Sausage party

I am talking about our annual white elephant gift exchange party with the Bottermans, Curcios and McDonoughs/Hales. That's right - we all refer to this annual party as the sausage party...I don't know why but it just kinda stuck. It's called the sausage party because we eat eat bratwust and other German food - the food is delish and the gift exchange is always entertaining.

The newest party goers chatting it up...

Ryan and Grayson modeling their reindeer shirts!

Hanging out with Ethan

Kris & Bryan

Kevin and Mary

 Terry & Mary with their grand babies!

Kicking off the gift exchange...

Ryan with Uncle Bryan

Kevin unwrapped a cashmere scarf...which I was pretty excited about...until it got stolen!

It seemed that everything that Kris Botterman opened - got stolen! Poor Kris! But that's how the game goes....I ended up with soap & lotion from William Sonoma (which I stole from Kris) and Kevin took home some sort of tool. There is a $20 limit on gifts and some of the hot items this year included:

- Throw from Targets new home line (can't think of the name)

- White pashmina

- Barrel of Beer (popular with the guys)

Eating cookies. Ryan was using his gingerbread man as a "chip" (or better yet a spoon) and dipped it into the frosting...and just licked the frosting off and went back for more. Sugar high!

VMG Christmas Party

This past Wednesday night was Kevin's company Christmas Party. I am not sure why it was on a Wednesday night but that really didn't matter to me since we weren't planning on staying out late! The party was at the House of Blues and kids from the School of Rock played a set. It was pretty amazing to watch these kiddos - the lead singer and drummer was only 10 years old! Anyhow, they played until about 9pm then I guess it was their bedtime :) The guy who came on after them was also pretty amazing! Fun music - great drinks - and good company!

 And a BIG congrats to Kevin on making Partner! Yay for my amazing husband!

 Hanging with Mrs. Murski and the future Mrs. Park

We had a great time and were home by 10:30 - my kind of party these days!

Sweets & Treats with Santa

Last Saturday was a busy day - Christmas cheer wise :) Lakewood CC had their annual breakfast with Santa, the DSO had their Children's concert and the Arboretum had Sweets and Treats with Santa. So much fun! Wish we could have gone to all three but we decided to do the Arboretum this year - mainly because that is the one I heard about first! Anyhow, Gigi joined us (since Kevin was golfing) and we had a great time!

They had sandwhiches, chips and cookies for the little ones. Ryan chowed down on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and chips! He also shared a sugar cookie with Gigi.

Listening to Mrs. Clause read some fun books!

Craft time! There were all sorts of fun little crafts for the kiddos. Ryan and I hit up the craft area while Gigi and Grayson waited in line for Santa. 

And a visit with Santa. Ryan wasn't scared this time - he let me set him on his lap and then he kinda froze while he waited to get his picture taken. lol! He was very excited to get a candy cane from Santa...that was probably why he didn't throw a fit!

Thanks for coming with us Gigi!

Having so much fun this time of year! 

Project 366 - week 49

Sunday, December 2nd: Ryan selecting a cookie (from Nat's annual cookie exchange) for desert! YUM!

Monday, December 3rd: Grayson turns 3 months!

Tuesday, December 4th: Reading Santa's sleigh with Gigi

Wednesday, December 5th: Reading a book with Ms. Monica at school

Thursday, December 6th: Giraffe day at cub club

Friday, December 7th: Dancing at Kindermusik holiday party

Saturday, December 8th: Visiting santa at the arboretum

Holiday Pictures

The CD of images from our Christmas photo shoot arrived today - yay! We used Chelle Cates Photography and I just love her! She has the cutest props and really knows how to work with toddlers.  Grayson is screaming in these but he was only six weeks old...not much you can do there. He was probably a little hot - poor little guys in their winter clothes...in the 'heat' of October. ha! I already selected the two that I am using for our Christmas cards so I won't share those, but here are some of my favorites!

 Playing on the bed

 Love these little boys in their Christmas PJs!

And this shot is just adorable!

Pictures with Santa

So proud that it is only December 4th and we have already gone to visit Santa!

Ryan wasn't a huge fan of him last year so I didn't have high hopes. That and the fact that it typically takes him about five minutes to warm up to anyone. I hyped Santa up all morning long and when we were on the way to the mall he was telling me how he was going to tell santa he wanted a choo choo train.

We sat Grayson down first and he was happy as a clam. Little G was even giving out smiles! He just looked so comfy up there will big ol Santa. I had Ryan in my arms and when he got up close he latched on to me hard...the photographer was like...when you set him down just get out of the way as fast as possible. So I did. And he screamed.

 And then Elmo came out.

And happiness was restored!

Grayson was smiling a lot but apparently not at the same time. For half the pics his shirt was covering his face...and then when Elmo came out he couldn't stop staring...you know that stare with big ol eyes and no blinking...that's that wide eyed face you see above! lol!

Heck Ryan started chatting up a storm and didn't really want to leave...perhaps next year he won't take so long to warm up to him!

Cookie Exchange

I love this time of year...I constantly have Christmas songs stuck in my head...and I constantly belt them out for my boys to hear...even if I don't know all the words...which I don't. I love the holidays. All the decorations, cheer, events, family fun and parties! One party I look forward to every year is Nat's Annual Cookie Exchange. (Remember last year? So yummy!) This year she hosted the party on a Sunday afternoon, which worked out very well (as you can tell by the attendance).  It is not only an exchange but a competition - yes, awards are given! And who judges? Everyone...since there were over 20 types of cookies the taste testing was a very serious task!

And the awards:

Best Tasting: Carmelitas

Most Festive: Bethies Treats

Most Original: Nutella Hazelnut Cookies

Most Creative: Ooey Gooey Rocky Road Cookies

I made Oreo Cheesecake cookies and although they didn't win any prizes I thought they were pretty darn good! I will be making them for Santa :) 

Lindsey and Susanne

Jackie and myself

Nat's "work" friends. lol

Yay! Cheers to the holidays!