Whirlwind

The last quarter of 2012 Mister Mister was called to work out-of-town full-time.

 Consequently, the majority of our end of the year/holiday traditions ended up being canceled.

All be it sad and disappointed by this, we understood that it was necessary for the time being and we were thankful that he was given the job opportunity. 

Meanwhile, Lovey and I improvised, continuing to make memories because life couldn’t come to a complete standstill.

There are certain experiences, traditions and memories though of which we always want to consist of all three of us. For those things we would pick up where we left off the next year and make the most of the interim.

 Although time seemed to move ever so slowly as Lovey and I were missing Mister Mister while he was far away from home, in reality it flew by.

It left us and the upcoming back to back holidays in a whirlwind, so much so that I never manged a single holiday post!

 So this is a catch up post of our whirlwind, 2012 holiday season.    

HALLOWEEN

Lovey chose to be his favorite Red Power Ranger for Halloween.

My favorite part of his costume was his matching candy bag.

 His favorite part was well, being a Power Ranger.

We trick or treated briefly in Lovey’s Nana’s neighborhood then headed home to do the same in our own. 

Halloween reminded me how much I adore Lovey’s personality…  calm and courteous. He held my hand as we walked around our neighborhood. He rang the door bells {as he is tall enough to reach them on his own this year!} and waited patiently. He would say trick or treat in the sweetest voice then once offered his choice of candies he would take only one and say thank you.

It maskes a Mama’s heart proud to hear from others how well-mannered he is.

We are not too big on candy at our house so I let Lovey pick out two pieces to reward him for a job well done. He chose a sucker and a box of dots. I checked them and he was a happy boy. I put the rest away for Mister Mister to pick out a few pieces and me to pick out a few mini chocolates then the rest to give away. Seriously, who can eat that much candy anyways?! Lovey got ready for bed and put on his Halloween pjs which he had been anxiously waiting to get to wear that night. My little cutie.

Check out Halloween 2011 & Halloween 2010

THANKSGIVING

Mister Mister was off work and back home two days for Thanksgiving. 

I made dinner and dessert for the first Thanksgiving spent as just the three of us.

It was lovely.  

We pulled the Christmas tree out of the garage and began the decorating for the Christmas season.

We did some pre black friday shopping that night then regular black friday shopping the the next day.

Lonnng lines but good deals that I had organized on a list weeks in advance. Yep, I’m that lady carrying a list around as I shop even through the mayhem of the busiest shopping day of the year. It helps me stay focused so that I don’t end up like Dug in the movie Up… squirrel! likely resulting in a cart full of ridiculous purchases because you know, everything is on sale.

CHRISTMAS

Our favorite time of year.

So thankful that we were healthy, happy, warm and together.

We were so very blessed. Lovey received a special Toy Story stocking from his Tia K.

Hand made blanket from his Great-Great Aunt J.

A favorite new game from Grammy and Grampy.

Opening gifts with Daddy.

Cozy new blanket snuggles.

I love you too, my sweet little Lovey!

Check out  Christmas 2011 & Christmas 2010

NEW YEARS

New Year’s Eve we received a light dusting of snow, enough to pique Lovey’s interest so we bundled up and spent some time playing in our back yard.  Afterwards I made us all hot cocoa to warm us up. 

That night, out of the blue Lovey put himself to bed without our help.

 There were certainly no complaints from us.

  Mister Mister and I managed to keep our eyes open until the midnight hour, long enough for a quick smooch and an exchange of Happy New Year.

Such party animals we are.

* * * * * *

Having Mister Mister away all that time made the three of us cherish our family more than ever when he was back home with us.

The time that we did have together outweighed all that we didn’t.  

Christmas Catch-Up

 Our Christmas Eve was busy with hair cuts. Maneuvering the isles of Wal-mart with my cart like Danica Patrick does the raceway in her car.  A run to the border, On The Border that is for chips and salsa, my favorite! Lost pants, found pants, turned out still to be the wrong pants. Last minute gift wrapping that I know Lovey could have done a better job at. Then driving a little fast and furious to church as to make it into our seats before the beautiful service began. Afterwards was gift exchange at Mister Mister’s mom’s house which sadly I have no photos of.  But the highlight of our evening there was how Lovey would run and hug and thank his Nana for every gift he received, regardless of if it was actually from her or not. He didn’t pay attention to such minor technicalities, he just knew that he felt like loving on his Nana and that is exactly what he did. Priceless.

Then we headed home to open Christmas Eve pjs and Lovey’s Christmas Eve gift from Mister Mister and I.

 They played cars together for a long while until Lovey finally passed out. Just in time for Santa to drop off and assemble the rest of his gifts.

Christmas morning found a very excited little boy.

Unfortunately after putting everything else together the night before Santa was a little too tired to put Lovey’s kitchen together so Daddy promised Lovey that he would get the job done.

Similar to the saying;

 “always the bride’s maid never the bride”

I am always the one taking the photos and seldom the one in them but it was ok because the boys had a blast opening gifts together and I taking photos of the unfolding action.

Play food for the kitchen Daddy promises to assemble… eventually.

He shoots… he scores!

  

Loving on his monkey pillow pet from Grammy and Gramppy.

Coloring at his art desk from his Nana.

Reading his new books from his Great, Great Aunt J and Uncle D.

   

I thought he looked like a dj with the head set on so I called him dj Lovey Love.

Seems fitting doesn’t it?!

Jamming out with Daddy on the drums was one of the best parts of the day. Imagine them both singing;

 “La La La, La La La Elmo’s WORLD!!!!”

at the top of their lungs…100 times in a row!  I loved every second of it though, such fun memories made.

Such a sweet, sweet Christmas spent with my two loves.

We are so very blessed and so very thankful!!

  

Gingerbread Aprons And Baking With Lovey

Lovey enjoys being my little helper in the kitchen when I am baking or cooking but especially baking. He always says “Mama make cookies?!” Because of this Santa may be bringing a certain little someone a play kitchen for Christmas this year, but you didn’t hear that from me.

When I came across an adult and child make your own gingerbread aprons in last years after Christmas sales I snagged them up knowing they would be perfect to make and wear with Lovey the upcoming Christmas and hopefully many more Christmas’s there after.

My cute little gingerbread boy!

The first order of baking business once the aprons were finished was to make gingerbread cookies, it only seemed fitting. So we made gingerbread ‘people.’

Lovey really threw himself into his work!

  

Our day was filled not just with sweet cookies but sweet memories to last a lifetime. ♥

Gingerbread Boy Ornament

Do you remember the Christmas tree ornament tradition Lovey and I began last year?

 This year we made a gingerbread boy one.

  

Counting My Blessings On A Sunday Afternoon

 is where I reflect on a few of the many blessing and special moments in my life at the end of every week♥   

   This week I am especially thankful for!…

~My Mama’s birthday. I love you, Mama and I am thankful to have celebrated another year of your life even if it was from 1300 miles away, my love spans the distance always and forever.

~An easy peasy day at M2M, Christmas tree ornament crafts and watching Frosty The Snowman. I love our little group of kids.

~Christmas shopping and the choosing of the gifts. Wrapping those gifts and imaging the smile on loved ones faces when they open them. All so priceless.

~Lovey sleeping on my shoulder as I rock him in the recliner. Brings back the memories of his infant days, so bitter/sweet.

Thank You Lord,

for Your many gracious blessings in my life!

Christmas Cocoa

I think this very well is my favorite hand-made gift to date. Also the most tedious to make might I add. Talk about a hand cramp after I curling more ribbon than I normally do in an entire Christmas season.

Well worth it though I think, take a look!!

I portioned the cocoa and marshmallows into individual serving size bags.

Then I dipped spoons to stir the cocoa with into chocolate and added festive sprinkles.

In total I made twenty-nine! I hope all the recipients enjoy their cocoa on Christmas morning made with my special ingredient, LOVE!

Santa’s Hat! Hey! Hey! Hey!

Lovey’s Christmas craft this year was to make Santa’s hat. Since he is finally at the age that he recognizes who Santa is, he had a lot of fun making it. I cut the hat out and applied glue where needed then handed him a pile of cotton balls and he went to town.

He insisted on wearing his very own Santa hat and sang a little song while he worked that went like this;

“Santa’s hat! Hey! Hey! Hey!

 Santa’s hat! Hey! Hey! Hey!…”

  

Stocking Stuffers

Every Christmas I put together stockings and send them to my family back home. This year I figured since they already have several from over the years that I would do things a little different. After making the bulb wreath I had a lot of the empty containers that they came in so I used them to make stocking stuffers for the stockings they already have.

   

I filled them up with all of their favorite candy leaving some room at the top to add a few extra special things.

I wrapped them up and added foil paper and ribbon to seal the tops. So simple to make which saved me a lot of time for another project coming soon.

WHISKing You A Merry KISSmas!

You read the title correctly. What do I mean by that though you ask?

Combine a Christmas kitchen dish towel/pot holder set, a whisk and a lot of Hershey kisses…

 

Fill the whisk with Hershey Kisses.

Wrap it with tinted transparent wrap and curling ribbon.

Add it to the dish towel/potholder set, place it in a fun Christmas bag, add a sweet tag that of course says just that

Whisking You A Merry Kissmas!

And you have a lovely handmade gift for someone special this holiday season.

This particular set I made for my Mama but I also made a few in different prints for the other ladies in my life. A  simple little something that you can make to say you care!

Christmas Bulb Wreath

I have wanted to make one- -or five! of these for a few years but have never gotten around to it. I even promised my Mama that I would make her one and since I’m a woman of my word I finally did just that.

Red, green, gold and silver bulbs in shiny, matt and glitter finishes. The glitter ones were my favorite!

Lovey helped make it by handing me each bulb as I slid them on the wire coat hanger.

I think it turned out beautifully and I hope she will enjoy it hanging on her front door each time she arrives home as much as Lovey and I  enjoyed making it for her.

 My only wish is that I had enough left over bulbs and time to make my own. Next year though, definitely next year!