[ can't get enough ]

Lucky for Momma... Daddy snapped this while we were out at the Rockford Ice Carving Festival yesterday. And I just can't get enough of it! It's frame material because it's so typical Breck and Mommy. We made him laugh and he was so overwhelmed with bashful giggles he burried himself into my chest and I lost it in laughter. Love it.

[ christmas smorgasbord ]

Before I dig into the Christmas smorgasbord I have prepared, let me just say... this boy pulled himself up to the window sill, pointed to his Daddy's picture, and said "Daada!" He knows his Daddy, for sure. Also! Breckazonis (this is the latest nickname that is spewing from my mouth every time I go to say his name? Not sure where that came from.) has four teeth now! His top two just peeped through within the last couple of days!

Now, on to the smorgasbord I promised. 

Appetizer, anyone?

Here's that Christmas craft euphoria I was referring to a few posts back... My friend who hosted it has the coziest home ever. She thinks of all the details when she decorates and hosts. The music, the coffee, the plates, the napkins, the twine around the napkins, the candles, the decorations, the favors she hands out at the end of the night... all play into what makes the evening so delightful and cozy. She was a great hostess and we had such a fun time, just Mommas, just relaxing, just crafting together! 

In my opinion, this is pretty much the coolest creamer dispenser ever manufactured, ever. And maybe one year for Christmas, preferably a year I haven't caused my husband to spend triple our Christmas budget to fix a corrupted harddrive to retreive my 10,000+ pictures, Santa could visit Macy's and bring me a cow creamer dispenser that pours creamer from the pursed lips of a cow. A-ma-zing.

If you don't enjoy drinking coffee out of this, then you don't know what's delicious in life.

 The mug is half the flavor.

Um, yumm.

B was overjoyed, after three long years of waiting for the right opportunity, to whip out her Snowman wine stopper and let him glow for her guests. Who wouldn't be overjoyed over this cute dude? He blinked and sparkled too! 

Seriously, every square inch of her house has something Christmas or ribbon. Love it.

It was a perfect night and much needed. Thanks B for a wonderful night with the girls! 

For some serious comedy, check her out here: www.sprinklesandwrinkles.blogspot.com

On to the entree of our Christmas weekend smorgasbord...

About twelve hours after crafting with the Momma's, I hosted them at our home for a little playdate action. I just have to say that I love hosting, because it means I have an excuse to drag out all of the pretty things that only get used for entertaining. Like this little piece of over-joy-ment for me. I have had these little ornament place card holders forever and have never used them before. Until playdate. I think I got them on clearance one year after Christmas, and they certainly work well this Christmas. And love that I get to use our Christmas berry dishes this time of year also... Mmm.

And I knew all of those glass jars that I'm obsessed with collecting, that my honey teases me about, would finally serve a purpose... pasta sauce jars, olive jars double as candle holders. A little glitter, tea light candle, and ribbon makes me happy! Can we say, cheap? 

He's been at it again. :) 

He's perfecting his skills, and making some very pretty mallows for all of our Christmas festivities. 

I just made that word up, and I love it. Marshmallatier. It think I'll talk to Merriam about that.

I was pep-talking him into sharing his toys before the babies came...

Um, Momma B made this frosty onesie for Mr. J! 

It looks precious on him, and those leggings are just too yummy looking! 

Oh, J Baby, you are so stinking beautiful handsome! 

And for dessert. And it's quite decadent, if I do say so myself. :)

I present, our first visit to see Santa! 

Completely candid and I love it. Taa-da! Breck and Daddy's matching hats! Breck's hat: Mommy's first knitting project, ever. Daddy's hat: Mommy's second knitting project. I love working in the rounds, what can I say? :) We couldn't believe how many people we heard "whisper" as we walked by, "Look at their matching hats!"

I must say, no place goes as far as the mall does to decorate for Christmas. 

Everything Christmas in the mall is always ten times bigger and fifty-five times more shiny than normal and I love it! Everywhere you look sparkles Christmas in the mall.  No matter how congested the parking lots are, no matter how many grouchy crowds we have to weave through, I will take my kids to the mall every year at Christmas even if it's just to see the enormous decorations.

He did great on Santa's lap! Just calm and relaxed, taking it all in. Santa was so nice and his beard was real! When we got ready to leave, Santa said to Breck, "See you next year!" 

Classic, classic, classic Breck! Priceless.

This is totally random, so brace yourself, but it was part of our mall experience and I want to cherish it, document it, and relive it, so deal with it. Wink, wink! Thursday evening, while I was busy crafting with the mamas, my honey was out browsing the mall with the other dads who were avoiding the crafty-ness. :) He came home and told me that he saw a picture of a model in a store window that looked just like me (I would like to add... "just like me, BUT --- MINUS eighty pounds, PLUS blonde hair, PLUS a few pounds around the chest area!) and he couldn't wait to show me. So when we went to check Santa out, we stopped by Vicky's to check her out! I have to say I was flattered because I could see the resemblance he was referring to, and at the same time I finally found the motivation I've been looking for to lose those eighty pounds, come January 2nd! Because if I did... this is what I could look like! Sweet! Also, I have to say... this is why I love my honey. He is NEVER drawn into the sleazy photos of women that are so frequently everywhere you look, on the television, in advertisements and magazines. The only time he notices them is when they look like me, seriously. Oh, I love him. He also thought this model in particular was pretty because she doesn't have the "trashy" look. Granted, she is clad in a bra, BUT she has a little bit more of a sweet look, than the come-get-me look that is usually plastered all over anything advertising. Ps. I think I even saw a scar on her nose when I first got a glimpse of her! 

This might be the closest I'll ever come! 

Wedding day hair photographed by: Carignan Gallery Check 'em here.

That smorgasbord was filling, but the two last pictures makes me want to go have a big glass of water, or eight, or a tummy tuck, liposuction, hair extensions, and a blonde job.