Trimming the tree with mommy!

A couple of years ago I found the most beautiful Christmas tree in a magazine with homemade ornaments and I was sold! I've continued the tradition because I really love making the ornaments each year, there is no glass balls for little hands to break, and I'm just a gal that loves to craft! This year Jack helped me put our cranberry wreaths on the tree and he loved it!

Jack is very proud of all the ornaments he helped to place this year! Our tree has a red burlap garland, golden walnuts, paper cones with holly branches, pinecones, oranges sliced and baked to dry and a few other ornaments we've collected since becoming a family! One of which is an adorable sock penguin I got from an ornament exchange party. I'm on the lookout now for more little sock critters to add each year as they bring a certain little kid charm to our rustic tree!

How do you decorate your tree? Do you like certain colors? Share with me! 2 days til Christmas now...hope you all are slowing down to enjoy time with your family for the holidays!

Christmas lights

I love the holidays for all the fun things there are to do as a family. Not that there aren't things to do the rest of the year, but Christmas is just so special. Last year we attempted the drive-thru Christmas lights at the Portland International Raceway with Jack. No go...he wasn't the least bit interested in all the pretty lights and characters. This year we decided to try again with our friends and their son. It went much better, plus we finally got to use the second row seats in my Tahoe! Love my car! The boys jumped up with their daddy's and soon had an even better view from out the sunroof! Gotta love daddy creativity!

Getting a boost

Love those little bottoms!

They spent most of the time yelling at everything and everyone!

Brayden rolling solo as Jack takes a break to warm up

A great time was had by all, pretty sure I missed most of the lights, but watching the boys and their daddy's was way more entertaining. A big thanks to our friends for joining us and helping us to create such great holiday memories! Happy Holidays Everyone!

Daily Jack

One of the presents Jack got for his birthday was an astronaut suit and jet pack from his Grampa Peter. The jet pack has buttons to push for a count down and fun jet noises, which kept Jack entertained for quite some time as he chased mommy around the house.

Classic "cheese" face

Such a cheerful astronaut no?! :)

Pretending to hang an ornament

Getting ready to jump off!

Hope you enjoy the pics grampa! And thank you for such a fun birthday present!

Happy Birthday Jack

Today we celebrated Jack's birthday with all of our friends. It was a wonderful time and we were so pleased with how it all turned out! Happy 2nd Birthday little man we love you!

Captain Jack

The table

Jack's Lemonade birthday cake!

The spread

Jack eating an airplane cookie to cheer up after being woken up early from his nap!

Jack playing with his friends and cousin Maddie!

Mommy trying to get Jack to open presents...no go, all he wanted was the tissue paper!

Loving eating mommy's cake, cuz its so much better than his! Bahahaha

Held Family!

Jacks party was airplane themed, complete with airplane cheeses, crackers and cookies. We had so much fun with all of our friends and Jack had a blast with all his little buddies. I am so thankful for the past two years we've had with our little man, we are truly blessed!

Thankful for our family!

We spent this Thanksgiving in town with Justin's family. It was nice and relaxful with lots of good food!

Jack & Maddie

Papa, Neima & Jack

Grammy keeps 'em occupied with bubbles!

Daddy & Jack

The Held Family...bellies full!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Snapshot memories

These days time is flying by so fast that it seems I catch things as snapshots here and there. My favorite snapshot from this last week was an impromptu popcorn session which we shared together as a family. Popcorn is Justin's favorite evening snack and he has perfected his popcorn making skills. This was Jack's second time eating popcorn and he showed us he is daddy's boy through and through, I couldn't get enough of the two of them figuring out who was going to hold the bowl! I love these random moments of family fun!

A little of this and a little of that

Hello? Anyone out there still stop by? We are alive. All is well. Just busy. Somehow I blinked and a month went by. Along with many other things. The end of October found us at the beach enjoying a mini vaca with Kendra and Jesse.

The boys
Jack

Sisters! And as you can see the weather was beautiful!

Uncle fun!

Playing in the sand...fun and dirty!

Sand man

Goregous

Shark attack :) bahahaha

Top of the Astoria column...amazing views, and a lot of stairs!

Of course we had to check out the Goonies house!

Love that sign!

It was an awesome trip, beautiful weather, fun times exploring and a great break from our busy lives at home. I'm thinking we might have to make this a monthly ritual!

Food love from Pinterest

About a month ago my friend invited me to join a site called Pinterest. If you've never heard of it, it is a site dedicated to sharing ideas on style, crafts, food, quotes, books, pictures...you name it. You create these boards, and as you find things you like you "pin" them to the different boards. I'm completely obsessed, I keep finding so many things I like and having a place that keeps them organized plus logs their origins is awesome! If you haven't been introduced please do check it out! If you decide to join and need an invite, let me know! Today I decided to make a little treat I had pinned for homemade Jalapeno Poppers! Here is how it went!

Pillsbury crescent dough, each triangle was cut in half

A large dollop of cream cheese plus turkey bacon (which can be omitted)

Add some fresh jalapeno

Fold and pinch closed, then bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes

These are super yummy! And depending on how much jalapeno you put in pretty mild. Jack loves them, and I have a feeling when Justin gets home the rest will disappear! Next time I'm going to do more cream cheese and jalapeno as I was a tad easy for my first time! These would be a great appetizer for a party!

How much can you pack into one weekend???

Happy Tuesday! I can't believe we are already this far in to the week as I'm still catching up after this weekend! Jack and I headed down to Eugene for some fun time with my family and boy did we sure pack it in. From visiting Gigi, to the pumpkin patch, to watching volleyball at the University of Oregon, which we got on the jumbo tron( the huge screen in the middle of the arena), to Jack's cousins birthday, we did it all! Whew! Are you tired yet? Here's the review...

Jack brought Gigi a picture of himself in his pirate costume

Then a nice man named Morty, made Jack a paper hat and gave him a cookie, pretty sure its his first...cookie that is!

Jack loves all "aminals"

This sheep especially liked the food, as he paws at the fence to tell them MORE!

Jack and Nana in a mini hay bale maze

Hahahaha...Jack's signature "cheese" face

Swinging with auntie

Jack's first pumpkin was too lumpy...

...#2 too white...

...#3 was too small...

...#4 was too big...

...man picking the right pumpkin is HARD work!

Catching a ride from Uncle Jesse

Back to the goats one last time...the baby's are just so cute!

Next day off to cousin Maddie's bday party! Jack really enjoyed the cupcake!

Dad was pretty amused

Pretty sure I'm still recovering from our busy weekend, phew!