Merry Christmas

May the joy of the Christmas season bless you all year long!

Love the Horton family!

Weekend Review

We had a jam packed weekend from Friday morning all the way through till Sunday evening (and I'm adding in today's excitement too).

Friday morning was Barrett's birthday playdate.

Friday night we headed to my parents house for the annual gingerbread house building competition.  We were all uninspired and it showed.

This little stinker kept trying to eat the candy off my house.

These are John's, mine (in the back) and Hope's. They were only okay, but we still had fun.

Saturday morning I was so excited to sleep late and my phone rang at 6:00, it was a number I didn't recognize so I ignored it.  Then it kept ringing and ringing.  I finally answered it,  Patrick was calling from work to tell me he'd left his phone at home.  I could have killed him.  But I went ahead and got up to try to get some things done around the house.  

For lunch we headed to the Horton's to celebrate Melissa's birthday.  We had lunch and cake and then Barrett and I had to run.

We were headed to celebrate Jackson's 2nd birthday.  These four were showing their age.  Barrett was being so mean I thought we were going to have to leave early.  But we all survived.

After Jackson's party we headed home to get ready for the Slovensky family Christmas party.  My cousin Ryan and his wife Natalie hosted us in their home.  (Yes the cousin that just had a baby 12 days ago). 

I bought these leather looking leggings last week and decided to wear them.  I was taking a picture to send to Brittany.  I thought it was funny.

I didn't take any pictures really.

I love this picture of Me and Barrett and Ryan and Hudson.  

Sunday I got up and went to Mass.  I came home and took a nap.

After nap time, we met John and Hope and Matt and Jennifer and went to the Festival of Lights at Oak Mountain.  It was fun.  We weren't all that impressed but Barrett enjoyed it.

After the lights we grabbed some Mexican food.

We came home and got ready for bed.  Before bed we watched Home Alone.  Barrett actually sat and watched it with me.  I loved the snuggle time.

We worked today and then we went to the hospital to meet Baby Olivia.  Lorie had another rockstar labor and delivery.  Kristen and I headed over after work.  (For the record Barrett is still scared of elevators.  Kristen thought I was being dramatic until Barrett started crying before we even got on one.)

And then this happened...and I melted.

He kept saying "Baby, Baby".  He tried to poke her in the eyes but Lorie said that was only fitting since Elise slapped Barrett on his day of birth.  It was a sweet time.  Barrett and Elise played and played.  Elise was the most precious big sister.   I just love these pictures Joseph sent me.  He was so sweet to send them so quickly.  Olivia looks just like Elise (and Joseph).  It's been a whirlwind weekend.  We've got one more day of work this week and then it's Christmas.  It's really snuck up on me.  (I still have more shopping left to do than I care to admit.)

Pancakes & Pajamas Playdate

For Barrett's birthday this year I opted for a small playdate with a few friends over a big party like last year.  I loved the big party last year but wanted to do something different this year.  Most of my friends are stay at home moms or work flexible schedules so I thought this would work out best.  It worked out that everyone was able to come.  I was so excited.  

The theme was "Pancakes and Pajamas" and it was perfect.  The kiddos and some moms wore their pjs and we enjoyed brunch.  (Brunch is probably my favorite meal.)

I kept things super simple.  We put the leaf in our round table to make it bigger.  I used a drop cloth as the table cloth and wrapping paper as the runner.  I let all the kids make a cute ornament to take home and I used those to decorate the little tree for a centerpiece.

One reason I loved the smaller party, I got to do a couple of personalized things for the kiddos and the mommies.  I'm loving the monogrammed coffee mugs.  Each mom got one to take home.  I also did the take and toss sippy cups for each child at the party and they took them home.
My menu for brunch was: pancakes, pigs in a blanket, fruit, breakfast casserole, hashbrown casserole and muffins. 

The birthday boy in his pjs.

This is the ornament they made.  I put the name and year on with vinyl and they painted the deer with their thumb print.  I added the antlers and nose before they left.

Poor Elise was the only girl.

I love this boy!

Cruz and Caleb enjoying brunch.

Caleb and Keegan.

Caleb and Cooper.

We got a group picture.  They all cooperated fairly easily.

They loved our little half step hearth.

I love this picture of Elise trying to give Barrett a hug.  He looks a little unsure.

These four are fun.  They are about three months apart and we've had so much fun with them.  They play pretty good together (lately you can tell they are all two.)

Time for cupcakes.

I don't know what this one is about but I love him cutting his eyes at me.

Sweet Drake.  He's a little younger than the other four but you'd never know it by looking at him with them.  He and Barrett go to school together.

And everyone's favorite part of the party...playing with all the new toys!
It wasn't long until everyone started melting down and heading home for naps.
This party was complete and utter chaos...but they boys had so much fun!  The boys were so much fun together.  At one point they were running up and down the hall squealing. It was so funny.
I loved having a big party last year, but this was perfect for us this year.  I just loved the small intimateness of it all.  We're going to have cupcakes with our families on Christmas to celebrate with them.
I can't believe my baby is going to be two in 4 days.
I have to thank Crystal for taking the pictures for me while also bringing and being responsible for an extra kid.  I'm also so thankful that the moms that work made arrangements to get to come or for their kid to come.  It really meant a lot to me.
I think we might make this our birthday tradition, at least for a few years.  I know Barrett won't want to have a Christmas themed birthday party forever so I'm trying to take advantage while I can. 

Santa! I know him!

Last night we made our 2nd Annual trip to see Santa. (Last years trip is HERE.)  I was pretty confident that Barrett wasn't going to be a fan but he seemed so excited when we got there that I was hopeful.  All the way there we talked about Santa and this was his face when he saw him for the first time.

Priceless.

I had to hold him back from running up to him before it was our turn.  Then it was our turn.. 

He was not happy. 

Santa gave him some candy and he threw it down like a brat. 

I intended to get his outfit monogrammed but I'm glad I didn't waste my time because you wouldn't have seen it anyway.  Santa had the death grip on him because he was trying to escape.

I did manage to get a few not terrible ones.

I can't believe how much he's grown since last year.

Yes, that's my kid playing with the truck in the middle of the floor like he's the only one around.  He didn't like the table they had set up because he wasn't tall enough. So he just put the truck in the floor to play.   

I love his innocence.   

Then we decided to let him ride the carousel.  He liked it last year. 

This year, not so much. 

He cried and cried.  I guess I should have just gotten him off but I thought he would enjoy it once it got moving.

This cracks me up. 

I had no idea it would be torture for him to ride. 

 

He eventually quit crying bu the never loosened his death grip.  Later into the ride he pointed to the reindeer in front of us.  I asked him if he wanted to ride the deer and he said yes.  Of course he says yes to everything so who knows it that was really the problem.

He loved the fish.

He did not love the elevator ride.  He was in the buggy and when the doors closed he started shaking and crying.  It was the saddest thing.  Who is terrified of elevators?  He definitely convinced Patrick that we are still several years off from our first trip to Disney.

And just for fun...these two pictures crack me up.  Apparently our kid is a model and we can't keep our eyes open. 

All in all it was a wonderful family night out.  We've always loved Bass Pro Shops to visit Santa, my advice is if you go during the week try to get there before 5:30.  The line was very short when we arrived and was very long when we left.  One thing I noticed though and I'm not sure if it was just because the few kids I watched were young but Santa didn't ask them what they wanted.  If the kids didn't just pipe up with their list he didn't hear it. Other than that though it was a great set up.  I just love my little guy (and big guy) so much.  I love these little memories. I also apparently love that scarf that is on repeat this season, ha!.  I can't believe Barrett will be two in a week.  Time slow down.