What's in a Year?

My favorite year ever. Out of all 28. 

Snapshots from Today

My sisters kept rearranging Noel into Lone, Leon, and Onel. I like Leon the best.

Last house guest left this morning at 6:45. We need new non-stick pans.

After I pulled the sheets off the guest bed, we had a photo shoot.

Teething on mommy's jeans.

Back to cleaning up. At least I get to wear new Christmas slippers.

Our First Christmas as Three

We hosted our first Christmas! And we did it with a 6 month old who is teething. Our last houseguest left this morning at 6:45 am, which is why I am just now posting these pictures.

Starting the breakfast casserole for Christmas Eve brunch

William's favorite toys to play with: butterfly and purple block

William's first teddy bear

Being entertained by Aunt Mo

Bath time was especially splashy since William had an audience on Christmas Eve night.

Helping Papa open presents at 5:45 am

Inspecting Daddy's present...and looking a little sleepy

Lots of rocking and soothing babies

William's FAVORITE houseguest, Cosette

The dining room became the game room.

Passed out in Aunt Mo's arms

Cousins James and Rhys with Uncle Ryan, "cuddling" on the couch

James and Papa

So delicious! These cinnamon rolls are going to be a new tradition for Christmas morning.

Diapers still have to be washed, even on Christmas day (note the sleeping husband in the background).

Celebrating with Grandma on the 27th

Making his sweet potato face...just because he can.

Merry Christmas to All...

...and to all a good night!

Two Second Decorating

I didn't go crazy with Christmas decorations this year, since all of the decorating has to be done during a certain someone's nap time.  It was actually really nice not to worry about turning our house into a winter wonderland.

That's mousy-pie. Doesn't he look sweet with his big red bow? He's actually a fake rat I bought at World Market a few Octobers ago. I like to hide him around the house and try to scare our guests. Consider yourself warned.

I keep all of our Christmas cards in a big bowl in the entryway table. I love seeing all of our friends' and family's photos mixed up together. A big bowlful of happy faces.

This little Santa man is my favorite. I bought him the first year Don and I were married. He's (Santa, not Don) covered in the good kind of glitter. I heart glitter. I can't help it.

 Speaking of glitter, I made these trees out of old magazines and covered them in spray adhesive and tinsel glitter. This glitter is not the good kind of glitter. This is the kind that sticks to everything, which is why I stuck it on a serving platter.

William was not so interested in the Advent calendar, but he loved hearing Don read Luke Chapter 2 to us each night while I rocked and nursed William to sleep.

Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, evergreen garland, silver stars, pears, acorns, pinecones on the mantle...it is not in my nature to let decorations go unused.

Best method for Christmas decorating: open box of plastic ornaments, pour into bowls. Place on countertop. You can't go wrong with shiny and sparkly.

This is the only Christmas decorative item I bought this year. This chubby jar makes me smile; it's the first thing we've bought that makes me feel like a child actually lives in our house. I can just see William stealing cookies out of this in a couple of years.  We gave my brother-in-law and sister-in-law one of these guys filled with cookies.

Not So Sweet Potatoes

I thought all babies were supposed to love sweet potatoes.

At least he likes his spoon.