greatest hits

i start christmas shopping before thanksgiving.  for one, i am crazy the only way i can afford it is by starting early. i love finding good deals, making lists, making sure the gifts are meaningful, getting free shipping, finding online coupon codes.  i. love. it. all.  i also start early to lessen the absolutely unavoidable stress that creeps in the week before chistmas. in the midst of christmas programs, parties, teacher gifts, company parties, baking forty loaves of pumpkin bread, last days of school, etc. i begin to feel stress knotting (literally) between my shoulder blades.  when a package full of gifts for our family was lost in the mail and another package that i santa ordered on november 19th has yet to arrive, i could sense my holiday spirit deflating.  and all of a sudden i couldn't turn my head without pain shooting down my back.

so last night i decided to go to the gym early to get a thirty minute chair massage.  as the masseuse beat my back to hell (oh my word, it hurt so good), i worked hard to clear my mind and focus on my body (my muscles were literally crunching under his pressure.  gross.  awesome and gross.)  i went home sore, but with a clear mind. we put the boys to bed and watched love actually while i wrapped presents.  i felt tired and calm and happy.  my plan is hang onto that feeling for the rest of this ride.

do the holidays cause you to not be able to turn your head?  or is it just me?

how was that for a preface, huh?  if you are still reading after all of that, i will now reward you with photos.  woot.

1) ben had two christmas programs this week.  yep, i said two.  they have this amazing year-round program there called body rhythmics, where the kids practice mind and body coordination to music without talking.  it's pretty cool to watch.  and ben loves it, obvs.

at program numero dos, he sang proper preschool christmas songs while looking cute wearing a handmade construction paper reindeer hat.   

see?

i am becoming increasingly aware that my babies are only babies for a short time.  during the program, it occurred to me that this was ben's last pre-school christmas performance.  i had to hold back my tears.  then i thought about those babies in conneticut who also had their lsat programs...and i almost cried my face off.  sometimes it's just too much, am i right?

 2) ben batman and daddy went to see batman live.  the naked baby throwing the temper tantrum was left behind with momma.  naptime, anyone?

 3)  my dad celebrated the fourth anniversary of his fiftieth birthday with a family brunch at the gin mill.  ohmygoodnessgracious, it was delicious.  my friend sherry recently joked that her young son's love language is french fries.  after brunch, i decided my love language is grits.  creamy, buttery, well-seasoned grits.  i was too busy shoveling grits in my face to take pictures of the food or the gorgeous interior of the restaurant/bar (seriously, go here), but i did snap this pic of addy bug mugging on her great-grandpa. 

 4) marcy hosted her second annual christmas cookie decorating party for the kids.  some children (one of whom i'll nickname, martha stewart) diligently decorate cookie after cookie and meticulously place them (all two dozen of them) into their own personal to-go box.  other children (one of whom i'll call, crosby) eat icing straight out of bowls with a spreader.  

5) our side of town got a torchy's.  it's good.  see?

 6) this is what forty loaves of pumpkin bread look like.  every year i make some for our company christmas party.  my house is covered in flour, but it sure smells amazing.

{check out those awesome pinhole press labels}

our annual girls christmas party took place, but i have no pictures.  so as soon as marcy shares hers with me, i'll post pics.  the venue was too awesome not to share.  stay tuned.

whew!  you deserve a medal for making it this far.  a chritmas medal.

looking forward to CHRISTMAS!!!

how was your week?  what are you look forward to?

love,

coco