Friday Favorites

I can't believe this is the last Friday in 2016. What a great year it has been. I always love the start of a new year. I love that it is a fresh start. I always seem to start the new year with a bang. I am doing a major purge and organization of my house right now. I will be sharing some of my goals (I hate resolutions because the always get broken) for the new year next week!

2016 was the year I decided to take the plunge and start a blog. I am so thankful that I did. I have loved having an outlet from being a SAHM and I have loved even more the friendships and connections I have made through the blogging world.

Today I'm going to share my top 10 posts from 2016, which happen to be my top 10 posts of all time. It seems like you all are as nosey as I am, which I love! My home tours, bag tours, and confessions are at the tops of my most read posts!

O N E | Graham's Birth Story This was such a fun post for me to write. His birth was unlike what I had hoped for but in the end he is our perfect 20 lb 13 month old and we love him beyond measure!

T W O | What's in my pool bag I always love knowing what moms carry to the pool with them and you felt the same. I pretty much carry everything but the kitchen sink, and I'm sure this summer will be no different.

T H R E E | Thursday Confessions these always seem to be really popular, especially when I dish about mommy hood and some #fails that I've had. I love to #keepitreal on my blog

F O U R | Six to Nine Month Favorites this was a popular post since so many of my friends have little ones right now. I really need to go back and do 9-12 month favorites. Maybe that will be on my January calendar.

F I V E | Home Tour Tuesday I loved doing this home tour of my kitchen and den area. Maybe in 2016 I can get my act together and do a tour of my dining room, playroom, and upstairs. You did get a glimpse of it when I gave my christmas home tour.

S I X | Friday Favorites these are always fun posts especially when I share great finds that I've gotten from the week. Target one spot anyone?

S E V E N | What's In My Bag another nosey post! Check out what I carry around with me on a daily basis.

E I G H T | Friday Favorites another favorites post, the jeans I posted went viral. Everyone I know owns them. I own 3 pairs! You should go order the now if you haven't!

N I N E | Graham's Pumpkin Birthday Party This was such a fun party to recap. I love a first birthday and celebrating sweet Grahamy was such a great day!

T E N | Christmas Home Tour Since Christmas seems to be everyones favorite holiday (you are my people for sure!) It's no surprise that a christmas decor home tour was a favorite of ya'll! It's my favorite too!!

So there are my top 10 posts of 2016. I hope you will go back and check them out, maybe they were one of your favorites too! I would love to know if you have anything you want to see more of on my page or less of in 2017!

Have a wonderful and safe New Year friends! See you NEXT year!!

*Linking up with Andrea, April, and Karli

Christmas 2016

I'm baaack! Whew, I have been recovering from our fun Christmas weekend and have enjoyed taking a few days off from blogging. But I couldn't let this week pass me by before recapping our Christmas.

We had such a great weekend. Jack is at such a fun age and really "got it" this year. He was so excited to see if Santa came and loved opening presents. I will say, it was definitely overwhelming for him. He is still little and would focus in on one toy and forget that he had lots more to open. We really enjoyed our weekend and I honestly can't believe Christmas has come and gone! 

Christmas Eve was spent at my inlaws. My husbands entire extended family always comes over to their house Christmas Eve. It also happens to be my father in law's birthday so we went over there before lunch to see him and wish him a happy birthday. After the boys took naps we headed back over there to spend Christmas Eve with everyone. It was a great time. There were 40 of us all together ranging in age from 1 (Graham) to 93 (Patricks grandmama). After everyone left we stayed behind and exchanged gifts with Patricks brother and his family. Then it was home to sprinkle reindeer food in the front yard and set out milk and cookies for Santa. The boys went to bed easily and Patrick and I settled in to do the fun stuff! 

Christmas morning I was so worried that Jack would be up at 6 and we would have to occupy him until Graham woke up at 7. Much to my surprise Graham was up before him and we had to wake Jack up at 7:45. Thanks to a not so fun cough and cold that he had developed. Jack was so very excited to see all that Santa had brought him! It's truly magical to see Christmas through the eyes of your  children. Graham really didn't know what was going on and was just as happy playing with the paper as the actual presents. 

The boys big gifts were a Kitchen, lots of Paw Patrol including a bike for Jack, and they got 3 tents from our babysitter, and both grandparents. They were very blessed this year! 

After we opened presents at our house an Graham napped we headed over to my Inlaws and had brunch and exchanged gifts with them. We didn't finish up until about noon. I loved that it lasted as long as it did!

By this point I was beyond exhausted and ready for a nap. We all came home and took some much needed snoozes. Jack was definitely not feeling well by this point so we had a low key supper and early bedtime for him. I got a burst of energy after putting Graham to bed and decided to take down our tree. I felt like a bit of a scrooge but it was beyond dead and time. It took me over an hour to get all the needles picked up after it went to the street! 

Santa brought the boys a swing set and Patrick and my FIL spent Monday and Tuesday building it. Its so fun and my boys are going to love spending hours out there for years to come! 

It was truly a wonderful weekend filled with those that I love most! I missed seeing my family but will be seeing them very soon! 

*linking up with Annie

Friday Favorites

Wow can you believe that it is the weekend of Christmas! I say this every year but the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas goes so fast! There are always so many fun things that I want to do and I really feel like we made the most of this holiday season.

I would say that I am about 98% wrapped, thanks to a very special elf that wrapped for me! I need to hit the grocery tomorrow and then we will be ready to enjoy the holiday weekend! Lots of fun planned and of course tons of family time!

My favorites from this week...

O N E | Is there anything cuter than this..the curly red hair and the monogrammed fanny. I love this sweet boy!

T W O | We love Jacks teachers and wanted to give them something for Christmas. They both love Bath and Body Works candles so I got them each one of the yummy winter scents as well as a gift certificate for a pedicure. We hope that it brought them a little joy and let them know just how much we appreciate them!

T H R E E | I hosted a cookie decorating play date with our friends Hudson and James the other day. The big boys enjoyed decoaring and the little brothers had fun playing, they are finally getting to the age where they can play together..well Graham usually goes right for James eyes but its a start to playing.

 F O U R | Did you catch my post yesterday with the recipe for the cinnamon rolls I've been baking all season. I loved these tags that my friends @olivejuice.dandelions made for me.

F I V E | Probably my most favorite from the week. The picture on the left was taken one year ago. The picture on the right was taken yesterday. They were both sitting in the same spot and their teacher tried to recreate it. I can't get over just how little they were last year. The amount of growing from 2-3 is so much!! Sweet little besties have been friends since they were 6 months old.

S I X | I saw that April posted a tutorial for this felt Christmas tree on her blog yesterday. I happened to be going to Hobby Lobby that morning and picked up the felt and then because I am NOT crafty I did the next best thing..I asked my babysitter who happens to be super crafty to do it! She made the cutest ornaments and Jack has loved playing with it! We have been using it on the floor because I have chair rail all over my downstairs, something I never actually took notice of until now! 

I really hope that you and yours have a very Merry Christmas! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. I hope you are enjoying it with loved ones both near and far. I know that the season isn't always happy and jolly for all. If you are going through something that is making you sad I pray that you find some peace and are able to still enjoy the holiday season throughout the sadness! 

I can't wait to share a recap of our Christmas morning, I have a feeling this is going to be the best one yet! 

*Linking up with April, Andrea, and Karli