Ho Ho Delivered!

He wanted to wear his Choo Choo jammies for Santa.

Thomas and Percy Chairs.

Playing trains on his new table.

Looking for the "trick or treat" (candy).

More Thomas stuff.

Looking through his new books with his new hat.

Sweet "Thomas" dreams under his new big boy sheets.

Hank had a wonderful Christmas and got his "Thomas stuff" from Santa.  He was very happy with all of his gifts, and liked to look at each one before moving onto the next gift.  He would get excited with unwrapping each gift and tell us what each one was. By the time our families came he was a pro with unwrapping gifts and couldn't wait to tear into the presents they brought.

Tonight he looked under the tree and asked where the presents were.  Not sure if he thinks he is supposed to get more?

Twas the night before Christmas.

Tonight we are getting ready for Santa.  We got cookies and milk out for him, which Hank ate when I put him up on the counter to take his photo with the plate.  We hung Hank and Spotty's stockings and we read Twas the Night Before Christmas.  Now we just need to get Hank to bed, so Santa can deliver!

Christmas Preparations!

I have been saying that there are not enough weekends in December.  We have been busy with getting ready for the holiday, in addition to just normal everyday living.  Here are a few snapshots of what we have been up to this month:

Helping with the decorating.

Rocking those choo choo jammies!

Cookie baking and cake pop making!

Brant's Uncle Steve and Aunt Sue up from Texas.

Reindeer cake pops.  So cute, but lots of work!

Entertaining Brant's family.





Getting Christmas Cards ready.



Snow already, which Hank loves.



Eating Christmas cookies.

Went to a live nativity.  Hank loved the animals and the real baby Jesus.

Celebrating my birthday on Sunday.

Thomas Stuff!

Today Hank and I went to the mall and saw Santa ( A.K.A. Ho Ho).

He was very excited to go and talk to him.  Santa asked him what he wanted and Hank said...."Thomas Stuff", which is what he had practiced saying on our drive there.  Hank has been listening to us when we tell him he has to be a good boy for Santa, so that Santa will bring him toys.

He already saw one gift that the UPS man brought.  I told him that Santa has to come and pick it up and then bring it back on Christmas Day. Whenever he sees it, by accident, he tells me;  "Santa come and get it.  Bring it Christmas."

We have also taught him that Christmas is Jesus' Birthday. 

Hard to believe it is almost here!

Powder your nose!

Our powder room is right across from the pantry, in the hallway between the mudroom and the kitchen.

We asked for that location, so that if you were outside and needed to use the bathroom, you would not need to traipse through the whole house.  For Christmas I have decorated it with my snowmen, which I will leave there all winter.  Over the summer I bought the mirror for the powder room at Peaceful Valley in Lancaster.  I love the shelf on it - perfect for decorating.!  I also like the small window in there.  We have a few of them in the house.  They are perfect for setting up displays in!

Hanging with the Big Girls!

Black Friday lunch at Chilli's.

Minnie is hanging out with the girls - she already knows how to pose!

Life has been busy.  Hard to believe Christmas is around the corner.  We have been busy decorating around and outside the house.  Hopefully tomorrow we will be getting our tree.  Last Friday Hank and I braved the Black Friday Crowds to go to York Galleria Mall.  We took Mimi with us, and she entertained Hank while I got some clothes at Gymboree.  We got there right before noon, and actually the crowds were not that bad.  We were also able to get a few things for ourselves too while at the mall.
We also met up with my cousins who were out shopping too and had lunch with them at Chilli's.

Last night I met up with Carrie and Cheryl for dinner out.  We always go out one Friday before Christmas.  We ate at Basta Pasta and went to Carrie's to see her new baby dog, Minnie. 

Pantry Pride.



Come on in....



Still a work in progress, but I know where everything is!





I bought this sign over the summer with my pantry in mind!

One of my requests with the house design was a walk in pantry.

Storage was important to me.  In our old house I had extra kitchen items stored in the basement.  I knew I did want to have to run up and down basement steps to get my stuff anymore!

I keep all our dry goods, baking supplies, serving pieces, crock pots, etc.. in there.

I also had room to put my pie safe in there.  I store my cookbooks in there.

My pie safe is something I bought when we were first married and living in a rental home, which had barely any kitchen storage.  On top of the pie safe I have my Longaberger recipe basket, which was a wedding shower gift.

I feel very fortunate to have this pantry.  It is right off of the kitchen and easy to get to.  Hank even knows where everything is in there too!

It reminds me of something you would find in an old house too.  My Great Aunt Mina had one in her kitchen.



Annual Day Out!

One of our first stops is usually In Grandma's Attic

Love all the Lancaster County back roads!

Lunch stop!

One of my purchases.  We hung it in the Mud Room.

Carrie and I did our annual Lancaster County Shopping trip again.  We stick to tradition and go to the same shops, eat lunch at the Kitchen Kettle, get a bag of Kettle Corn there, and end the evening with dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  Somehow I don't seem to get any Christmas shopping done!  I usually buy stuff for myself.

Moving into the BIG HOUSE!

Welcome!

New couch!

First night in the Big House.

Our shower.  All nice and new.

Where to put everything?

Several Firsts...first time using the stove, Hank's first bath in his new tub, and the first time sleeping in his big boy bed.

Hank "swimming" in Mama's tub.

Fall fun outside.

We are finally in the Big House, which is what Hank calls our home.  We moved in on Thursday Nov. 4 and have been working on getting things in their place.  We have got a lot done, but still have some more things to put away and get organized.  Will post more pictures in the coming weeks.

Halloween Highlights.

Notice how Hank has the lighter - who was watching him?

Everyone needs their Spot!

Hank had his eyes on the trick-or-treaters going down the street.

Fire Dog on the Fire Truck!

Enjoying the fruits of his labor!

For Halloween we went to Brant's parents.
Hank was a Dalmatian Dog and he really enjoyed trick-or-treating.  He always said trick-or-treat and thank you at all the houses.  One house we went to there was a little boy his age at the door and Hank thought he should go inside and play with the toys he saw.  He enjoyed seeing the other kids and the decorations, even the scary ones!