Holiday Happenings

Wow, 2014 is nearly over!  Here is a look at our holiday season!

I "did" Thanksgiving on two hours of sleep due to a Wednesday overnight shift that ran two hours longer than scheduled to prepare for Black Friday.

I still don't, and probably never will, understand why consumers "demand" retailers open earlier and earlier each year for Black Friday.  It's a vicious cycle of competition between retailers and it continues because people continue to show up regardless of if it cuts into their family time.  I could go on all day about this but I'll spare anyone who happens to be reading this...you're welcome ;)

The first weekend in December Nana and Papa took everyone on the Polar Express North Pole Express in St. Paul!

We rode to the "North Pole" where Santa climbed on board to meet with all the kids and collect their letters!  It was a mostly fun night with stress levels rising as bedtime came and we still hadn't left Union Depot!  Everything gets harder when you have tired and crabby kids along...

The next morning we went to the tree farm with Jason's family to get his sister's tree!  *no pictures

Santa visited our library and brought along two of his reindeer!

Our friend, D, joined us!

Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy

Amelia was sick for her kindergarten Christmas concert this year.  She was very upset so we had our own concert at home!  She got all dressed up:

She sang us her favorite song from the concert:

After she performed we had "pizza that comes hot to your door" (aka delivery) because that is what they were having at the concert as a fundraiser for the music department.  All in all, not the night we had planned but still a success!  

Christmas Eve I worked 9.5 hours, headed home, got ready and we left to start our Christmas celebrations.  We spend Christmas Eve with my family, sleep there and then spend Christmas Day with Jason's family.  Jason and I went extra casual this year at my parent's house:

Family "selfie"

*Christmas Day lacks pictures...but Santa came, kids woke up at 5 a.m., we played games, we went to Christmas with Jason's family and headed home in the evening - exhausted!  

We're looking forward to spending New Year's Eve at home tomorrow - with the exception of a chiropractor appointment late in the afternoon for Amelia!  We have frozen pizzas waiting, movies will be watched and I'm sure a game or two will be played! 

December Highlights

December flew by!  Here are some photos from last month:

Monster Jam!

Coconut oil baths at Nana's house for cradle cap

Our favorite house to drive by in December!

Amelia's 4K Christmas program

*Video here of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas!"

Visiting Santa!

Fun at the mall after seeing Santa

Colored bath and foam!?!?!  FUN!

Jackson's first Christmas :)

Christmas morning

Campouts in their new sleeping bags/tents!

They have solved an infinite number of "problems" as superheroes in their custom capes!

December was a fun month and now we are looking forward to making new memories in 2014!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

To bring a smile to your face, here is a clip from Amelia's 4K Christmas program last week.  She was so, so excited about this event.  She kept yelling to us from on stage between songs to say "hi!" or to point out that she was on a stage etc.  It was precious!

*She is on the far right, front row, green dress :)

Turkey to Trees

It's hard to believe it's already the first week in December!  With the late Thanksgiving this year time has seemed to fly the past week!

Attempted family Thanksgiving picture...

I got home from work about 7 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, grabbed approximately two hours of sleep and then we started getting ready to go to Jason's grandpa's house.  Before we left we successfully got a (decent) picture of the kids together!

Three little people I am very thankful for :)

We enjoyed the traditional Thanksgiving feast, watched some football and watched the kids play in the leaves outside before heading home for the night.  My parents were out of town so my sister came over in the evening for a bit.  That's about it - a pretty simple Thanksgiving!

Baby's first Thanksgiving :)

Saturday night we put out our Christmas tree and a few decorations/toys - nothing too fancy because, well, we have Joe :)

Sunday morning we went with Jason's family to get a tree for his sister's house.  We've gone as a group the past few years and each year we get more excited to be able to go cut one down for our own house - whenever that year may come!

Amelia and Joey helping Auntie Liz drag the tree out

After getting the tree, everyone came to our apartment and we made spaghetti and watched football!  Daddy's team beat mommy's team :(

Hanging on the couch with Auntie Liz and (sleeping) Uncle Kory

Sunday evening we started a couple advent activities - chocolate advent calendars and 25 days of books.  First one of the kids chooses a (wrapped) book* from under the tree to open and we read it together.  Afterwards they get to open that day on their advent calendar and have a little treat before bed!  

*My mom, sister and I went to half-price books and got 25 books to do this with.  In the future, if we continue this idea, I may just wrap up the Christmas books we have and do something like "12 Days of Christmas Books!"  We'll see.

Advent calendars!

It's hard to believe that December is already here!  What a fast year it was!

Christmas 2012

We had another great Christmas!  Christmas Eve morning I had to work so Jason and I didn't get to my parent's house until late afternoon.  Earlier in the day my family took the kids to see Santa at Macy's and they stopped in to see me at work which doesn't happen too often!  It was a nice surprise. 

Work was long and I'll be honest, it got annoying having to deal with the people who were mad at me, personally, because we sold out of wrapping paper over the weekend which is really odd.  (usually there are one or two pallets worth that clearance!)  I really like it when they get upset and then just stare at me.  I get the feeling that they think I'm hiding all the wrapping paper from them (to which I would ask why) or that they think I have the ability to magically make more appear.  I sometimes wish I could make more appear because I really do like being able to help people find everything they need vs. upsetting them - it's a much nicer feeling!

We left my family for about an hour and stopped in at a gathering Jason's family has at the marina.  On our way home we drove by a house in my parent's neighborhood...

...this photo doesn't do it justice!  Driving past this house (of a childhood friend) is a tradition for us and Amelia's reaction this year was priceless.  She said, "Mom!  Is this the North Pole?"  We told her it was ;)

Once we got back to my parent's house we opened gifts while dinner finished cooking.  Amelia was really into opening presents this year.  She was a maniac!  Joe on the other hand was content to play with a toy broom on the opposite end of the family room!

prime rib, baked potatoes and green beans!

After the kids went to bed the adults watched Home Alone.  I hadn't watched that, in it's entirety, in years - great movie!  

Santa came and filled our stockings and the kids got Wiggle Racers.  Amelia had a lot of fun with hers int he basement!

I am looking forward to the warmer weather when we can take them outside and Joe will be big enough to work his better!  We also played one of Amelia's new games - Alphabet Mystery Box.

Late morning we packed up and headed to Jason's sister's house for Christmas with his family.

Christmas dress

Brunch and presents happened to fall right smack dab in the middle of Joe's naptime...yeah, he was a bit grumpy!  We found things to keep him occupied but they were always shortlived.

"racing" and snacks

At one point we had Joe in a laundry basket with his wormy, glow-monkey and a blanket and I could tell he was so close to falling asleep but we didn't have a bottle/cup to put milk in for him.  That was seriously all it would have taken - I am convinced.  Note to self - keep an extra sippy in the car for emergencies!

 

Amelia checking out her new computer

We had wanted to get a group picture but between Joe's meltdowns and Amelia's meltdowns over wanting what Joe had we never even tried :(   

Amelia, Uncle Kory and Cashew!

Our car was jam-packed on the ride home and both children fell asleep almost instantly so we took a longer way home to let them get a little rest and recovery time.  We had a few things under our tree for the kids that we left for this evening.  Our friend Leigh got Amelia the My Little Pony castle and she was so excited!

We enjoyed an evening at home, finding homes for new toys and playing along the way.  There is still plenty to put away but I'm leaving that for another day and relaxing.

goodnight pictures with my sweet kiddos!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  

Holidays in Retail

I work retail and the closer it gets to Christmas the more "interesting" work gets - especially this year because I have been on the seasonal toy team since mid-November!  Some days things go smoothly.  You help the people find their toys or tell them it is sold out, answer a few (dozen) phone calls and rush around trying to make sure you get everything done that you can.  Other days things go not so smoothly.  You get your head bitten off because an item is sold out which "ruins" Christmas while others lecture you on how it is your fault the item they are seeking is sold out etc.

The kind people out there - thank you.  You are a joy to help.  The others?  I am thinking of this photo while you are yelling at me:

 (source - unknown.  Found on a friend's Facebook wall...)

Oh yes.  This one can always bring a smile to my face!

For instance, when I was getting yelled at the other day over a doll wardrobe being out of stock I just smiled - like Willy Wonka.  I apologized (several times) and stated (several times) that there was no guarantee it would come in again before Christmas and then I apologized - again.  When I was then lectured on how we should really stock up on these things I smiled and thought to myself, "yes, I should really tell that automated computer system that orders items based on the volume of the store, projected sales and the availability of the item from the manufacturer that my store is the only one that matters so send us 'em all!"

Legos during Christmas crack me up!  Legos fly out of the store - almost literally.  They are so, so popular and they are every year yet people wait to get them until days before Christmas when we only have the less popular sets left.  The "hot" Lego set this year was a mine set and we ran out - last month.  Lego.com apparently also ran out - last month.  Legoland in the mall isn't supposed to get any until after Christmas.  See?  Popular item!  We randomly got two in over the weekend and I was honestly shocked they were still there when I left Sunday afternoon.  They were, of course, gone Monday morning.  When Legos run out people are actually a little more understanding though.  They usually blame themselves for waiting vs blaming me which is nice.  Perhaps it is because it is well known that they are quick sellers?  Even though the Lego aisle is always packed with shoppers it is one of my favorite aisles to help people in!

So many times (a day) I am blamed for things being out of stock.  Somehow it is personally my fault.  Yes, I chose to have a limited number of (insert item here) because I just love having this conversation twelve times a day.  Getting yelled at is great ;)

 The thing that really gets me is that I even "have the power" to "ruin" Christmas for so many people.  With that "power" also comes the "power" to "save" Christmas.  These "powers" are all based on stuff.  When we are sold out of an item Christmas is "ruined."  When I am able to locate the item Christmas is "saved."  I am seriously told those things daily and it upsets me. 

I get so frustrated that the stuff seems to be the only thing that matters to most people anymore.  It is so hard to see parents, some near tears, because the only thing their child asked for is sold out and they are "picky" so nothing else will suffice.  I understand there are things that kids like and dislike but to be to the point of getting upset over a gift not being "the right gift?"  That I don't understand.  A gift is a gift and they are all given from the heart and should be appreciated!

I am all for giving gifts but it just seems like it has gotten so stressful on people as the years go on.  I know I am at a loss on what to get a lot of most people these days because, to me, it seems like most people have everything they need and I'm bad with the wants.  My mom says I am "too practical" for gift giving sometimes - which is probably true!  Jason balances that out though - he is a very creative gift-giver!

I only have one more shift (Friday) on the toy team and then it is back to business as usual!  Hopefully I can "save" Christmases vs "ruining" Christmases and end this holiday season on a "high note"  ;) 

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Our day has been full of Christmas trees and football! 

We met Jason's family at the tree farm this morning to find the perfect tree for Auntie Liz and Uncle Kory's house.  We've had some warmer weather (it was 40 today) so we didn't have to bundle up and there was no snow - weird!

Amelia was so excited to find a tree - she led the way!

"Helping" Dad cut down the tree

"Hey guys, you forgot MY tree!"

We attempted to get a family picture for our Christmas card but this was the best we got:

It's growing on me but we aren't too sure that it is the picture we were looking for.  Uncooperative toddlers and babies who want to explore can make taking family photos challenging!

Liz and Kory came over and we had several frozen pizzas and buffalo wings and watched football.  Their team (Packers) played against Jason's team (Vikings) and it was close but in the end the Packers won.  My team (Bears) also lost today - in overtime.  Oh well!

This evening we put up our Christmas tree and a few decorations.

We don't have a lot in the way of decor and that's ok!  We have two small kids right now and we hope to get into a house sometime in the near future so we are happy to wait to get any decor to make sure it will work with the home we eventually have!

We have left our tree bare - only lights.  We aren't too sure how Joey is going to do with it this year so before we get it all decked out we want to make sure he won't be tipping it over every five seconds, ha! 

 

 It's starting to feel a little more like Christmas!  Now, if only we could get some SNOW!