Friday, December 12, 2014
#carriedaway: week 46
Week 46:
Day 336: one Williamson boy sat in Santa's lap... (the other was probably flipping him the bird...)
Day 337: cooking up fun
Day 338: Andy and Hank share a special bond...and a place on the floor next to our bed. I rolled over this morning to see this...
Day 339: cute little hunters, if you ask me
Day 340: blurry limo fun
Day 341: nap time for Bru-pie and his lovie.
Day 342: baby, it's (getting) cold outside.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Home for the Holidays
I try to always take pictures of our decorations to a) help us remember Christmas time, and b) help me remember where I put everything!
I looove reading blogs where people do holiday home tours. My post will be nothing special, but it will be a post I will look back on time and time again.
So, here is our home for the holidays!
A few things...I LOVE Christmas and I LOVE Christmas decorations. I come by it honestly. My momma is a Christmas lover too and her decorating during the holidays puts Southern Living to shame. The magazine should come to her house and do a spread. Every year when she decorates, I stay away from the house so when it is all done I can walk in for the big reveal. And every year it takes my breath away. I sound so melodramatic, I know, but her house really is a site to see. So I will never fill her shoes- duh, but I hope and pray that my boys love my house at Christmas as much as I love my mom's house as Christmas (and ALL the time!).
Here we go...
The tree.... almost each and every ornament has a special meaning to us. I think trees that have a "color scheme" are beautiful....but they aren't our family tree. I LOVE to hang each and every ornament and think about it's special meaning. Maybe a trip to NYC with my mom, maybe our first Christmas as husband and wife, or one of the boys' "first Christmas" ornaments....I adore each and every ornament on that tree.
The mantle....
It's pretty simple...but I love it! I have two Moose on one side and a little stout moose on the other. I love me some moose!
I need to take a better picture of these guys. They are so cute. The boys love them too. I also have my vietri urn filled with HUGE glass ornaments on my mantle.
The family room...
Into the kitchen... these pictures aren't great.
An advent calendar hangs on the door next to the table. Cal runs and moves the candy cane each morning!
I adore this frame...and the sweet faces in it!
Above the sink....
I have been collecting snow globes for years-- I get one every year for Christmas and I love my sweet collection! They kind of take a beating being stored in the attic, but I love to pull them out each year.. I have these shelves above my desk in the kitchen...love putting the snow globes here because I see them all the time in the kitchen...and because they are off limits to curious hands...
We have this little piece of furniture in between the kitchen and family room... I have a nativity scene on the bottom part and some of my carolers on the top part.
The stairs.... I love this garland-- hard to see in this light. I will hang all stockings on this railing-- we have a big crew this year for Christmas so the railing will be filled! I would hang them by the mantle, but our fire gets really hot and we aren't trying to set this house on fire....
And, our couch in the family room....
In the downstairs playroom, I have most of my carolers lined up. LOVE them-- it makes me SO happy each year to pull these out! My uncle gives me one for every birthday and every Christmas and my mom usually gives me one for Christmas. Looking at this picture, I realize I forgot to cover the books they are standing on...whoops! Usually I cover them with "snow." I need to go get on that!!
On the little side table in the playroom, we have a small nativity scene...the boys love playing with this!
And then on the art table, which is normally in the family room, but is moved in for the tree, we set up the plush nativity.... lots of nativity.... gotta remember the reason for the season!!!
Into the dining room... I have a small table that I set up a little gingerbread stand and a few carolers...
In my large "hutch" I have more carolers throughout and then I set up some Christmas pictures here. I've been trying to print out pictures with Santa each year and framing... but I gotta find a space to display them all. This spot is already too small!
I have little reindeer all around the chandelier in the dining room-- they are old pottery barn kids and they are precious. Love them!
So, there's the downstairs. I have a few small decorations upstairs, but nothing worth putting in this post. I am not great at taking pics of my house, clearly....but there you have it!!!
Bring on the holidays!!!
I looove reading blogs where people do holiday home tours. My post will be nothing special, but it will be a post I will look back on time and time again.
So, here is our home for the holidays!
A few things...I LOVE Christmas and I LOVE Christmas decorations. I come by it honestly. My momma is a Christmas lover too and her decorating during the holidays puts Southern Living to shame. The magazine should come to her house and do a spread. Every year when she decorates, I stay away from the house so when it is all done I can walk in for the big reveal. And every year it takes my breath away. I sound so melodramatic, I know, but her house really is a site to see. So I will never fill her shoes- duh, but I hope and pray that my boys love my house at Christmas as much as I love my mom's house as Christmas (and ALL the time!).
Here we go...
The tree.... almost each and every ornament has a special meaning to us. I think trees that have a "color scheme" are beautiful....but they aren't our family tree. I LOVE to hang each and every ornament and think about it's special meaning. Maybe a trip to NYC with my mom, maybe our first Christmas as husband and wife, or one of the boys' "first Christmas" ornaments....I adore each and every ornament on that tree.
The mantle....
It's pretty simple...but I love it! I have two Moose on one side and a little stout moose on the other. I love me some moose!
I need to take a better picture of these guys. They are so cute. The boys love them too. I also have my vietri urn filled with HUGE glass ornaments on my mantle.
The family room...
Into the kitchen... these pictures aren't great.
An advent calendar hangs on the door next to the table. Cal runs and moves the candy cane each morning!
I adore this frame...and the sweet faces in it!
Above the sink....
I have been collecting snow globes for years-- I get one every year for Christmas and I love my sweet collection! They kind of take a beating being stored in the attic, but I love to pull them out each year.. I have these shelves above my desk in the kitchen...love putting the snow globes here because I see them all the time in the kitchen...and because they are off limits to curious hands...
We have this little piece of furniture in between the kitchen and family room... I have a nativity scene on the bottom part and some of my carolers on the top part.
The stairs.... I love this garland-- hard to see in this light. I will hang all stockings on this railing-- we have a big crew this year for Christmas so the railing will be filled! I would hang them by the mantle, but our fire gets really hot and we aren't trying to set this house on fire....
And, our couch in the family room....
In the downstairs playroom, I have most of my carolers lined up. LOVE them-- it makes me SO happy each year to pull these out! My uncle gives me one for every birthday and every Christmas and my mom usually gives me one for Christmas. Looking at this picture, I realize I forgot to cover the books they are standing on...whoops! Usually I cover them with "snow." I need to go get on that!!
On the little side table in the playroom, we have a small nativity scene...the boys love playing with this!
And then on the art table, which is normally in the family room, but is moved in for the tree, we set up the plush nativity.... lots of nativity.... gotta remember the reason for the season!!!
Into the dining room... I have a small table that I set up a little gingerbread stand and a few carolers...
In my large "hutch" I have more carolers throughout and then I set up some Christmas pictures here. I've been trying to print out pictures with Santa each year and framing... but I gotta find a space to display them all. This spot is already too small!
I have little reindeer all around the chandelier in the dining room-- they are old pottery barn kids and they are precious. Love them!
So, there's the downstairs. I have a few small decorations upstairs, but nothing worth putting in this post. I am not great at taking pics of my house, clearly....but there you have it!!!
Bring on the holidays!!!
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Meeting Santa: Round One
We went to the SECU Family House this past Tuesday night for a gingerbread house making party...and to meet Santa!
SECU Family House is sort of like the Ronald McDonald House, but for adults. So, if your spouse was sick and receiving treatment at UNC or Duke, and you lived somewhere other than here, you could come and stay at the Family House to be with them. It is an amazing organization and one that we always enjoy giving to.
We got there and the boys' eyes were HUGE with the massive candy display on the center table. They were instructed to get a plate, load it with candy and then decorate a house! The houses were already made, so all we had to do was decorate them. These two were SO into it!
They were also very into EATING all of the candy....!
Once I told Cal he could eat all of the candy that was on his house, he loaded it down!
I looked over at Andy as he put the community spoon into his mouth.... whoops.
He had great concentration while icing his tree.
After we were done decorating, there was a special appearance from the big guy in red! Cal was pumped to go see him. There was zero hesitation to go sit on his lap.
After the picture, he hopped down and Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas....and Cal said he really had no idea! I've been asking him what he wants and he comes up with some things... but not one big thing to ask Santa for. Santa told him that was okay that he didn't know, and as soon as he did know, he needed to sit down with mommy and send Santa a letter letting him know. We will be working on that soon, I believe!
Then there's Andy.... he was FASCINATED by Santa-- wouldn't take his eyes off of him.... but wouldn't sit on his lap. I had to sit on the floor and have him sit on my lap. Even then, he refused to smile.
He was still very intrigued with Santa and in between kids sitting on his lap, Andy ran up to him and asked to touch his beard.... and then he did. Sweet Santa....
Next thing I knew, Andy was taking Santa's bells and singing jingle bells. Go figure....
We got a picture like this next one last year too....Andy looking at me with Santa in the background... about as close as he would get!
And, because it is fun to look back... here are pictures from last year's SECU Family House Gingerbread House party.....
Look how young they were last year!
Andy wanted to eat his house there, apparently...
Holy cow, Cal has grown SO much in a year....
Love this sweetness....
The boys stood next to each other and Santa snuck up behind for a picture...LOVE their faces in this one!
'Tis the season!!!!
SECU Family House is sort of like the Ronald McDonald House, but for adults. So, if your spouse was sick and receiving treatment at UNC or Duke, and you lived somewhere other than here, you could come and stay at the Family House to be with them. It is an amazing organization and one that we always enjoy giving to.
We got there and the boys' eyes were HUGE with the massive candy display on the center table. They were instructed to get a plate, load it with candy and then decorate a house! The houses were already made, so all we had to do was decorate them. These two were SO into it!
They were also very into EATING all of the candy....!
Once I told Cal he could eat all of the candy that was on his house, he loaded it down!
I looked over at Andy as he put the community spoon into his mouth.... whoops.
He had great concentration while icing his tree.
After we were done decorating, there was a special appearance from the big guy in red! Cal was pumped to go see him. There was zero hesitation to go sit on his lap.
After the picture, he hopped down and Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas....and Cal said he really had no idea! I've been asking him what he wants and he comes up with some things... but not one big thing to ask Santa for. Santa told him that was okay that he didn't know, and as soon as he did know, he needed to sit down with mommy and send Santa a letter letting him know. We will be working on that soon, I believe!
Then there's Andy.... he was FASCINATED by Santa-- wouldn't take his eyes off of him.... but wouldn't sit on his lap. I had to sit on the floor and have him sit on my lap. Even then, he refused to smile.
He was still very intrigued with Santa and in between kids sitting on his lap, Andy ran up to him and asked to touch his beard.... and then he did. Sweet Santa....
Next thing I knew, Andy was taking Santa's bells and singing jingle bells. Go figure....
We got a picture like this next one last year too....Andy looking at me with Santa in the background... about as close as he would get!
Look how young they were last year!
Andy wanted to eat his house there, apparently...
Holy cow, Cal has grown SO much in a year....
Love this sweetness....
The boys stood next to each other and Santa snuck up behind for a picture...LOVE their faces in this one!
'Tis the season!!!!
Friday, December 5, 2014
#carriedaway: week 45
Week 45:
Day 329: I order one phone case a year and adore it all year long.
Day 330: I try really hard not to play favorites. But they are totally my favorites.
Day 331: love my turkeys!
Day 332: lots of tackling for these two at the turkey bowl today
Day 333: oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...
Day 334: if this tree is still standing come Christmas, it'll be a miraculous thing.
Day 335: how nug feels about Monday.
