Friday, April 17, 2015

Holiday Decorations 2014

Photo dump!  Here's is our Merry Christmas cheer (inside).  Jeff did a GREAT job with the outside again, but somehow...no pics.  Oops.

Thanks to Grandma Hartman and Aunt Judy my Snowbabies collection exploded this year!  YIPPEE!


Next year I'm doing a kid-friendly tree with NON breakable ornaments...the silver and gold is pretty, but not toddler friendly...


I got super sweet monogrammed stockings from Pottery Barn Kids (whoa, needed a coupon for that one).  Also notice we were "hot" in December (the door is open!).

My kitchen..........bleh...........can't wait to renovate....


Thursday, April 16, 2015

Dos Leches Christmas Party

Yep, as if the holiday season is not busy enough - we hosted a not-quite-impromptu-but-almost Christmas Party!  It was for all of the families of moms that I met at work in the Mother's Room.


 And that mean LOTS of young babies.  Our house wasn't baby proofed.  Or clean.  All the food and drink was prepurchased from Publix...#noshame #workingmomforthewin


We even managed to do a gift exchange.  You know, the one where you pick one from the pile and then can steal...it went "ok"...maybe not next year lol.  It seemed like a lot of additional pressure we didn't need!  But it was a fun activity.

It was a perfect time to meet the other babies you hear so much about over the curtain, and a great time for camaraderie and fellowship.

These women have become an important piece of my mama tribe and I'm super grateful for them!!!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Two Weeks in SD aka CHRISTMAS 2014 PART 1

I'm naming this year's Christmas adventure "Traveling to the Tundra" because is was D*MN cold this year in South Dakota.

We started our adventure one day early due to flight loads, which meant we were there two full weeks - one week with the Sioux Falls family (Jeff's) and just under a week with my family in Aberdeen.

Since it was a CRAZY two weeks, I'll give the quick(ish) version.  Stayed at the Mammengas in Harrisburg.  Visited Santa.  Made cookies.  Wrapped gifts.  Went to candlelight service followed by Christmas Eve with the Hartmans.  Celebrated Christmas Day at the Mammengas.

Visiting Santa





 



Lots of cousin time






Special Time with Grandma and Poppa



Christmas Eve


Christmas Morning!



Christmas Day with everyone



and then drove through a blizzard for 3 hours to get to Warner...

Two Weeks in SD aka CHRISTMAS 2014 PART 2

Visited the farm.  Helped set up big party for Ethan.  Celebrated at big party for Ethan.  Saw cows.  Saw new barn and building.  Froze butt off.

Christmas Day evening present opening

Snuggles

Family time!!



The party







Cows, the North farm, and special time with Grandpa



Four generations - visiting Grandma Little

Ethan LOVED to touch Grandma's face, but maybe not as much as she loved it (can you see it in her eyes!?)

Yep, a baby in a bar.  WING NIGHT AT THE DAGO.  Plus Grandpa and Ethan in matching hoodies, the baby's has a motorcycle on it.  Classic.

Happy Thanksgiving, and 10 Year Anniversary!!

We decided this year we were going to CELEBRATE our 10 year anniversary - which also happened to be Thanksgiving day.

So we packed up after work on Wednesday and headed to Panama City Beach, FL, to a condo right on the beach!!

OMGWELOVETHEBEACHSOMUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #SaltLife #BeachBum #lotsasunscreen

We immediately went to sit on the deck and enjoy the weather.

Side note - we always said we wanted to retire in the Black Hills.  Screw that.  I want a place at the beach!




Our condo had 2 bedrooms so Ethan could keep on his schedule while we still relaxed, sat on the deck, and watched TV.  It was perfect.  (We used VRBO again - love that!)


Watched shrimp boats and dolphins...

We spent the whole vacation basically catching up on sleep, looking at the amazing views, going to the pool, walking on the beach, and eating shrimp.

Although our condo had a kitchen, we didn't bother with cooking on Thanksgiving - we instead went to the Saltwater Grill which was both delicious and beautiful.  And forget turkey, we had salmon, shrimp, and sweet potatoes!  Even Ethan got in on the salmon - he tried a little bit and seemed to like it!

We took Ethan to the pool, which he loved by the way...

Nervous nellie momma had a bit of a meltdown when we would get water in his mouth and sputter, so that wasn't so cool, but I am slowly learning to deal with my anxiety better...slowly...we got in the pool again the next day and it went ok!...

Oh and by the way, Happy Anniversary to MEEEE!  Looky what Jeff surprised me with!  10 YEARS BABE!

We also discovered a new favorite place - Bayou on the Beach.  We ate there twice - they literally brought in fresh oysters and shrimp and wheeled it right by us en route to the kitchen!!

On our last day, we packed up and reluctantly said good-bye to the water.

But we just couldn't bear to leave and stopped for one last shrimp platter on our way out of town, looking out into the bay at Uncle Ernie's.

#FinalVacationSelfie