Goodbye, 2012!

Wow, what a great year we had... one of our biggest dreams came true early this year - we became parents!  So yeah, 2012 was a good one.  And gosh it was a fast year... Sam is no longer "Baby Sam" - he is a little boy who is into EVERYTHING!  And his 1st birthday is just days away.  Which means, the party planning I started oh, like nine months ago, is in full execution mode.

The cake was ordered yesterday.  We started the first phase of decorating over the weekend.  (Oh yes, there are phases.)  This involved bringing down Christmas decorations a little earlier than we usually do (I generally wait till New Year's Day).  But I must say... having a January birthday to look forward to really helps with the after-Christmas blues!  I was not at all bummed taking down our decorations, knowing Sam's "Winter ONE-derland" craziness would immediately follow. 

We are keeping our tree up for the party.  I stripped it this weekend, added blue lights, a white skirt (already had years ago), and will add some tinsel and possibly icicle ornaments.  We actually need more blue lights... it is pre-lit with white ones and they are literally outshining the blue ones right now!  I forgot how many strands it takes to do a tree.  We've been spoiled by our pre-lit Costco tree!  I've been hunting for clearance lights but so far everyone is out.  So Amazon will rescue me if I don't nail some down in the next few days.

Transforming the mantle as well... this is just the beginning stages - no judging.  I'm either going to wrap that arch thing or move it.  Haven't decided.  Soon to come... tulle and more lights.  There are really tall ladders involved.  And clearly, I'm crazy.

We are also doing the finishing touches on the playroom!  That room is basically his 1st birthday present from us.  Lord knows we don't need to buy him anything else.  We're already tripping over toys from Christmas.  The room has an Eric Carle theme - so lots of his prints and coordinating fabrics involved.  We've got to do a dreaded IKEA run this weekend to get the last bits and pieces.  I promise to get pics up soon - it is AWESOME if I do say so myself.  Such a fun room.  Glad to have the party as a target date to get that room finished... we tend to drag out projects forever and ever (especially with the little guy around)... so we have to invite people to our house in order to make ourselves get stuff done.

More on the party soon...

Until then, please have a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve!  And may 2013 bring you all much joy and many, many blessings!

Merry Christmas!

I'm sure this pic is microscopic since I'm posting from my phone...  anyway, using my hubby's family as guinea pigs for these "snow-covered strawberries" tonight. Planning to have them on the cake table for Sam's birthday party next month. I thought them up but have no idea if coconut and chocolate and strawberries mesh well. I should think so...

Happy holiday baking and cooking to you all! If you're like me, your kitchen is an absolute disaster area right now!  Good times...

Me and my buddy, Santa.

This cracks me up...

This is a phone pic of an actual print, so excuse the poor quality, but yeah... hilarious.  Why?  Because he's just so chill with Santa.  This one was taken at school, so we weren't even there.  That's probably why it's so good.  We're still trying to figure out a time to take him to see Santa, but geez our schedule is packed this season and we can't seem to all stay well. 

Hope you all are enjoying the Christmas season!  It is busy as always but it is certainly EXTRA fun this year with this little guy around.  He is pulling up on everything and cruising like a champ.  It won't be long till he steps out on his own... and then we're really in trouble!!!!!