Decorating Party

Last night my mom and headed over to Jana's for a decorating party!  We brought over some decorations of our own and pooled them together with what she had.  

Jana put on the Christmas carols, apparently she didn't care for my singing, and we decorated!

Boy did we do a good job! 

She has glitter, sparkle, or lights in every inch of her hallway, living room, and kitchen.

I am so glad she asked us to help.  This time of year is hard for all of us with Carter not being here with us.  I know how I am feeling is even 100 times that for Jana. I don't always know what to say or have the right words but sometimes actions can speak as loud as words. I just want her to know that I am here for her no matter what and will do whatever I can for her.  It is nice to feel I helped her in a little way to make it a little easier and special for their family.

Here are a few pictures from our decorating party!
Jana actually took most of these on my camera so I am in some too!

We ended the evening with some cocoa and Cohen snuggles!

{decorating crew}

{marshmallows dipped in chocolate and rolled in crushed candy canes}

{Cohen decided to join the party after a pre bed nap}

{Snuggle with Auntie}

Friends for life

"A cousin is a ready-made friend for life."

Author: Unknown

I love that my kids have cousins that are not only close in age but live 5 minutes from each other.  I have such great memories of weekends at my aunt's house playing my cousins when we were younger.  I love that my kids have that too!

On Saturday Eli and Josiah got to come spend their night so Joel and Christine could go to a wedding.  The kids came in and quickly disappeared upstairs to play.  I was actually quite shocked by this because I had the table set for dinner and pizza was on the counter.  They played amazingly well upstairs for an hour until I finally called them down to eat.

After dinner all the kids got ready to head to the pool to swim.

{Jordan-5, Josiah-8, Michelle-10 & Eli-6}

After swimming we came home and the kids got in their jammies while I prepared the living room for a sleepover.  We got back from the pool a little later then planned but not to late for a movie before bed.  The kids got snuggled in, passed around snacks, and enjoyed watching the Aristocrats.  

Then it was lights out, except the little Christmas tree, and time for sleep.

The next morning they were up bright and early as usual.  The nice thing about them being downstairs is I didn't hear them until around 8!  I got up made some coffee for me and pancakes for them.  They spent the morning playing and taking turns with Jordan's DS.

{friends for life}

I heart face {bust a gut}

This week at I heart faces the photo challenge is bust a gut.

I love this pic of my son and his cousin.  

I am embarrassed to say what they were laughing about during this mini photo shoot.

It's beginning to look alot like......

Christmas threw up all over my house!
The day after Thanksgiving is the beginning of Christmas decorating!  This is usually a few day process of going through all the tubs, pulling stuff out, and finding a home for it.
So glad I have the entire weekend to get some what organized.  Here is what I got done so far.

Wrapped the box to take to Michelle's school for donations

Made the kid's beds over with snowman flannel bedding

Was also able to get Josh out to hang the lights.  Good thing since weather has been gross all day today.

Finished house at night.  The ones in front blink so they aren't out like they look.

Messy counter

Jordan decorating his little tree for his room

Jordan has loved the box!  I may have to rewrap it for him for Christmas :)

I saw this idea on pinterest and loved it!  I did it my kitchen window.

Random Christmas decor

Little people nativity scence

Stockings hung with care

Little shelf when you walk in door.  I need to load Christmas pictures on my digital frame still.

It is definitely starting to look a lot like Christmas around here.
We are still missing our tree in the corner.