Twas the Night Before Christmas...

and BP and BB were nestled all snug in their beds. Santa had come and all would be calm until the morning...

Elf on the Shelf

Aunt Nicole and Uncle Matt sent BP and BB "The Elf on the Shelf" a couple weeks ago. Thank you!! Thank you!!
It has been so much fun for them and for us too! The girls named their Elf, Ernie, and each night he travels home to "talk" to Santa at the North Pole. He has magical powers you see...and in the morning he is hiding in a new place in our house. They jump out of bed each morning and the first thing they do is search for the elf. The book that came with Ernie explains the whole thing. It is a great new tradition for us!

Tree 2009

We have bought our "Christmas bush" as my husband calls it at the same tree farm for the last three years. Now the tree farm is only 5 minutes from our house (b/c of our move in the last year). We always go with our friends Jess and Brian (top pic). The best part about this tree farm is they have this really cool drill thing that drills a hole into the center of the tree stump. Then we just bring the tree home and pop it on the special stand and voila!, no fighting over getting the tree in the stand. It is soo.. cool!

This year we picked out a tall and country looking tree. Both girls were really excited about our tree, but BP loved the whole decorating process and took the time to ask and then listen to the significance of each ornament. BB even helped put a few ornaments on also. Everyday BP tells us which ornaments are her favorite and why. It is really cute.

Belly Buddies / 32 Weeks

My friend Jess and I are due within a couple weeks of each other. Here is a shot of us. Thanks babes for cutting my head off, you hid my double chin! Haha!

Teacher Gifts

BP and I are going to make granola for her teacher gifts using this idea I found in Country Living magazine. The recipe sounds yummy and fool proof...so I think I can handle it. Plus it sounds like fun for a 4 year old and a 2 year old who love to help in the kitchen in anyway they can. If you are interested I will post the recipe below and by the way I found the exact same glass containers at Wal-Mart for a steal!

Golden Honey Granola

Preheat oven to 350

In a large bowl, toss together one 18 ounce container (6 cups) old-fashioned oats

8 ounces sliced almonds

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup chopped dried apricots

1 cup light-brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 11/2 sticks unsalted butter and then stir in 1/2 cup honey

Pour over oat mixture and toss to distribute

Spread the granola onto a parchment-lined baking pan and bake, stirring occasionally, until oats are toasted and sugar begins to carmelize, 35 to 40 minutes

Cool completely on pan and then transfer to an airtight container

Baby Bedding

Baby G's bedding came the other day. We have two lists going in our house, one to get ready for the Holidays, and one to prepare for Baby G. Now that her bedding is here, I can choose a paint color for her room and then the painters will be here next week (I hope). BP and BB have cozy, comfy handmade looking quilts in their rooms, so that is what I tried to find for Baby G. I fell in love with The Land of Nod's crazy quilt. Her room will be a soft buttery yellow with green and red accents. I will post pictures when it is finished.

Wreath Inspiration...

Holiday wreaths...so many styles...so many places to hang one...how to choose?

I love all of these!!!

all wreath pics from Country Living

Holiday Library

The girls and I gathered all our Christmas / Chanakah books yesterday and arranged them on the stairs. Some are old some are new. Many were gifts. There is one that was Daddy's when he was a little boy. Each night BP and BB choose a story from the stairs to read at bedtime. It is fun to start these traditions. We have almost lived in our house for a year, but this will be our first Christmas.

Smitten

Hopefully they are as smitten with their new baby sister as they were with their new little cousin. They both could not get enough of her. BP just wanted to hold her and BB kept kissing her and tickling her toes. Little cousin "L" is absolutely adorable and a very sturdy baby. She handled their abundance of love quite well.

30 Weeks

30 weeks and counting...

I have an appointment with the "baby doctor" (as BP and BB call him) tomorrow.

The one thing we consistently hear about this little baby girl is that she is VERY ACTIVE!

And I can definitely vouch for that!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We got a little carried away with the Thanskgiving crafts the other night.

Sorry...we cannot keep clothes on BB to save our life. I think it is because she is really into the potty training thing?

Not sure though...could just be her personality. Lord help us!

Central Park

Laundry Baskets

We don't need new toys for Christmas...BP and BB are happy with laundry baskets. It amazes me how many different games they can create with just a simple laundry basket. Oh and Daddy too!

No More Nukies...

On Tuesday BB mailed the last of her nukies to a special baby friend. (Thanks Keri for disposing) She walked right into the Post Office and chose an envelope and put her nukies in saying "bye-bye nukies" without a tear or a second thought. Then we got in the car and BP and I made a big fuss about it telling her what a big girl she was. As we pulled away from the Post Office she burst into tears crying "my nukies." I was scared and feeling very weak, but knew I could not give in. I calmed her with her blankie and that is the last tear she shed over them. She talks about them every now and then, and tells anyone she can what a big girl she is now that she gave away her nukies. Big sigh of relief...we were really scared how it would go. We notice she sleeps better without the nukie also. Hallelujah!!

Fishing in Cape May

Sand Angels

Escape to CM

Aaaahhh! Fall at the beach...Fall in Cape May...there is nothing better in my eyes. We escaped last Friday for a quick weekend of much needed fun and relaxation. Oh and also to celebrate BB's birthday again. She asked for a wagon ride and playtime on the beach for her birthday. This kid is so easy to please, how could we say "no"? The weather was wonderful, warm, and sunny. We played on the beach, went to the park, walked to town, hit our fav sushi spot, ate cookies from La Patisserie, and went fishing a few times. It was perfect and then when we returned home late Sunday night things got a little crazy here with a visit from the "pig flu" as my husband calls it. More on that later.

Pic #1 Our 6 lb peanut surprises us a month early

Pic #2 1st Birthday with ice cream cake and silly crown

Pic #3 2nd Birthday with new boots and coat from Nana and Pop-Pop

Thomas Cake

I made a deal with myself before BP was born that for as long as I possibly could, I would make all the birthday cakes for my children. I also thought I would make all their Halloween costumes and that did not turn out so well. Oh well, you win some and lose some. So BB asked for a Thomas cake and Thomas is what she got....Thanks Keri for your pics and guidance! I prayed so hard yesterday that in the end it would look like a train and hopefully be recognizable as Thomas. BB said she "wuved it!"

Happy Birthday BB!!!

Yesterday was The Barefoot Baby's 2nd Birthday! She is not so much a baby anymore and I seriously need to rethink her blog name. We gave her a drum set...insane, I know, but it just seemed like a perfect gift for her. And let me tell you it was. BB definitely has added some major spunk to our family in the last two years. Every little step she takes has a hop, skip, and jump in it. Her smile is beautiful, yet mischievous at the same time. She keeps up with the big girls all day and then snuggles like a baby all night. She pops up in the morning with a smile on her face ready to explore a new day with her easy going attitude and spread her happiness to all she meets. This is the best description of BB at 2. Happy Birthday BB, Daddy, BP, and I love you to pieces!