Thursday Three: Christmas Edition

Remember when I actually used to do a Friday Five? Yeah that was fun. Here's a little Christmas edition on a Thursday. With only 3 random points. So it's not really the same thing at all.

(Aren't these hats weird and a little creepy? It's a cow's head for crying out loud!)

1. Matt is done with school tomorrow! You know, assuming the world doesn't end. Since I'm pretty confident that it won't, we're looking forward to two whole weeks of fun and traveling and family and friends. And food. Lots of food. Because let's face it, I have no self-control when it comes to tamales and dips and hash brown casserole and baked french toast and orange julius and cookies. None.

2. I'm purposely staying away from Pinterest this Christmas because I do not need another reminder that we're not doing something memorable every day of the month or doing a special daily advent reading or making fun treats to deliver to our neighbors (sorry guys, you will get a Christmas card though!). It's enough to make me feel like a big fat failure! We did attempt to go look at Christmas lights this week. Unfortunately, Avery fell asleep 10 minutes into our surprise PJ car ride. But really, I'm kinda liking this low key thing. Takes the pressure off. We're pretty much done shopping for this year, too. We're trying the 4 gift thing (that I found, ironically, via Pinterest last year) for each kid and each other: something you want, need, wear, and read. And while it's more expensive than last year's handmade Christmas, it's MUCH less time consuming. And really, most of what the kids will even remember is the time we spent together and hopefully how significant Jesus' birth is to the amazing story of salvation (thank you, Jesus Storybook Bible!).

3. And next Christmas we will have THREE kids!! Our little caboose is due August 7, 2013 and while it's pretty early to be making such an announcement (I'm only 7 weeks along), everything looked good at my appointment today and once Avery finds out tonight there will be no holding that big mouth back. :)

So there you have it. Good things come in threes. :) MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Breakfast with Santa

Our church hosts a Breakfast with Santa every year, so we took the kids for some breakfast, crafts, cookie decorating, and Santa pictures.

Let's just say that Landon is no fan of the fat man in the red suit. Also, I have got to start taking more and better pictures. The end.

Sunday School Christmas Party

We seriously love our Sunday School class. We had our Christmas party at the beginning of the month (it's hard to work around everybody's schedules!) and it was a delicious Mexican stack and hilarious White Elephant gift exchange.

And again, my pictures are from my phone, so they're terrible. Oh well.

Matt didn't get to keep the nose trimmer, haha!

Kendra and her short-lived moment with the coveted head massager

Carlos scored some fuzzy dice!

HILARIOUS. Especially the story behind it. And mostly because she regifted it the next day!

Nick ready for presents!

Ha, Janice with her light up skeleton

Because everybody needs a handmade bonnet!

I think Nick enjoyed his boa a little too much.

First choice = last choice

Matt decided to give up his Hillbilly Briefcase as his White Elephant gift

Our fearless leaders!

Mwahaha, I got the head massager. That thing rocks.

Evelyn's First Birthday

My little niece turned one at the beginning of the month! She's so precious and had LOTS of people at her party to help her celebrate! (Granted, she has a kajillion aunts and uncles, haha.)

And before you go off thinking that I became some great photographer, these pictures are all from my amazing sister at Allison Jean Photo.

Happy birthday, Evelyn! We love you!

Open House Christmas Marketplace

I went out on a limb this year and decided to host my own little craft fair. I invited six friends to be vendors, and I cleared out my living room furniture so we could have our first Open House Christmas Marketplace the Thursday after Thanksgiving.

All the hard work aside, it was a LOT of fun and we had so many people come by! It was a come and go event complete with refreshments (including my should-be-famous hot chocolate, haha) and Christmas music. Take a look at the vendor booths!

My little booth.

The other side of my booth.

Cindy with These Salvaged Hands (she is SO creative!)

Margaret with Blessings Unlimited (beautiful home decor!)

My friend Amy makes custom decorative crosses

My sister-in-law Chelsea HAND PAINTS wooden jewelry. She is SO talented!

My friend Kyndra with Pampered Chef

My beautiful sisters-in-law even dressed alike for the occasion. Okay, so it was accidental.

I was glad for it to be over, but honestly, the sales made it a worthwhile endeavor. Hopefully this will become an annual event!

Thanksgiving 2012

Why yes, I am posting our Thanksgiving in mid-December.

We had a majorly low key Thanksgiving this year, and it was awesome. My parents hosted a few of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, and we had the best Thanksgiving food that we've had in the past few years!

Avery thought the food was delicious!

Nana, Pop, Allison, and Isaac

Landon discovering his love of olives playing with his food

Uncle Randy, Aunt Teresa, Avery, Mom

Landon, Matt, and my cousin Michael

Landon with Aunt "Ally"

Dad, Aunt Cristi, and my cousins Rachelle and Matthew

I've been terrible about taking real pictures since I got my iPhone (which I will totally remedy from here on out), so these are the only ones I got. Oh well. Happy Thanksgiving! Or I guess I should say Merry Christmas!