Our Christmas

Our Christmas season was great!
Well... let me say that we were ALL sick as dogs the week before. Sam missed 4 out of 5 days of school and slid back into the last day before break but barely made it through.. It was the cold that never ended... again.. But by the weekend we were all feeling better, thank goodness.. and it was on with Christmas!!!

It was nice and warm... well... not 10 degrees this year, but in the 50's!

We didnt have any snow, and I was never more happy!

I made some homemade crafty gifts as I always do.

Pepperimint & Mistletoe Soaps all fancy with ribbon and tinsel.

I sold a few batches as well, it was a hot item!

As part of the teacher gifts this year I made homemade marshmallows, they turned out so good. See the previous post for the recipe

One of my favorite parts of making gifts is spending crafty time on the tags and decorating them with wrapping and ribbon and pretty things.

I really think Samantha enjoyed giving her gifts to her teachers and bus drivers

We made cookies, ginger, cutouts, and crescents. And fudge and marshmallows... I couldnt stop.

I think that 

Sweets were everywhere this season.

Our annual family round robin party was so much fun. 

The dessert house is always my favorite.

Cannoli Dip ... OMG.. We all just stood there and couldnt stop eating it!

It was such a wonderful and mild Christmas season.

Cousins 

The few days before Christmas I attempted the Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls

They were quite a feat, but so so worth it.

My little helper made sure we got the icing just right.

He loves pulling up his little chair to help Mama 

I froze two pans.. and gave away about 5.

Just something yummy for us and our friends and neighbors to warm up on Christmas Day or whenever..  I think Samantha really understood the whole "season of giving" as I tried to explain that it is just nice to do things just because ... and the reason we celebrate Christmas .... and its not all about the presents.. hopefully some of what I was rambling set in.. but i know, she's only 5.. ha!

Samantha got to have a little sleepover at Grammy's house the night before Christmas Eve. 

So Daddy and I got to treat this little guy to a fruit whip and a date with just us.

Santa delivered this year.

He was generous.

Before Christmas, I went up to Ikea Canada, and got the kids a ton of stuff to make their rooms more cozy.. (not pictured).. and Samantha got one of her big gifts.. a new big girl desk for her room. So the kids got a lot of gifts right before the big day.. lucky them, huh?

They loved everything under the tree, and Samantha really got it this year. 

She kept saying she was going to sneak out of her bed and check for Santa.. hahah.. I remember thinking the same way when I was her age too.. I love all the magic Christmas brings.

Christmas Day, like last year.. we opened presents and then headed to Ohio.

The roads were empty and the ride was smooth sailing.

We spent our time enjoying wonderful food.. and amazing cookies...

I could go on and on about the cookies and food.. I even have tried some of my MIL's cooking and have  tons of her recipes.. but for some reason it just tastes better when she makes it.. and youre at her house.. its good for the soul...

The cousins were reunited.. and cute as ever.

We originally planned on leaving on Saturday, but the weather was so nice, and we didnt have anywhere to be back home, so we stayed an extra day. We drove out to Trader Joe's .. the whole gang.. Baka and Papa too.. 

The kids had fun and there was a huge active construction site with cranes and all sorts of busy action for them to watch.. bonus!

The weather was around 55 and sunny, I got in a LONG run and it felt great after all the indulging I personally did while there..

Andrew got a new fisher price IXL from my Mom for Christmas and he loooooved it all weekend.

Sunday came and the kids were excited to get home and see Carl.

We gathered in the kitchen one more time all together 

And indulged... again.. 

Buckwheat pancakes and sausage.. mmmmm

It was such a nice visit and a wonderful Christmas that Im so so thankful everyone was healthy for.

Until next year! Now its time to take down all the decorations and make way for the next holiday.. another fun favorite.. Valentines Day! 

Hope you all had a great holiday season

xoxo

Thanksgiving 2014 & A Wedding Shower

This year, we decided to stay home instead of traveling for Turkey Day.

We have not done this since 2010 I think.. So it was a nice break.

Every year we always go to Ohio, and to be honest, the last trip was a little hard on us. Plus Samantha came down with the worst bug ever ... and then brought it home for 3 more days.. 

We ate at my Aunt's house, everything was so delicious and beautiful

including the classic crescents that my family does NOT go without.
One year, someone hand made them, and there was a big protest... the next year it was back to the trusty ole blue can of amazing rolls ... 

The kids had so much fun playing with their many many cousins and toys of course.

It was a really wonderful Thanksgiving indeed.

Black Friday came and went... I dont get into that  at all, I think I did one year, and that was before I was married and had kids.. ha! 

Saturday we had a lovely wedding shower for my cousin Michael's fiance Ally.

It was at Pearl Street Brewery downtown, and it was such a fun day.

This cake was pretty fun too.

Raspberry Marble Cheesecake... mmmm

Lots of rustic details and mason jars, my kind of place

Sassy was such a little lady, ... well most of the time.. ha!

She enjoyed being a big girl, brought her little purse stuffed with girly things, and ate way to much sugar.. !

The rest of the weekend I got up this year's advent calendar. 

Its just a piece of wood that I painted grey with acrylic paint.

Then I wrote 1-24 in chalk and pinned the white bags tied with jute over the numbers.

Sass was back to school Monday, and Andrew and I hit the big mall for some Christmas shopping. 

We walked around Pottery Barn kids, and he stood here and played with this parking garage for 20 minutes. Santa may have this under the tree for him... for sure. 

We went to playgroup after not being there for a while, and he was so so tired he took a nap for sure that day. Oh yea, he's given up naps in his crib. Totally. He will only sleep at night in there. Otherwise he naps on the couch in the afternoon. I thought I would about die without him napping upstairs, but he's so well behaved most days, that anything I need to get done, dinner, laundry, crafting, etc...even blogging! - he lets me do, he either plays independently or almost always snuggles on the couch and falls asleep for 1.5 - 3 hours on average. So its not so bad.

Reading books with Sissy.

They are getting so much more closer the older Andrew gets. They hang out so much more together.. and fight of course, but they really enjoy playing .. and Samantha takes such good care of him and puts her "little mama" hat on and is so so proud to be a big sis

Decorating is very merry and bright this year. We have our small tree up, and about 1/4 of the ornaments.. Most of the bottom of the tree has Andrew's airplanes posing as ornaments.. and this year I really havent felt like going all out with decorations. Samantha has her tree in her room, and Andrew's was too bright.. so we took his out, (anything to keep that child sleeping!!!)... 

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I am more focused on getting my gifts made and bought and wrapped I guess this year.

I started making little christmas soaps... I colored & scented them peppermint and mistletoe.

Thank you to those who already ordered!! Im making more and shipping out the first of the orders tomorrow! 

Any q's about these just email me joellemalenic@gmail.com

Wheew... Thats a lot of catching up.

Im working on a couple more posts... so hopefully it wont be too long between breaks again.. 

Bunch of Stuff

Holy Cow.. Blogging Coma

Well, Im back. Trying to gather what has been our life in August of 2014 

Ill make it short an sweet (hopefully)

Our garden this year has been lush with gorgeous veggies and herbs, and we try not to let a thing go to waste. We made a TON of zucchini cakes one night an tossed them in the deep freezer. I cant wait to find these on a night I dont feel like cooking in the fall. 

Baby P

My sister was here with her precious absoutely perfect baby for a few weeks, and we were just eating him up and loving getting to know our new cousin

Quinoa

I've been turned. I love it.. much better than couscous. Every party or family gathering this summer, and someone always made a quiona dish. So I put together my own spin on it, and it is so good.  Its like a blank canvas really. I just threw together what I had, mixed it with a really yummy red pepper dressing and I was picking at it in the fridge for days.

Surprises

If you follow me on Instagram, I love packaging stuff and giving little packages to people/customers.

Well, our previous Nanny surprised ME one day with the cutest little care package... and a sweet note with it saying how much she thought I needed it.. Boy was she ever right! I love everything about this gift and she is one of thee most thoughtful people I know. Thank you Shea Shea!!!

Cleveland

Well...Andrew's sleep habits and skin, ear and allergy issues had had us about fed up and we decided to take him to the Cleveland Clinic for an objective view and some tests. 

We spent 4 days in Ohio, and he was seen and tested and found to be allergic to a bunch of things... too many to name, Nuts being one main concern. None are extreme but as he grows they could get worse or better we just dont know. 

The fact is he has never ever slept through the night. No, never. 

Im not sure if this is part habit, and part allergies/ears? Who the hell knows. 

We may be headed for another ENT appt in the fall to the clinic to rule out sleep apnea/adenoid issues. Overall he has been sleeping I guess better (knocking on my wooden coffee table)... But the issues are not resolved. Im thankful it isnt more serious.. but also it does bother him at night and I just want he and I (ahem!!!) to get some solid sleep.

The kids were in their glory. A bonus visit to Ohio!

This and That 

So we're back and getting ready for school in a few days now.

The kids have been so funny lately, getting along and Sass being a little momma to her baby brother. 

We've enjoyed the festivals and parties in our village

And Daddy and I even got out for a date night after we got back from Ohio... boy did we need it.

Visiting relatives, and swimming

Running the kids like dogs, hoping A will sleep well.. Sass is a non-issue.. best sleeper ever... 

Completing some Etsy orders.. clothespins and custom stool coming soon

And lastly crossing off the last few things off our summer bucket list.

This week we conquered pancakes.. 

Andrew was a fan 

So thats about it.. 

Im getting ready to be Momma to a Kindergartener.

Im not ready

So not ready. 

Thankfully she is. I even asked her. "do you want me to drive you on your first day, or do you want to take the bus?". She quickly said... "take the bus!".. My big girl has come a long way since crying her eyes out at Nursery School and Pre-K. 

So its the beginning of a whole new world for all of us. 

packing lunches, bus stops, taking care of just one... it will be weird... but change is good.. and I think our girl will embrace it head on. 

Princess Ballet Camp

We were pretty excited about Princess Camp

The week was filled with all sorts of magical wonderful things, and a little etiquette as well

It was every day 9-12

The costumes alone were just a glimpse of how magical the studio made the week for the "princesses"

It also gave me a glimpse of what it will be like in just a few weeks with just one child.

Very surreal, easy, and weird all at the same time. 

Andrew and I had some very nice mornings together, checked out some new parks, grocery shopping, flower picking. 

The last day of camp there was a royal parade....led by Elsa and Anna. haha.

They each had a buddy to hold hands with as they paraded around the plaza and into the grocery store that was in the plaza..

She really thought these were the REAL Elsa and Anna. 

So much so that she didnt want to leave the studio until they did, because she wanted to see what kind of cars they drove, and how they got there.. 

I finally had to break it to her and said I think that the real Elsa and Anna are at Disney, and these are just pretend.. Because she was INSISTING we stay to see how they leave... Oh goodness..

After camp on Friday, she was on to her 5 year check up.

She did great.

Got the rest of her vaccines that we needed to catch up on, hearing test, eye test.. all set.

And if that wasnt a busy day.. we finally met our baby cousin Preston!

We're just a little in love with him. 

He's been visiting for a little over a week now, and its been so nice to spend time with my sis and her little family of three.. and for me  to get my baby fix and hold a teeny tiny 

Cousins!