Post Christmas Post and a Puppy

Happy Belated Christmas friends! I admit that a day or two ago, I was a little sad that Christmas was complete. I was still clinging on by listening to the Michael Buble Christmas CD in the car... but since then, I am glad that it is past and that we have 12 months to recover until next year! Now only if spring could hurry up a bit, I am officially over cold weather after Christmas!

Christmas was wonderful. We spent Christmas eve at our church's service, where Keating actually sat through the entire thing. I am sure it helped that there was snow falling from the ceiling and lots of singing and acting, but I will take what I can get!

After church we went to my parent's house where we had a traditional cajun Christmas eve dinner of seafood gumbo. Keating got to open the first present this Christmas and my parents decided to give him his biggest gift first. That pretty much distracted him the rest of the night because he is so obsessed with this tractor! I still haven't uploaded any photos so all that we have are iphone pics.


Even though Keating didn't really understand the excitement of Christmas morning, he woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to start the day. I stuck him in our bed for a few minutes so that I could put on a smidge of makeup before going into the living room. Call me vain, but Christmas morning photos live on for-ev-er. Keating had a little bedhead, but he isn't ashamed. If you happened to notice the festive red sheets on our bed, I wasn't trying to be Christmasy, thats just what we threw on when Keating decided to color with Sharpie all over our WHITE duvet and sheets the day before. But thats a different post for a different day.

We kept it simple, but Santa was pretty good to Keating. He hadn't gotten any new toys in a long time, so he was due for a few upgrades. A few of his favorites were his remote controlled police car, a basketball that Lola immediately popped, his Sesame Street toys, and the magnadoodle that I added last minute after the Sharpie incident.

Santa... or Brad was very good to me as well. I got a few great stocking stuffers such as travel toiletry bags from West Elm, a new Iphone cover, and a housekeeping service for 6 months!!!! That man really knows the way to my heart, or he is just tired of having a dirty house!

I also got the most beautiful pair of Frye boots I've ever laid eyes on. I've been asking for a pair every Christmas since we got married. I told Brad I'd wear them the rest of my life if I got them. So far that has been true, they haven't left my feet except to sleep.

And to add one more surprise to the list, Brad and his talented carpenter friend made the shelf that I have been dying for ever since I saw this photo! I can't wait to get it hung up! It is really going to finish the look of our entry way.

Which brings me to the final "gift" of Christmas... Santa made a late delivery and this little guy came to live with us yesterday. Brad has been dying for another German Shepherd and this week we finally found one in our price range. Brad called on the ad, but told me that all of the puppies had been sold. Of course he was pulling a fast one on me, because he had one reserved. Yes we are quite crazy to bring a puppy into the house with a baby on the way! I think the pregnancy hormones are eating my brain. But just look at that face! Also take notice of his ENORMOUS paws, this guy is going to be a beast.

Keating and "Riggs" (his unofficial name) have become fast friends. They follow each other around and enjoy sitting in the dog crate together, or sharing toothbrushes. He's great at sharing, but we are working on not sharing quite so much stuff with dogs!

Poor Lola on the other hand... is not a fan. Not. One. Bit. She and I are officially outnumbered in the male to female ratio in the house.
Well, I'd say that pretty much sums up our Christmas. I am ready to get all of our decorations down so that we can start the New Year off to a fresh start. That also means less stuff for a toddler and a puppy to get in to! I know 2012 is going to be one crazy year! I can't wait to see whats in store!

A very Carroll Christmas

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!" - Buddy the Elf

These are the Christmas cards that we sent out this year. I am so happy with the way they turned out! Once again I used shutterfly, and was SO pleased with the outcome. The fact that all three of us and Lola are looking at the camera is quite the accomplishment! Those with toddlers and crazy dogs know what I am talking about.

Keating was sick when we had the photos taken, so this is really the only photo where he is being his normal silly self. I thought the quote from Buddy the Elf was perfect. Keating doesn't really understand Christmas this year, but he has enjoyed the perks of Christmas lights, the tree and his new favorite beverage eggnog! It is going to be hard to explain to him that eggnog is seasonal and he can't have it year round. He's especially curious about the ornaments (all of the special ones have been put up high), and recently he became interested in the gifts. Yesterday he snuck away with a pair of scissors and was trying to cut the paper off of the presents under the tree. Yes, I am an awful mom and I had scissors within reach of a toddler. Honestly though, the kid knows how to use a Dewalt drill and tries to take apart his toys with screw drivers... scissors are the least of our problems! I guess I can blame his love of tools on all of the house renovations.

Keating is also not interested in Santa at all. It doesnt matter the movies we show him or trips to see him... he is not a fan of "Hayha" (he isnt great with saying his S's). As seen from the photo below. While standing in line we tried talking Santa up about being a nice man, and that Reece was going to sit with him too. Reece went first, and as soon as she sat down Keating started flipping out. We thought he may at least sit on his lap with her there, not so much. He can chat in the check out line at the grocery store and be a regular comedian at the barber shop, but put him in a bearded man's lap and he flips out. Dont have too much sympathy, he is a pro at whipping out those big 'ol crocodile tears!

This weekend we will be venturing up to the mountains for Brad's family's annual "Carroll Christmas." I must say it is quite festive to have Carroll as a last name this time of year! His family goes all out with wonderful food, skeet shooting, a children's nativity, and a basket swap for everyone's homemade treats. Then, Saturday night we will be in Atlanta for Brad's company party. Keating's awesome Auntie will be watching him that night, so that we can stay out past 9 o'clock! Should be a nice little Christmasy weekend, just what we need this time of year! I hope everyone else has a great time on the last weekend before Christmas. How is it that Christmas is already in 9 days!?

Christmas in Photos

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! I am still a little bit in denial that it is over already. I have forced myself to stop listening to Christmas Carols, but we are keeping our decorations up until after the New Year.

Having a baby at Christmas changed everything about it. It some how enhanced the meaning for me. I have always celebrated the birth of Christ at Christmas, but something about being a mother, made me really connect with the Nativity story. I have a new appreciation of the many sacrifices that Mary made as well as riding countless miles on a donkey at nine months pregnant!


This year we went along with our normal traditions but tweaked them just a bit. Christmas Eve, Keating and I some how had the house to ourselves so I decided to make sure I had a lot of great photos of him in front of the tree. Sometimes I forget to take photos and I wanted to remember every detail about his first Christmas.

{I really love those overalls, in case you cant tell!}

He was more interested in playing with the dogs and eating my iphone than taking photos... but I think I got a few good ones!

It looks like he is praying, Such a little angel! ;)

Last Spring we went to a festival and had this ornament made, I really cant believe how much his little hand has grown since then! I want to do one every year because it is so sweet.

Christmas Eve we headed out to church. They had all kids come to the sanctuary for the service so needless to say we had our work cut out for us. My dad went to take him walking half way through, and I kept hearing a loud little voice yelling "DA DA DA DA" his favorite phrase. Overall, he was really good.

After church we headed home for Christmas eve dinner with our good friends. Keating was up way past his bedtime, but he loved showing off his new Christmas PJ's. He looked like such a big boy wearing these!

Even though he obviously doesn't understand the concept of Christmas morning, he woke up bright eyed at 6:45 am ready to go. I was surprised that he was actually really into opening gifts. He knew that they were toys for him, and he immediately wanted to check them out.
{sorry for the flashy photos, I really need to buy a good flash}

For months, his GPaw has been scouring Ebay to find vintage Tonka toys for Blue. Here he is checking one of them out!

After opening gifts we headed to my sister in laws house for our annual brunch and to open gifts with them. While we were there, it started SNOWING! We were predicted to get a white Christmas, but I wasn't going to believe it until I saw it!
{Yes my child doesnt have a jacket on, but he was only outside for a second}

These are all before the heavy snowfall, but Keating LOVED playing in the snow!

Such a little dare devil. I'm going to have my work cut out for me!

We didnt have a baby friendly sled, so our redneck laundry basket worked just fine! Lola really wanted to sled too!

Christmas night we had family over for fondue, and played a game called Mexican Train. Have you ever played? It's a ton of fun and gets super competitive. The rest of the night we spent making snowmen and sledding in the snow.

This Christmas will be very hard to top, we had a lot of firsts with a new baby and our first White Christmas ever. I am sad that it flew by so quickly, but we made so many great memories! I am so very blessed and thankful.

I hope everyone else had a very Merry Christmas!!

Hey Santa Claus

We have been waiting to take Keating to see Santa until this week. For one, Brad was going to be home this week, and two... I was hoping his stranger anxiety would calm down a little bit. We had planned on just taking him to the mall, but we found out there was a Santa right around the corner, and he was free. Score!

This older couple {Santa and Mrs. Claus} transform their home into a winter wonderland every Christmas. Mrs. Claus welcomes people into their home to see the massive collection of holiday collectibles including a Christmas village and countless Santa figurines that they have collected together over the years. Santa is out back in the "workshop" where people line up nightly to sit with this local legend.

This was Keating's initial reaction. He flipped out, just like we figured he would.
Poor Santa, I told him he was going to scream so he tried to bribe him with Rudolph. Keating was not impressed by Rudolph! Needless to say, our trip to see Santa was very short lived, but I got the priceless photos that I was going for. Maybe next year he will understand a little better and get excited to see Santa.

Carroll Christmas & Vanilla Honey Butter

Every year for the last 75 years "Carroll Christmas" has taken place. It originated with Brad's grandparent's family and their 7 children, and since then, has probably tripled in size with descendants. His family has a beautiful church camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains. On the Saturday before Christmas, the entire family comes from afar to celebrate with one another.

This year was Keating's first year, and he was supposed to be Baby Jesus in the kids Nativity play. I was really looking forward to filming him flipping out while he was swaddled as a docile baby Jesus {His exact opposite.} Instead of sleeping in the manger, he fell asleep in the car. We decided not to wake him, because lately with nap time, I take what I can get.

Another tradition that the day entails is the annual skeet shoot. Usually just the boys participate in the contest, but this year a few girls gave them a run for their money!

It has been so cold lately that the pond is actually frozen.

Keating loves being outside like his dad.

He hung out with Aunt Melissa a lot so that I could photo the contest.

Blue was so well behaved that he had the entire extended family fooled! He was so happy all day, but would NOT be held by anyone other than a select few. His stranger anxiety is still at an all time high.

We passed this precious barn on the way home with a Nativity in the hay loft. I thought it was so cute. Not something we see around town.

So if you follow my tweets, last week I mentioned that I made Vanilla Honey Butter. I LOVE honey butter and I decided that I would whip some up to give away to friends. I enhanced the recipe a bit and it came out so delicious.

Vanilla Honey Butter

1 lb Butter
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

First cream the butter

Then add honey, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon

I had saved a few baby food jars that I repurposed. I spray painted the lids so that they didnt say Gerber. = )

Then I spruced them up with a little fabric and a homemade tag. Its all about the presentation! This stuff is amazing on biscuits, toast, muffins, a spoon.... just keep in mind that it is butter, and not frosting. I had to keep reminding myself of that!

Well I hope that everyone is having a great week. I cant believe it is almost Christmas!!! This week I am excited to see a lot of friends that are coming into town for the festivities. It has been ages since I have seen a few of them.

Also DONT FORGET to enter my giveaway!!

A few of my FAVORITE things!

Here is my favorite things Christmas edition!

My f-uggs {Faux uggs} Yes, I usually hate anything that is faux or imitation, but y'all these boots are real shearling and can be found for around $30 at your local COSTCO. Yes, I said Costco! I dont wear these to make a fashion statement, but on days like today where we are expecting a 30 degree high in GEORGIA, they are quite nice and toasty! Disregard your brand loyalty and just trust me! Mercury glass- it is just so beautiful I could fill my entire house with it... that is, when I have a house! {These are from Pottery Barn}

I live for peppermint tootsie pops! I can eat an entire bag! Keating loves to share them too!

In addition to peppermint tootsie pops I also LOVE this creamer! It makes my coffee so much more festive!!
Lucerne-tainly look Marvelous nail polish. This is my most favorite color that OPI has made in umm... EVER. It is the perfect holiday sparkle without being over the top. I have been wearing it for weeks.

Cover Girl simply ageless foundation- After seeing on Dr. Oz that they dont know the long term effects of mineral powder foundation after breathing it in your lungs... I had to make the switch. Call me paranoid, but better safe than sorry. I kissed my Bare Essentials goodbye and so far this is the only makeup that I have liked. This gives a great airbrushed look and doesn't settle in all the little lines. Plus its really easy to apply and isn't messy. Love this stuff!

The Holiday, I could watch this all year long, but I especially love it at Christmas since it is technically a Christmas movie. The snow and cozy cottages and little British pubs are just wonderful. Also cant go wrong with Jude Law!

It's a short list but it all makes me happy!!! What is on your Christmas favorite things list?