Breakfast with Santa + White Christmas Parade

The kids and I had a busy Saturday, but a fun Saturday. We started off with Breakfast with Santa at the firehouse. This is a yearly tradition that is organized by the Covington Fire Ladies Auxiliary. They do such a great job. Our kids have so much fun from getting to sit in the fire trucks, do crafts, and of course seeing santa! We may or may not have had to bribe Meredith do get a picture with him. I guess at 8 yrs old she already thinks she is too big. But Max wouldn't do it without her. Oh and we thought we were done Christmas shopping but they told santa one thing that they wanted him to bring.... skate boards! Thank God it wasn't a hatchimal. Skate boards were not on their original list. I have a feeling the big guy will come through though and the kiddos will have skate boards under the tree. Nick was working but was able to be there.

After Breakfast with Santa we drove to Augusta for the White Christmas Parade. We got there a couple hours early so I made vegetable soup for all of us. It hit the spot since it was freezing outside. The kids and I just hung out at my momma's until it was time to walk down for the parade. This is one of the things that Augusta puts on yearly that is a can't miss. Gets you in the Christmas spirit!! There was some awesome floats , some wonderful singing of classic Christmas carols, and 2 Santas!! The parade started at 5:30 so the kids and I walked from my moms to Main Street to find the perfect spot to stand around 5. Augusta really is one of those neat small towns. How I didn't appreciate it growing up. But now I so do.

It's Santa!

Oh did I mention there were fireworks after the parade??

What's everyone else been doing to get in the Christmas spirit? We have a busy week ahead but IT IS MY BIRTHDAY WEEK!!! Can you believe ONLY 13 more days til Christmas?! yay!!

5 on Friday

Yay for Friday!! I am ready for the weekend. But yikes it's almost Christmas. Luckily I have only to buy for my momma and then I am finished. My goal every year is to be done by the beginning of my birthday week which is next week!! It's time for ME by then haha. Thought I would share 5 things on Friday with ya'll.

ONE

Nick started RCIA classes to become part of the Catholic faith back in September. This past Sunday, he along with the others in the class, had to attend church for the Rite of Acceptance. This was the first stop on the road to joining our faith. I am so excited for Nick and our little family. It means a great deal to us that he will become Catholic for us as well as for himself. I know how proud my dad and grandmothers would be as well. I was a little teary eyed Sunday.

TWO

We got our pictures back from my friend Denise this week. Let me just say she didn't have much to work with that day. It was freezing and windy. We did them at the fire house. Nick is as bad as the kids when it comes to getting our pictures done. I lose my head several times just in us all getting ready. But man oh man. I LOVE them. My heart might have stopped on a few of them. If any one is need of a wonderful photographer you should check out Denise and her photography partner's website here.

THREE

Nick had the opportunity to purchase UK basketball tickets from one of the other fireman's who has season tickets. He asked me if I wanted to go but would have to be part of my bday present. They are lower arena tickets and the best seats. I told him this was the one and only time that it could be for my bday/Christmas gift. But only for UK tickets!! There can be no other reason to combine the two occasions lol. Having a birthday exactly one week before Christmas is tough. I am obsessed with KY basketball. We had a great time. I even made a new friend. The seats beside us were also season ticket holders who just happened to probably be in their 70's or 80's . When you think of Southern class it defined this lady to a T. But with all the class that she oozed, it didn't stop her for screaming for her Cats. She even high fived me on one of the dunks. Let's just say I have a new idol!! Oh and of course my boys in blue won!

FOUR

St. Nick arrived at our house this week. He brings the kids new Christmas pj's and an ornament....every single year! They also got a few small items. Growing up my sister, brother and I left our socks for St. Nick. They were always filled to the brim with little goodies.

FIVE

TGIF. This has felt like the longest week ever for some reason. We have breakfast with Santa tomorrow and then headed to Augusta for the White Christmas Parade and ending with fireworks. The kids and I are excited. I picked up Sunday to work. It starts my birthday week. That's right folks. When you have a December birthday and one the week before Christmas you get a week to celebrate!!

Beauty Society giveaway winner

Winner! Winner! Chicken dinner ! Well not really a chicken dinner haha!! But I am excited to announce the winner of my first ever blog giveaway! Drumroll please..................Bobbi Jo! Bobbi has been a customer since day 1 of my Beauty days! Bobbi be on the look out for your prize pack from Carissa and I ! Ladies it isn't too late to take advantage of the Holiday Specials for yourself or if you must a gift !! Head over to my website at www.mybeautysociety.com/traceyb

Bobbi Jo, Carissa was mailing your prize out today!!!:)

Thanksgiving + weekend

As I lay relaxing on the couch watching my all time favorite movie {wizard of oz} and bask in the glow of our new Christmas tree, I was sad that the weekend is over . There was no time to just sit and relax ! But is there really ever ?! Thanksgiving was low key for my little family. Nick and i both worked the night shift into Thanksgiving day! Needless to say we were both exhausted from 0 sleep. Thank goodness my mom was staying with us and could keep the kids a little quiet. Although Max would not leave my side in bed. He watched videos on the iPad and cuddled with me. After we woke up we took the kids and my mom to eat. Originally we had planned  to eat at Cracker Barrel. The wait there was over an hour! Nick commented didn't anyone cook at home anymore lol. They were probably people just like us haha. Bob Evans was just was long of a wait. We drove past IHOP and it was open! So that's where we had our thanksgiving meal and it was delicious ! I would rather have pancakes any day than turkey!! After eating we made it to the movies just in time to see Trolls. The kids loved it and we all liked it too!

Friday nick and I both worked! So there was no Black Friday shopping. Well I did get up 2 hours early for work and stopped at Justice! I refuse to pay full price for that and Mere had a list a mile long for some clothes and shoes . You can't beat 50% off. Worth the 2 hours less of sleep! Once I got home from work I decided to let the kiddos pick out a Christmas tree for their playroom. They found the most ideal little tree for themselves. We took it home and put the lights on it and they took turns with the ornaments. I love having the extra Christmas tree and especially having one upstairs. You see it from the top of the steps!!

Saturday we spent with Nick's family celebrating a belated Thanksgiving.  We were able to see the Cats pull of the W against Loser-ville,  I Mean Louisville lol. We were both exhausted and after the kids were in bed we were too. We have been watching a series on Netflix , Hell on Wheels! I am literally obsessed. We were even too tired to watch it ! Last year , we decided to start the tradition of getting a real tree at a Tree Farm. It was so much fun walking through a field of Christmas trees, finding the perfect tree and cutting it down. So this year we went back to Big Tree Planatation in Morrow , Ohio. It was about an hours drive. If the kids wouldn't have bickered and pestered each other there and back it might have been the perfect day. I am convinced that we put the dis in disfunction. There never seems to be a time we plan something fun to do that there is some part of it that makes you want to scream and pull your hair out and rethink doing it. Hopefully the kids won't remember that part of it or won't be in therapy haha! If you look at our pics it looks like it was the most magical time! Deceiving !!! I mean, decorating the tree even turned into a yelling match between who got to hang what ornament! Jeesh! Please tell me this isn't just us! Please tell me other families struggle and that it isn't all #soblessed and #mylifeissoperfect. If it is I hate you, just kidding..... maybe !! 😂 I am just going to look at our pictures and pretend we are that #soblessedwearebetterthanyourfamily haha! For all the normal families like us, you are not alone!! It will not stop me from planning more fun things though.  Hey maybe one time it will go smoothly! Also, ya'll should really experience the whole cutting down your own tree. It really is fun! Oh and Joy the Elf decided to make her yearly appearance. I have a love/hate relationship with her. Right now she isn't so bad but in a week or 2, no so much!!

Now it's crunch time to finish all the Christmas shopping. I am happy to say I am almost done!! I have written and rewritten my list probably 4or 5 times ! Tis the season!


Happy Monday Friends!!