Our 2 year House-iversary

2 years ago today, over a month after what was supposed to be our closing date, we finally got the keys to our first home. It was crazy, and stressful to move RIGHT before Christmas. But we were so happy and excited to start that new chapter in our lives. Right before we put the key in the door to enter our home for the first time as its owners we took a picture on the front step. Its become a tradition of ours now, every year on our "house-iversary"

Its been such a blessing for us to grow our family and make memories in this home. I cant wait to see what year 3 brings!

Dear Saint Nick, A four year olds letter to Santa

These are Luna's words 100 % I just transcribed them for her.

I told her we needed a sign off like- from, Luna or Sincerely, Luna and well, you can see what she came up with! What's a Robo-3000 car? Couldn't tell ya, and neither could she. She said it's just something she just thought up....we don't have cable so it couldn't be from a commercial which was my first thought, and why it needs cookie cutters is an even bigger mystery. But that's Luna through and through! 

Advent Week 2!

We are already through our second week of the advent calendar which means we're that much closer to Christmas! Eeek! We had a lot of fun this week though!

our advent cards last week

Luna's friend from ballet turned 5 last week and had a gingerbread house building party. So fun!

Every year Luna and I make ornaments together. Last year we made little jingle bell wreath ornaments, this year- salt dough ornaments!

I think rolling the dough was her favorite part.

Luna's favorite advent activity this week was "leave happy notes for strangers" she helped me write happy notes to leave around town. I asked her what she thought we should write that would make someone feel good and she came up with "I love you" and  "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands" everywhere we went that day we left one behind. ( on the kiosk at the post office, in the door at the thrift shop, the bathroom mirror at target.) The rule was we had to be real sneaky and make sure no one spotted us leaving the note. (of course, she loved that part) . She kept saying she hoped someone sad would find one so it would make them happy. I love that girl.

Writing her happy notes

"May we dance?' This girl cracks me up, but family dance parties are my favorite parties.

That's that for our advent week in photographs. The girls and their dad also paid a visit to Nanas and Papas while Mama went Christmas shopping and we watched Ernest Saves Christmas for family movie night. Now we're already into our third week...how did that happen?!

Sniffing Out The Perfect Tree

I love a real Christmas tree. Unless its an Evergleam. Obviously l'd prefer that, but until I get my hands on one of those and convince my family its a good idea, then its a real tree all the way! Every year our family goes to a local tree farm in search of the perfect tree to chop down and this year was no different.

We had a kind stranger take a picture of the four of us while we were on the tractor ride. I'm trying hard to be in more pictures. I'm always the one taking the pictures, but i'd hate for my kids to look back on our family photos and never see their mom having fun too!

First things first

Luna decided that the right tree was chosen by the way it smells. 

Every time we said, "how bout this one?" Luna would get close, spread the needles flat, take a big long sniff and say, "No, that doesn't smell right."

The first time Luna said, "This smells right!" was the last time because that's the one we chose!

Rue was pretty content to hang out in the Ergo all day snuggled with mama

Pack her up and take her home!

Hay ride to the bottom of the hill!

Now it really feels like Christmas in our home! How do you get your Christmas tree? Do you prefer an artificial one? Do you go to a farm or buy a pre-cut one? Or maybe you Griswold it and cut down a massive one from the forest? I won't judge.

A Family Tradition Volume 2: Our Advent Calendar

We are a family that is pretty keen on making memories and family traditions. I've shared here before about our movie nights but we have some holiday traditions too! The elf on the shelf (Mr. Bean) visits our family every year starting December 1st. On his first visit he brings Christmas Pajamas with him for the girls. We've done this since Luna was little and its more fun now because it gives me another reason to get these girls in something matchy matchy! Along with Mr. Beans arrival, December 1st is also the day we start our advent calendar. I made a simple one a few years ago from felt and although each year i have every intention of making a new one, we end up sticking with this one. It sure isn't a fancy one worthy of pinterest but it holds special memories for us.

Our week 1 advent calendar cards! Pajama day? Yeah, that ones my favorite.

Luna is so excited each morning to get up, see where her elf has landed and check the advent calendar. There's a card for each day with a fun activity and little special surprise in the pocket. We like to keep it simple with fun erasers, small pieces of candy, things like that. She was especially excited this week about the Rudolph Band-aids! She immediately searched her legs looking for some sign she needed to use one.

I have to admit, it's not all for her. Watching her in these moments makes me happy too! .

What does it say?!

Sweet sisters. The sight my uterus always dreamed of. Anxiously awaiting fresh baked cookies! Although for Rue it might have been less about the cookies and more about the mysterious bright light coming from the giant metal thing.

Sipping hot chocolate and reading stories by flash light...in a fort of course.

Obviously I didn't get pictures of each activity on the cards but mostly because I was off enjoying them instead. And I'm good with that.

Rue Violet

Rue is one today. It seems impossible but its true. I truly don't know how a year has passed since she joined our family. I do feel a little sad about how quickly this time has gone and there is so much i'm going to miss. But I am excited too, she's changing and learning everyday. Its pretty incredible to see this little girl discovering the world. She isn't walking on her own yet, but she will happily scoot around the house pushing a cart or holding our hands. She laughs constantly. She's happy and funny and watches her sister with big bright eyes, giggling and squealing at everything she says. If you ask her, how big is Rue? She will fling her arms wide open and smile. She loves to clap her hands and give big kisses. She's still nursing and doesn't show any signs she's ready to give that up. I can't tell you what her favorite food is because she will eat anything her 6 little teeth can chew (including cat food from the cats dish) She says mama and reaches for me when I walk into the room or go to her crib in the morning and I love that. She loves me and I love her, and as much as I already miss my little newborn I can't wait to know this 1 year old. So grow on sweet Rue, there's so much happy ahead!

A 1st Birthday: Party of 2

As I mentioned before, Rue and her Cousin Amelia have birthdays just 2 days apart. We celebrated together over the weekend with a small and simple, just the family, party at our house. Its been really special to watch these two together over the past year. Although it almost always consists of Rue mauling Amelia with kisses or hair/face pulling while Amelia tries to get away. But you know, in baby language that's love, right? I definitely didn't get enough pictures, which seems to be standard for me during big events, but the day was amazing and I enjoyed every minute I got to spend celebrating these sweet cousins! I cant wait to see what the next year brings.

Earlier in the week Luna went to the store with her Lala (what she calls my mom) to pick out a special gift for her sister. I helped her wrap it in brown paper and she spent a good part of the day decorating it.

All dressed up!

The ladies of the hour

She sat in her highchair quietly taking tiny bites of cake for as long as I would let her.

Yum yum!

My sister in law made the prettiest little pink and gold cupcakes and both of the smash cakes (that didn't see much smashing)  Rue was fairly delicate with her cake eating and Amelia wanted nothing to do with it!

Our birthday girl and her daddy

Let me just have a little taste...

I really regret not getting enough pictures of the two birthday girls together but luckily we have a few snap happy people in our family that I'm definitely going to hit up for pictures!

Rue doesn't officially turn one until Tuesday, so I'm still holding on to these last hours trying to convince myself I don't actually have a 1 year old.

Lets Make Tassels!

It's almost party time for Rue! Rue and her cousin were born just two days apart so that means two 1st birthdays in the same week. We decided it would be fun to throw a joint birthday party for the girls. Pom-pom garlands are my usual go to party decoration. If you know me at all you know I love a good pom-pom. But this year I decided to switch things up and make tassel garland. I bought a string of tissue paper tassels a couple years back but figured I could probably make them myself, not only for less money but that way I could use any colors I wanted and not have to settle for whatever i could find in the stores. The process is actually pretty simple! Why not make some for your next party, or to hang on the wall in your little ones room or heck, hang them in your living room like I do!

Here's what you'll need:

• Tissue paper in any color you choose
• Scissors
• Glue gun
• Netflix (you're gonna wanna sit on the floor and binge watch Gilmore girls while you make dozens of tissue paper tassels) *optional but recommended

And that's it!

First things first, spread your tissue paper out completely and then fold it in half lengthwise (or if you still use 2nd grader terms like i do, "Hot dog style")

Then fold it again "Hamburger style"

And again, one more time.

Now start cutting! Cut thin strips all the way across your folded piece of tissue paper leaving about 2 inches at the top.

One you've finished cutting the strips, unfold the tissue and cut it in half. Then cut those halves in half and you should have 4 pieces (like the picture above) One piece of tissue paper will make 4 tassels.

Now you want to take one of your 4 pieces and lay it out flat so it looks like " a spider with too many legs" as Luna will tell you. And start rolling it up nice and tight.

After you've rolled it all the way, it should look like this!

Now bring it together and twist until it looks like a tassel! Hot glue it so that it doesn't come unraveled. All that's left to do is string them. Use twine, yarn, whatever you've got!

Cute, right?! They make me so happy, they're so fun and whimsical!

Now you go make some tassels, I'm gonna go pick up someone else's mess!

Movie Night! A family tradition.

One of our family traditions that we love is movie night! It's something we've done since Luna was little. When we started this tradition she was probably about 2 and we would watch movies like Bambi, Toy Story and Lady and the tramp. While I love those movies (I really do!) it gets even more fun as she get older. It's so fun to get to show her the movies that we loved growing up and to see her love them too! Recently Annie, Mary Poppins and the movie we watched tonight, Milo and Otis were really big hits with Luna. Corey and I try to make Movie nights feel extra special. We make special treats and drinks, get cozy in our Jammies and blankets and lights out! We always keep the movie a secret right up until the viewing and Luna gets pretty excited about the surprise of it all. I cant wait until Rue is old enough to join in on the fun too! I hope our family movie nights are something that our girls always remember fondly as time goes by and they grow up, I know I will.

Getting our snacks ready. She's my helper.

A movie night with out popcorn is not a movie night!

Any seat next to daddy is her favorite place to sit.

Its usually bedtime for Rue before we get too far into the movie, but she's pretty keen on the eating part. Also, hair.

Yum!

Hot drinks are on the menu for tonight! Coffee for Dad, Apple Cider for L and Tea for me. Fall is so good.

These truly are the best days. 

I really love the idea of family traditions, like big Sunday morning breakfasts. I love that. I picture myself getting up before everyone else making a big ol breakfast, with all the yummy breakfast foods you can think of. My family rubbing their eyes as they trickle into the kitchen. But that's as far as I ever get, the idea of it. Maybe when I get to the point where I actually get to sleep through the night I will have the energy to make it happen! Ha! Do you have any family traditions that are special to you?