Holiday Hoedown with the T Family

Because it's Friday, and instead of getting ready for Natalie's 4th Birthday-Ariel-Under-the-Sea Party tomorrow, I did this:

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

For the record, T does not normally dance as well as he does in this video, just so you know.

{Happy Weekend! Check back on Monday for my Blogiversary/Christmas GIVEAWAY!}

Santa, Baby

"Been an awful good girl, Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight." -Marilyn Monroe

credit: heavens-gates.com

Dear Santa Claus,

It's been a year of kids writing on my floors, ruining wedding speeches, exposing various parts of my body in public, and stuffing things in my toilets.

I'm not complaining or anything, but I think I might deserve a little something nice in my stocking. I know you're probably too busy to run to Target or something, so I thought I'd cut down on your shopping time and give you my list.

1. I'd love to wake up on December 25th and be a size 6 again. That would be fab. Then I could wear my skinny jeans and actually be skinny.

2. A day of no whining-no hitting-no sass would be awesome.

3. A pool boy. With an accent. Who likes yard work. Can you have the elves put in a pool too?

credit: aquarightpoolservice.com

4. A sound-proof craft room. 'Nuff said.

credit: home-designing.com

5. A week with Mary Poppins as our Nanny.

credit: pepperspollywogs.com

If anyone could get Michaela Byrd to eat, I bet it would be Mary. I'm sure she'd add a "spoonful of sugar" to those peas and carrots, but it would be worth it. While you're at it, Santa, please send Dick Van Dyke and the penguins. They'd be great entertainment for the kids while I lay out by my new pool.

6. A day at the spa.

credit: carefreetrip.com

And I don't just mean an hour-long massage either. I want a whole day where I can walk around in a bathrobe and be pampered and get a mud wrap and a milk bath and a massage and a pedicure and a manicure and a hair cut. That's not too much to ask.

So, that's my list Santa. If you can't make it happen, just send a Visa gift card. I'll make it work. I think this will make up for the trauma my children have inflicted on me in 2009. Don't make me call Mrs. Claus.

Merry Christmas!

The Not-So-Merry Christmas Market

My friend Christy and I decided to meet up a couple of Saturdays ago and shop a little Boutique Christmas Market that was being held in one of the new alumni buildings of the local college.

Christy's husband was home so he was forced to he had the priviledge of staying home with their kids. T was lucky enough to dodge that bullet and go to work. I had to take Natalie and Michaela Byrd with me.

I should have known it would be "one of those mornings" when the girls threw a fit in the car when I went into Starbucks to get an order for Christy and myself. But I stupidly remained hopeful, and we headed up the hill to the boutique.

After we donated some money for a local children's charity (Natalie is placing an ornament with our name on the tree below), any goodwill on earth and peace that may have been with my oldest evaporated.

I had just payed for my ticket and walked in the door when she started in with the whining, lagging, and overall nuisanceness. Some bloggers give you a look at life with children with rose-colored glasses. There will be none of that today.

I had just enough time to snap some pictures of cute gift ideas that I bet any of us could make on our own before I dragged my kids back outside. I thought I'd share them with you today:

I am sure you could paint your own wine glasses for much less than $8.00 a pop.

Fun fabric headbands for a little girl:

I can't do jewelry, but I did love the little birdie jewelry tree at this booth:

Cute reusable totes in girlie colors!!

Don't you just love these hand towels?

I could use a pretty luggage tag that is not a paper one from the airlines.

Natalie threw a real fit over these personalized Playtex (!) straw cups, but I refused to buy one from her after the scene she caused.

No-sew fleece blankets!

"Tag Blankies" for babies. Michaela Byrd had one when she was itty bitty and loved it.

This picture frame is to die for gorgeous. Completely fab!

I had about 10 minutes of oohing and aahing with Christy before I couldn't take the whining and fussing from my oldest child. In order to save sanity for all of us, I took my kids outside for an impromptu photo shoot.

But not until after I spilled my Starbucks all over the stroller seat (thank goodness Michaela Byrd wasn't in it!)

The college's alumni building is up on a hill that overlooks the "Olde Towne." The church steeple in the distance has been there since before the Civil War.

The one in pigtails doesn't look like a child who thought she might die if she didn't get out of the sale, does she?

There are more pictures of Michaela Byrd because she is more compliant and seems to like having her picture taken.

Sometimes, she'll just pose randomly and say "cheese!" whether I'm taking her photo or not.

We came across a bunny tea party under the holly tree.

Hope you found some gift ideas today. If I can get my act together, I might try my hand at a few!

To the Victor Go the Shopping Spoils

I don't suppose that there are any real "victors" when it comes to Black Friday Shopping, unless you count the people who stood in line outside Toys 'R Us all night just to get the first glimpse of a Zhu Zhu pet (this season's hottest toy, according to Melanie at Big Mama). But most of us who braved the crowds last Friday did come home with the spoils of conquest.

source: readystudy-goproject.net

If you read my Guest Post over at Centsational Girl, you know I'm an avid Black Friday shopper. Not many people love crowds or lines, but I do love a nice break to do some shopping without kids!

I didn't get everything on my Black Friday List, but I came away with some great buys!

T's Aunt Marie drove myself and her daughter-in-law, Kimberley, to another town to do some shopping and we had a blast!

This was my riding companion in the back seat.

This is the crowded parking lot we were greeted by when we arrived at Target around 10 am (we went out late).

Rather than cruise the parking lot 15 times, we opted for a spot in the back of the lot and headed into the store armed with our Starbucks Peppermint Mochas.

Target was crowded, but not so awful that I wanted to curl up in a ball in the seldom- traveled automotive aisle and cry. I found an adorable baby doll for Michaela Byrd, one that does not look like it cost 24 cents to make. She even has little purple clogs. Found a few more bargains that can't be mentioned because they are Christmas gifts and the recipients read this blog (try and guess!).

Here's a peek at my cart when we were done with Target:

I really, really restrained myself. This year I've had the least amount of money ever to spend, but I had just as much fun as I have had during the years I could buy whatever I wanted. For me, it was more about window shopping and enjoying some grown-up girl time.

Kimberley had a cartful of fabulous bargains (as did Aunt Marie). She was especially proud of the DVDs she scored for $3 and some change. (P.S. Isn't her Christmas shirt too cute?)

After Target, we hit TJ Maxx. I'm sure many shoppers would be ready for a big glass of wine after Black Friday...maybe in one of these?

Purple really is all the rage this year. I saw a lot of it in TJ Maxx, Pier One, and other stores.

Aunt Marie treated Kimberley and I to lunch at our favorite spot, Panera Bread.

I almost had a heart attack from sheer joy when Marie pulled into the Hobby Lobby parking lot. I only get to visit HL when we're in Texas, so this was a special event.

We oohed and aahed over everything in the store. I found some cute square paper plates for 50% off to use for our family Christmas Eve dessert/appetizer buffet. I also saw these adorable tissues, but put them back because I didn't want to buy anything else for myself.Somehow they made it into Marie's shopping cart and she surprised me with them later. I think they're too cute to let the girls blow their noses on!

We also shopped Stein Mart, Marshalls, and Toys 'R Us (good lordy, that was madness!).

By the time we got back to Marie's house, the kids were worn out from a day with the dads and ready for a snack and a movie.
Marie found A Charlie Brown Christmas on sale at Target, and the girls and their cousin (Kimberley's daughter, Olivia) settled in for a treat.
Oddly enough, Natalie's only comment was that the children shouldn't have taken all of Snoopy's decorations down to put on Charlie Brown's tree. I think we have a budding conservative on our hands....

{Did you find any fabulous deals on Black Friday?}

Tennessee Playhouse Cottage

Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I had a few posts scheduled because the T family traveled from Virginia almost all the way to Nashville, Tennessee. It was a loooooong and painful car ride with two small children, but lots of fun once we got there. We stayed with T's Uncle Rich and Aunt Marie...and about 20 other people. In one (large) house. Really.

Most children have a radar sense when it comes to new toys and adventures, and mine are no exception. They spotted the backyard playhouse immediately the morning after our arrival.
Uncle Rich built this cozy little cottage several years ago, and all of the cousins enjoy playing when Thanksgiving rolls around each year. This isn't exactly my DIY project, but it's such a sweet little playhouse that I had to share it!

I love how Aunt Marie decorates it for each season. The front porch had a pumpkin sitting out, and the front door (which really locks!) had a lovely Fall wreath displayed prominently to greet little visitors. Soon it will have a Christmas tree and lights up!

Natalie was most enamored of the toy grill and adorable, child-size wicker furniture on the front porch.

This photo was unfortunately taken after my children and their cousins ransacked the house.

The cottage has a working chandelier and real laminate flooring. The cream colored furniture and bed belonged to T's grandmother when she was a little girl.

I love the cheerful blue walls and airy curtains. I didn't ask, but I believe that the cottage features original artwork painted by T's Aunt Edie.

When cousin Samuel arrived, he immediately found the only toy gun on the premises and announced that he was going out to hunt the rooster. I don't think Uncle Rich's roosters appreciated this part of the make-believe morning, but thankfully Samuel's hunt was unsuccessful.

The kids decided to make acorn soup in an urn instead. It's kind of like an outdoor crock-pot, you know?

Don't you love how Samuel thought to go inside and grab the toy blender? Those acorns are really difficult to mix.

Cousin Olivia thoughtfully reminded Natalie to roll her sleeves up when stirring. It would be a shame to get acorn soup on her new coat.

The acorn soup was wonderful, and I say that more out of maternal duty than of actually having tasted it. I'd rather eat cranberries from a can, and that's saying something!

Cooking can be exhausting, so the kids went inside and trashed our bedroom instead.

Happy Thanksgiving indeed. Maybe next time, I'll make Natalie sleep in the playhouse....

For more DIY inspiration, please visit Kimba at A Soft Place to Land for her weekly party.

Coming up at Serenity Now? My Blogiversary/Christmas Giveaway, a Thanksgiving and Black Friday Extravaganza recap, recipes, Christmas projects, movie reviews, and more!

If You're Not Braving Black Friday (Or If You Are)

*Did you miss my Featured post over at Centsational Girl? Click over to read about Black Friday shopping...it's not for the faint of heart!*

If I still haven't sold you on how much fun it is to devote a whole day to shopping, then head over to Shutterfly to check out their fabulous holiday offers! My favorite "buy one calendar, get the rest 50% off" sale is on!

This is a great way to get some Christmas shopping done without leaving your house.

As you browse cyberspace today, think of me...I'll be reveling in the wonder of Black Friday!

The 27th Day of Thankful

It's Day #27 of 27 Days of Thankful. Click the link to find out what's been going on here every day in November.

Today, I am thankful to spend this holiday with my husband and two girls. I'm not crazy about the 10+ hours in the car to get to our destination, but I am so grateful that God has blessed me with such a caring husband and two sweet little girls.

Have a wonderful day, and remember that Thanksgiving shouldn't stop here. Take a few moments every day to meditate on the blessings in your life!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!