Christmas (Free!) Art

Christmas Subway Art

Keep Calm Printables

I stumbled upon these while I was clicking around on a bunch of different blogs. I thought they were super cool, and thought I'd share. If you'd like to do something with them, such as print or frame them, there are directions if you click on the link. There are also several other designs.

Enjoy!

My newest addition to the Christmas Music Library

So, I've admitted it before, I'm a Gleek. I love it. Matt and I watch it every week. I used to be a show choir girl. So, it should come as no surprise to you when I tell you the newest addition to my Christmas Music library. Yup, the Glee Cast Christmas Album.

Almost every year, I feel like I need something fresh to listen to in the arena of Christmas music. I love it, but I do get tired of some of the same songs that I've listened to over and over every December for years. Two years ago, I downloaded a bunch of new ones (or at least new versions to me) and shared them with you here. Those are still good ones, but I needed something new THIS year. ...and, it just so happens that this week was the Glee Christmas episode. It was, of course, good (and funny). If you watch the show, how funny was Brittany and the whole Santa thing? Hilarious.

Anyway, I downloaded it yesterday morning and listened to it in the car while I was out and about and REALLY enjoyed it. It was just different enough and yet familiar enough... I think Abby will like it too because there are some Santa-y songs.

Do you have a favorite Christmas album or song this year?

More than we thought

Last night, Matt was finalizing some of his last travel for this calendar year for work. He is about to finish up his first year as a manager with his company, which is a big deal for him. It was a very big promotion and a big deal for our family.

It helped cement me being able to stay home with the girls, financially, and Matt really is satisfied in his new position. However, it has come with some stress, too.

When he accepted the position, we were pretty naive on what we expected in terms of travel for the position. Some of this was due to just not knowing and some of it was that the area that he would be managing was increasing in size as compared to the previous manager. We thought 6-7 weeks of travel a year. Last night we worked out what it ended up being and it was 13! Double. Now for some people, like my sister whose husband is a pilot, I realize you may not think this is a lot, but 13 weeks seems like a lot of time away from home to me. Especially when you didn't know that was what you were signing up for. Don't get me wrong, it was and still is the right decision for Matt our family, but 13 weeks is a lot and it was a rough year, especially in the beginning. I would not want to live those first few months again. We struggled. We had no idea. Parenting by myself was not fun and I still have emergencies pop up (flights cancelled on field trip days!) and depend on good friends to help me out. Now, it is so much easier, but I still miss him when he is gone.

Do you have a spouse that travels? If not, can you imagine it? (I'm not sure I could have a couple years ago)

It started out as a great blog idea

... and then I didn't take any pictures.

So, what I was going to do is take a bunch of pictures of all the cool things that Lily is doing now at Gymboree class. She is now in Level 5, which is for 22-28 month olds, and she is doing great. It is a lot more focused on imaginative play. Each week, there is a theme and all the stations are used to play on that theme.

Today was our third week in Level 5. So far we have had themes of Choo Choo Trains, Frogs, and Puppy Dogs (today). Today we pretended to feed a dog puppet bones (which we had to find after they were hidden all over the room), we had to climb and slide like a puppy, we had to crawl into a pretend doghouse and eat (beanbags) out of a dogbowl, and more. Plus, lots of barking and patting puppies on the head.

Sadly, this is about the only decent picture I got and it has absolutely nothing to do with puppies. But, it does show Lily's growth, because a couple months ago I couldn't get her to climb through anything and now she'll climb through this and tunnels and today she played under some of the equipment for the first time-where the doghouse and bowl were. She also crawled through the narrowest tunnel they have today for the first time, and every other time I've tried to get her to do it, she has refused. (These are kind of big development deals in Gymboree world.)

Little stinker.

A little sparkle

I'm a little behind on Christmas shopping. We have pared down a lot the past year or two so there isn't as much to do, but I still feel that if Christmas was tomorrow, I wouldn't be ready. I was thinking about this as Matt and Abby braved the FREEZING cold this morning at the bus stop. Can I just tell you how glad I was that I didn't have to do that job this morning? Because there was a wind chill of -6 degrees this morning. No folks, that isn't a random hyphen, that is a negative sign. Brrrrrr.

Anyway, so I was thinking today is a great day to do a little shopping. I have only picked up a few toys so far for the girls, and lord knows they do not really need any more toys. I thought I'd pick out a cute outfit or two for them from my latest obsession in children's clothes, Gymboree. Yes. I have a problem. :) Their clothes are just too cute. I always have to wait for the sales because I can't justify their prices. I have also found some great second hand stuff on eBay, but I digress.... BUT, it is too freaking cold out to drag Lily out. Ah, but there is the beautiful world of online shopping! More selection and the lure of free shipping right now and sales, sales, sales. I love it. It is dangerous.

I was actually very good and the sales helped. I only got the girls each one outfit. But, I did get Abby some cute accessories to go with hers and I thought I'd share. How cute is this sparkly bracelet? The collection her outfit came from is called Sugarplum Sparkle, so this seems very fitting. Perfect for a five year old who loves a little glitz, I think. She is going to love it. (not to toot my horn or anything, but she will)

How is your shopping coming along?