Neighborhood Christmas Parade

Today our neighborhood had a Christmas parade and BBQ and it was a lot of fun. We almost missed part of the parade but we arrived just in time. It was really cute and the kids loved it. We hope to have a Wellspring float in it next year!

After DRHorton (the builder of our neighborhood) had a free BBQ/ block party for all the homeowners. They had tons of decorations, a DJ, jumpers (Karoline's favorite), face painting, cotton candy machines, and Santa...

So we went to find Santa and Karoline froze... she would not even get out of her stroller. She has a tendency to be timid. Anderson didn't like him either... I think because he was not a "real" Santa... he had a fake beard and was pretty skinny :) But oh well! Here are some pictures and a slide show of some of the parade.


Our neighbors... Paul and his wife. They are SO sweet and this is their vacation home so they are gone often but we really look forward to getting to know them. They have beautiful bikes!

Sneaky Little Man

Anderson hides his food. You know he is finished eating when he starts hiding his food. It's not funny and funny all at the same time. The funny thing is that he has this look on his face like he knows what he's doing but wants you to think he is looking at something else. Funny little man... Maybe this explains why he is so skinny.

Master Bedroom/ Bath

We finally got everything put up in our bedroom. There are still a few small things but the big stuff is done. We bought the mattress and bedding this summer for our CA house we didn't end up buying and we could not return it (oh darn) thanks to Pottery Barns new return policy (after 30 days, nothing!)... Mom and Dad got us some of the accessories to match the black and white theme for an early Christmas gift. I also stole the wall monogram idea from Pottery Barn but found a lady online to do it for $38 including shipping... I LOVE how it turned out. The headboard was something TJ found at his parents house that we spray painted black (imagine that... I love to spray paint things black!). It looks so good. As far as the paint color goes, we were thrilled when we looked at this house b/c it was painted this color already and it was exactly what we wanted. It is showing up more baby blue in these pictures... it's NOT baby blue!!
So here you go...






Here is just two pictures of our bathroom... it has yet to be painted and is boring. We hope to fix that in the next two weeks. We do love our big tub so the kids can take a bath in our bathroom. That means I only have to clean ONE tub. In CA we had a shower only in our master so I had to clean two! Oh and TJ finally got his toilet closet! I didn't think you wanted to see a picture of that :)

John Mayer

As most of you know Karoline has a thing for John Mayer. She wants to watch his concerts all the time and listening to his music in the car. Today first thing after breakfast she asked to watch John Mayer. We usually don't let her watch TV first thing in the morning but John Mayer is the exception to the rule... probably because the whole family enjoys it.
I was upstairs cleaning and TJ was playing with the kids. She asked TJ to draw our family. When he was done he showed her his work of art. Then she said... "No daddy, add John Mayer".
Then at lunch I was putting her in her chair and I gave her a kiss. I said "Do you love mommy?" She said "No, I love John Mayer. I love him, I love him!"
She is crazy for John Mayer!

Pictures By Request...

My sweet mother has nicely requested pictures several times so I finally give in... Love you mom!

Here is Karoline... sunglasses on INSIDE, socks on her hands, and was cheering with her pom-poms!

Not sure they make a pair of pants that will stay on this boys hips! It's amazing! These are up to 12M pants!!

This is Karoline "swimming"... that's what she says! Funny girl...

This girl loves her blanket... A LOT!

Anderson has just started becoming attached to his blanket. He loves to play with it in the living room.



Every year TJ's mom picks out ornaments for everyone. She always finds the cutest ornaments! I just have to show yall what she sent this year. They are PRECIOUS!
Anderson's ornament... TJ is a BIG superman fan.

TJ's ornament... BIG Christmas Story fan!

Karoline's ornament... she loves Radio Flyer toys.

My ornament... very fitting! I do love chocolate!

Karoline LOVES opening the advent house... she gets one piece of candy.

If you don't have one of these you should get one... I LOVE it!


I have to share this funny thing Karoline said to me tonight... She was going to bed and I was laying down with her for a minute so we could say our prayers and I love you's and I thought it would be fun to sing a Christmas song so I sang Jingle Bells... singing when she said...

KBG: Mommy, I want you to leave.

Me: What? You wan't me to leave?

KBG: Yes mommy, I'm tired and want to go to sleep.
Well, okay and I was out!

Another funny thing she did today was when I was putting her down for her nap and I said I love you at the door she said "I love you more"... Where did she get that from... I don't know but it was very sweet!

Too Easy and Good Not To Share...

I made Chicken and Dumplings for the first time tonight. I have had this recipe in my binder for a while but never cooked it... it was SO yummy and easy. Hope you enjoy!

Makes 4-6 servings/ Prep:15 min/ Cook 25 min

I used a deli-roasted chicken for this recipe and one yields about 3 cups...

1 47oz can of low- sodium chicken broth
3 cups shredded chicken
1 (10 3/4oz) can reduced-fat cream of celery soup
1/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 (10.2oz) can refrigerated jumbo buttermilk biscuits

Cooking Directions:
1) Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large pot (or dutch oven) over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer, sirring occasionally, 15 minutes.

2) Place biscuits on a lightly floured surface. Pat each biscuit to 1/8 inch (or so) thickness; cut into 1/2 inch wide strips.

3) Return broth mixture to a low boil over med-high heat. Drop strips, 1 at a time, into boiling broth. Reduce heat to low; simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent dumplings from sticking.... EAT!!

I'll add a few pictures...
Karoline cute new (bought on sale by mom before she was born I think!)coat that I just love!


GiGi sent and early Christmas present... They LOVE it!


Karoline on what she calls her "merry-go-round"

Behind The Scenes...

Oh the comedy that is taking the yearly family Christmas card picture!
Every year we try and attempt to take a pretty good picture of our family. Usually with no one to actually take the picture so I have to find a place to set up the camera, do the 10 second timer thing, and PRAY that my children will actually look at the camera sitting on a stump (maybe one Christmas TJ will get me a tripod)! It's quite comical and I get a pretty good workout running back and forth. TJ and I usually are screaming at each other, Karoline runs around acting crazy, Anderson fussy, BUT somewhere in all the madness we get the "golden shot" and we all look so happy. And we did again this year! It's so cute (to be shown later).
All the other pictures that are taken never are used so am posting them and I know the grandparents enjoy...The reality is family pictures are always stressful but when they are over you are glad you did it...

This shot didn't turn out so well!

Just because they are so cute...






YEAH the beach... very exciting!

Karoline really loves hugging her brother... he does not like it as much!

Sand on the hands...

Yeah, we could not get the two if them to look at the camera and me not fall in the sand.

Sweet Karoline giving Daddy a kiss just as I press the button to test a shot...

I'll take one of these for Christmas :)