BRB

2 holiday parties and a kindergarten field trip today.  I NEED A NAP.

But look!  I got my first present!

Family Gingerbread Houses!!

Last year was the first time that we eschewed the pre-made kits and made our own gingerbread houses from scratch, and it was SO FUN we decided to do it again this year.

The kids, though, don't really like gingerbread, so I made funfetti cookie houses, which were a YUGE hit. (I have no idea how they taste, but I am making a crap ton of funfetti cookies for Dorothy and Cooper's class parties today, so I hope they're great!)  (And, obviously, they were inspired by the funfetti house I made at GNO.

I used this dough recipe because it was no chill, and I like my dough like I like myself.  WITH NO CHILL.  I also doubled the recipe, which was just enough to make 3 houses using this template.

I made the houses on Saturday afternoon, glued them together with this royal icing on Saturday night, and we decorated them on Sunday afternoon when the kids got home from their hockey tourney (Harry's team got 2nd place!!)

We teamed up for a little friendly competition. Next year, I will mix up the teams a little (drawing names, maybe?) instead of letting Dorothy assign them.  I will also give every team the same amount of candy and fill the frosting bags higher to start with so I don't have to refill). 

They worked so hard!

 Dorothy and Cooper's was my very favorite because they were just so sweet and earnest.

The kids can't ait to smash and eat these when they get home on Friday to celebrate winter break!!

Limping toward the finish line

I thought I was done making holiday magic happen yesterday, but then I noticed that I bought myself a child's medium Gap pajama shirt.  Gah.  And then another store emailed me helpfully just before dawn to say one of the items in my order was no longer available.  So.  To the real mall I go.  Boo.

And then, of course, there is the wrapping.

Last year for the first time ever I got my wrapping shiz together and there were darling brown paper packages tied up with string.  This time, though, the look will be less uniform because I am not buying anymore things (except, you know, that one gift and also a new shirt for myself in the correct size).  But!  I am using yarn, which is just so stinking cute.

I wrapped Ben's the moment he left for hockey today, and despite a lunch with a friend (can I just say, lunch dates have been a huge happiness boost, and you can look for them on my 19 for 2019 for sure) and a slew of final exams coming in this afternoon, I hope to make some serious headway today while the kids are at school.

Buts, alas, all of the kids are missing key gift components that various stores assure me are out for delivery.  I JST WANT TO WRAP ALL OF THE THINGS.

And maybe watch a few Christmas movies.  NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK.

Dorothy Date

I put "get a pedi with Dorothy" on my 40 for 40 list because it just is such an iconic mother/daughter thing to do.  But, really?  I have mixed feelings about little kids getting mani/pedis at a nail shop.  It just seems kind of gross and bougie.  I didn't get my first pedi until college (with my grandma who introduced me to all the coolest stuff-- shout out to Bomma, if you're reading).  But here's Dorothy, five-and-a-very-important-half, getting all 20 nails buffed, filed, and painted.  With snowflakes on her thumbs and big toes.

 I love pic this so much.  She could barely reach the water.  (I just took her to my favorite neighborhood shop-- no fancy kid accommodations, but there is a sweet white wine I like...)

 She totally dug the whole experience but asked that I quit talking to her.  So I just eavesdropped on the lady about 15 years older than me there for her birthday with her college-aged daughter and her pregnant married daughter.  Adorbs.

 Such tiny toes.  And yes, she picked 10 colors.

 She tried SO HARD to stay still

 SO HARD.

 Loved the finger dryer.  Couldn't reach the toe dryer.

 Such a lady

 Ta-da!  She said one of her favorite parts was wearing flip flops in the winter and giving her toes some air.

 Nice.

 But really?  She had as much fun dropping her coloring contest entry off at the grocery store and getting a Tootsie Pop.

 (Also, we saw The Grinch and it was darling-- we both loved it)

18 for 2018: HOW DID I DO

Spoiler alert, you guys.  The verdict is mixed here.

1. Blog everyday: 

I did this one, but I don't think I would do it again.  I will for sure set a weekly blog goal because in some ways it made me feel more present in my life.  But my blog metrics reveal that this exercise was BORING for all f you.

2. No FB 9-5 M-F: 

I am doing so much better with my FB addiction.  I deleted the app, and I am rarely on FB except on my computer.  But. I am on Instagram all the effing time.  So.

3.  Read 100 books: 

Um, nailed this one out of the park.  I am going t up the ante for next year for sure.

4.  Read Poetry:

This was such a good one for me.

5.  Table Setting:

I bought chargers.  And used them!  Yes!

6.  Book plot/writing:

I really sucked it up on this one. I need to brainstorm ways to break this goal down and add it to my 2019 list.

7.  Print Pics:

$%^#

8.  Track Spending: 

*&%$

9.  Post on Insta and 1SE: 

I slacked on 1 SE, and Insta stories really slowed down my normal picture posting.  But I am not going to resolve to do MORE on social media because that would literally be fucking nuts.

10:  Have a dinner party: 

Thanksgiving?  Does that count?

11.  Let the kids entertain more at home: 

YEP.

12.  Write poetry:
YEP.

13.  Volunteer for candidates: 

Well, I watched the kids while Ben did this.  And did it so well, I might add.

14.  Clean the closet + maintain it:

YES.  But it has fallen all the hell in the last few weeks because of all the presents.

15.  Family movie night: 

LOVE this one, and so do the kids.  Ben is not a huge fan because of all of the squabbling, but for me, there's nothing better than a good candy binge followed by passing out on the couch at like 6:30pm.

16.  Paint the downstairs and fix the bathroom:  

We actually thought about doing this one the day after Thanksgiving.  But so far, no go.  We are getting to a point where we need to do a few things around the house (which turns EIGHT this year), so I hope to see more like this on next year's list.

17.  Harmonious mornings: 

This is WAY BETTER.  I no longer make the mistake of checking Harry's learning management cite in the morning.  And I have learned through trial and much error that the kids need to lay their clothes out the night before (this is not rocket science; I know) and even though I HATE working out first thing in the morning, I need to get on the machine before 6 am if I want my day to be smooth.

18:  More date nights: 

Can I just say, this was an inspired goal.  We have had so much fun spending time with friends or just with each other.  I want more social goals on my list for next year because sometimes I just retreat into my book and coach cave (where I am super happy), but I need to get out more, literally.

I freaking LOVE resolutions, so you can be sure I will trot some out for the new year.  Any ideas you're working on??

What We're Eating This Week 51/52

WE DID IT!  We planned and ate decent meals almost the whole year.  If a frozen buffet of fried things some nights counts as decent. Also, there was a lot of pizza.

This week is hockey-riffic, and we are trying to force a date night in there.  So.  Lots of quick faves:

Saturday:
Movie night!

Sunday:
Turkey club sandwiches, fresh fruit and veggies, gingerbread house candies

Monday:
Pasta casserole, broccoli, salad

Tuesday:
Crockpot chicken sup, assorted fruit and veggies, crusty bread

Wednesday:
Burgers on the grill, oven fries, peas, cookies

Thursday:
Date night?!

Friday:
MOVIE NIGHT

The Hap-Happiest Season of Aaaaaall

YOU GUYS.

I don't think I have ever had a more stressful end of the semester.  I have a thousand things to do, and they all need to happen at the exact same moment.  Work stuff.  Professional development stuff.  Kid stuff.  House stuff.  GAH.

But!  We have been having tons of fun and doing special little holiday things, too.

Like wearing reindeer antlers.

 And have breakfast with Santa and the Mrs.

 Which included a round of glitter tattoos that most of the kids still have on their arms a week later because they don't wash well apparently.

 Coloring-- always a hit.  Also this breakfast was cooked by a local cafe and presented in a kitchen renovation studio.  So it was like we were at Santa's super nice house.  I loved it!

And each family got an autographed book-- YUGE hit.

 

 With the big man himself!

 Since we were feeling so darn festive, we headed downtown to see the capitol tree, which did not disappoint.  Although, I think you can see that we reached the OMFG just take a damn picture portion of our morning.

Harry had a supremely awkward and darling choir concert.  But!  Only Dorothy and I could attend because Cooper had hockey and Jack had Cub Scouts and plus also Harry tried out for the school musical and Ben had late meetings.  IT WAS A DAY.

Finally!  And most merry (so far!) was a super fun GNO to make a gingerbread house that I will attempt to recreate at home, minus the fab cocktails and even more fab friends.