10 Days Until Christmas

It's 10 days until Christmas! 

How is it already December 15th?!?

This month just flies by.  The first 15 days have been full of festive fun.  I like to use the word festive any chance I get. 

The boys are merry/jolly/cheerful or let's just say happy that Christmas is so close.  Ben has let us know several times today that it's only 10 days away.  I think he's just a little excited, ha!  Will is loving Christmas, too.  Will loves Christmas music as much as I do.  He likes to play a game where we hum Christmas songs to each other and then we guess what the other one is humming. 

Here's a recap of the beginning of December.

For the first time ever we have had a magical elf visit our home.  His name is Bill.  Will selected the name because it's a combination of Ben + Will.  Ben agreed on the name (with a little persuasion) so now Bill has been with us for almost two weeks.  He was a little late showing up to the house, but he left the boys note explaining that Siri gave him the wrong directions to our house (family joke).  

Our small town's Christmas parade was earlier this month.

Ben wrote his first letter to Santa.  He really wants a Nintendo 3ds and games.

Christmas cards are arriving in the mail.

Christmas cards are being sent in the mail.

I couldn't decide which card I liked better so I ordered a card from Minted (on the left) and one from Shutterfly (on the right).

We celebrated Papaw Jerry's 75th birthday!

Silly photos in the photo booth at the junior high Christmas dance that I help chaperone.  The boys were funny with all the different props.  On Instagram, I wrote "Ben is both naughty and nice and Will is neither according to their signs."

Look out for the elf in the mistletoe zone!

Reindeer crossing...better watch out!

Love, Love, Love these two fun boys!

Christmas shopping on 

12-13-14

Get it!  12-13-14 is a really cool date.

This is what happens when you are married to a math teacher.  You learn to get excited about dates and numbers and patterns.  Too bad I didn't know Mark when I was in college.  I could have used some help in the math department back then.  Oh well, at least our boys are good at math like him. 

Joy

This little corner in my kitchen brings me much joy during this time of year.  It's full of sentimental Christmas decorations.

One last random thing.  These Trader Joe's Peppermint Pretzel Slims are so good!

This bag didn't last 24 hours.  Mark and I aren't allowed near them anymore.  They are addictive!

Fall Festival 2014

Almost a month ago we had our school's fall festival.  This time of year, I never get things blogged about in a timely manner.  I figured I should go ahead and share these photos even if they are a month old.  It was a fun night full of games and candy. 

Halloween 2014

Happy Halloween!

Will dressed up as Ironman 3 Iron Patriot and Ben wore a Superman costume. 

We followed tradition like every year and we went to the trick-or-treating event at our small town's downtown square.  It's called "Halloween on the Square".  The kids walk around and all of the local businesses and community organizations give out candy.  It's fun and safe.

Papaw Jerry and Mamaw Carol walked along with us as the boys got candy.

Every year we get a family photo for Halloween.  Other than Christmas, this is my favorite holiday.

Our niece Maggie and her best friend Abby dressed up like Wayne and Garth.  I thought it was hilarious!  Abby had on a black t-shirt like Wayne, but this was the coldest Halloween we've had in 10 years so she had on a hoodie over it to stay warm.  Maggie's flannel and glasses looked just like Garth.  So awesome!

Party on Wayne!

Party on Garth!

Ben's ready to save the world!

It looks like Will is taking the trick-or-treating very seriously.

One more of Will.

One more of Ben and his cute cape.

I took these photos at home before we went to Halloween on the Square.

This is a photo before school.  The boys wore their costumes to school on Friday.

Ben had two different costumes to pick from.  We bought them several costumes on sale last year at Target.  He chose Green Lantern for school since green is his favorite color.  Will stayed with Ironman 3 all day.

InstaDecember

InstaDecember 2013

Like so many people I'm obsessed with Christmas cards and I love going to the mailbox during the month of December.  "Happy Mail" as many call it.  I love all of the photo cards.  Each year it amazes me to see how families grow and change. I also love the sweet handwritten notes inside the traditional cards we receive.

Will has an opportunity to buy gifts for our family at the Santa Store at school.  He picked out this beautiful ring. It's priceless to me.  He earned the money to buy the gifts by having good behavior at school.  He told me it cost a whole $1!  He bought his dad some erasers. 

I'm a follower, and I bought the IKEA mug I've seen all over Instagram and the blogosphere. 

Letter to Santa...be still my heart.  LOVE!

Our small town's football team made it deep into the Texas High School Football playoffs.  Y'all know all about Friday Night Lights so this was huge! It was really fun to support the team and travel to the games. The last game (State Semi-Final) was played north of Ft. Worth so we stopped by the Stockyards to eat before the football game.  We planned to eat at Joe T Garcia's, but the line was just too long.  We went a few blocks down to Cooper's Pit BBQ.  It's like the one in Llano, Texas.  We all enjoyed it!  Ben is a picky eater, but the boy can eat some Texas BBQ.  

It was FREEZING at the game!  We stayed bundled up and tried to stay warm.

While going through Christmas decorations, I found this latch hook Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer that my grandma made me.  What good memories!  Sentimental for sure. 

We had "Ugly Christmas Sweater" day at school.  I didn't have an ugly sweater, but my mother-in-law loaned me an old Christmas vest that she had.  My teacher BFF borrowed an old vest from her grandma.  I intentionally wore the flannel shirt under it to clash as much as possible.  There's definitely a lot going on with my outfit, ha! Tis the season to be tacky!

To balance out the tacky in the photo above, here is a photo of something lovely.  Angela sent me the sweetest package and surprised me with this pretty necklace.  I wore it the first chance I got.  

I don't get to see my cousin, Laine, as often as I'd like, but we did manage to meet up this week.  Our kids had such a fun time playing.  Her kids are adorable! 

I posted this on IG, but somehow it didn't save to my phone in a square.  I'm sharing it anyway.  It's been a struggle to get Will and Ben ready for school this week.  They want to lay on the couch all snuggled up and watch cartoons.  Can you blame them?  

This photo is from this morning!  The boys are ready for Christmas parties at school. They are so excited that Christmas break starts today!

(Linking up to Life Rearranged)

Halloween 2013

Halloween 2013

On Halloween  during the day the boys wore their costumes to school.  In the evening, we go to Halloween on the Square.  It's one the neatest things our small town host.  The Chamber of Commerce organizes it and all of the local businesses, churches, and organizations hand out candy.  It's safe and fun.  They have a costume contest, games and a bounce house/slide.  Our church gives away candy each year.  

Will was the Blue Power Ranger.  Ben was Buzz Lightyear.  Clearly they took their characters very seriously!  Here's an action shot.

I think this might be my very favorite.  Look at Ben!!!

This one is pretty cute, too!

Before they filled their bags with candy at Halloween on the Square.

Woo hoo!