Two weeks away...

This is Jordan being a statue in a neighbors yard.

"On the 11th day of Christmas my true loves and me, took a walk around the block and looked at lights"

When it comes to Christmas time my  boys are pretty easy to please. All I have to do is take them around the neighborhood to ooh and aww at all the decorations and they are happy as clams. The walk also helps us get a little energy out so we can come home and crash. Mom tricks are great.

Unfortunately my tricks don't always work. Dillon refused to walk so we had to take him in the stroller.

Last year the boys became obsessed....OBSESSED with blow-ups in people's yards. I blame my Dad for making it a big to-do when he plugged his in. The hubs is such a pushover for his boys and bought them one of their very own this year.

We really are Disney through & through.

Only 14 days to go...

Fifteen and counting...

"On the 10th day of Christmas my true loves and me, played a game as a family".

Tonight's countdown activity was "Jordan's Choice". He wanted to play Wii Fit but changed his mind pretty quickly once I told him he would have to clean up the tv room first. Nothing like a little housework to change one's mind. He decided on ZINGO instead.

He won both rounds.

I guess that's good since it was Jordan's Choice after all.

Dillon got the hang of the game in the second round and was one tile away from winning. He shouted ZINGO with just as much enthusiasm as his brother. I guess that is a good thing too.

There's nothing like a good old game for family fun.

Only 15 days to go...

In only 16 days...

" On the 9th day of Christmas my true loves and me, snuggled up and read a Christmas Story"

The key to my countdown success is not putting the activities in the calendar until right before it's time. We also do our countdown at night after I have gotten home from work. I never know how I am going to feel, and how the boys will be behaving so it's just easier that way.

After last nights shenanigans and a fun day playing at the park (Hey Bridgette- Jordan was so excited to tell me about his new friend Ty....I see playdates in the future) the boys were tired. And Dillon was grumpy. So tonight our countdown needed to be quick and easy.

Right after a nice warm bath we got comfy in our festive socks and Mommy's festive pants. My festive pants are also known as a really unattractive pair of my husbands sweats that are so wonderfully comfortable. He will never get them back. Sorry hon...

We picked our favorite holiday book "The Night Before Christmas". I like it because I have the words pretty much memorized. The boys like that I read it quite animated (and silly) and the lift up flaps with hidden pictures don't hurt either.

Only 16 more days...

8 days down, 17 to go...

"On the 8th day of Christmas my true loves and me hung a garland and watched Prep and Landing".

We also finished painting our ornaments. I made the boys take their clothes off and Dillon went one further and took his diaper off. So we painted in undies and birthday suits. I took pictures (you bet I did) but Daddy thinks it better to not post them (wise Daddy).

I would tell you which ones were mine and which were Jordan's but it would be too embarrassing. If you could see the pictures of a naked Dill with paint all over his teeth and lips you could probably guess his by the colors.

We followed up our painting by hanging my cedar garland. I made some little Boy Scout pretty happy by buying his garland. It's worth it though. Almost makes up for my guilt of mot liking Boy Scouts. Well not the boys just the organization. I guess I have only 3 years to get over it...YIKES!

We took a rainbow bath (from the paint) and the boys hopped into my bed to watch the movie. Pretty cute but I wish these movies were a little longer. Daddy arrived home from Scouts (seeing a theme here) with a Sonic surprise and sugared the boys up. Dillon is sitting here (at 10:20 pm) bright eyed and bushy tailed as I type. And Jordy has been sent back to bed twice. Awesome. So when they are tired and grumpy and I have to drag them to Grandmas in the morning Daddy will already be gone. I am seeing another pattern here.

Only 17 days to go...

One-Eight...*Updated with Recipe*

"On the 7th day of Christmas my true loves and me, made ornaments for our tree".

Today the boys and I made some non-edible cinnamon ornaments. Man oh man, my house smelled delicious today. Since it was such a blustery day outside this was the perfect time killer.

Cinnamon Ornaments


1 C Cinnamon
1 TB Cloves
1 TB Nutmeg
1 C Applesauce
2 TB Elmer's Glue


Mix ingredients together. Dough should be moist but not sticky. Sprinkle cinnamon on counter & roll to 1/3 inch thickness and cut into shapes. Use a straw for the holes. Bake for 2 hours at 200 degrees, flipping halfway through. Now you can paint them, tie on a ribbon and hang them up! If you don't want to bake them it will take a few days to dry.

Dillon manned the cinnamon-

Jordan had the applesauce under control-

I handled the Elmer's glue. My children are great, but they cannot be trusted with glue. I have to admit that I was tempted to put the glue all over my hands and peel my "skin" off to show them. Maybe I can't be trusted either...

Good thing we found a great set of cookie cutters on our trip to Dollar Tree the other night. They came in very handy today!

(do not mind the horrendously disgusting pantry in the background. WOW!)

The rain outside was too hard to resist for my little yahoo's. They are such boys! I was freezing just standing next to the open door. (maybe I will take the Snuggie Blair has been threatening to put under the tree.)

Only 18 more days...

Missed a few...19 days...

Well the 4th, 5th & 6th days of Christmas have come and passed. My lovies and I have continued our countdown, I just haven't been the greatest at taking a camera along.

On the 4th day the midgets and I headed to Dollar Tree for some shopping. They were allowed to pick any presents they wanted to gift to their brother. Jordan got the idea and had a ball. Dillon was too busy shopping for himself.

The 5th day we spent with Daddy (our favorite days) and he took us to Cracker Barrel for dinner. Cracker Barrel is Jordan's all-time favorite place to go. It's peach pancakes every time!

Now for the 6th Day...

"On the 6th day of Christmas my true loves and me, made a village out of gingerbread".

Last year was our first foray into gingerbread making. It's definitly going to be a tradition we continue.

Our favorite part is eating the candy. Like you couldn't guess that!

Only 19 days to go...

22 Days & Counting...

"On the third day of Christmas my true loves and me snuggled in my bed and watched a moo-oo-oovie"

ABC Family is my new favorite channel. They have had so many great Holiday movies on the past week (and many more to come). My DVR is getting a workout for sure. I taped the Pixar Shorts last night and the boys can't get enough.

After a peppermint bubbled bath and a few tears (from clipped nails) we got in warm jammies and snuggled up in my bed to watch the movie. Having my boys snuggled up with me sure is sweet, and even more so when they smell so yummy. Yummy smelling boys doesn't happen often. You have to take these moments and run with them.

Only 22 more days to go...