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« November 2009 | Main | January 2010 »
All
the shopping is done, the presents are wrapped, the house is clean and its time
to snuggle in with my boys and enjoy the evening together.
Instead
of our tradition Mexican feast on Christmas Eve we're changing things up this
year and going with appetizers... A Christmas Eve of Appetizers... sounds
festive to me :)... Also on the schedule is watching Elf, Reading Christmas Oranges (and each person has their own Chocolate Orange
to eat while we read the story) and we'll end the evening reading the
Nativity.
There's also talk of snow tonight (which in itself will be a Christmas miracle!)... if so we might ditch the movie and go sledding,.. who knows... the evening is full of possibilities!
We are grateful for this wonderful, magical time of
year when we reflect on the birth of our Savior. May your Christmas be
happy and filled with the love and peace of the Season.
These are my favorite cookies this Christmas season... they're nice and chocolate-y and I love Andes mints... put the two together and you have a fabulous cookie!
I'm making a huge batch of them right now (at midnight) for my husbands work party tomorrow... because I'm a nice wife and all.
P.S. if you like the cute recipe card you can download a whole set of them for FREE at the Shabby Princess... I have a small crush on the Shabby Princess and her fabulous digital products. Check out the cuteness here.
Haha... this is too funny! I'd like to thank our Jewish friends for this catchy little tune during this wonderful Christmas season. 
Oh how I love thee Conan!
Another year of Girlfriends Christmas Party has come and gone... and its so much fun to plan... always sad to see it over... its a fun addition to my holiday season!
This year because of my extra load at work I had to modify things a bit... so instead of cooking dinner for everyone we went out to dinner at Olive Garden and then came back to my place for "Favorite Things" Gift Exchange (if you want directions on how to do this kind of party let me know) and then we had dessert and talked.
I liked going out for dinner... it was a lot less work but I also felt like it lost some of its coziness... it was hard to talk to everyone when we were all spread out at a long restaurant table... so next year I'll probably do the cooking again... but a change is nice every once in awhile.
It was a fun fun evening and I feel so grateful for these women in my life!
1. I have a new niece! My sister Emma had her baby yesterday! Hoooray!!
Autumn Mary-Hazel Nelson
December 2nd
7lbs 1oz and 19ish inches
Congrats to my Emma, Andy and Calvin!
p.s. doesn't Emma look great! Seriously.
2. I'm having a Scentsy sale through Saturday... free shipping on any purchase... and if you buy five bars you get one free. Check out my website for fun gift ideas... if you're interested email me and I'll enter the order so you can get the free shipping!
3. My Dining Room is Merry & Bright for the Holiday season... I took the Falalala from a digital scrapbook kit and cut it out in vinyl on my Silhouette machine... I like how it turned out... it makes the house feel festive!
4. I love this picture! Little Buddy starts every morning by standing on his diaper basket at the window and talking to the cars as they drive past. I looooooooooooooooooove his little routine... I think he's beyond yummy... usually after his mid day nap he'll check back in just to see how the world is doing since his last visit. I wish he could stay this age forever. He's so much joy and happiness. Life is so good with him in it.
5. Listening to Oh Holy Night and Ave Maria on XM Holly. My two favorite Christmas songs. I love this time of year!
Tis the Season for Christmas cards... I LOOOOVE Christmas cards! And I have opinions on Christmas Cards... I know you're shocked.
Read at your own risk... my thoughts on Christmas Cards... 
1. If you're going to include a picture with your Christmas card (which I hope you will!)... include a picture of your WHOLE family... including you... your kids are cute and all... but I'm not friends with your kids... I'm friends with YOU and I'd love a smiley happy picture of you hanging on my door at Christmas time.
If I can send out a Christmas card picture last year, four weeks after having a baby, and weighing the most I've ever weighed in my entire life for all of Christmas card land to see then you can too.
2. If you're going to take the time to send a card, put the love, thought and money in to, address the envelope, stamp it, deliver it to the post office... then please include a teeny tiny bit about what's going on with your family. I love the card... I really really do... but I want to know what's going on with you too!!
3. That being said. Keep the letter short and sweet and to the point. Our friends have two kids and send out a four page letter single spaced Christmas letter. Nobody has the time... or honestly cares that much. Unless you're Grandma. Highlights people. Highlights. Not a Masters Thesis.
4. I don't care if you spell my last name wrong. My siblings don't even know how to spell my last name. I'm over it. Just don't call my husband Joe.
5. Store bought/pre-made/generic cards are absolutely perfectly wonderful. This coming from the scrapbook queen who has given up on making homemade cards (for now). I know my crafty/scrapbook friends out there are cringing... but its true... and while homemade cards are delightful and I love every single one of them (and oooh and ahhhh over them!) let go of the guilt and just send a Costco/Walmart/Sam's Club/Shutterfly card... who cares if I have four of the same card hanging on my door... I don't care and neither should you. And I promise its very liberating to upload a picture to Costco, hit send and an hour later your Cards are finished. Very liberating indeed.
6. I think Christmas Cards in the mail are way more personal than an emailed card. But if its all you can manage so be it. I won't judge you. (plus stamps are getting so dang expensive! I might have to review this rule in a year or so!)
7. If I haven't heard from you in the last five years in some form or
another... email, Christmas card or a quick hello on facebook then you're
off the list.
8. I
think we are past the day and age where you have to "know someone in
real life" to send them a card... I have internet friends who I feel
close to that I haven't met in person yet... but I feel like they are a
part of my life... totally acceptable to send them a Christmas card.
My husband thinks that's weird.
9. Just because somebody sends you a card doesn't obligate you to send them a card. Yes, its nice. But its not the law.
10. No biggy if you miss a year, or three... life is busy... cut your self some slack. But once every five years would be nice...
As always, I'd love your feedback and opinions! Just remember to keep it pleasant :)