We've just returned from a long weekend away in the Hill Country of Texas where we went to Sea World, shopped in Gruene, saw the foundation for my parent's new home, had brunch with Kelly, and spent some family time relaxing.
It was wonderful.
Before I jump into the excitement that a new year always holds for me I wanted to take a blog post and dedicate it to all things Christmas in our home this year. The decorating and celebrating. This is basically a whole month's worth of life in one post....there may be a few dozen photos...you've been warned!
We decorated for Christmas as soon as Thanksgiving was over.
Karsten was fascinated by the nativity. This particular nativity was purchased by my Mom in Bethlehem...it's pretty special! Several times during this past month the animals or the baby Jesus would be found among Karsten's train tracks! Toddlers are so fun...and mischievious!
My Mom made this Beary Merry Christmas for my brother and I when we were little. There's a little stuffed bear that you move each day of December. Karsten loved this new tradition and I'm so glad my Mom saved it for him! It hung in his room and each night he would move the bear before bed.
He was also a big fan of moving ornaments around on the tree. He has his own tree in his playroom, but as soon as "mommy's tree" (as he referred to it) went up then he wanted to move all of his ornaments to my tree and then he would move them around each day.
I love capturing shots of his hands at work...one of my favorite things to photograph!
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I was big into burlap this Christmas...I found new stockings for Brian and I at Target (on sale) and made a quick banner out of burlap flags I found at Hobby Lobby. One of my Christmas presents from my Mom was this beautiful angel made out of wood, burlap, and metal! I love her!
I adhered the JOY onto our wall using command strips....it may or may not come down after Christmas!
Christmas cookies
Christmas cactus and bokeh...always a favorite
Karsten's first experience with Christmas ads!
Looking at Christmas lights
addressing over 100 Christmas cards
Zoe and string...I used alot of this string in gift wrapping this year. It looked cute with kraft paper. I got the whole spool at Hobby Lobby for less than $3!
one big hot Christmas wrapping paper/present mess!
Christmas Eve at my aunt and uncle's...Karsten was excited to open presents!
Michael and Emily (parents to be!)
Karsten received some of those capsules that you dissolve to reveal different shaped sponges. Much of Christmas Eve was doing this!
Christmas Morning--I like the idea of something being unwrapped under the tree, but Brian wanted K's two big gifts to be wrapped, so I chose to just take this little Ikea toy out of it's package and set it under the tree. Karsten spent 10 minutes pulling it around...he was clueless about what was in store for him within the gift wrap!
a new soccer ball
which of course was put to use immediately
One of his big gifts
who's more excited???
a firetruck!!!
the extended ladder is taller than he is!
hey look....I was there too!
dinos
His last big gift....Tidmouth Sheds (a part of the Thomas the Train collection) He was so excited about this and has played with it every day for at least an hour!
The next day we played with this fishing game which I might say is quite tricky!
He also took his firetruck outside the next day and Brian put water in the reservoir and then they pumped the water out. If you look closely you can see the stream of water....it goes really far!
it's also a good water fountain for the t-rex
So that pretty much sums up the Christmas Season in our home! I'm always excited as Christmas approaches, but I'm equally excited about the beginning of a new year. That's what tomorrow's blog post will be about! Check back!
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