Winter Whirlwind

I've never felt it more than now, but does it seem that once September hits, everything speeds up and doesn't slow down until (fingers crossed) the New Year? From Fall Festivals to Barn Sales to Young Women's in Excellence to guests upon guests, to Halloween festivities to Thanksgiving preparation to decorating for Christmas to baking and baking, we've (read: I've) been busy.

And even though my Christmas shopping is done, my cards have all gone out, our house is dressed to the nines, I still feel like I haven't been able to slow down and take 2 minutes to update this blog with pictures, stories, etc. It may be in part because my sweet husband has been working his pants off for the past 3 weeks trying to get ready for his trial (which is finally starting on Monday, halle-freaking-lujah; oh, I'm not bitter). 16-hour workdays are starting to wear on the Mrs...just a little.

I have, however, found time to give way to my new-found addiction: Pinterest. CAN'T STOP MAKING THINGS. (More to follow)

So here goes- a few pictures, a few stories, and a few projects to catch me up before Christmas.


Family pictures at the Jefferson Memorial. Freezing. Addison refused to nap that day. Late start= light fading fast. But we did it with the fabulous Kings, who are always fun and managed to turn a potentially awful afternoon into another fun adventure.

Thanksgiving with Mom Mann. She came in for the whole week and we had fun hanging out, visiting Arlington National Cemetery (how have we lived in Virginia for 6 years and never stopped by?), which was amazing. She most graciously offered to make all the Thanksgiving pies, namely 2 pumpkin, 1 peach, and 1 apple. Delicioso. The Kings honored us with their presence that night as well, offering up the best dang banana dessert I've ever tasted (I don't even know what it was called and I especially don't like banana stuff, but this was KILLER).

This may be the absolute worst picture of me, but it was the only one we got, so there you go.

At Arlington Cemetery. We watched the changing of the guards with gobs of other people. After the ceremony ended and the new guard was on duty, everyone left but we stayed to take pictures. Lo and behold, Taps started playing, never having sounded more beautiful than it did then. We felt bad for the hundreds of people that left before the main event. I think they should put up some sign warning the spectators, "Don't leave until after the bugle boy plays".

Personally, I thought this was too cute of a shot not to get. Apparently the man behind us did not. He said (a little too loudly), "I guess some people are just too dumb to read the signs." So I laughed and took another picture.

Last weekend we got our Christmas tree put up. It may be the most beautiful tree (certainly the most delicious smelling) we've ever had in 10 Christmases together.
The girls most certainly loved decorating it, and we only lost a few ornaments to curious little fingers. See that tree skirt below? That's one of my Pinterest projects. It's a No-Sew Ruffle Tree Skirt. After only 4 hours of gluing in front of my TV, 6 yards of fabric, and 90% of my hands red and blistered from glue-gun burns, she's finished. And mighty proud of her I am.

I took the girls to see Santa early this year, being totally over the 3-hour wait we've encountered in years past the week before Christmas. This Santa is truly amazing at Tyson's Corner. There've been some articles written about him, so I'm grouping him in with our local celebrities. I went on December 2nd (way early) at 10:01, a minute past his grand entrance. And guess what? We waltzed right on up there like it was nobody's business, they sat right down on his lap and gave the old man their wish lists (apparently Makenna wants a dolly. They both look overjoyed, don't they? Solemnly overjoyed.).

I had a Groupon for the pictures, which we picked up after talking to Him, then went about our morning at the mall. On the way to the car, Makenna stops dead in her tracks and says, "Oh NO! I forgot to ask Santa my question! Can we go back, please?" Not wanting to disappoint, we sneak in the back and ask the nice elf if my darling 4-year-old can ask Mr. Claus just one tiny question, pretty please? So she marches on up there, sits on his lap for the second time in a day, and inquires, "Santa, why does your wife have to stay in the North Pole on Christmas Eve?" He told her she had special jobs to do while he was away and she had to make the hot cocoa. Mystery solved.

This is my girl, re-enacting her exciting morning's events. All her dollies are waiting in line to talk with Santa Claus (who is being played by Mr. Smurf). Her story was complete with the princesses pushing in line and Cinderella kindly reminding Belle "You need to wait in line until it's your turn."

And my last little Pinterest project, completed today:

Leg warmers for the girls with tie-ribbons. Tell me, WHAT did we do before Pinterest? There are so many adorable ideas...pace yourself Kara, pace yourself.

So that's it, my friends. Officially caught up until Christmas, my birthday (hint, hint, wink, wink), Mom coming on the 28th, and New Year's Festivities. Oh, how I love the holidays! Off to bake 4 more batches of fudge...