Gingerbread House

Today we made Mac's gingerbread house.  He was so excited!  We bought our gingerbread house kit from Target.  Mac thoroughly enjoyed himself.  Unfortunately, there wasn't enough icing to make all the candies stick so I busted out the Halloween icing.  That's right.  Bright orange on our Christmas gingerbread house.

Could not wait for his daddy to get home so we could start this

Check out Nora's face.

That's the engineer focus. 

Her big ole blue eyes make me happy

Nora: "forget you guys with the gingerbread house, I got the box!"

Busting out the Halloween icing...

Such focus

He was having a good time

And that is his fake cheesy smile

Mac's gingerbread house in all its' glory....

Getting Ready....

Whew.  What a day.  Mac and Nora switched roles (aka Mac was good and Nora was the devil).  If I got things accomplished today (which I did), I had to do it at ninja speed.  I find that if I leave a to-do list on the counter, Joe and I both do it and we both mark off what we have completed.  It helps us get things done more quickly.  All we have left to do is clean the floors and straighten small stuff.  Not so bad!  However, that is not including the Christmas things that we need to do tomorrow!

Here is the rest of my list:
-put the turkey on
-cook the dressing
-don our Christmas pajamas
-hang out with Emily and Nick (they are coming over for Christmas Eve fun)
-stuff the stockings
-make Santa cookies
-prep Christmas morning breakfast
-prep Christmas day soup (homemade chicken and noodle here we come)
-put out Santa's presents
-put streamers on Mac's door

Whew.  Once I typed it out, that now seems like a lot.  I can get done though!

Here is my turkey that I prepped today.....

Funday Monday

I managed to get things done with the kids around....That is impressive.  Granted, I still have a GIANT to-do list that needs to be done before our friends come over on Christmas Eve and before Christmas and before my parents get here on Friday!  I find that if I write down my list and leave it on the kitchen counter, it motivates me (and Joe).  We mark things off as well get them down so that the other person doesn't go over what has already been done.  It will all get done though!

Here comes my ADD.....

I have flowers around and I love them.  Flowers make me happy.  I particularly love the cheap grocery store flowers.  Check out the pretty ones on my table....

When Joe got home, we ran to Target to get last minute things....I honestly think we went for a food present for some friends of ours and came out with way much more....I think that is what happens when one goes to Target.  Nora used the time wisely, chewing on her cow.

Walls Updated

So in an earlier blog post, I showed yall the items we picked up from Alaska Picker.  Well, we ordered pictures too and framed them!  Things are starting to find their home around our house.....I still need to obtain a 11 X 14 frame though!  Excuse the weird lighting.....

Friday-Monday

Last Friday morning, I had a grading day at work so I wore what I wanted.  AKA sweatpants.  However, look at how cute Nora is in her tutu!

This is my new classroom fish.  He has been alive for over a month!  WHOOO HOO!  His name is Shark.

This is how Shark goes home with me so he doesn't die in my classroom during the break. 

This is what happens when your adorable daughter explodes poop all over your favorite nursery sheets.  Oxyclean got the poop stain out!

On Saturday, we went to my favorite antique store so I could have some fun!

That is a handheld flashlight from a train railcar.  Yes.  It's cool.  It is currently on the kitchen window sill. 

That is a cast iron moose head with a hook.  I am a little obsessed with it. 

This is an old school ledger board thing.  It is going on my new gallery wall with an 8 X 10 family picture on it. 

Check out our pretty Christmas tree. Every year I LOVE that giant bow on the top of the tree.  I might be a little obsessed with bows. 

This is our Christmas card tree.  I kind of liked doing this rather than just taping everything to our kitchen cabinets.  Next year when I do it I am going to put a different bow up.  I kind of ran out of space and we are STILL getting Christmas cards in the mail.....

We had the Lindeens over for dinner last night and Violet LOVES Nora.  LOVES.  

I got some Nora snuggles this morning. 

Then she noticed the phone was taking pictures of her.  That's her blue steel face. 

That's also her blue steel face. 

I needed to fold her laundry so I braced her up and she had a good time. 

She loves playing with Mac's old Fisher Price work bench.  

And we took a 30 minute snooze fest this morning.  Right now she is (fingers crossed) taking her longer nap in her crib.  When I first put the kids down for a nap and came downstairs, I could hear Nora up there giggling.  It has been silent now for a little bit so I am going to assume they are sleeping. Assume. 

This is how Heyward sleeps.  He has no shame. 

"Mommy, take a picture of us."

They are in love with each other.  It makes me smile. 

Things I Am Obsessed With

1.  Clarisonic Mia 2: Use that thing every single day!  Alaska makes my skin so dry and this joker makes my skin awesome.

Clarisonic Mia 2

2. Philosophy Living Grace perfume: Joe bought this last year for me for Christmas and I adore the smell.  It is light and wonderful.  

3.  Slippers: I love the coziness of a good pair of slippers.  I tend to go through slippers a lot and my current pair is red from Victoria's Secret

4.  Robe: I think a good housecoat/robe is incredibly comforting.  They are soft.  Cozy.  Warm. And oh so comfortable.  Apparently, red is my color because that is the color of my robe!

5.  Cupcakes: Seriously this should not be a surprise to you.  Not box cupcakes, but the real ones.  Gourmet ones.  Delicious ones.  The whipped frosting on those things are just amazingly good.

6.  Erin Condren Lesson Planner: This is a little expensive but believe me it was worth every single penny.  It keeps all of my lessons organized, my meetings organized, and I also use it to put in our family appointments too!  I cannot wait to order one for next school year because they have this geometric one that I think is beautiful!  I would set it up to start in probably August!  Oh, and it comes with stickers!!!!!!!!!

Dream Lesson Planner for next year

7.  Camelbak water bottles: I don't really know why I love these but I do.  I guess it probably has to do with the fact that I can drink water while still moving around at the gym and I don't spill on myself!

8.  Salt n Peppa Commercial: PUSH IT REAL GOOD!!!!!!!

9.  Etsy: There are so many cute shops available on Etsy and I love the fact that I am shopping small business when I order through it.  I also know some incredibly talented ladies who have their own Etsy Store.  They make everything from nursery supplies to tutu dresses to bibs to headbands!  

Addie Love Boutique

Lea Bouton Originals

Glitzy Garbage

10. Christmas: It's a beautiful time of the year.  People are nicer to each other.  There are beautiful decorations everywhere.  Grownups put colored lights on their houses.  I cannot wait to see my kids on Christmas morning.  That might be what I am most excited about.  I cannot wait to take pictures of my kids on Christmas morning.  Nora is going to go nuts with the wrapping paper!

11.  Purses:  According to my husband, I am obsessed with purses.  This is true.  Hello, my name is Jami and I am addicted to purses.  

13.  Prep: I am in love with the looks from J. Crew and Kate Spade.  As I am getting older (dirty 30 here I come!), I am discovering that I like to wear things that are more classic.  Button-ups. Cardigans. Blazers.  Riding boots.  You know, classic.  

14.  Shiny shiny collar necklaces:  I wear them almost every single day.  I honestly need a new jewelry armoire.  I need a BIG one.  I am thinking that I might need a lingerie armoire and just store my jewelry in it.  So many necklaces and yet I don't have enough....

15.  Monograms: This must be the Southern girl coming out of me.  Slap a monogram on something and it makes it five bazillion times better.