Here is how we tackle the putting away of decorations. 

Get on the same page.  Shane and I talked about our expectations for the day.  I asked if we could work side by side, one room at a time, cleaning as we went and Shane agreed.  We tidied up our master bathroom and bedroom first.  Cleaned, dusted and vacuumed it.  Next we did a general pick up all over the house.  We put the boys down for naps and tackled the kitchen.  Everything got a good washing in the kitchen.  The laundry kept going all day.

We opened all the windows to let the fresh air while we worked.  Bundled up because it was freezing but the air smelled so good.

I have been so excited to clear the front of the fridge of all the precious Christmas cards.  We put them all in a Ziplock freezer bag labeled 2010 and stored them with our decorations.  This is an easy way to look at them over the years.

This is what I'm most sad about, my garland over my bed.  I tried to put a nightlight in last night to recreate the same warm glow the garland had and it wasn't quite right.  This is on the back burner of my mind, creative ways to light this room.

 

My Winter Mantle-Ice Skate Central

Here are a few things I want to remember for Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year next year:

-Put up Christmas decorations October 31st or Nov 1st.  We love, love, love the ambiance of the lights and it is OK to put them up early on the front end of the Thanksgiving/Christmas season.  I know I can still be thankful among twinkle lights.

-Asking Shane to take the first Monday of the year off as a vacation day.  The Christmas let down is a bummer, but it is fun to know he'll be home that Monday and we can enjoy a fresh house.  This is the day we loung in our pj's and think about the New Year.

-The first Sunday of the year is a great day to take Christmas down (after Church).  We can work/clean/organize all day, be done by 5pm, then set aside $30 to order good pizza and have family fun night Sunday night and all day Monday

Milk & Cookies Party

This year we held our 1st Annual Milk & Cookies Party. So, how exactly do one host a Milk & Cookies Party?

You start with a guest list of little ones, you know, your kids friends from church. You invite them to come in their pj's for a night of eating cookies, drinking milk, and watching The Polar Express. You tell them to ask their Daddies & Mommies to come so they can drink coffee and hot cocoa and be in the Big Kid Room.

12 minutes before they arrive you have an Aw Nuts I Forgot To Wash The Cups Moment and you quickly wash em' up.


You make lots and lots of Sugar Cookies that you and your boys rolled, cut, baked and decorated together. Throw in Sugar Plums, Candy Canes, Gingerbread Men with no decorations because you suck at cookie decorating but it's the thought that counts, and some good cheer.

Smile that your 2 year old has friends who come from godly families and thank God that he has surrounded you with such precious people to live life with. You remember how a couple of years ago you felt like you didn't have family friends to do life with and laugh at the fact that tonight your driveway looks like a Mini-Van car lot. Swagger Wagons if you will (Click Here) (pause music on my blog and turn up the volume).


Robes, Jammies, House Shoes AND Spiked Hair...too much cuteness for one picture.

Did you know that if you suggest to sweet little girls that it would be really cute to rest their little faces on their hands they will do it?

Every one got to take home a Happy Birthday Jesus cup. Every party needs a Happy Birthday Jesus cup, ya know what I'm sayin'?

Nary a crumb left behind, girls amaze me.

Living life with other families is something that doesn't just happen. You gotta make time for it. We love these people.

Aww look, the Bugs & Sunshines getting their baby fix.

Do we need one or two more? One says yes one says no.

Who is in need of refreshment? That's what we thought. Hot, hot yea we got it, hot chocolate.

Merry Christmas!