stockings hung with care.

I finally finished!

gingerbread house.

I am trying to keep our month of December full of fun family activities to take advantage of being finished with shopping. We read a Christmas story every night from a book my mom put together. And we made this gingerbread house from costco the other night.

steele family siblings.

Thanksgiving.

We just got back from a fabulous thanksgiving weekend with my family. We made the long drive up to the family cabin in Greer, Arizona and met up with all of my siblings and their respective families. It was a FULL house with 12 adults and 18 children, but we had a great time making and eating thanksgiving dinner, hanging out, playing settlers, watching movies, taking family photos and walking to tin star. Here are a few photos from the trip... family photos will be posted later.

new wreath.

I am working on getting all of my Christmas up tonight so it will all be done when we get back from Thanksgiving. I will be making this fabulous wreath over the break.

I will also be making some advent calendars for Zoey and Felix. My mom made us each one and I loved it. We each got a piece of candy from it every day and it was a serious challenge not to eat it all in one day. We will also all be making these ornaments for all of the kids at the cabin. I found the idea on my friends Kara and Brianna's blog (which is Fabulous)! And lucky me, my Christmas shopping is DONE! I have a shopping free December ahead! I still have to get Mikes things, but I already know what that will be so no sweat!

picture time.

zoey 20 months

felix 3 months

mirror.

This project has been in the making for well over a year now and I finally finished it. It took about 10 seconds so I have no idea why I never got around to it. I bought the frame from Ikea about a year ago, had our neighbor cut the glass for it about 6 months ago, got Mike to spray paint it gold about 3 months ago, and finally put the turquoise coat on last week. I will finally be hanging it in Zoey's room today. I can check one more thing off my list and get busy on the next item. I hope to complete them before the year mark!

(Ikea frame)

(finished mirror)

chairs.

One of my favorite past times is sitting on my Grandma Nellie's patio in Mexico, on her fabulous patio chairs, looking out over the valley and watching the lightening storms on the horizon. I wish I were there right now!

(this is me 3 years ago, pre pregnancies and 30lbs lighter enjoying the patio)

It is even better when the sound of music is coming from the town park. I can't wait to have a back yard, or even better, a front porch to put some of these chairs.

collecting.

I am not typically big on collecting things because it just means more nick knacks to clutter up my living space, but I can make an exception for Lori Mitchell. I LOVE her stuff! I came across these 4 guys a few years ago in Gardner Village in Salt Lake.

I hope to eventually have ALL of her stuff for all occasions. This year I got this guy

and these guys for Zoey and Felix's christmas ornaments. I love her christmas ornaments.

I love her little circus collection too. This is one of my favorites.

a few of my favorite things.

1. Spa pedicures-

Mike gave me a gift card to the Burke Williams spa

for a pregnancy massage on Mothers day and I never got around to using it until last week. I decided to use it for a pedicure instead and it was AWESOME! I love getting pedicures, but this was great. The spa was quite and super relaxing complete with no talking, a warm blanket and neck pillow. And they even use paraffin wax with the standard pedicure. It was so nice to have a relaxing morning. Then I came home and painted Zoey's toes for Halloween.

2. This brownie pan-

It works just like it says it does and it makes my box brownies look professional. Love it.

3. Rainy days

Who doesn't love a chilly rainy day which allows for a blanket, hot cup of chocolate, popcorn and a good movie?

october.

Project complete and surprisingly simple.

Love hanging out with these two. Felix is already a showoff and rolling over. I guess being in the 95th percentile has to put you ahead of the game in at least one area.

and who knew the dollar store could be so much fun!

addict.

So after a weekend with my family in town, with everyone on their iphones or ipads, Mike and I decided to join the ranks. I am now addicted to several apps, but two in particular.

First: Words with friends

If you don't have it you should get it so I can play it with you!

Second: Hipstamatic

I am late in the game with these, but I am OBSESSED.

love of halloween.

Halloween is my second favorite holiday. (Christmas being the first of course). I have loved decorating for it in the past. Here is the proof from my previous apartment...

Unfortunately it has become more difficult with children. This year will have to be kept simple and this wreath will be the perfect project! I think it looks awesome.

I Found it HERE

And the tutorial is HERE

confession.

For all you Diet Coke lovers who complimented the idea of measuring our children in Diet Coke cans I have to make a confession. Mike is the mastermind and the lover of Diet Coke. I am only a recent convert out of necessity for my quest to not be fat anymore. My true love is the REAL stuff. And by that I mean Mexican Coke. There is nothing better! So maybe the next child will have to be measured by Coke bottles.

This coke was enjoyed in Colonial Juearez while walking back to Grandma Nellie's.

felix announcement.

diet coke and bear the bear.

Zoey 1 week-Felix 1 week

Zoey 17 months

bear the bear

buttons are the belliest.

Zoey has developed a very "interesting" habit over the corse of her fist year and a half, playing with her belly button. She has a very interesting one to play with as well. These pictures can give you an idea, but the disturbing part is she can pull part of the belly button out and that is what she plays with.

I keep thinking I need to get her to stop, but instead I am hoping she will eventually outgrow the habit. It is what soothes her to sleep, so I try to make sure she is always in one piece pajamas.

So she has this doll that she likes to play with and she makes the doll do things like turn the pages on books and eat food etc., things that are pretty cute. Well, I knew the belly button issue was going to stick around longer than hoped when I saw Zoey making the doll play with her button (not as cute and kind of gross)! She immediately looked at me like she had been caught in the act of doing something she shouldn't. It was pretty awesome. And then, last night, as I was sitting with her while she drank her milk, she took my hand and tried to make me play with it! I assured her I did not want to play with her belly button.

I am crossing my fingers that we find a new soothing habit that will take over this one soon!

bedtime thoughs.

I have fun with these little people.

Zoey is becoming such a ham, she makes me smile

.

Felix is an adorable baby and I don't mind bragging about it.

And Mike is pretty cute too.

so cute.

remembering.

This is Felix today. I am being reminded of the stomach issues that little babies have for the first four months. I am hoping little Felix will get them all worked out quickly :) He is a little backwards with night time and day and I would love to work that out! But, he has been a lot of fun. It is hard to believe he has only been around for a little over a week. It seems like he has always been here. I am so happy to have him in our family!