Christmas is Here!

Monday I spent most of the day decorating and then Monday night for Family Home Evening we decorated our tree together, watched the Grinch (cartoon), and then Polar Express. The boys weren't as into it as I thought they would be. We also made snowflakes at Alex's aunts house on Sunday night. Nathan cut two and he was done. Here is some of the fun. I love it because it just makes the house so cozy!

Goodwill #2

This is a skirt I got at goodwill and the belt I got at a vintage thrift store in Asheville. Oh, and I was definitely looking at Blake wiping dirt from my mother in laws pot all over his white church shirt, clearly I don't look too happy. It looks artsy, so I ran with it.

Nathan's Bed

So here's the deal. Two years ago I made Nathan a bed. I found one online I liked and copied it. I was planning on moving the boys into the same room, which meant I needed matching beds, because I am a freak like that. So I went on craigslist looking for something like this (crate and barrel - $800):



I found one in TN for $30. I wish I had taken a before picture of it, because it was pretty bad. The paint was chipping and it was totally rusted. My mom brought it to me and I worked for two days on it during the boys nap time. I sanded and spray painted the thing in my front yard. Also, because the bed is probably 100 years old, the paint probably had lead, which meant I got to wear an attractive mask while I worked on it. While I was working on it some kids had just gotten off the bus and I could hear them talking to each other about me and wondering why I was wearing a mask in the front yard. They were probably a little scared of me, all my neighbors probably were. But it was worth it...



I found another one for Blake in Winston-Salem and Alex's parents picked that one up for me for $35 and it looks identical. I worked on that one for 3 hours this past weekend. Alex helped me some and reminded me that he really isn't a fan of my "projects", even though he is nice enough to help me. I then reminded him that at least I didn't buy the one for $800 at Crate and Barrel. This is also the free duvet cover that I got at Target on Black Friday. Not completely what I wanted but heck, it was free!





I am going to move Blake into his bed when he turns two at the end of January.

Thanksgiving Weekend

We traveled to Clemmons, NC to Alex's parents for Thanksgiving. Both of Alex's brothers also came into town. After we were all done eating, my sister-in-law, my niece, and I all went to CVS for some sweet deals. I am pretty sure that is my first time going to a store on Thanksgiving. They didn't know how to get to CVS, so naturally I had to come along and I just so happened to have my coupon book with me. Win win! These are our traditional family photos on Alex's parents front porch.



I am really really unsure what Alex is doing in this picture, but I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it, so logically it is here for all to see.



Black Friday ( I am not sure why this day is called Black, but I am gonna run with it) we went to Target at around 10. All I needed was a free duvet cover with a purchase of a comforter. I got it and we were on our merry little way. Then we went to the mall where I discovered a newly opened H & M. I screamed like a school girl, that's what Alex said anyway. Saturday we went to the park and then later that night we went back to the same park for a festival of lights. We were there for 2 hours! We spent 1 1/2 of those hours sitting in traffic. By the end of the drive around the park, I was yelling at Alex to pass cars that were just lolly gagging through it. The first 2 times he did pass the cars I told him to, but then refused the next 5. We all never wanted to see another Christmas light ever again.



This is one of the $10 shirts I got at H & M. The denim one is from the men's section. Holla!



Blake's hair looks funny, I couldn't resist.

This Thanksgiving...

I did a few things a little differently. The boys and I went on a hunt for some sticks so we could have a place to hang our "thankful" leaves. Everyday we each wrote what we were thankful for up until Thanksgiving. Nathan always remembered to do the leaf and always came up with great things he was thankful for. Blake's were usually milk, water, doggy, or blankie, but he still participated. It was a fun little thing to do to help us all recognize what we are each thankful for and I will for sure keep this little tradition.



This is my table setting that I copied from Pottery Barn. I just liked it and I also enjoyed making it. I made the candle holder things with corn and for the runner I found some old muslin in my closet and cut it.

Nathan's New Room

I found this great 100 year old bed on craigslist for $30 and refinished it and the redecorating began. I just repurposed stuff around the house so I didn't have to buy anything new. I didn't want a themed room. It seems like those get old fast because kids likes change fast. I tried to make it kid friendly yet still clean and organized. I don't have a full picture of the bed yet because I haven't figured out the bedding yet, but I will post that soon. One of my favorite things is that jar piggy bank. I bought some apple juice for the sole purpose of using this for a coin jar.

Goodwill

I have always liked Goodwill. The only beef I have with it is that it takes time to look through everything and with two boys that is a hard thing to do. For example, Blake and I went one time while Nathan was at school-Blake lost Mr. Freeze and it took me forever to find him. Another example, Nathan likes to hide in the clothes. This for one scares me to death and for two creeps me out (no diss on goodwill but I have no idea where those clothes have been and I want to put him in the bath as soon as we get home).

So my sister got me on this new kick of going more. She told me of all the sweet finds she had and I couldn't resist. I found like $40 worth of clothes I wanted, but only bought $12. This blazer is one of my goodwill finds and one of my new favorite clothing items. I wear it pretty much every sunday to church. I love it because I can create so many different looks with it! BTW, we were late for church this day...not only because of this picture....thank you very much!

There will be more goodwill finds later.

Waiting for School to Start

We usually get to school a little early and wait in the car. The boys like to play and listen to music while we wait. Nathan usually wants Weezer, but today it was Coldplay that he was dancing to. He also needed his shades and I couldn't resist a picture.

Here is one of Blake on another day that we were waiting. He found this sticker on the floor of the car and put it on his face. I am not sure why he picked this particular place to put it, but I think it works for him.



Here are a few more: