David made this ornament this morning. He loves making these.

Nathaniel decided 4am was a perfectly good time to wake up. He wept and wept so we all finally gave up and Jake woke up with him and I slept a bit more. Then we all went to see Santa. David loved it right away. But Nathaniel…..not so much.

Then we had some pancakes and oranges and juice. David was a happy camper.

And then we went off to the crafts room to make some ornaments.

Nathaniel colored.

And David made some snowflakes.

We then went out to see the ducks which Nathaniel loved (so did David.)

I tried to snap some photos with my parents but the little boy was no in an accommodating mood.

So I gave up and just took them with only David.

Who was, of course, very well behaved and kind.

Then we all went out to lunch and did some shopping and came back home so I could work on my december daily and rest a bit. The plan was to go to the Google Holiday party tonight but we are both completely pooped so I don’t think we’re going to make it. Here’s to hoping Nathaniel decides to actually sleep in tomorrow.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we went to see Santa. It’s a tradition now and I love little traditions like these. My little family and me.
2. I am grateful that I get to spend time crafting and exercising daily. Two things I want to prioritize. I’m also thankful because my dad just gifted me Misty Mawn’s new class and I cannot wait to register when it opens on Monday.
3. I am grateful that I will rest tonight. I feel a little sad for not going but I am so so exhausted that I am thankful to get to curl up with a book and my husband instead.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. getting to see santa {* his pick for the journal}
2. playing with opapa
3. going out to lunch.

Days kinda start quietly here but then get really hectic and I tend to leave the photo-taking towards the latter part of the day so I don’t do well on the photos.

Nathaniel’s gotten a bit smitten with TV and asks to have it on first thing. Not good, I know. But he looks cute watching it.

I am not worried yet since he wasn’t interested at all two months ago so I will see if it passes.

Dad came over today while Nathaniel napped and mom and I ran out for a super-quick errand. More on that later.

Then they left and I worked and went to pickup david and then had to rush to work so they came back to be with the kids. I snapped this before I left.

And now I am rushing out to be with Jake. It’s our anniversary. I love him. so. much. I ordered these rings a few months ago and they finally arrived and I adore them.

Off to get ready. A lot more tomorrow, I promise. December daily page two is half done so that’s coming tomorrow, too.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that my rings came. I love love love them.
2. I am grateful that I got to go to work and change my machines. It was a task I’d been putting off for two years. Feels great to have it be done.
3. I am grateful for my husband today and everyday. Happy 16 years, my love. To many many many more.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. getting a silly band at school {* his pick for the journal}
2. eating a gingerbread man at school
3. spending time with opapa and amore and daddy.

The little boy is still not sleeping well. Now he’s got a cold again, likely from my parents I imagine. He was up all night and then I had to go to a school open house for David and he didn’t take his nap so my parents just played with him while I was gone. Then they left, I put him down and worked and exercised.

Day 60 baby!

And then he woke up and played while I worked more. He loves TV and asks me to put Sprout on pretty much all the time. He doesn’t sit and watch but likes it on.

And he likes to chew on his lips. Been doing this a lot lately. He’s so so cute.

Then we went to get David who is also so so cute.

And sweet and kind and generous. A little more work, some food and my parents came over to spend some more time with the kids. Then the kids went to bed, I hung out with my parents and now they’re off and I am trying to finish this post before I watch some GLEE!! Then I will write up all of David’s advent tags and try to do a few more of my list items. December starts tomorrow and I am not ready. But I am also super excited. Bring it on! I will do just fine.

I haven’t crafted in almost a week. Can’t wait to get my hands on my December Daily album.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I exercised 2.5 miles today: my longest in a while. I was getting worried that it might not happen again.
2. I am grateful that December starts tomorrow. Let the holidays and joy begin. My mom bought me a wonderful duvet cover today for the holidays. I will wash and put it on in the morning first thing.
3. I am grateful for every moment I get to spend with my family while they are here.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. being the star of the day {* his pick for the journal}
2. opapa coming to play with me
3. reading my gingerbread man book again at school

This morning was extra-nice because Jake let me sleep in and when I came downstairs, he was snuggled up on the couch with Nathaniel. I should have snapped a photo right there. But I didn’t. Bad me. David slept until past 7am. I’ve never seen that before. So it was an oddly quiet morning.

I spent the morning reading and hanging out with the boys and snapped a few photos.

Even though the little one gave me attitude.

And looks. Enough-already looks.

But I am glad I snapped them cause it’s all I got to take. I then left with my parents for some shopping for my dad and then we all met to have lunch and Jake went to work and the rest of us walked around the mall to help my parents with a few more items. I also came home with some goodies that I am very thankful for. Now I get to relax, make a plan for the week, read my book and go to sleep. Not super productive but quite wonderful nonetheless.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that my dad bought me a wonderful new machine and it will help a lot with exercising and I also got a new pair of sneakers too which I am very thankful for.
2. I am grateful that I broke down all the boxes sitting in my garage. It’s one of my least favorite things to do but I am always happy when it’s done.
3. I am grateful that I am finally enjoying my book. Almost halfway through as well. It’s been a long time since I finished a book and I get depressed when this happens so I am hoping it will move faster now that I am enjoying it so much more.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing at the apple store {* his pick for the journal}
2. going to a restaurant with amore and opapa
3. having opapa tell me a story

After Jake and I came home from the movies last night, we found my parents like this on the couch. It was only 9:15am. They are still very jet lagged.

My favorite thing about Thanksgiving is the fact that I get the next day off. When I worked on Wall Street, we used to have to go to work on Friday and it was so depressing. Now I get it off and I love love this extra day. All the thanksgiving events are over and since I hate shopping, black Friday is not an event for me. I just spend the day snuggling up with my kids and doing absolutely nothing. In fact, I told myself that this whole weekend will just be watching movies, reading books, and family time. Nothing on my todo list. I get the weekend off.

Unfortunately, Jake had to go to work today but he decided it would be fun to take David along, so they both woke up at 4am and went to the city. Jake was worried David might misbehave but I knew better of course. He was perfect. As he often is.

So the morning was just Nathaniel and me. I don’t think I ever saw him pickup this doll before. We’d gotten it years ago for David. At the time he was having some major speech issues and they’d told us to get him a doll. So we did. Anyhow, Nathaniel picked it up, so I snapped a photo.

And then he kissed the doll’s head. I couldn’t believe it. Never did that before. No idea where he got it.

He then continued to make a mess around the house.

In the meantime I changed my lens as I mentioned last night that I might. With my old camera (canon 20d) I used to use the 50mm 1.8 but then when I bought the full-frame 5d mark ii, I also bought a 85mm 1.8 and that’s what I usually use. It’s medium telephoto which means it is hard to get wide photos in a small space. And since I wanted my tree in our photos, I decided for the holidays I’d switch back to the 50mm. And here’s the tree.

I don’t like this lens’s portraits nearly as much but I think it’s an ok compromise for the holidays. I might go back, I haven’t decided yet. To be fair, this one’s also badly focused.

Nathaniel’s learned all about TV and likes it on. He doesn’t sit and watch often but i think he likes the noise like I do.

He also likes graham crackers almost as much as I do.

My mom came over early morning and we tackled David’s room. It was a huge mess so we picked everything up and moved everything around and did a fantastic job. Now I have room to fit a table there which is what I wanted to do. We did it while Nathaniel was napping and by the time David made it home, we were done. And he loved it!

My mom left shortly after and I worked out and Jake went out to work so I just snuggled with the boys and read my book. Little boy was really happy.

And the big boy sat with me and played on the computer.

And now they’re eating dinner and will be heading to bed, soon. David’s been up since 4am. My mom is about come over again so she can sit (or sleep?) while we go see another movie. Yey for getting to go on so many date nights.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that it was a quiet and wonderfully relaxing day.
2. I am grateful that we cleaned up David’s room. It was a big project I was dreading.
3. I am grateful that I exercised today. I was so tired and wanted to just be lazy but I got up and did it anyway.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. going to work with daddy {* his pick for the journal}
2. playing on the computer
3. playing with nathaniel

I am crossing my fingers, but I think we might be on the other side of this sleep thing. The little boy actually slept through the whole night. Me, I woke up at 4:30 am and could not go back to sleep but that’s something else altogether. Go Nathaniel!

My parents arrived safe and sound last night and I got to hang out with them for a bit. This morning, I did some scrapping, some working and some working out before they got here. Once they got here, there was the opening of the luggage full of toys.

Nathaniel grabbed one box immediately and when David took it back, there was much anger and screaming.

Which morphed into a full-on melt-down.

Until David got another box and gave the original back to Nathaniel.

And then we moved on and started playing with the toys.

I tried to sneak a photo of David in. Got the “here ya go” smile.

Nathaniel tried to master the pen.

And looked cute doing it.

Didn’t get enough photos of my parents, will do soon I promise. Now it’s dinner/bedtime and then Jake and I are off to date night. Yey!

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that my parents made it safe and sound. It’s so nice having them around and seeing them play with the kids.
2. I am grateful that my mom brought tons of clothes for Nathaniel, he had almost none and I hate shopping.
3. I am grateful that we get to go out tonight and then have a full family day tomorrow. Love love love family time.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. getting lots of toys {* his pick for the journal}
2. playing the cars game on my didj
3. playing with opapa (my dad)