The Firm's Christmas Party

In the six years that Brent has worked at his law firm, we have never been able to attend the firm's Children's Christmas Party. It has always conflicted with Breakfast with Santa at the boys' preschool. But this year it didn't, so we were so excited to be able to attend. And it was so much fun!

The extra large buffet table was filled with a breakfast especially designed for children....doughnuts, sweet rolls, decorated cookies, fruit, Chick-fil-A chick-n-minis, candy, hot chocolate, orange juice, apple juice, and coffee(!). Will was in heaven! And it was soooo good, if I do say so myself. The buffet table was beautifully decorated (I didn't get a pic because I was trying to make sure Will's little hands didn't touch all of the food!) and Will was captivated by the large choo-choo train that was circling all the way around.

There was a stage set up for singing Christmas carols with a very patient man and his guitar. I say patient, because he allowed Will to sing "Jingle Bells" to the captive audience about 6 different times while we were there. He tried to persuade Will to try another carol, like perhaps "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer", but oh no!, only Jingle Bells would do! Jack got to sing "Santa Claus is coming to Town" to welcome Santa to the Christmas party, and he could not have been more thrilled with the honor.

Jingle Bells take 1. Will introduced himself "HI! I'M WILL! I'M THREE!" Because screaming into a microphone is the way to get your audience's attention.


Jingle Bells take 6. A rousing rendition with Jack accompanying on the mini maracas! Will didn't really know the words until he got to the chorus, but he came on strong with "JINGLE BELLS!" Don't you know that everyone was glad when our family finally left =).

Jack took his duet very seriously.

We then moved on to face/hand painting. These designs were beautiful, not your usually freestyle painting. The elves used stamps to put the design on the hand or face and then went back and colored it in with paint and glitter paint. Really nice!

I'm irritated that the picture is blurry, but my camera would just not focus on the reindeer!

Next up was cupcake decorating, because we felt we just didn't get enough sugar with breakfast!

Will decorating cupcakes with Charlie. Charlie's dad, Chad, and Brent are good friends and Charlie is the grandson of the Judge that Brent clerked for.

Do you want a little cupcake to go with that candy?!?

Then it was onto balloon animals. By this time the line was a little long, but we held out for a candy cane and a tiger.



And one last turn at the mic...singing "Jingle Bells" of course!

It cracks me up that each time he had his hands firmly around that mic.

And finally on our way out the door, we stopped to say Hi to Santa and remind him that Jack wanted a fox Webkinz and Will wanted a Diego.

Santa and the 2 wild hooligans. Isn't he such a sweet-looking Santa? Santa asked if I wanted to take another picture. No Santa, the sugar has kicked in, so I think this is the best we are gonna do!

As always, the firm put on a first class party and we are looking forward to next year (if we are invited back!).

Will's New Big Boy Room

If you are still checking in on me, I thank you! I have no excuse for my extended absence other than life...and it has been busy. Because I hope to start scrapbooking again soon and I will use this blog as my journaling, I will try to highlight some of the events that took place in December. But by now it is old news.

A big highlight of the month was transforming the nursery into a big boy room for Will. We set up the nursery when Jack was about 4 months old (we moved into our house when Jack was 6 weeks old) and it has worked perfectly for both boys. I loved this nursery! It was so peaceful and calming and I just loved rocking my babies here.

So here are a few pictures of the nursery (You'll see some prints on the glider's ottoman; those are the inspiration pictures for the new room).



Will is such a happy-go-lucky, funny, outdoors-loving boy. I saw these prints several years ago when we were in New Orleans and my mother-in-law brought them as a surprise for me when she came to visit! They have been aging well over the past several years just waiting for the right place to be used.

These prints are hanging in Will's part of the jack-n-jill bath

The little boys in the prints just remind me of Will and his infectious personality. So I called the decorator who did Jack's room and told her I had an idea for a "modern Tom Sawyer" room; I didn't know how to pull it together, but I thought it could be really cute in her hands. Dawne loves a challenge and was excited to be working with a somewhat "different/non-typical" theme.

Without further adieu, the unveiling of the big boy room (drum roll):


Jane, the artist, painted Jack's big boy room, and I was so excited to have her back for Will's room. I just love her work!

A close up of the tree. Because of the architecture of the room, it looks like the tree branches are growing into the room. The rope swing is so cute!

A close up of the bunny and bluejay. A funny coincidence...both Brent and Jane are originally from New Orleans. As Jane was finishing up, she casually asked what high school Brent went to. I told her Jesuit. She said, "Tell Brent, from one yat to another..." and then proceed to paint this cute little bluejay (Jesuit's mascot) in about 15 minutes. I stood there amazed! Oh, to be so talented!

More of the cute little critters


The window treatment was designed to look like overall suspenders. A subtle hint to the "Tom Sawyer" theme. Dawne wanted the tree to "grow" over the window seat, with the idea being that Will could read his books sitting under the tree.

Isn't this a fun light fixture?!?! Wispy clouds are also painted on the ceiling.


This is my father-in-law's (aka Happy) childhood teddy bear. It was at home in the nursery and I am happy that he is at home (and well protected) in the big boy room. I just love having these pieces of family history. Also, the bed that Will is sleeping in was Happy's bed, too!


Brent's and my favorite accessory, the firefly nightlight. Will's favorite accessory is the big puppy that sits on his bed. He has to sleep with it everynight!

We are so pleased with how the room was transformed. And I know Will is going to love his new room for many years to come!

Now on to California...

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
Give em Hell, Alabama!