Real quick before the brand new year begins...

{SO many little boys...I love them all!}
"...and then I said to the guy, Listen..."..mini-Italian..talking with the hands.
What oh what was he chatting on about?


I wanted to throw up the last of my 2018 pictures!
This little space doesn't need to boast Christmas after the New Year.

Soooo...to end the very last day of the year...{I can't believe it!}...
..heeeeeere's Christmas! {in mostly low quality, bad lighting, but memorable photos!}

Christmas Eve at Mom and Dad's.
Christmas Day at Jeff's brother and sister in law's house.

A dessert I've only made twice, but I LOVE...a Cinnamon Dolce Latte Cake.
HERE you can find a recipe link from the last time I made it.

Little Collette..she is a Doll, Doll, DOLL!!!

I absolutely love the time of night..umm...I mean early morning {wink} right before
Jeff and I head off to bed...the tree is lit up.the presents put out.the stockings filled.
after Santa eats the cookies and all is quiet and all is perfect.
It's one of my favorite moments of the year..and I love my husband so much!

My sister's crescent cookies. My other sister's pretty tray.

Let me tell you..I don't have proof in photos here..but if you are trying to NOT eat sweets..
don't try it in front of the Christmas spread put out at my parent's every Christmas Eve.
Sugar High. That's all I have to say about that.

Amongst the Christmas chaos...notice the stray shoe..

..I wanted a "nice" picture of us...this was the best. For real. Not joking.
We'll call it the best out of 15.

In a fit of purging..I accidentally donated my dear son's book on prayer. Yikes!
I went through every single book shelf at goodwill..TWICE!

I didn't find the book..Dear Amazon, I need you.
I didn't find the book...but I did find 6 boxes of
vintage glass ornaments to add to my tree!
AND..they were only 99 cents a box!!!!

This Santa Clause key has been put out for 21 Christmas Eves.

My niece Madison.

I have no idea how many cookies we decorated this year...a million? billion?

One of my favorite things that happened this year...
He had no idea he was getting presents! He only thought he was giving them.

When I told him the night before Christmas that he was going to get gifts, he said...
"I am? I'm getting presents? Who is giving me presents?"
Oh my heart....cry, cry, cry! The innocence.

*He did know Santa was bringing him a gift.
Our kids only get one gift from Santa...
...so that's all he was expecting for Christmas.*

If dad says No...ask Papa.
He'll hunt down a battery for you..wink.

2018 is going out with a bang!
Not really. It's pretty boring around here.

We have a couple of sickies in our house.
We're missing the annual big Savino NYE bash tonight!

Instead we're laying low..
Taking naps..watching movies...eating lil smokies...port wine cheese..
..and of course, we baked a chocolate buttermilk cake.

We're in jammies and sweat pants all cozy-ied up
watching it snow outside our window.

Peace Out 2018!!!

XxOo

City.Country.Music.Cookies.Candles.Coffee.Morning Frost....we didn't start the fire.

Double points if you get my title.
{Yeah..I made myself laugh}

First...click HERE and let this pretty song play while you scroll.
Man I miss the days when music played on blogs...it was the best!

Now...onto my little entry here.
I'm not sure which I love better at Christmas time..the city or the country.
So glad I can have the best of both worlds.

It's hardly snowed this year...maybe twice? I've been wearing sweaters and a scarf outside.
My kids are complaining about the lack of winter.

It's coming though..it's coming..we just wish it were here BEFORE Christmas!
...and gone by April. Which it won't be..I'm sure we'll have a blizzard on Easter.

I could just squeeze him forever!!!
That's his favorite hat...and that little, mini-man jacket..sigh..he's so grown up.

I have this little coffee cup addiction...{..don't ask my kids about it.}
Each season I buy a new one...and purge the old.

Listen to me...what you pour your coffee into,
determines the quality of your beverage.

I'm not kidding..coffee tastes better in a new, super cute mug/cup.

Not everyone in the house agrees with my theory..
..but I did buy us lovebirds coordinating ones for Christmas.
Thank you Hobby Lobby.

Favorite thing about my life? The people in it.
One in particular...wink.|

What do you think about his beard?
I LOVE the way it looks...but the way it feels? Hmmm....

We are officially on Christmas break.

We are officially making 11,000 cookies this week.
We are officially probably going to eat 10,000 of them before Christmas Eve.

"It looks like my Nutcrackers have been in Sid's room!"
...Sam, owner of the Nutcrackers and kind brother to the Nutcracker dismantler.
Sam...also thankful for hot glue guns.

I usually keep an antique bowl of pinecones on my table during Christmas.
This year we went fancy.
I can't tell you how many times the kids have lit the candles.

I'm mostly wrapped already!
It's truly a Christmas miracle.

Hope you're enjoying your holiday season.
We are.
XxOo

Me advertising THE BEST {I promise you} toy idea for you to buy for your child this Christmas. You're welcome.

We came home after being gone for ten days in Montana.
The first thing Frankie did when he walked through the door you wonder?
...ran to his Magnet Blocks and started building.

He LOVES them!

My mother in law gave them to him around his first birthday.
I don't think a day has gone by that he hasn't played with them since.

Click HERE to find them on amazon.
They are currently on sale!!!

There are also smaller sets and themed sets..
...search around for magnet blocks and buy a set.
Your child will love them!!!
XxOo

Happy {day before} Thanksgiving...some pictures and some organizing tips...from long ago.

I look at this picture and think how crazy it is that our kids are so grown up...how?

This is one of our favorite weeks..if not THE favorite week of the year!
So many fun traditions...little and big.

We host Thanksgiving..cut down our Christmas tree...
...watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade...
eat cinnamon rolls for breakfast..shop early on Friday...
..put up Christmas lights..watch "It's a Wonderful Life" for the first time of the year..
...Jeff is home for four days...I could go on and on.

I love that the kids get just as excited over these traditions as I do.
I am thankful for the family that I have. I love each one of them so much.

{Have I ever mentioned how much I love him?....sigh}

A list I made a few years ago... 7 ways to be organized {and a little creative} this Thanksgiving.

I wanted to update my list this year...but just didn't have the time.
It mostly has remained the same...and still applies to our household...
..just a few more additional things we do now that the kids are older.

Hope you and your family have a
lovely, lovely, blessed and HaPpY Thanksgiving!!!
XxOo

I know I'm repeating myself..but it's November. I mean...It's November!!!

It's the season of raking leaves and bonfires and cinnamon lattes and pumpkin muffins.
You should be playing jazz music from the 1940's, baking apple crisps and
coloring a turkey that you've traced using your hand.

If you've been reading my blog over the years....you know I have a big love for November.
..and it's finally here. {Yay!}

We are in the deep fall now..where...
...the weather stays chilly and the fire is almost always burning warm.
.....mornings are dark.evenings start early.
..bacon and waffles on a Saturday morning spell perfection.
......coffee tastes better.
..leaves are scattered and trees are bright orange and yellow and brown.
.....inside feels cozy.
...the library book checkouts increase and Thanksgiving books are read.
......you can still go outside wearing just a sweater and a scarf.
...chicken and dumplings.
.....candles equal cozy.
..outside is beginning to look bare and ready for snow..the tree branches, the fields, the lakes.

Oh yes..I will bask in the land of Autumn for the next twenty days.
Then..well...Falalala..la. la. la. laaaaa.

Until then...HaPpY November!!!

{If you'd like to read my other November posts click here.}

...and a song from last year.

Trey Kennedy making fun of girls who love fall ...so, so funny.