{Happy Birthday my love!!}

Happiest of birthdays to my sweet, sweet love! It's been such a blessing to spend the last 20 birthdays with you, Nathan. Thank you for being my Lobster and my person. Each year just keeps getting better and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us this upcoming year. I do know there will be adventure, happiness and a whole lot of love. 

And for 19 days you can't poke fun at me being your "old lady" because we are the same age!!!

I love you, darling! 

{Elf on the Shelf Shenanigans // Part 2}

Our elf, Max has been so much fun this Christmas season! Mason jumped out of bed each morning with eager anticipation to see what shenanigans Max was up to. Max sure does make mornings easier and better! I wish that little guy could stay year round for that reason alone. Today I am sharing the 2nd half of what our Elf on the Shelf has been up to. Well, I was going to...

{The Guys Behind the Blog // December}

Time for the Guys Behind the Blog - December edition!! I love getting a chance to feature my sweet man on this blog! And it's fun to drill him with questions each month, too! He's always such a good sport about it. Sometimes I know exactly what he will say and sometimes his answers totally surprise me!

{Winter Bucket Update // A Polar Express and Grinch filled weekend}

Time for another bucketlist update! This one deserved it's own post. It's one of our favorite trips and we look forward to it each year...our Polar Express and Grinch weekend! We travel a couple of hours East to a quaint little town nestled in the Piney Woods for a weekend of camping, train-riding and Grinching. This year it rained the majority of the time, but we still had a great time.

{Three Things // December Edition}

Several of my blogging friends have started writing a 'three things' post and I loved the idea, so I borrowed it. It's such a fun and simple way to share current happenings in our lives at this particular time. Here are three things about my little family.

{15 Ways to keep CHRIST in Christmas}

As Mason gets older it is very important to us that we keep our focus on the true reason that we celebrate Christmas. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the tinsel and the lights, Santa, parties, and gifts. Especially the gifts. But, God gave us the ultimate gift and He was laying in a manger. A manger, friends. Our Christmas celebrations should be a reflection of the love our dear Savior so graciously gave and continues to give us. Below are 15 ways to keep CHRIST in Christmas.

{My Favorite Christmas fonts and apps}

Today I wanted to share with you my favorite Christmas fonts and apps. I use the fonts for any Christmas graphics that I make and the apps to make the Christmas season a little more magical.

{$10 Target Challenge}

I really didn't have anything in mind when I went to Target for this challenge. Our dollar spot has been pretty picked over for the last several weeks now. I really thought I'd just spend the $10 on wrapping supplies. However, I got to Target and found three things I have been looking for all season long!

{2016 Winter Bucketlist Update // Santa, Bethlehem, Tree}

We have been busy little elves over here and steadily crossing things off our 2016 Winter Bucketlist. I just haven't had any time to blog about it. We've literally had something going on every single night since November 29th. It's all good and fun stuff though, so no complaints here. Today I am sharing some of the things we've checked off our list.

{2016 Christmas Pajama Party // Link-up}

When some of my sweet friends asked if I wanted to help co-host a Christmas pajama party I couldn't say yes quick enough! Pajamas are my jam. Festive holiday pajamas are really, really my jam. I love buying Mason Christmas pajamas. And the way I see it, I only have a couple {maybe a few} more years before he's completely over it. I hope not, but we will see.

{TKBTB // December}

Eleven months ago some of my sweet blog friends and I started the Kids Behind the Blog series. It's been one of my favorites ever since. The things that kids say never ceases to amaze me. I love putting them on the spot each month and having them answer a few questions. And it gives me a chance to learn a little more about my friend's little(s). I just love it. If you're new to this link-up you can find all of the details here. I hope you will join my co-hosts {Stephanie, Meghan, Jessica and Beth} and I and link-up with us. We went with a Christmas theme this month. And because my hosts and I love Christmas we threw in extra questions. We couldn't narrow it down to just five.  You can ask your little(s) all ten questions, or pick and choose the ones you want to ask. Either way, we can't wait to read your posts.

{2016 Christmas Ornament Exchange // The Reveal}

There were so many great Christmas exchanges happening this year and I wish I could have participated in them all. But with a busy travel schedule I could only pick and choose a couple. I am so happy that the 2016 Christmas Ornament Exchange was one that I was able to join in on.

{Max Shenanigans // Elf on the Shelf}

Max, our elf returned on December 2nd making our Christmas season so much fun! He arrived a little later this year because he was needed at the North Pole for a special project. Mason has been anticipating his arrival since the day he left last year. He loves Max so much and wishes he could stay with us the whole year. I'm not so against that either since Mason jumps out of bed so easily every morning so eager to find Max. Thank you Max!!!

{Final Fall Bucketlist}

I got so behind on posting about our fall bucketlist! We did so many things and crossed so much off our list, but I couldn't find time to blog about it. Today will be a final update since I'm already knee-deep in everything Christmas!!

{Tis the Season // Christmas cards with Tiny Prints}

This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints, but all opinions are 100% my own.

I really wanted to hire a photographer this year to take our family pictures in hopes of having some for Christmas cards. But, despite my best efforts we just couldn't fit it in. We are notorious for having the busiest of schedules which is both a blessing and a curse at times. Since Christmas cards {both sending and receiving} are one of my favorite things during Christmas time I knew I had to make this happen. So, I grabbed my boys, my camera, tripod and remote and we headed down to the pond to capture a few. It really went seamless and we were done in less than 10-15 minutes. For what it was I was ecstatic that we got a decent shot we could use for cards!

{2016 Holiday Home Tour}

 I know that I say it every single year, but I wish we could leave the Christmas decor and twinkle lights up all year long. I love it so much and know without a doubt that I could never grow tired of it. It's so magical and beautiful. And I love adding new touches every year. Today I am linking up with some sweet blog friends for a Holiday Home Tour. It's been dark and gloomy here for days so my pictures are grainy and disappointing. But, I am certain I will post more pictures throughout the month so that you all can get a better idea.

{2016 Winter Bucketlist}

 
Christmas time truly is the best time! All of the togetherness, festivities, lights, traditions, church, cheer, etc. just makes my heart so full and happy. I really wish that Christmas time lasted longer and if it were up to me I'd leave the Christmas tree up year round. There is something so special and magical about the glow of a Christmas tree. I can't wait to make memories with my sweet family this season. I am so excited that this year we get to be in church service both on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It brings me to tears that I get to celebrate my Savior's dear birth at church. How amazing is that? Today I am sharing with you our 2016 Winter {and Christmas} Bucketlist. I ran out of room on my bucketlist, but there is even more we have planned this year...all of those little things like Christmas crafting, trimmin' the tree, Elf on the Shelf Shenanigans, building a gingerbread house, making reindeer food, watching the reindeer cam, having a Christmas movie night, camping out by the Christmas tree, etc. I posted more about what we'll do this season in my 25 Ways to keep the Magic in Christmas post. Bring it on!

{Currently // Catching Up}

It's been a while since I have visited this space. The last two weeks have been a blur! I left last week for a business trip in Seattle, WA. Our home office is there and we went to visit and to join them for a Christmas party. It's been 8 or 9 years since we have visited WA and we have never attended the Christmas party. It was a wonderful trip! It's always so hard to leave your family, your home and your comfort zone, but I am so glad that we went. The trip really put many things into perspective for me and I left with a full and grateful heart. I work for such an awesome company. The owner and his wife really value their employees and they are just amazing people. Plus I got to see snow, mountains and one of my dearest and best friends!! So incredibly thankful for this!