Christmas card 2011

Merry Christmas from the Gibbs family!

--Our cards came from Tiny Prints and I couldn't be happier with them.  They were a little on the pricy side, but it was worth it for the high quality.  

Check out last years card here!

Christmas tour!

I always like to participate in Kelly's Korner's Christmas home tour.  I love to look at other people's decorations and find other creative ways to decorate.  I feel like my decorations haven't changed much in a few years, so my pictures are very similar to last years.  Next year, Duane and I decided we want to get a live tree and change out ornament color scheme.  I'm getting kind of sick of the turquoise and silver theme!  Now I just need to remember to buy all of the decorations on sale after Christmas! :)

So here it is...

{Kason's little tree! :)}

Some of the small details...

{This Santa is pretty special to me.  It was my grandparents (on my mom's side).  When my grandma passed away last winter, I got to keep this.  I put it in Kason's room and I love it! :)}

{LOVE these stockings from Pottery Barn!}

And my favorite new "decoration"...

The good news is, this little guy.....

Has not bother the tree much at all!  And I was so worried! :)

Santa 2011!

Today marked another first for Kason!  His first visit to see Santa Clause!  We took him to the state museum.  That's where my family always went when I was a kid, so I was excited to start/carry on this tradition with Kason.  My parents and one sister (we missed you Stace) were able to join us, which was great.  I know it was special for them to see Kason starting the same traditions.  Warning - lots of pictures to follow.  I was in full mamarazzi form today!

  I wasn't sure how Kason would react to the whole experience.  He has a little bit of separation anxiety, so I was a little worried that he would throw a fit on Santa's lap.  That was not at all the case!  Although we didn't get any smiles out of him, he did sit on his lap without any fuss.  He seemed so mesmerized by all that was going on around him, that he forgot that he was sitting on a strange man's lap.

{Hey, who is this guy?}

{Me on Santa's lap in 1987}

After we saw Santa we went on the train that is also at the museum.  My sisters and I road this train with our mom for many years.  My mom also road the train with her siblings when she was a kid.  It's not the same train that my mom and I road, but it looks very similar!

{2011}

{1988 - I think Kason totally resembles me (I'm the one that is sitting in the front of the train, my sister is on my mom's lap)}

{This is the train that my mom and I both ride when we were kids.  It has since been retired.}

I'm fairly certain this trip wore our little boy out.  This is how he fell asleep for his nap...


How sweet our those fingers?!

We had so much fun.  I can't wait to carry on this tradition with Kason and any other children we have in the future. :)  

Pinterest wish list

So I'm not really "hooked" on the whole pinterest thing.  However, I do like to take a few minutes every now and then to look through some of the pins.  There are SO many cute ideas for lots of occasions.  I think I am avoiding the website because I have fears of getting hooked and spending a lot of time on there!  Here are some things I have currently been "repining".

 I love to look on there for Christmas ideas...

LOVE these!  I saw them at Anthropology the other day for an outrageous price.  I might attempt to make them sometime this winter!!  

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I attempted this last night with Kason's hand print.  Major paint DISASTER!  I think I might try again with Duane's assistance...and hopefully a nearly asleep baby!  

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I think these look delicious and SO cute!  I might have to give these a whirl this weekend!!  

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I also look for photography ideas.  Here are two of my recent favs...

I LOVE snow photos.  I'm hoping to get one like this sometime this winter!  Come on snow!

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I've never done newborn pictures like this before, but if I ever do..I want to try this.  SO cute!

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I also look for first birthday party ideas for Kason.  After all, he will be ONE in only THREE months!  How did that happen?!

I have two ideas I'm considering for Kason's first birthday..one is a "Red Wagon" theme.


I think it is so cute yet so boy-ish.  I have also seen some pins that have more vintage red wagons, which looks really cool!
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Another idea is a Very Hungry Caterpillar party.  As a teacher I LOVE Eric Carle and think that this would be such a cute birthday party.  My mind is flowing with creative ideas for this party!!


That cake is over the top, but SO fun!!  I feel like with all of these ideas, I need to get started planning NOW!
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I also look at lots of DIY projects.  I don't have a ton of time to do these kinds of things anymore, but it's still fun to look.  Here's one I found today...

I really want to make these frames for Kason's birthday and then hang them in his room after.  They look super cute and super easy.
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I also like to look for home decor ideas and architecture ideas.  Ok, it might be safe to say I'm hooked on pinterest.  What did I get myself into?!  If you want to follow me...click here!

Hello december!

December is here!  It literally feels like yesterday that I was waddling around carrying a baby inside my body.  Where did this year go?!  Ok enough with the "time is moving too quickly talk."

Although I'm not a huge fan of winter, I do look forward to December every year.  Here are somethings I am looking forward to this month...

1. Christmas break - Obviously this is first on my list.  I'm exactly 2 weeks and 4 days away from 17 days off.  I can't wait to be home with Kason for a couple of weeks.  I also can't wait to not have to set my alarm clock for 5 am..because that gets old.  Really old.

2. Christmas movies - Love these things!  I'm excited to watch some on Netflix and DVD.

3. Christmas shows - We are going to a Christmas show with friends in a couple of weeks and I can't wait! I used to go to this show with my family when I was younger, and I have lots of good memories of it.  It will be a fun date night!

4. Christmas light drive - Duane and I love to grab a Starbucks, turn up the Christmas tunes, and drive around to look at Christmas lights.  We aren't much for cheesy decor, but we have a couple of favorite neighborhoods we always drive through . This might be a little tricky with a 8.5 month old that gets bored in the car.  This might have to be an "after bedtime trip!" :)

5. Christmas cards - Nothing is better than opening the mailbox to a handful of colorful, festive cards.  This is the only time of year I actually look forward to getting the mail.  The rest of the year it's just bills, bills, bills.  I love to see pictures of friends and family that I don't get to see everyday.  We have actually already gotten our first Christmas card...on November 28.  We haven't even had our picture taken for our card yet!  Yikes!!

6. Christmas craft shows - My favorite one is tomorrow!  This always gets me in the spirit!

7. Warm clothes - For Kason, of course!  He looks so cute all bundled up in his coat and hat.  All of his dressy coats have been way too big but one of them finally (almost) fits!  I love this little guy in sweaters, hooded sweatshirts, warn corduroy pants, and of course winter hats.




8. The perspective of walking - Kason is gearing up for walking!  I'm fairly certain that this could be the month out boy starts walking.  If not December, then for sure January!  Check out his practice!!

Above all of these things, the thought of starting new traditions with Kason warms my heart to no end.  Duane and I both have so many happy memories of the holidays, and I can't wait to create memories with Kason. We're excited to spend time with friends and family that don't get to see Kason all that often.  Although I hate winter, I sure am looking forward to this month!  

Happy December! :)