Can you believe it's Christmas week?

Besides working this week, I'll be picking up the last few presents for this little stinker...

These are a few pictures I snapped while we waited in line to see Santa.  I know it's hard to tell, but the prince was actually quite excited to see Santa { smile }

You'll have to stay tuned for pictures with Santa because the prince, who was so excited to see Santa, decided he didn't feel so comfortable sitting on the big guy's lap this year or even talking to him once we got to see him...  and the picture of Santa and the prince turned into a family picture, luckily Santa was able to sneak into the picture with us.

And we would have gotten pics of our little family with our camera, but that same little Prince decided he didn't want to sit still for the pictures with the fancy photographer's camera let alone mommy's camera.  

Here's to hoping that our picture turns out... { fingers crossed }

{ BONUS } We got to ride a choo-choo to see Santa, aka the Monorail.  The prince LOVED it!! 

And finally getting to my projects...

I have a number of handmade gifts that I need to get done before Christmas, preferably, and I always end up leaving them for the last minute!  

Seriously!  Last year I was sewing the little seat cushions for the Prince's play table and chairs at 9:00pm on Christmas Eve!

So I guess to have started MOST of my projects for this year a whole week early, TODAY, means there's hope for me to get them done before Christmas Eve, right?!

Here's a peek at what I'm working on today...

A few sewing projects for gifts...

And a little something else I'm trying this year...  I can't tell you too much or I'll spoil the surprise for those receiving this gift.

What projects have you been working on?  And are you done yet?  { smile }

Have a wonderful end to your weekend!

Holiday traditions, it wouldn't be the same without them.

We all have family traditions that MAKE the holiday season for us.  Whether it be baking cookies with family and friends, decorating the Christmas tree with grandparents { one of ours }, visiting the same Santa each year for pictures { ours, again }, using the same Advent calendar each year...  whatever it may be it's a tradition for you and your family and your holidays aren't the same without them.

That brings me to another holiday tradition that I've tried my darnedest to keep going in my family over the years...

The tradition started for me when I was a child, each Christmas my Grandma Kelly, may she rest in peace, would give ornaments to all of the grandchildren for their gifts.  And each year she went to Stanek's on the South Hill in Spokane to pick out those ornaments.  Eventually my brother and I got to go with her since Mom and/or Dad needed to drive her there...  we then got to help her find just the right ornament for everyone { even ourselves }

Grandma passed away in 1999 and I didn't immediately continue the tradition... it probably wasn't until 2003 that I finally started and then it was only with gifting ornaments to Mom, Dad and the hubby.

{ of course I also picked one out for myself, after all I am a lover of ornaments... thanks to Grandma }  

BUT...

Once Carter was born I had a new motivation to go all-in with the tradition.  I now include Carter { obviously }, my brother and his girlfriend, and my mom-in-law.  Each year when we go to downtown Seattle for our Santa pictures we also make a stop at the Macy's Holiday store so that I can select the perfect ornament for everyone.   They have an amazing selection and the way they display everything reminds me of shopping at Stanek's with Grandma. { smile }

My LOVE for Christmas ornaments and the joy of decorating our tree each year is a result of Grandma's tradition, for that I am very grateful.

{ Not to mention that who wouldn't enjoy shopping for these beauties?! }

Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn.

Photo courtesy of Urban Outfitters.

Photo courtesy of Nordstrom.

The ornaments that I received from Grandma over the years are now little reminders of her love...  I wouldn't give them up for anything.  By continuing her tradition my hope is to remind my family of that love she had for us, along with letting my loved-ones know how much they mean to me.

What special traditions does your family have?  I'd love to hear about them { smile }

Good company, kids playing, and cookies!

I know you've been dying to read about the cookie exchange that I was a part of...  it happened today and it was wonderful!  From the company, to the kids keeping themselves entertained, to the YUMMY cookies!

So I made two types of cookies, originally I was only going to make one...  but after making one batch of the Salted Caramel Shortbread I didn't have the energy to make another, so instead I made some regular shortbread to compliment the salted caramel.

Would you like to see how they turned out?!?!

Salted Caramel Shortbread, recipe from Annie's Eats...  get it here!

Shortbread, recipe from My Recipes (not actually my own recipe, that's just the name of the website)...
get it here!

They were both a hit!  But the salted caramel definitely left the biggest impression, and a good one at that { smile }

And here are all of the cookies together!!

Now what to do with all of the cookies I have, there's no way we can eat all of them ourselves...  or at least we shouldn't  { smile }