Ho Ho Ho...Merry Christmas!

Christmas was sort of "tough" this year. Of course it was a joyous occasion spent surrounded by family and friends, but it just felt like more of a stepping stone to the arrival of our very own little bundle of joy. Sorry, Baby Jesus! We celebrated and honored your birthday just not with the same enthusiasm as in the past. I promise to make up for it next year!I shouldn't paint the picture that everyone in the family wasn't 100% focused on the holiday. Jaxon and Baylor were certainly feeling every bit of the holiday spirit that is typical for the magical season. They put a lot of thought into the decoration of their Christmas tree. The ornament placement was carefully selected, and they still do not subscribe to the "less is more" theory. No, the tackier the better! Although, I must admit. Their little tree has definitely grown on me, and I no longer view it as tacky. It's simply another charming addition to our home's holiday decor.

I wish I could say that the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, but we definitely learned our lesson on that one! Now, we hang the stockings from the garland minus the heavy, head-bashing stocking holders and settle for little plastic stockings on the mantel. It's a nice, safe compromise!

Oh, and it wouldn't be Christmas without Grandma's snow globe collection. Yet another example of holiday decor that grows on you!
What was impressive and also incredibly touching this year was the thoughtfulness and generosity of the gifts we received from our family and friends. To say we are spoiled just doesn't even begin to accurately paint the picture. I guess spoiled equals LOVED, and the feelings are certainly mutual regardless of the gifts being showered upon us. BUT, for the record, we LOVE and appreciate everything we received!!!
As if any more needed or deserved, Santa did make a little pit stop by our house. Jaxon and Baylor were very good boys in 2011 (Well, for the most part.) and good behavior doesn't overlooked by Santa and his elves.
The only downside is that Santa focused VERY heavily on Lego items this year, the boys' latest obsession. What was Santa thinking?! Doesn't he know that there's a baby due?! Now, our house is littered with thousands of tiny little choking hazards. Way to go, Santa! Just kidding, big guy! Please don't forget me in 2012!!!!

Over the River & Thru the Woods to Grandfather's Camp We Go

Howdy, partner! School is out for Christmas Break, and the temperatures are finally dipping below 70 degrees. What does that mean? Well...that it's time for a cold weather camping experience with Grandfather and Grandma of course! Before you start laughing uncontrollably, let me state for the record that the nighttime temperatures did in fact plummet into the low 30's during the boys' campout. So technically, it was cold weather camping. Mother Nature didn't let us down.Neither did Grandfather! As always, he took the planning and execution of his Cub Scout resident camp experience to a whole new level. There was a Western theme to this year's event, and the boys got to cut loose with a bit of gambling and some time at the (juice) bar!

The boys could also treat themselves to a little pampering at the barber shop with a shave or makeshift bath! Pretty clever!Unfortunately, there are no pictures to share of the boys' favorite craft project...the construction of marshmallow shooters! I can only imagine that the scene was such utter chaos that Grandfather and Grandma were too distracted (or scared) to document it! Regardless, it was reported that Cowboy Baylor ran himself ragged every single day and often called it a night before big brother Cowboy Jaxon. Don't feel too sorry for my little cowboys though. They weren't roughing it like their buddies in the cold. Nope, they were with their head honcho Grandfather and got to "rough it" in a heated cabin with beds! It's good to know the guy in charge!
I'm not sure whether Jaxon and Baylor used their connections in the kitchen as well. You see, Uncle Travis volunteered to cook for the Scouts. Surely, that meant an extra dessert or slice of pizza for his Cowboy nephews.Over the 4-day campout, the boys were able to pack in an astounding number of crafts and activities. It's no wonder that they were exhausted at the end of each day. I was worn out based on the report alone! Both Jaxon and Baylor took home medals (Gold for Jax & Bronze for Baylor) in their sporting events. That's in addition to all the belt loop credits and craft projects! However, what really counts are the countless memories that were created, and we all have Grandfather and Grandma to thank for that! I said it once & I'll say it again...It's good to know the ones in charge!

Yellow

Allow me to introduce our very own Martial Arts Master! Jaxon was invited to test for his yellow belt in Karate this month and passed with flying colors.

Given Jaxon's highly competitive nature, I suspected he might feel some pre-test nerves, but I couldn't have been more wrong. He was relaxed and carefree as he warmed up in the studio. Always the supportive brother, Baylor was right by Jaxon's side during the warmup stretches, but then sat with me on a nearby bench for the actual test.

As Jaxon's instructor, Master J, started the testing exercises, Baylor turned to me with a confused look on his face and asked, "Is Jax going to fight?" I smiled and explained that Master J was only going to "play fight" with Jaxon so we could see all the great moves that Jaxon has learned. Baylor seemed relieved. I guess he was a tad worried about his big brother. I can't say I blame him. Standing next to Master J, Jaxon looked a bit mismatched!

Jaxon proudly demonstrated his blocking, kicking, and punching skills and then easily completed the board break which was his final hurdle. Jaxon beamed as Master J awarded him the new yellow belt, and that broken board is a trophy that accompanies Jaxon EVERYWHERE...including Grandfather & Grandma's house in Georgia. Congratulations on this first step, Jaxon! I can't wait to see what's next!

Gimme a Roar

Sometimes things just don't go according to plan...which can be a good or bad thing depending on the circumstances. Take today for example. I had grand plans to spend the entire day baking tasty sugary Holiday treats that we could share with friends and co-workers, and from what I could tell, Anh's plans consisted of playing the role of "taste tester" and watching football on TV. So, I knew something was up when Anh jumped up from the couch, took off for the bedroom, and minutes later came bounding into the kitchen completely showered, dressed, and with his socks and shoes in hand.

As Anh tied his shoes he explained, "G texted me and offered me his tickets to the game. Can you get the boys ready while I meet him to pick up the tickets?" I paused as my brain processed the new game plan for the day and then promised to have the boys ready by the time Anh returned. Anh raced out the door as I rushed to get the boys showered, dressed, and pumped up for the game. As soon as I had the boys decked out in all their gear and their team footballs in hand, I received a text from Anh with the bad news...G only handed over 2 tickets not the 4 that he's offered us in the past. Uh oh! Anh said he accepted the tickets gratefully, but that he wasn't planning to go anymore because he couldn't leave one of the boys behind.

I could sense Anh's disappointment, and my heart sort of sank as I thought about telling Jaxon & Baylor who were at that very moment bouncing off the walls with excitement to be heading to the stadium with dad for another game that there had been a change in plans...or should I say ANOTHER change in plans. Then, I had an idea. I asked the boys, "What if only one of you went to the game with Daddy and the other went with Mommy to Toys 'R Us?" Baylor said, "No." with a sad face. Jaxon, however, asked me, "Is the one that goes to Toys 'R Us going to get something?" Gee...always thinking that Jaxon! I nodded and said, "I guess we could look and see if there is anything special." Jaxon immediately blurted out, "Baylor can go to the game with Daddy!" Great! Problem solved. Wrong. Baylor looked at me and said, "I want to go with Jax." Great! Now, nobody wanted to go with Anh! That was not the solution I was aiming for!

Needless to say, this was not how I saw my day going! I had planned to spend my day relaxing & baking, but I was now headed to Toys 'R Us during the peak of Christmas shopping season. Yeah...that was definitely not the stress free day I had envisioned, and something told me that while Anh would go alone to the game, he would rather share the experience with somebody...anybody...especially one of his boys. Luckily, Baylor was easily convinced to accompany his dad to the game. I simply had to remind him of all the fun we had during their first Jags game earlier in the season. Okay, the problem truly was solved at that point. Anh arrived and his frown was immediately turned upside down when I explained the latest plan.

If only the story ended there! As soon as Jaxon and I entered Toys 'R Us, I received another text from Anh explaining that they had paid to park and made their way to the stadium's entrance gate where he discovered that G had given him 2 tickets to LAST WEEK'S GAME! What?!?! Not knowing what else to do, Anh spent the $30 he had left on 2 scalper tickets in the nosebleed section. At least Baylor who was by this point chanting, "Go Jag-u-wars!" wouldn't be disappointed. He wouldn't care that he wasn't sitting in the private club section on the 50-yard line 5 rows from the field. Nope, all he cared about was going to the game.

Then as fate would have it, Anh crossed paths with another friend/colleague after entering the stadium. D was also at the game with 1 of his 2 sons and upon hearing Anh's story about the ticket confusion, laughed and offered up his two extra seats in the club section. Obviously, Anh accepted and imagine his shock when he discovered they were sitting in the FRONT ROW on the 50-yard line! Obviously, this outing was meant to be! One way or another fate was granting Anh and Baylor this experience, and this is why despite being type-A planners at heart, we try our best to just go with the flow...because you just never know what life has in store for you on any given Sunday!

Surprise "Sprinkle"

It wasn't a "Shower" because I specifically responded, "No, but thank you." when my friends offered to throw me a baby shower. However, I guess we're friends for a reason...say because we're stubborn and once we've made up our minds on a matter, there's no deviating from the plan. I don't know the mastermind was exactly in the plot against me, but I'm quite certain that my friends Whitney and Geraldine deserve the majority of the credit and that with very little effort they recruited my own sister, aka Aunt Kelly, as well!
The goal was to surprise me, but I won't lie. I don't think any of my friends or my sister have a future as hardcore criminals. They aren't particularly slick or shady! Knowing that I'd prefer a small, intimate gathering as opposed to a lot of fanfare, the girls hosted what I'll refer to as a fabulous "Sprinkle." The tea party theme was adorable, and the Tea Bar featured a delightful assortment of flavored teas.
It would be impossible to name a favorite, but I did my best to sample each and every variety. It's a good thing that Kiddo #3 has a few weeks to detox from all the caffeine.
And, it wouldn't be a tea party without tasty treats! Whitney put her hubby Chef Bob to work for the party, and my oh my! He really outdid himself with the spread!
The tablescape was whimsical and picture-perfect! It was almost to pretty to eat...ALMOST!
One simply couldn't resist the shots of Vichyssoise, prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe, tea sandwiches, lobster and potato petit fours, and freshly baked scones and biscotti.Needless to say, the Ladies were IMPRESSED, and I overheard more than one of friends utter something along the line of, "I wish my husband would cook something...anything...This is AMAZING!" I couldn't have said it any better myself. WOW!
Of course, then there were the desserts...
Delicious doesn't even come close to being a suitable adjective.
Then, as if the afternoon wasn't grand enough, the Ladies insisted I tackle the mountain of presents that had accumulated on the coffee table. When asked about a baby shower, I insisted that it wasn't necessary because we have everything we could possibly need for the baby. Apparently, the Ladies did not share my opinion!
So, Kiddo #3, I hope one day when you're thinking, "How come I only get hand-me-downs?" that you'll discover this blog entry and know that all your "Aunties" were looking out for you and trying to prevent that thought from becoming reality. Presents are always appreciated, but what's truly touching is knowing that I have friends and family who go above and beyond (despite my protests) to make acknowledge and celebrate the special moments in my life. The gift that means the most is the gift of their time. I've said it before and I'll say it again...I'm a VERY lucky girl!