Christmas

We continued our many Christmas traditions this year and added a few new ones.  This year Spencer participated in her preschool's Christmas program.  The two year old class she is in performed in two songs.  The first one was jingle bells and she rang her little bell so well.  The second song was silent night and she was supposed to do sign language but she was sucking her thumb and then she saw me taping her and she started screaming for me!  But she was so cute!

We went to see Santa at Bass Pro again.  This time we wore our Christmas clothes.  But we had a happy baby picture and a screaming two-year-old picture.  Maybe next year we will have happy combined picture! She also had a Santa appearance at her preschool and it went about the same way!

We went to my grandmother's for Christmas.  On the road there we got word that my grandmother fell and broke her hip.  So my Aunt's party was canceled and we hope that next year we will see my grandmother at her house instead of in the hospital.  Despite a change of place, we still had a great time celebrating with her.  We partied at my other grandmother's and my mom's sister's house.  Lots of fun was shared.  I think someone in my family was sick for every party but we managed to see everyone!

 I love my girl's curls!! 

Her new favorite doll!

 This is pretty much how things go around our house.  Spencer plays with Grayson's toys when they are out and he looks on curious.  We think he is thinking-wow that looks like fun, wonder if I will ever get to play with it?  Here is a good matching Christmas eve pajama picture!

 My aunt's homemade Christmas tree.  When we got there the ornaments were spaced nicely apart.  When we left a blond headed elf had clumped the bottom rows together!

 Grayson's loot wrapped in green.  Spencer's loot wrapped in red.

 Spencer and Uncle Will!

 Visiting Great-Grandma in the hospital.

 The great-grandkids with their great-grandparents!

Spencer enjoyed opening lots of gifts this year-she helped open Grayson's gifts.  It went something like this: Spencer, whose gift is that?  Baby.  Then she would open it and look at it and if she liked it or thought she could play with it (that would be all the gifts but clothes) she would say: Mine!   The kids each had a Christmas tree in their rooms too!

We had a great time at Jason's parents house to but our visit was cut short due to illness.

Next year we hope more people will be well, not in the hospital, and that we continue spending time enjoying each other!

December

Well December was a crazy buy month as usual, but this time with two kids!  All of us were sick at one point-you name it we saw it at our house-except for the flu!  I had two play dates scheduled and canceled both due to sickness.  We even had to postpone our Anniversary dinner due to sickness.  At the beginning of December, we drove to Myrtle Beach with both kids for a family wedding.  We stayed at a beach house-Spencer had her own room and Grayson "slept" in ours.  We had fun playing in the park and hanging out listening to the ocean.  On the night of December 1st, Spencer opened and helped Grayson open their Christmas pajamas and book to kick off our 25 days of Christmas books. 

Here are both kids in their Christmas pajamas.  I wish I could say we opened a book each night and snuggled down and read a fun Christmas story in our matching pajamas.  But life with two kids for me is a lot of-we have to make do with what I can do.  We read most nights but I didn't get all the books wrapped so they weren't necessarily opened.  Between sickness and the business of Christmas we were doing good to get a book read.  But they sure look cute in their PJs.

 

At the wedding Spencer enjoyed her time dancing.  She loves music, lights, and being in the spotlight.  I will try to upload a video later.

Here is Spencer and her daddy on the pier.  Due to the temps, Grayson stayed in his stroller this time.

Decking the halls...

This is the first Christmas in our new home.  During our married life we have lived in 5 places.  This is the first place we see ourselves staying for a long while.  That means that all the Christmas stuff I have collected that may have worked in a previous house but doesn't work in this house is getting donated.  It also means that because this is the biggest place we have lived, I had to figure out how I wanted our stuff to adorn our holiday halls.  I have more plans for the inside and outside next year but due to budget and time this is what I came up with for this year.

This is above our kitchen cabinets:

 Our mantle with our new stockings:

 Our Hallmark ornament tree:

 The Clemson tree in the dining room:

 The dining room table complete with our family's initials hanging from the chandelier:

 My manger scene with my Grandfather's Bible open to Luke Chapter 2.  The old hymnal from my home church was opened to Hark the Harold Angles sing but a certain 2 year old closed it :)

The staircase as you walk in the front door.  Next year I want to add some greenery.  You can also see where the Clemson tree is located with respect to the front door:

 The front door.  This is my pinterest wreath from last year that I love!

Here are the only two wreaths I put on the windows outside:

 My chalkboard mirror:

 My pantry door cookie cutter wreath:

Grayson's First Beach Bash

In November, my parents graciously let us use their vacation week at the beach totally free to us!  This was our first family vacation as a family of four.  I use the vacation term lightly because vacation with kids is very tiring for parents.  But it was fun.  Jason took half days so he worked in the morning which worked out great because it took about that much time to get ready to get out for the day. November isn't prime to go to the beach but on the Sunday we were there, the weather was warm enough to break out the suits and hit the sand.  Spencer chased the birds and swam in the heated pool and Grayson enjoyed just being along for the ride.  We took Spencer to the aquarium and many outdoor playgrounds.  We even saw Santa-but of course that didn't go well for Spencer.  Here are some pics from our week.

Here is a pic on the windy beach:

 Daddy and his princess:

 Grayson trying to figure out the tanning thing!

 Daddy and Spencer looking for more birds!

 Testing out the waters.

 Afternoon fun at a small park:

 Sharing cotton candy at the aquarium:

 Touching a horseshoe crab:

 Me and Spencer after crawling into this insanely small space!

 

And the winner is...

So...life happens and I am just posting this today.  But there was a drawing.  Spencer reached in...Drum roll....

Okay enough postponing the announcement.  Just watch and see:

Thanks for all the comments and entries!  We hope all of your holiday seasons start off with smiles and laughter and love!

Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty List and Giveaway

Christmas is just around the corner and I am always looking for durable and educational toys for my kids.  I hate all that plastic-ish and cheap stuff and I have grown to love all the toys I have bought/received from Melissa and Doug.  Spencer has several kitchen food sets, a ring stacker and some bead toys from this company already and they hold up well to our 2 year old's abuse/use.  

So to help you start your Christmas list...

I am starting my first giveaway on the blog!   The awesome Melissa and Doug company has a Terrific Twenty list of toys this year and they are giving some away each day on Facebook.  I have loved this brand for toys for Spencer and I know Grayson will love them too.  Go here to enter!



After looking through the terrific twenty list and thinking about what would be great for both of my kids, I have chosen to focus on the Animal Rescue Shape-Sorting Truck Wooden Toy.  My big girl loves animals and I know our boy will grow to love them soon! 


What I like about this toy is the shape sorter that is great for fine motor skills and matching skills and of course the fun animal shapes.  So when Melissa and Doug contacted me to give away a toy of my choosing and getting one to keep, I was EXCITED!!!!!!

 So here is the giveaway details.
 1. Leave a comment on the BLOG and leave your email address with the comment.  Remember comment on the blog not facebook.

2. On Sunday, November 18th, I will put all the names that commented in a bowl and Spencer will draw out one name.  

3.  I will email the winner and ask for the required information for Melissa and Doug and they will mail you the Animal Rescue Shape-Sorting Truck Wooden Toy.

Comment Away!