Sunday, January 20, 2013

Gingerbread Build-off

For the past few years, we've gone to the Gingerbread Build-off that is a fundraiser for The Christ Kitchen.  This year, I wanted to make Isla's Christmas dress.  I wanted something that looked similar to the dress from her first Christmas, but wanted it to be something she could wear everyday.  So, I picked out a wide wale black corduroy to make it.  I didn't use a pattern, just kind of winged it using a jumper she owns.  I loved how it turned out!
 

 
 
I really wanted her to wear it to the build-off and was able to bust it out the night before...nothing like procrastinating!


We headed downtown before Ben had to go to work.  It had started snowing and the roads were SLICK!  After arriving and meeting up with my parents, we walked around and saw the gingerbread houses.  This year's theme was Super Heroes!


This was Gotham City.  I'm not sure who won, but I would bet that this one did.




 
This picture was actually just shortly after we arrived.  Poor Isla was like a deer in headlights.  She is so shy and doesn't seem to care for crowds!

 
After viewing the competing houses, we went into the room for the kids to decorate their own.

 
Isla showed me where she wanted to put things, I put icing on, then she placed the candy.  I thought she did a pretty good job!  Miles did most of his himself.






She only ate a few pieces of candy...mostly some M&M's :).  It was hard to get this girl to crack a smile.  She was so reserved I think because there were just so many people!


They both turned out pretty well!



 

Isla had me paint her nails that morning.  She didn't have a pacifier with her that morning and you can see which finger she chose to suck/chew on...poor girl!

However, Grandpa O was able to get her to crack a smile and even laugh when he busted out his Donald Duck voice...never fails!


 
After decorating, I was able to get the kids to pose for a few quick pics in front of one of the gorgeous Christmas trees at the Davenport.




The hotel is so festive and beautiful this time of year!



The snow falling helped the festive mood.





 
 
 

O Christmas Tree

This year, we thought about hiking out to cut down a tree, but decided to pass.  Perhaps next year.  We went back to Stanek's (where we went last year), but purposely missed Santa this year.  Our painfully shy two-year-old would have been beyond terrified!
 
Also, Stanek's is closing (probably already closed now) after 99 years.  They were going to sell, but it turns out that their parking lot is city land that they've been "borrowing" from the city for 99 years.  Well, the city didn't want to sell the land or rent it to the new owners, so they are closing.  Pretty irritating! 
 
Anyhow, we set off for the perfect tree and to look at all the pretty Christmas decor.
 
 
 

With a little hunting, we found the perfect tree.  I think this all happened around Dec 9, 2012.

 
 
This is Isla showing off her new butterfly ornament.

And Miles with his lantern ornament.  It really lights up!  Miles picked it to be like a cowboy.

Nothing puts me in the Christmas Spirit quite like a tree tied to the roof of my car!

Isla picked out this beautiful butterfly for her ornament this year.

We made hot cocoa and decorated the tree before I went to work.  Isla loved walking around with her "ot coco".

 



Miles' lantern all lit up!

The end result.

I thought I'd throw a couple decor pics in.  This is Ben's newest nutcracker he got for his birthday.  It's a fisherman nutcracker!

And our mantel this year.  I did make new stockings for Ben and myself.  I think there are some pictures with the new stockings on Christmas day that I'll post later :).
 

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

blogger issues

Ugh.  I'm trying to get some posts up about Christmas, pre-Christmas, and a blurb about Thanksgiving, but blogger won't let me post pictures...boo.   Hopefully I'll figure this out soon and get caught up on some posts!