I have finally uploaded the pictures that have been sitting on my phone and camera for the last couple of months. I figure that I should probably post a few on here with some of the things that we have been up to lately in the Vaughn household. By the way, I didn't realize that this guilty, nagging feeling comes along with not posting when I started this blog.
My mom made it out before Christmas for a short visit and when I say short visit- I mean that she got here at 2:00pm on a friday and was back at the airport by 11:00am on Sunday to leave. That's less than 48 hours. That's crazy!! Even though it was short we still had a great time and the boys were super sad to see her leave. We love seeing Lolli!!
We still had time to make some graham cracker houses which were a lot of fun. We ended up using McDonald's Happy Meal boxes for the inside structure which worked pretty well.
I'm sure that there was more candy that went into mouths than there was that went onto the houses.
Due to a very nice gift we got to go to Disneyland for the first time. The boys were so excited as were J and I. We had a great time! J even surprised me and got us year passes so that we can go back! Can't wait to visit again.
We seemed to miss seeing all of the other roaming Disney characters but we did catch Goofy!
We had a lot of fun with the tree this year. Last year we had a tree but I'm not sure that you could even call it a tree. It was a little 3 footer that I have had since my first year of college. It was missing one of the legs on it's stand and the looked like it had some sort of disease with all of the patches of missing pine needles. Needles to say, it retired after Christmas last year. This year we had a real 6 foot Douglas Fir to take it's place. It was so pretty and smelled wonderful too! The boys had a lot of fun playing cars, little people, and army men among its branches. I had fun trying to keep up with all of the pine needles they were helping it shed on the floor.
I'm not sure how to describe Z's method of decorating the tree. He always had a new ornament in hand. He looked really busy and excited to do something with it. But not once did I ever see him actually put one on the tree. Please pay no attention to the unwiped mouth.
I think most of them ended up being handed over to big brother who is very good at putting them on the tree. IV likes to hang them in bunches. He wanted to make sure that they were all "together". Daddy snapped this picture towards the end.
Here's the decorators pausing just long enough to please mom with a picture. Actually dad was the photographer that night but everyone knows that a mom loves this kind of shot. It's not candid but also not one that would fall under the posed category. They are looking in the general direction of the camera, together, and somewhat smiling. It's an "A" in my book. I did however, fail as a mother by allowing my youngest to wear no pants. That happens in a lot of my pictures. Oh well, I like it.
I had to throw this picture in. It's one of my favorites for a couple reasons. First, look at the smile. That folks is a REAL smile. IV's normal smile, if you can call it that, is one of sheer force and cheesiness. This one is sweet and simple. Love it! Secondly, he was so excited to wear the suit. "It looks like daddy's!" is what he kept saying as he twisted his hands together in the way he does when he's excited. Thirdly, for the reason he was wearing it. The Master's Kids (where he goes to preschool) was going caroling to a retirement home. The kids were to dress in their Sunday best for all of the grandpas and grandmas. It was so cute to watch them interacting and visiting with the seniors. IV was even open to letting them hold his hand and hug on him. It was sweet and you can tell that the seniors really enjoyed the youngsters. P.S. Thanks for the suit Papa and Grandma Vaughn!!
This is a picture of my solution for displaying cards. We don't have a lot of display space on shelves in our apartment but we do have a lot of wall space. I store my art display panels for art-shows behind our couch. They made the perfect place to tie some ribbon and attach the cards. I used mini clothespins to attach them with and hung them in a random manor to make it interesting. It also made a good place to hang our stockings.
We had a good time decorating cookies. Above is the hubs with his masterpiece.
This is Z after devouring his masterpiece.
and this is IV
We had enough to last us over a week.
Cinnamon rolls...the nemesis of my baking. Oh, how I loathe thee! Out of everything that I have ever made or attempted to make these beasts are the ones that make me nervous. They have never turned out right. This last time was the most success I have had with them. They rose like they were supposed to and tasted great. I tried two different recipes given to me by my sweet friend Melissa and out of the two I should be able to genetically create the perfect cinnamon roll. The first will contribute the yummy filling, creamy icing, and taste of bread that I'm looking for. The second contributing the rise and height of the rolls and the softness of the bread that is in my dreams. Combined, this cinnamon roll will conquer all fears, taste buds, and waistlines as well!
I'm sure that I forgot something that I wanted to share.
If I did it will just have to wait until next time.
Great pics. Christmas is so much fun, especially with kiddos. :) And you have to give me the cinnamon roll recipe you are coming up with. It sounds amazing.
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