adieu 2011

as New Years fast approaches you hear the rumbling of newly formed resolutions that are being readied to be shouted off at the stroke of midnight. I have never been one for resolutions, why set yourself up for failure. Sure we all intend to go to the gym, lose that 10 pounds, save more money and pay down debt. I finally put it all in perspective & I have decided to make myself smaller goals.
Each week I am going to set a goal for myself, all pretty trivial. Like one week could be to fold all the laundry and actually put it away (imagine that) or one week make sure I spend a little more time with Sebastien or do something nice for  myself or a friend, the possibilities are endless! There are 52 weeks in a year...just think with each mini accomplishment, how well accomplished I fell at the end of 2012! I am even thinking of getting the family involved in it too, we all need some little victories! I will keep you posted each week on how well we do. Now the fun part is coming up with what I want our family to accomplish!
On a separate note, we are hosting the big New Years Bash this year & I am super excited about it! I have been getting print outs for decorations and scoping out all the stuff I can mix with whipped cream vodka!
Get your party hats on, celebrate and dance on the tables like its 2011!

and like that it was all over (our christmas in pictures)

That is exactly how I felt this morning as I got up and realized it is back to the good ole routine.
After having 4 days off, sitting in your pj's, enjoying the kids and actually getting to see your husband for more than 30 minutes in one day, I certainly was not ready to be snapped back into reality as the alarm went off this morning.

We had a great weekend and Sawyer totally rocked his first Christmas and found out he had fungus in his pants.......don't worry it is almost cleared up.

Friday, we dealt with Group Health (not liking them) and Sawyer's fungus (gross) and did what 99 percent of the population did that day, shop!
After we spend way too much money, we went on a road trip to Shelton to spend Christmas Eve Eve with Steven's family. We did a pre-Christmas dinner with the world's best turkey (sorry honey) and a 13 lb prime rib.

This turkey was so juicy and good, that even Steven bowed down to it.

This was only half of the prime rib. We cut it in half in order to have a well done one & this one is the rare  bloody one

Sawyer being a ham

Spending some time with Great Grandma

grubbing on a candy cane!

 Their magnificent tree that we were soooo jealous about!

our kids being themselves!

Sawyer giving cousin Brittanie some love.

Sebastien got a drum set!

Steven's face at seeing the said drum set!

Everyone enjoying the drums

                   

                    

Christmas Eve was spent making all...ALL our cookies and this year we decided to try something new for dinner. We each made our own pizza. This turned out so good & the kids had a blast. I think this will become a new tradition. Sometimes we will have to alternate days when we do this, since we only get Jash Christmas Eve/Christmas morning every other year. Steven showed some mad skills with the pizza dough.

 Check Jash on this one.....I swear the camera just catches his craziness!

We have odd children, we totally had to wake them up on Christmas morning! Steven & I got up at 6am and ran around the house yelling "Santa was here...come look, Santa was here" Sebastien refused at first to get out of bed (remember he is so not a morning kid) By the time they came out to the tree all the grumpiness had disappeared and paper chaos ensued......

Santa brought both the kids wands, Sebastien got a light up Harry Potter and Jash got Dumbledore's

Can't you tell he's excited.

Sawyer's Stocking

Thanks Aunt Wendy, Uncle Tony & Riley

Thanks you Aunt Wendy, Uncle Tony, & Riley

Chaos I tell you!

look what Santa brought Sawyer...& let me tell you he loves it!

even Charlee got some love from Santa!

Uncle Mark, Aunt Becky & Madison came by to visit later in the afternoon and this is what no nap looks like, especially when your parents burst into your room screaming something about Santa before the sun even came up!

visiting with Auntie

Johnathon & Sebastien putting together his cool race track

 aww...this is why I did not want our mini vacation to end!





uhhhh

I was at work today being all productive when I get an email titled "Awkward Family Holiday Pictures" of course I clicked on it and spent a hour a little time looking at them. I was laughing so hard that people probably thought I was having cardiac arrest in my cubicle.
And I thought our picture attempt was bad.

Here are some of my favorites:

This is just wrong on so many levels....you do not sit that close to a fireplace with a bare bum

• What's the trend here with men without shirts?

•  uhhh.........
• 
  

 Mrs. Claus must have a second job

 come on peoples...you know you're laughing too

 check out that arm under the package!

Seriously I could go on. I laughed so hard I was crying & I think some of my co-workers think there is something seriously wrong with me (if they already didn't think that). But I don't give a shite, cause after today I have a mini-vacation at home with the hubs and kids. We have all sorta fun stuff planned like cookie baking, a road trip & I am sure a few crazy stories!

Have a great Holiday!

easiest cookies ever!

I saw this recipe on Pinterest. I have lots of things pinned with the intention of actually getting off my butt to try them so tonight was the night. If you have no clue what the heck I am talking about, check out the phenomenon here.
 I have not actually started any holiday baking yet & I had a party to go to so I thought why the hell not try these.

Red Velvet Cake Cookies:

1 package (8oz.) of cream cheese

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 egg

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 Box Red Velvet Cake

Confectioners Sugar for rolling

1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth.

Who needs an electric mixer when I have him?

2. Beat in the egg.

3. Beat in the vanilla extract & listen to your hubby when he tells you to put in more 'cause a little extra vanilla won't hurt anyone.

4. Beat in the cake mix. (So Beat it! Just Beat it!)

5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls.

6.After batter has chilled and you're ready to make the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F.

7. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner's sugar.
Don't be alarmed when you roll these & your hands look like you just murdered somebody.

8. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.

9. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies should remain soft and gooey.

10. Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar, if desired

These were very cakey....I liked them but not enough to actually sit down and eat a dozen of them in one sitting. They are super easy, super fun & I will definitly add them to my yearly cookie recipes!