WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND.

Yesterday we went for a walk. I wish I could say it looked like this outside...

But it didn't. It was a balmy thirty four degrees out or something like that, and when you live in Minnesota, that's pretty nice weather for the end of December. Needless to say, the snow that covered our ground just a few short weeks ago no longer exists. I'm not complaining, because I know it could be a heck of a lot colder, and then I wouldn't dare go for a walk in December.

I miss playing outside. Going for walks. Including our deck and yard in our play rotation for the day. We had some errands to run in the morning, and decided we must get out and enjoy the day in the afternoon. So I bundled up the kids and loaded them in the double stroller and we were off...to the park. Where else would we go?!

It was refreshing. And renewing. I really wish we didn't have another three months of winter to go yet.

We stayed just long enough to complete a circuit around the park, twice. And enjoy a delicious woodchip milkshake that cost me twenty five dollars at Nugget's drive up window. Girl knows how to turn a profit. Then noses and cheeks were rosy, so we headed for home.

It was a grand afternoon, and all the more special because we never make it to the park in the winter. We're still holding out hope that we'll get some snow eventually. Nugget's been asking to make a snowman for quite some time. She's a patient waiter. At least when it comes to snow.

In the meantime, we busted our indoor boredom today by having a spa day with my winnings from Kelle Hampton's giveaway. (I think i've mentioned a time or two how much I adore her.) Check out this awesome loot I scored from Heal My Sole.

All natural products made with essential oils--right up my alley. I'm in love with it all. I can't get enough of the coconut lemongrass lip balm, and the almond lotion smells divine. I also won a soy candle with a personalized label... could it be any cuter? It smells like sun washed linen, which should surely hold me over til spring.

What are you doing to beat the winter blues?

MAGIC UNFOLDED.

 I went to bed on Christmas Eve eager for the magic that was to unfold in the morning, and that it did.

The kids woke at 7am, and Nugget immediately asked if Santa had come. We moseyed downstairs and find out that he indeed made a stop at our house! Nugget scoped out his cookie crumbs and letter before turning her attention to the tree. The kids wasted no time digging into their gifts.

 Opening 'Goldilicious', a book she's had her eye on!

 Really, he would have been happy with the paper and a bow :)

Pure adoration. Her current love--all things mermaid.

 Brother was getting a little hungry for breakfast, so we tried to hold him over with cheerios. That didn't last long, so he had a take a break from present opening and eat. Such a boy.

The kids opened a joint present from Santa, and Nugget was in love. Brother, well, he liked the paper.

 Little People Nativity Scene

Nugget's wish for the pink princess cd player was granted. Lucky little girl.

Nugget got to give her very own gifts this year. She gave Daddy new gloves. This one melts my heart, as one day she and Nick were putting air in the car tires, and she noticed a whole in his glove. She insisted he needed new ones for Christmas. Bless her sweet little heart. She picked out some fun Santa pjs for Mommy, and a Jack-in-the-Box for Brother. In return, Brother gave her a fun new board game called The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel. Super cute.

 

I gave Nick some attachments for our KitchenAid mixer and a copy of the original St. Wence cookbook. Lets be honest, Nick is the real cook in our family. He spoiled me with some fun new PINK sweatsuits, which lets be honest again, is the staple of my stay-at-home-mama wardrobe.

Daddy made us a delicious Eggs Benedict for breakfast. We were all so full and decided a rest was a good idea, so while Brother napped, the three of us snuggled up and watched Charlie Brown Christmas.

Upon waking, we had a few more gifts to open...

We played the rest of the morning away before it was time to head out to my Grandparents house with my dad's side of the family. They are a hoot and we always have so much fun.

 Props to the 'game committee' who created a fun family and holiday trivia game.

We asked my neice to snap a quick picture of us before it was time to head home.

And that's a wrap on the Slavik Family Christmas of 2011. Cheers to Brother's first Christmas!

CHRISTMAS EVE.

I woke up yesterday super tired and a little cranky. I walked into the living room and was cursing the mess under my breath. The last thing I wanted to do after a crazy busy Christmas weekend was clean my house. I do not do well with chaos, mess, or disorganization. I knew I'd feel better after a hot cup of tea and a shower to kick my butt into gear. I got myself moving and it wasn't actually that bad. Brother took a super long morning nap, and the plus side to all that holiday crap bliss spread across my house? Nugget played for hours. By herself. And totally happy. Cleaning went surprisingly quick...funny how fast you can go when you don't have a baby and a preschooler following your every move and tugging on your leg. And you know what else? After lunch I got to take a nap. I never nap. Only when I am pregnant and sicker than a dog do I let myself slow down and rest. (And no, I am not preggers.) I hate to waste a single second, so when my kids are sleeping, its usually go time for me.

Any who, I'm still feeling totally over Christmas, ready to de-holiday my house and get some space back. Even though our Christmas was crazy busy with too many places to go, my heart is still happy with the memories we made and the time spent with family.

We started out Christmas Eve with brunch at my Mom's. A low key get together with my mom, sister and her family. We were late, go figure, but I stood firm in my ground that I was going to give Brother at least one decent nap that day. It just so happened that he slept until 11. You can't please everybody, so might as well please yourself, right?

Of course Nugget was in heaven to play with her cousins all day. And this time she actually stopped to eat a meal. Impressive.

All the grandkids on my side of the family, minus one who lives in California.

Christmas is super fun when you have a baby experiencing it for the first time. And he probably would have been just as happy if he received a roll of wrapping paper, but hey, tractors and little people trains are cool too.

Nugget got some awesome stuff too, her favorite being a suitcase and a princess book.

We ate, played, and lazied the afternoon away until it was time to head to my Grandma's house.

Here we ate dinner, played a little more, and opened matching jammies from Great Grandma Mary.

But shortly after is where Christmas Eve started to fall apart a bit for me, and I had to wrestle with the emotions of pleasing family and doing what is best for my family. It was late, past Brother's bedtime, Nugget was running on high all day and was due to crash (aka melt down) any second, and we still had a 45 minute drive home. Not to mention setting out cookies and milk for Santa, sprinkling our reindeer food, and reading The Night Before Christmas all snuggled together in bed.

A tree by my Grandma's that we look forward to seeing every year. Isn't it awesome?

Needless to say, I didn't accomplish all that I had hoped too. The kids fell asleep in the car on the way home, and Nick and I carried them up to their beds without them making hardly a peep. We met each other in the hallway after they were tucked in, and I just melted into his arms and cried. As much as I love continuing the traditions from my own childhood, it came at the price of not making new ones with my own family, and it was just too much. I hate to disappoint anyone, but I know that next year somethings gotta give.

On a happier note, Santa helped himself to some cookies, and was happy to sprinkle the reindeer food himself during his stop at our home.

Despite my sadness about traditions missed, I couldn't help but smile when I looked back at pics from the day...

I still had lots to be thankful for, and as I slid into bed that night, I smiled again, knowing the real magic would unfold in the morning.

YOU'VE GOT MAIL.

I love the Christmas season, and it could be from this simple reason alone.

Our mailbox is dripping with goodness from letters, cards, photos and boxes from Fed Ex. We can't wait to see our mailman deliver our goodies each day and rush out there to see what surprises are awaiting us. Imagine Nugget's smile today when she found this...

 address obviously edited for security purposes :)

A REAL letter from Santa Claus himself! Really, check it out. Post marked from the North Pole and all. Nugget is tickled pink and has asked us to read it several times already. I practically had to pry it out of her hands to take a picture of it. What a lucky little girl.

We're pretty set for Christmas around here. Gifts are bought and made, presents are wrapped, cookies are baked (and mostly eaten), ornaments are hung, pulled off by Brother and the cat, and hung again. And we're squeezing in a few last holiday crafts.

Nugget had her little friend Abby over yesterday, while her Mommy went to an appointment. They had lots of fun playing, and making some reindeer food.

Last night after dinner, we dressed the kids in their jammies, loaded up in the car, and set out to go admire all the Christmas lights around our town.

Of course we wore our super special 3D glasses...

which make the lights look like this...

We stopped at 'Old McDonald's' and got Egg Nog milkshakes, which are both delicious and disgusting. But definitely festive, so how could we resist?

Brother has been up to some mischief, and was busted opening a present under the tree today. Luckily we swooped in just in time and spared a surprise for Nugget. Looks like I'm not done with my wrapping after all.

We are off to Grandma's in the morning, then Great Grandma's later in the day. Can't wait!

Merry Christmas to you and yours! May your day be blessed, your hearts happy, and your presents many!