THE CASE OF THE MISSING ADVENT CHOCOLATE

What is this new thing on the fridge? I wonder what happens when I open this little window?

A chocolate!

I'm just going to have a little taste, just to make sure...

That was awesome!

I think I'm going to get me another one of those...

Update: Will has eaten 18 of his chocolates as well as 5 from Sam's calendar. They are now up high out of reach, and Clara has hidden hers somewhere in her room.

I CAN'T HELP MYSELF

The kids and I just spent the last hour laughing hysterically at this. We do it every year around this time, but it still cracks me up.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

GETTING OUR TREE

We got our tree!

And what I imagined would take an hour, with all the hot cocoa sipping, Christmas carol singing, and hand holding through the lot, really in fact, took only 3 minutes. The tree was tied to our stinky mini van before I even had a chance to put all my kid's mitts on.

Got some pictures, though...

My mom and Uncle Josh met us too. They took a little longer than 3 minutes.

The kids did some racing.

Still haven't got all the ornaments up, but so far, it is definitely more decorated on the bottom right of the tree (Will level).

STICK MAN

We bought our Christmas book for the year (actually 2 books).

I love anything Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler write and illustrate so I didn't even read this book before I bought it. It has quickly become a favourite, which means I have read it twice daily since it came home, which means I may eventually have to hide it with "The Tin Soldier" and "Run! Run! It's Scary Poo!" which both have become my least favourite books due to over reading.

Will Stick Man get back to the family tree to his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three, in time for the holidays? Will Stick Man wake up in time before he is burned as fire wood (very suspenseful, and a particularly worrisome moment for Clara)? You will have to buy it to find out...

Here is Will reading a book from our Christmas library this morning.

He is really into pictures of Santa this year. This is him making his "special" sound while pointing at Santa.

TWO

Happy Birthday William.

Today, you are 2 years old. 2 years ago I went into labour, and 3 or so hours later you arrived into loving arms in the master bathroom!

I would once have said that I love you more each day, but have learned that it is not love that grows, but it is in the knowing that grows and love simply expands to contain it. We love knowing you Will. Quite simply, we thing you are the best, most lovely, cuddly, funny, clever, beautiful boy. You are our gift from God. And we adore you.

May all your birthday wishes come true little one.

DEAR SANTA

Dear Santa,

I Hope you and Mrs. Claus are happy and well, and are feeling organized more organized for Christmas than I am. I have been good this year (except for a few incidences), and although I am mostly excited just to be with my family and do as many Christmassy things possible in the next 21 days, I thought I would include a little list of things I would like, just in case...

• Mostly, I would like this lens. And I know it is very, very expensive, but I do have a substantial credit with the store already?

• I really have a love for art supplies, and I would love some gouache paints and brushes, an industrial corner rounder (because I just love to round my corners) and a calligraphy set to practice my hand lettering I said I would learn this year. You can never have too many journals either!

• I like this stamp set from Small Object. I like making my correspondance look pretty.

• Which is why I like these labels too (from etsy).

• I have been dreaming about owning one of these address files from lovely design for over a year now:

• I would like some frames too, to frame all the art and photographs I have been collecting for my "wall of inspiration." I am a fan of vintage painted frames like these ones:

• I love books, although truthfully, I haven't figured out when in the day to read. I do know that I would like to own these ones:

• And how I love garlands and buntings! (photos from my favorite dress, nice and wunderlust on etsy)

• And I love anything from Nina In Vorm (mostly the ceramic stuff...and I do actually need some bowls).

• Considering that I wear mostly black and grey in the winter, I think I should own a statement necklace. I almost bought the third one (below), before my husband gave me the big 2 thumbs down. (photos from j crew and anthropologie)
  

• I really need to start off my vintage globe collection. I know where I want to display them, but I still don't own a single globe! (photo from lovely design)

• I would also like to start collecting some vintage letters to hang on our walls. I'm thinking of letters from the names of our family...'R', 'J', 'C', 'S' and 'W'. (photo from hula seventy)

• And what is a Christmas wish list without some cooking gadgets. I need a garlic press, crepe pan, wok, large omelette pan and serving spoons (the kids used mine as shovels and bent them). And I still would like this panini press. It's on special right now...half price:

Well, I think that covers it. Of course, I still need to find some black heels, and I really like Candiss's boots, and I know UGGS are not "in" this year, but they are just so comfy for school drop off. Jake doesn't like when I wear his boxers to bed, so I guess jammies would be practicable? and how about a little gift card to Sara's Boutique? The Spring collection will be coming out before we know it!

Travel safe Santa. And remember, this list was really just for fun. All I really need, is a good kick in the butt, as Sam would say.

XO

WILL'S PARTY

We celebrated Will's 2nd birthday on the weekend. I have decided that we will always celebrate the weekend before his actual birthday (December 4th), and then we can bring out the Christmas boxes.

We had his party at our house with his cousins, some family friends and a few of his little buddies. Katie made a singing appearance again, Jake served the guests some whiskey sours, we decorated gingerbread houses and played "Will Bingo." Will particularly loved his cake that YaYa made, the balloons and his whoopie cushion (and the gum I put in the loot bags).

I only have a few grainy pictures, since it is dark at 3:00pm these days and it was a dark and rainy day to start with. And besides, putting on a party is sweaty business. No time to take photos amidst the noise and general chaos.

My plan was to take a photo of each guest wearing a mustache disguise. But I only ended up with a photo of Hannah, Clara and a kind of creepy one of my brother. Like I said, I get kind of sweaty at parties.

We did decorate some gingerbread houses! I can cross that off my December list.

And I have to post a picture of "Will Bingo" since it took me a bloody long time to take photos of some of his favourite things. Enough "things" for 12 cards.

We love you so much William! Hope you had a fun party.