love to watch the girls faces as they shake them up and watch the snow flurries inside, Bree likes to hear the music.  The snow village that Mom put up every year has now found a home here at our house...well, part of the village has found a home here!  My brother Chris has some and Mom and Dad still have some- it was HUGE!  Blayne loves to put the snow village up, it is our special thing.  I particulary love the house with the balcony, as a little girl it was my favorite so it has a special place in my heart.  And what home isn't complete without a little child created decor, so this year Blayne made chains out of scrapbook paper.  We have them over the entertainment center and over the windows in the breakfast room too.  I still have boxes of greenery and decorations that haven't been used but that's ok, as I am learning to simplify.  So there you have it....Christmas in our home, our first year here has been so special and we hope to create many more memories.

                      
                    

It's almost here!!

No not Christmas, although that is fast approaching!  I have finally taken pictures of the house...now if I can only figure out how to load them without messing everything up like I did the last time.  I AM determined to post pics so I can take part in the nester's home tour...even  if it did start Monday. 

I am almost officially done with my shopping...I have 2 things left, that's it , just 2!!  And Shawn is staying home tomorrow.  I'm so excited  could pee my pants!  Seriously people.  We get to go to Bree's preschool party in the morning, errands and hopefully Mexican for lunch.  I am so excited for tomorrow and just the rest of the month in general.  Shawn's sister is coming home for Christmas, so for the first time in what seems like forever, everyone will be together at his parents.  Planning on getting Blayne's friends together to decorate cookies next week and having some good ole "girl time" with my two favorite girls!  They are growing up so fast.  Last week Blayne had her first "accident" at gymnastics.  Luckily I was home with Bree and Shawn was there.  They were learning how to do a handstand or cartwheel dismount from the beam (see this is what happens when you're not there, you don't get all of the specifics)  Anyway, he said her first try was awesome, she ran over and gave her coach a high-five and went to do it again.  2nd try, not so good, her hand slipped and she fell on her shoulder and collar bone.  There were some tears, but he said the coach calmed her down and she got right back up and tried it again.  Now, just so you know, we aren't talking competition gymnastcs or anything, she's just one level up from beginners.  But I am so amazed with her.  She has NO fear, her confidence is overwhelming to me.  She's no Mary Lou...nor will she ever be, but she is fabulous in her own way. 

Blog? What Blog?

Ok, so I haven't been faithful to this blog AT ALL.  I promise to better...to the two people out there that read it, Grammy and Pops!

Wow, how things get busy when you have a little one in elementary school.  For a while there I felt like I was becoming "that mom".  You know the one, the one that's always at their kids school doing "stuff".  The mom that has cookies fresh out of the oven when the bus comes.  The mom who makes the perfect cupcakes for every occasion.  Well, maybe not perfect...but close.  Yes, I was becoming her, how could that be?  And then...I crashed.  I could not possibly do everything that I wanted to, and that has been hard to swallow.  But I'm learning.  We had Thanksgiving at our house this year- a first.  It was wonderful, and to be fair...my mom did most of the cooking and just brought it over, I just provided a place.  I found myself the day before starting to freak out over the table.  I actually drug the girls to 4 stores looking for the perfect placemats!  And then I took a breath and realized that it doesn't really matter in the end if the table is perfect.  What matters is the company.
   So the holiday decorations are done.  I absolutley love our new house.  The tree is beautiful tucked into the curved staircase.   And new this year is a white tree in the kitchen.  It's decorated in silver, hot pink and red with chalkboard snowflakes that Blayne wrote on.  She put things that she's thankful for on them, I hope this is a tradition the girls will learn to love.  I'll be sure and post pics next time. I didn't do everything that I had wanted and there is still plenty of time left, but I'm good with how things are.  The garland around the front door can wait till next year.  I am already enjoying everything so much I just don't want to do anything else!  I am trying my hardest to finish up my shopping for the holidays so that I'm not running around at the last minute with a two year old in tow.  This year I'm hoping to be that "other Mom", the one that's happy and in the moment - not thinking about all that needs to be done- the mom that isn't worried about everything being "perfect" because there is perfection in everything the way it is.  Here's to a happy holiday season!