Santa Brunch 2017:

Happy half-way through the week friends! 

We are anxiously awaiting for the weekend to get here! ;)  

We have finally been experiencing some chilly temperatures here in North florida {40s} and it has truly made it feel so much more like Christmas! I would love for it to stay chilly through Christmas, but we know that won't happen {the weather is already saying it's going to be back up into the 70s tomorrow... haha!}. But having the cold weather over the weekend made all of our festive events that much better! 

On Sunday was our clubs Annual Santa Brunch and it is an event we look forward to every year! We don't go to the mall and see "Santa's helper Santa", we wait for our brunch with "the real one" {as Charli exclaims}. This was our third year attending and it was just as magical as I had wished! Santa & Mrs. Claus have remembered our children every year and it truly makes it that much more special {"Mommy, mommy, he remembered me & Mrs. Claus remembered the dress I had on last year"... she really did and if you could have seen Charli's smile! priceless!}

I love the intimacy of our annual brunch with the big guy. He spends so much time with each and every child or family and the children can go back up as many times as they want {Charli was out playing with her friends and fell, so CLEARLY she needed to go see Santa and show him her boo boo... hahaha}. 

The biggest hurdle that we tackled was Crew willingly sitting on Santa's lap. If you remember from Last Year, he kicked the guy, screamed, went limp, etc etc. He finally warmed up to him by the time brunch was over, but I wasn't expecting much from him this year. He has been in the same room with a "Santa helper santa" and has kept his distance and would only wave. So I call this a victory! 

We had the most magical and truly wonderful morning with Santa and all of our friends. Now for my children to be extra good and loving to each other {Santa's orders!}.

And now a look into Santa Pics Past

{2014// 2015// 2016}

Wishing you all a very merry week! 

Catching Moments: {41/52}:

*Sometimes, just sometimes, they really do love each other! ;) I caught Charli trying to give her brother a hug and pick him up! She then leaned in to kiss him. It only lasted momentarily but I'll take it! ;) 

Catching Moments: {40/52}:

{you guys, I am playing MAJOR catch up over here... as you can tell I'm pretty sure there are not 12 more weeks in the year... nope.}

*Just rocking around, the Christmas tree.

We picked up our tree and got it all decorated over the weekend! The kids loved helping. They did such a good job at putting ALL the ornaments real low, and real central. I thanked them so much for all their help and then went and re-did everything they just did! ;) Charli then proceeded to walk back in and yell at me because I moved her ornaments. lol. 

A Christmas Tablescape:

Happy Monday friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful first weekend in December! Ours was super fun & festive {exactly how I like it!}.  

So I know it is only December 4th, but after receiving several messages from people already anticipating my tablescape for Christmas, I decided to start putting it together over the weekend!

I have always loved a rustic "lodge" type feel during Christmas and mixing it up with more elegant pieces too. I love greenery, berries, and adding touches of wood, but throwing in some gold is my love language! I knew I wanted to use the pedestals I had out for my Fall Tablescape but knew I didn't want them white. I usually bring out my gold chargers for Christmas along with these hurricane vases that have gold trim so I knew the pedestals needed to be gold. So a little metallic spray paint that I already had on hand and viola! I love how they turned out! {one design tip: don't be afraid of paint. It is such a simple way to completely change a look. I am sure these pedestals will end up being many different colors through their life! ;)}

There will definitely be some changes made as it gets closer to Christmas but this is how I wanted it to look for the most part. Things like the flowers, they will definitely be changed {the hydrangeas are from Thanksgiving so I left them for now until they die!}. 

I hope this gives you some inspiration for your own Christmas table, because nothing is more welcoming than seeing a beautiful table set upon walking into a home!

Happy Decorating! 

Catching Moments: {39/52}:

*"On Connor, On Sparky..." 

{Nailed it Crew, nailed it. Definitely no reindeer with those names, but you managed to get Clark Griswolds nickname in there! hahahaha!} 

We got our Christmas tree yesterday and the kids had a blast picking their favorite one {which we did not go home with haha}. Their favorite part though is climbing in the sleigh and playing "Santa Claus". 

Catching Moments: {38/52}:

*We kicked off December with a fun event in our neighborhood with our friends! Our beaches area does an event every Christmas called "Deck the Chairs". This is when all of the lifeguard chairs are decorated for Christmas for a light festival. Local businesses or community locations can sponsor a chair and have it decorated & placed at the event or the chair can be placed at your business or organization location outside of the exhibit. All of the proceeds go to support the Volunteer Life Saving Corp of Jax Beach. So last night we kicked off December by decking our chair! It was not only a fun event but it supports our local lifeguards which makes it even more special! 

Thanksgiving 2017:

Though our Thanksgiving was much more intimate this year with only having my parents come over, it was still just as beautiful & meaningful as ever. I decided on just having Nana & Papa over as it was going to be hard enough not having my husband home for the holiday. Though we missed Daddy like crazy and wanted nothing more than to have him in our arms, I made sure that our children still had the most wonderful day with their grandparents. 

We watched the parade, they helped in the kitchen when they could, we talked about what we were thankful for this year {family, food, daddy's ship} and they are the sweet memories that I will cherish for years to come. 

This was my very first year to ever make my own turkey for Thanksgiving {because husband who is an amazing cook}. I am so thankful for my mom who spent the night with us the night before so she could help me get everything prepped and cooked on Thanksgiving morning. She was my right hand the entire day and my number one cheerleader when we pulled that big ol' bird out of the oven because she was so proud of me! ;) {thanks mom!}

The kids helped Nana bake a homemade Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheescake for dessert, Charli helped set the table and added her very own place settings to each seat, and though at one point they were bouncing off the walls because it rained all day & they couldn't burn off all that energy, they are who I am thankful for the most! They are the ones who see mommy at her absolute best and absolute worst, and despite it all they still love me and I love them. They are my buddies and we get through every single day together, with love. 

{you guys, I can't even... BAHAHAHA!!}

Now Happy December, bring on ALL the Christmas things!! 

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!