merry stressmas!

ha! that is exactly how i felt this year. christmas came much to fast and i was in a funk. couldn't figure out what gifts to get everyone, didn't feel like shopping, and then as the month progressed the anxiety and stress increased until i had a brief meltdown when my computer started acting funny and i wasn't able to purchase gifts online. all ended well, but i have to admit, being the mom at christmas is the hardest job ever. i want the kids to collect great memories, i want them to enjoy and feel the magical spirit, i want to enjoy myself during all of the fun activities, i want to give gifts that everyone loves, i want more time. because as the mom, you are the one decorating the house, buying the gifts for everyone (kids, hubbs, extended fam, friends, teachers, co-workers), wrapping all said gifts, creating and sending out christmas cards, baking cookies, taking the kids to parties, going to adult parties, hosting parties, getting to the grocery store to stock up for all said parties, making sure all the special activities like advent calendars and looking at lights and special outfits or pjs get done and purchased. phew! this mom is exhausted. cheers to moms everywhere!

new decor...

{luving my new white mantel for this season!}

{thank you, michelle, for the honeycomb ball decor. i luv it!}

{pinterest success! so easy to put this tree
on the wall and hang all of the cards on it.}

{have always wanted to put bows on the garage doors.
finally did it.}

decorating the tree... 

{one of my fav activities this year was letting them
decorate the tree. i had the best time sitting and watching.}

christmas card 2014...

{gettin' cheeky.}

nooch arrived...

{we bought nooch a chef's hat & apron
and asked him to join us to bake cookies.}

 baking cookies...

{or course we had to do a little pre-tasting
before the actual cookie party.}

cookie party...

{our annual neighborhood cookie decorating party
minus a few sickies.}

{she really got into actually making the cookies look artful.}

{he really got into eating them all up.}

2nd annual white elephant dinner party...

{after dinner in the bar,
the singer in the band photo-bombed our pic.}

 christmas eve with the garcia fam...

christmas eve night...

{best dad ever! he agreed to matching pjs.
i think this might be next year's christmas card,
so let's pretend you never saw this, wink, wink.}

{throwing oats and glitter on the lawn to
guide the reindeer to our house.}

 christmas morning...

{they always jump in bed & wake us up.}

{where is reese?}

{gettin' ready for hawaii in the spring.}

{we wore her out by 10am.}

christmas evening with the armits & schelbauers...

{snowball fiiiiiight!!! thanks auntie mel & uncle adam.}