2014 Holidays are in the books

I was so blessed to be able to spend the last 2 weeks at home with the kids.  Yes, some would say that is insane but it was really awesome.  I got to re-bond with Libby and enjoy some of the happiest time of the year with my children.  We try to do a lot of the Christmas type stuff that is local here from the Zoo's Wild Lights, to the Way of Lights, to a carriage ride thru Tilles park.  It was really lovely and the family time was great.  Now I am ready to get back to a normal routine don't get me wrong - I am not crazy :).  But I would be lying if I didn't say I wasn't going to miss being able to spend the whole day with these yahoos

Christmas Lights

We decided to put Christmas Lights up on the house this year. We have sworn to do each year but this year we finally pulled the trigger. I wasn't home during the reaction of the kids seeing it but luckily, thanks to text I got to experience what happened:

 

Christmas Time

Christmas time is here!  We are in full swing in the Ski Household and loving every minute of it.  We've decorated the tree and even have lights up on the house!  Oh yes, Christmas time is definitely here!

It's a Mirly Christmas

We had Christmas at my parent's house on Saturday. Normally we do it Christmas Day but our trips to Disney World (we leave in 11 days!!) changed those plans.



Even though it wasn't officially Christmas yet, it sure felt like it.




We ate great thanks to my Mom's awesome cooking and the kiddo's had a blast playing and opening presents.







Merry Christmas!!

1st Annual Mirly Cookie Party

We decided to try to start a cookie party as a tradition for the Mirly half of my family. This year we hosted it at my sister's house. We made about 14 (!) dozen cookies (i think) and that was with me making about 8 before we got there so the kiddos could decorate some. They were able to decorate about 3 dozen in about 20 minutes. There were sprinkles flying everywhere! Not really =) But they really did about 3 dozen in 30 minutes!








The really special thing about it was that it was my Dad's first time decorating cookies! He did a great job. Oh, and my mom really was there even though I missed her in every single picture I took. She, in fact, did the bulk of the baking that day. Here is proof.




It was a great time and I really do hope we can continue this tradition!

Holiday Spirit

We were ahead of the game in decorating the outside of our house for Christmas. But due to some illnesses, we quickly were behind in decorating the inside of our house. This weekend we just decided to do it and ended up having a blast. Libby especially had an awesome time. She even declared our tree "beautiful" - a word I didn't know who 1) knew and 2) could say. Take a look of some of my favorite pics from decorating.

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving is usually the beginning of the holiday season for my house. This year I decided to start a little early since the weather has been so wonderful. On Saturday I put up the Christmas lights outside. It was 60 degrees! I won’t lie, I had a lot of my neighbors come by and look at me a bit funny but I didn’t care. At least I wasn’t freezing my butt of this year! Plus, I had no idea what I was doing since this is our first Christmas in the new house. In our old townhouse, we only had half of a porch to decorate but in this house we have a full porch to decorate! We’re starting small this year and will build on it for next year. I am determined to get lights up around the roof at some point in time*. Until then, I am enjoying my adorable porch all lit up with Christmas lights and adorned with garland!

* Hubby: consider yourself warned for next year

Ready for Christmas

Yes, I know it is early but I am ready for Christmas. Most years, I am excited about it but really do not get into it. I don’t know if it is due to finally having a child old enough to really participate this year, having a new home I am just utterly peaceful in, or the combination of both but I am so ready for Christmas. I’m so ready to decorate the house with lights (something we typically don’t do a lot of). I’ve already warned my wonderful hubby that he is going to need to get on a ladder this year to put some up. Sadly the stores haven’t started putting out decorations so I cannot even plan our decorations out yet. Yes, I am one of ‘those’ people but with a new house I have no idea what to do!! I am even trying to start holiday traditions like baking cookies, decorating the tree on a certain day, etc. My goal is to make sure Libby has a fantastic Christmas and enjoys every minute of it. We are so blessed this year. I want to soak up every minute of family and joy from this time of year.

What are some of your holiday traditions?