Memory Monday

I love thinking back to when I was little and remembering Christmas as a kid. There's really nothing better. I love trying to remember the smells, what we wore, what our house looked like all decked out in lights, and the excitement of the season. What better way to do that then to share some of my favorite holiday memories! Every Monday I will post a holiday memory or two and hopefully be able to add a few pictures here and there. I invited you to share your favorite past memories and link up below. Don't forget to grab the button for others to enjoy!

Ever Christmas Eve, we had a tradition in our house. My dad would read The Night Before Christmas. While this isn't a big gift or funny story to remember, it's a wonderful memory I will always have and cherish. These are the types of memories I hope Hadley will one day have as well.

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I really thought long and hard about this first memory. I wanted to try and think back as far as I could. I remember when I was in first or second grade open presents on Christmas morning. One of my last presents came in a big box. I ripped open the paper, just like every little kid, excited to see what was inside. When I peaked inside the top of the brown cardboard box, I was frightened to see an eye staring back at me. I looked up at my parents with big, bright eyes wondering what Santa brought me. My mom insisted that I continue open the gift but I was terrified.

 "There's an eye!" I kept yelling.

Finally, with the help of my dragon slaying dad, I proceeded forward and opened the rest of the box. To my surprise, there was not monster or live animal in the box. In fact it was the complete opposite. I was the proud new owner of a teddy bear sleeping bag! They eyes (which was where my head would lay) were glaring at me through the box.

That teddy bear sleeping bag lasted a long time and went to quite a few slumber parties with me. It was also fun to lay in around the house!

So What Wednesday!

Today I'm saying so what if...

• I'd love to win the $350 Black Friday Giveaway! But I can't because I'm hosting it with a group of fabulous ladies! I'm very excited to see who does win it!

• Hadley randomly decided she's going to start getting up three times a night instead of the one she had been doing. Thanks love. Right before I start going back to work :)

• I can't decide what color bow to put in Hadley's hair for Christmas pictures. It's a stinkin' bow!!

• I changed my mind about what I'm wearing for Christmas pictures. Shame...shame.

• I didn't know there was an "other" folder under my FB messages. I had 30 unread messages!! Some from people who were interested in piano lessons months ago. I feel terrible for not getting back with them.

• I've cried every night this week when putting H to bed because I'm not ready to leave her yet. I know it will get better. I'm just sad.

What are you saying SO WHAT to?

Five on Friday!

{one}

 Hadley turned eight weeks old on Monday. Crazy times!! Tomorrow she turns two months (because it's the 26th). I'm sad that the newborn stage is slowly ending but we love watching her grow and experience new things. I'm so excited for her to have Christmas this year but at the same time, it will be much more fun next year when she gets it. I know four months will be different than two but she still won't understand what is going on. I really want to get pictures with Santa this year but J thinks she's too young. What age do you think Santa pictures should start? I've totally seen babies with Santa!

{two}

  

It snowed this week. SNOW! In October!! This rarely happens. In fact I only remember it snowing once before my birthday and that is when I lived two hours north of Columbus while in college. I'm totally not ready for snow. And I'm pretty sure my flowers are officially dead.

 

We busted out this little Halloween onesie that one of my sweet piano students gave H. It definitely kept her warm, but girl is a little toaster so by the time we got home from running a few errands she was sweating! It's just too cute though!

{three}

Speaking of my birthday (see above), I turned 29 yesterday. Scary!! We had a very low key day but I was so thankful to spend it at home with this girl. I told Josh not to get me anything this year since I'm taking a (unpaid) leave of absence at work until December to be home with our girl. That is present enough! He did bring me home some beautiful flowers though. Also, my crockpot is now longer heating up. SAD DAY! It's only two years old. Anyone experience this before?

{four}

I definitely wanted to get out of the house on my birthday so we headed over to Target. I decided I would treat myself to a Salted Caramel Mocha at the Starbucks. To my surprise, I got my drink for free because they were out of salt! Happy birthday to me!

While we were there I wanted to look at flat irons. I've probably had mine since 2004. No lie. And before that my sister used it for about a year. It's OLD. I don't use a straighten every day so I don't want an expensive one. I usually have great luck with Conair products and found this one. Does anyone use this Infiniti Pro straightener? How do you like it?

{five}

My parents came over for a birthday dinner last night. We were going to go out but by the time they got off work it would have been too late. I made Pioneer Woman Lasagna over the summer, so I decided to have that with salad and garlic bread. OH MY GOSH. You have to make this lasagna. It is SO good and it freezes so easily!

To end the night, H and I were both in tears. She has been on a pretty strict sleep schedule lately. She gets a bath around 530, eats, and goes to sleep. Well, last night she fell asleep while my mom was holding her around 6:30. Pretty typical. Stupid me told my mom to put her in her bouncy seat while we ate. Bad decision. She woke up 30 minutes later in a fit, which continued until about 9:30 pm. She finally fell asleep around 10 pm. Thankfully, for the both of us, she slept 6 hours. She ate again and then slept 3 more. When I woke her up at 9 am (she usually gets up at 8), she was in a fantastic mood and has been happy ever sense. Girlfriend needs her schedule desperately!!! We will never make that mistake again!

What would we do without video monitors? I feel so spoiled by them but I am so very thankful for them!

So what?!

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

• It's snowing in October. Just kidding. {not about the snow--it's for real--just the so what part}

• I'm still obsessed with Duck Dynasty and Downton Abbey. Sad DD's season finale is tonight. But ready for DA to start back in January!

• I already have my parents and inlaws Christmas gifts done. Now just need to think of what to get all of the siblings. They're the most difficult.

• Christmas pictures are in a few weeks and I have no idea what we are wearing. J is the hardest to get into clothes that are not polo shirts.

• I made a brownie/cookie mix last night. I needed chocolate and it got me at a weak moment.

• We turned the heat on last night. It snowed people!!

• We are done with cell phone contracts. We are now using Ting service. SO much cheaper and just as great (so far). I love that they only charge you for what you use. 

What are you saying so what to??

Merry Christmas!

Happy Monday!

I am so relieved that this week is finally here. I'm ready for some down time and for a break from the craziness! We have two days of school this week and then we're on break! I've been struggling with a head cold that has made be miserable but hopefully it won't last too much longer.

{link}

Things I'm looking forward to this week:

• 2 days of school
• Winter party with the kids
• Pie in the face on Tuesday {I'm actually looking forward to this, more for it to be over}
• Lunch with J and friends at an Indian restaurant {I've never had Indian food-kind of nervous}
• Visit with a good friend and her little ones

I can't believe the year is almost over! Working on my 2012 update to post very soon!

Have a great Monday!

Holiday Traditions

A few weeks ago I posted a similar post on Pam's blog, but thought I'd share it on here so I can link up with Kelly!

I love the holidays! I love being around friends and family. I love the feeling of a beautifully decorated home. I love people who get into the holiday spirit. I love the Christmas music on the radio. But most of all I love the little traditions we have as a family.

J and I do not have any children yet, so we don't have big traditions. We often discuss what new traditions we want to start when we have kids and get excited to think about our future. But for now, we enjoy our own traditions we have started as a couple and enjoying doing together.

Breakfast with sister

Okay, I should first tell you that my mom is not a cook. Every year my mom has our Thanksgiving catered, well at least the main parts {turkey, stuffing, pies}. She orders the meal and the day before Thanksgiving my sister and I pick it up. About six years ago, when I was back from college, my mom had asked my sister and I to pick up the order. She bribed us by saying that if we picked it up, she would buy us breakfast. So, we took the offer and have been doing the same thing ever since. We actually get a kick out of it and enjoy our sisterly time together every year. We are 10 years apart {and now she's in college 2.5 hours away} so it's nice to have a tradition together.

Christmas Lights

Every year J and I take an evening to drive around our town and sometimes surrounding towns and view Christmas lights. We enjoy seeing how other people decorate their homes and even get a chuckle out of those who go blow-up North Pole happy. We "ooooh" and "ahhh" while driving around for a few hours then usually head back home to watch a movie. It's great just being the two of us and having quality time together looking at something we enjoy.

We try to get to the Columbus Zoo every year as well. We went on one of our first dates to the zoo during Halloween, so it is a special place during the holidays for us. It's truly magical around Christmas time and I look forward to going when we get the chance.

{link}

Dinner

Ever year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, J's parents take us out to dinner at Hyde Park. This year will be the fourth year we have gone and we look forward to it ever year. Hyde Park is a steak house in downtown Columbus. In the winter, the downtown is beautifully decorated with Christmas lights. After dinner we head down the street to walk through a large nativity scene.

J and I before dinner last year 

{he looks funny with the beard-no shave November continued to December}

I look forward to these small traditions we have made every year and I cannot wait to continue adding to our traditions list! What's on your tradition list?

Word Vomit.

I really didn't know what else to call this post. It's just a bunch of thoughts and randomness...but makes perfect sense to me.

We have been super busy. Like sometimes I don't even know what I did when I had grad school work on top of all this. Then I think about if we had a child! Everyone does it. We could too.

I'm "touring" the United States with my students. This week we are studying the Midwest. Boring. I'm trying to make it exciting and show video clips but really...who wants to learn about farm land? Not this city girl. I'm definitely learning a lot on these "trips" and over all, the kids really enjoyed them. We've been known to make posters for specific cities, learn how to make bread like the colonists, and even dance the Charleston {my favorite}.

My cat is a sh*t. There are really no other words. If you ignore him in the evening (because we actually have work to do) he will get on the counter and knock everything off. So not only do I have to clean the counter again but I have to pick up the mess and put any dishes back in the dishwasher. He also learned how to unlock the child proof locks. Note to self: Ikea childproof locks are not cat proof.

Because we are "touring" the U.S. I spend at least two hours a night working on a presentation for my classes for the next day. Guess what I'll be working on all break?!

My parents are selling sold their house. They start moving December 26.

Winter break starts in FIVE school days. Yes, five. Then it's working on presentations and packing. :) But it's so nice to be home.

My cat J's cat also gets in the tree and knocks down the ornaments, ribbon, and takes out all of the twirly twigs that are on the lower half.

I've been doing a great job at cooking. I'm excited that I'm keeping up with meal planning. Thank the Lord for CrockPots!

Over my short Thanksgiving break three of my friends (both high school and college) told me they were expecting. Seriously. Something is in the water.

I really want an Elf. I told Oliver to write Santa for one but he won't. I told him that if we had an Elf then I would leave a  trail of treats for him every day. I also told him the Elf would bring bananas. He didn't seemed too amused.

Speaking of Elves. When one of my piano students told me about his elf I almost said that I needed to get Oliver one of those...woah buddy. I'm glad I stopped myself at "I need to" and finished it with "get Oliver to write a letter to Santa". Close call!