{around the house}

It has been a really good week for my little blog. Lots of new followers and lots of views thanks to some really great press. I'm beyond thankful. It is really humbling, and can I admit, kind of scary{?!}, to see that almost 2,000 people looked at my blog in one day. 

It creates a bit of panic for me to be honest. 

Like..."O my goodness...what can I come up with next that will be JUST as popular as the last thing?" 

As I was having one of those mini panic attacks last night, trying to think about what I should post next, a little voice told me to chill out. 

"Just share something that makes you happy," it told me.

So here you go...lots and lots of things in our home that are making me happy today...

The last three photos are from some much-needed decorating I did in our bedroom yesterday. Why is it that the room that is supposed to be your sanctuary always gets helped last? It put a huge smile on my face to go to bed last night and have a prettier view. 

What are your favorite things to look at in your home today?

{Christmas recap}

I know...I know...I'm SO late with this.

But as usual, things have been a bit crazy around here. Lots of fun things coming up on the blog {including a few giveaways!}, work is super busy, and I've been very preoccupied, so I totally forgot to post Christmas pictures.

So this is either for those of you that love lots of pics of kids unwrapping presents, or it is just for my sake. :)

Either way...here we go...

Opening gifts with Aunt Erica, Uncle Eric and their new baby Aubrey...

Aubrey in her new hat from Aunt Mandy...

On Christmas Eve we let the boys open their gifts to each other {wrapped in paper they decorated...so cute} and of course put out some cookies for Santa...

Why yes...Dracula DOES celebrate Christmas ;)

Blurry shot of Ben's new Chuggington trains.

And Landon got a nutcracker...just what he wanted. :)

Super blurry brother hug!

This is the first year that the boys bought presents for each other, and it was one of my absolute favorite memories.

The boys put out cookies and milk for Santa and contemplated what he would be bringing them...

Then once they were in bed...in 5 minutes no less!...we put the rest of the presents out and took it easy...

I had a lot of fun using washi tape on the gift tags this year...

Christmas morning... {zero pics of the hubs and I because we were both super sick}

I put this Star Wars Angry Birds game together for Ben about eleventy bajillion times...

Finally by Friday and Saturday were were all better and were able to celebrate with my parents and the hubby's family...

The boys got a Melissa and Doug castle block set, and some magnetic blocks...I love watching them use their imaginations to create. And yes...they do live in their pj's some days. They absolutely LOVE these footies. :)

Mom and Dad with their gifts...

My hubby always gives the best gift faces :)

Loved watching my Dad build castles with the boys...the best memories.

Christmas at Mom #2's house...

Triple trouble...and the boys are in real clothes! ;)

Lots of owl goodness for me...

I was really spoiled this year. My family GETS me. :)

Landon got a mixer, blender and toaster from Gigi...someone is going to follow in his daddy's cooking footsteps...

And Ben received the highly coveted Millenium Falcon...or as Landon likes to call it, the "American Falcon"...

It was a really wonderful Christmas. Despite the stomach bug. Really. I mean Christmas Day was dreadful. I haven't cried for my Mom like that in a long time. It just wasn't what Christmas Day should be. But then when we all felt better and were able to truly celebrate, it was even better than if we hadn't been sick. Not that I am glad we got sick. You know what I mean. Having rough days like that makes you even more appreciative for the blessings in your life. And oh how blessed we are. 

Did you make it to the end?

If so, you deserve a prize. Come back tomorrow and I'll have a chance for you to win one...seriously! :)