Twas the season!

Between Scott and I's families we celebrate SIX birthday's in the month of December. Add that to the Christmas festivities and you have a whole lot going on! So here comes the overflow of pictures:)

Pappi's birthday

Ra Ra's birthday

Burnett Christmas in Charleston, MS

Church with Momu in Oxford, MS

Santa came to my work!

Momu's birthday

We love Zaza's gelato!

Christmas with mimi and pappi!

Garvin Gardens

Schuchard Christmas

who knew napkin rings could become bracelets!

Christmas day brunch...YUM.

Love this one...

We had such a fun Christmas...it is way more fun with kids:) Now, on to Scott's 30th birthday and Eleanor's 2nd birthday in the next two weeks!!

Santa Baby

Eleanor has really been getting into the Santa thing this year:) She can't say "Santa" yet, but everytime she sees him, whether it be a blow up in a front yard, and ornament, or on TV, she points and exclaims "as-a!" It's sooo cute! So last year, her picture with Santa was in Branson at the Bass Pro Shop. And it was free. Perfect. I don't know why we didn't do that again this year. Stupid me. But we went to the mall this week. Cute picture, but $22 for two 5x7's??? absolutely ridiculous. And we paid it! Anyways, we thought the worst was going to happen. And it almost did. We plopped her on his lap, her face almost went into cry mode, until I showed her Santa's beard (just like dada's...she loves dada's beard:)). And all was saved. So it was a good experience this year thank goodness. And she also loved touching the "horsey's" (reindeer) that were set up by Santa. Hard to believe next year, Santa will have two kids on his lap...yikes!!

A few tears...

Just this week, I have started to get really sentimental about my sweet baby girl growing up. I know the basic principle of growing. And yes I am so glad Eleanor is growing. If she wasn't, I would be crying different tears. So really this is a lose lose situation if you ask me. Anyways, today it brought me to tears. I picked Eleanor up from MDO today and I was given a little "present" from Eleanor. Well I waited until I got home to open it (good idea). When I opened it, there was this...

And a few tears...or maybe more...were shed. Mainly over the one of her holding her lovey. Just a baby. I just don't want anything to change. But they do...somehow...

O Christmas Tree

I went out on a limb this year and went a little crazy with my tree but I like it and it makes me happy when I look at it. That's what's important right?:) I also changed up my tree skirt by just buying some burlap at Hobby Lobby. Scott and my mother in law helped me this year and they were a really big help. 

 I just love my willow tree nativity...He is the real reason we can be so joyful this time of year.

And this beautiful hanging will go on my front door when it decides to stop raining...once again my talented mother in law...she made this...just beautiful.

And I can't leave out the other help I had;)))...

So thankful

I thank the Lord daily for my sweet family. I love each and every member. And even though we all live so far apart, our hearts remain close, and that's all that really matters.

Left to right: Uncle Steve(my dad's younger brother), Kari(sis in law), Johnny(brother), their two kids Edward and Eva, us, my dad and mom, Sarah(sis), Keith(bro in law), and their three kids Greta, Sophie, and Brody.

And I'm so thankful for my little family of three...

And I am also so thankful for my extended family/in-laws...no pictures right now but there will be some after Christmas. We have been doing Thanksgiving with my side of the family and Christmas with Scott's family.

When we got home from Branson, we went and got our Christmas tree. I couldn't wait much longer:) I love the smell of a fresh tree in the living room! No camera pics but enjoy my old iphone pics and few of Scott's pics(you can tell his iphone is a whole lot newer than mine:)). This year has been so fun decorating the tree with Eleanor. She is so expressive right now and tries to put a word to everything she sees. And she is LOVING the Christmas decor and tree.

p.s. Grandparents, don't worry, we were right by E when she was standing on the ladder hah!

Hidden gems

Scott and I have been on the lookout for a dining table. Can I just admit here that I am a very picky shopper. I just don't like to settle. I want to be excited about my find! We really didn't want to buy new. We wanted old and with some character. After checking out every antique mall and store we could, we discovered that buying tables from antique malls are EXPENSIVE. I mean seriously??? We also checked out Craig's list...nope.

Finally, with the help of our wonderful family, we came across this old beauty at an estate sale on River Ridge last weekend. It came from a 5000 sq ft house in Harrisburg and is from the depression era (VERY old). Could it have more character? I don't think so! It came with SIX chairs, one of them an armed chair and two leaves (so it gets much bigger than in this picture, we just have to keep it this small for now). I definitely got the excited feeling when I saw it hidden under a bunch of old cups and plates in the dining room.:) And we got a GREAT deal on it!

 Isn't it pretty?! I just had to share. Now, what to do with it? Should we refinish it, do an antique white look or leave it alone?? Def recovering the chairs...

We also found this adorable little chair at the same estate sale. Eleanor fell in love and we couldn't say no. Wouldn't it be cute painted white??:)

Another hidden gem (to me anyways) has been this daily devotional Jesus Calling...just absolutely loving it...and totally manageable for mothers with kids. If you don't have it, go buy it now!

Lastly I leave you with the first and quite possible the last belly pic from this pregnancy. I feel so much bigger but doesn't my hubby do a good job of taking the picture at the right angle hah! he's learned by now;) 21 weeks and counting. And starting to get used to the idea of having a boy. This is going to be fun! I have already been looking at cute little outfits and nursery stuff online:)