To-Do List for Winter

I was really happy with our Fall To-Do List and decided it's something I will do every season.  Here is what I have on the list for winter:

Bake Christmas Cookies
See Christmas Lights
Decorate the Tree
Sled Down a Hill (a first for Tyler)
See our Breath in the Cold Air
Visit Santa
Play in the Snow


Also, stay tuned for the 12 days of Christmas coming soon!

Visit with Santa and Patuxent Nursery

Today we visited Patuxtent Nursery to see Santa and so I could check out their amazing holiday decor.  They go all out and decorate themed trees, have an elaborate Santa display, and put lights on nearly every tree on the property.  It really is a sight to see, especially if you have little ones.  I'm lucky enough to get to drive by all those beautiful lights every day on my drive home.

Tyler's visit with Santa last year went very well so I had high hopes for this year.  Just in case, I also brought Doggie (his favorite little lovey). 

Tyler with Santa 2011 (16 months old)

Tyler with Santa 2010 (5 months old)

What a difference a year makes!

If you live in this area I suggest checking out Patuxent Nursery.  You can take your own pictures for free and there is hot cider and fresh popcorn, not to mention their beautiful displays of Christmas trees to check out.

I love this under the sea themed tree:



This is a great kid friendly tree full of stuffed animals and plastic ornaments

Luminaries at Antietam National Battlefield

Last weekend we drove up to Antietam National Battlefield near Boonesboro, MD to see the 23rd annual luminary lighting.  Tyler was a trooper and handled the many hours in the car really well.  I think he liked being able to see out of both windows of Teresa's van.

We first stopped for pizza at Vesta Pizzeria.  They have great food and even better prices.  A Sam Adams beer was $2 and that was regular price!  I highly recommend eating there if you ever find yourself in Boonesboro. 

After dinner we got back in the van and got in line to see the luminaries.  After about 1 hour of waiting Jeff and Bob jumped out and ran into a store to pick up dessert and ran back to the car.  We hadn't moved but maybe 50 feet. 

3 hours later we were at the gates to get into the park.  The luminaries were breathtaking and really a site worth seeing. It did a great job of depicting how eerie it must have looked like to see miles of land riddled with soldiers (23,000 to be exact) who had lost their lives, were wounded, or went missing during this 12 hour battle.  It's hard to believe just one battle out of the civil war could have ended with that many casualties.

Image from Here

Image from Here

Sorry for the blurred images, they don't allow you to stop the car for any photos. 

Christmas Cards are here!

My Christmas cards arrived at my doorstep on Saturday.  Not a bad turn around for custom photo cards.  I wasn't sure what to expect since I used a different company this year.  For the last few years I have gone with Tiny Prints - they have such cute designs to choose from and usually have a coupon offer if you can get them ordered early enough.
This year I got a Groupon offer for a new company called Simply to Impress. I have to say I am "simply impressed" with my cards.  The package arrived in a cute box with a thank you note inside. 

The color and the images are great, the paper is thick card stock and the envelopes are a silky bright white and also are high quality.  Great job Simply to Impress, you have lived up to your name in my book!

They even allow you to put a picture on the back of the card:

They are offering a discount right now of 25% and free shipping with the promo code FESTIVE.  Check them out!

Thanksgiving Salisbury Style

Most people get together with family for Thanksgiving.  In Salisbury we get together with our oldest friends and neighbors that we grew up with and have a great time reminicing about old days and discussing the new days ahead.  This year we had almost 20 people!

The next day, after Tyler dusted, my mother and I went shopping and left the boys to enjoy the nice 70 degree day:

My Shutterfly Party & Project

I applied and got accepted to hosted a party through HouseParty.com for Shutterfly.  Sadly, I completely forgot to take pictures of the party but below are the projects that I made with the promo codes they provided.

10 Free Personalized Holiday Cards: I had already purchased a Groupon for my holiday cards through another company or I would have ordered Christmas cards. Instead I found these really colorful New Years cards:

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Free Hard Cover Photo Book: I decided to create a book for Tyler about his first birthday party.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Create your own personalized photo books at Shutterfly.com.

Mama's Christmas Wish-List

These are a few of the things I would love to have.  Some of which have been on my wish list for years (camera gadgets). 





Ha!  Looking back at the pictures I just had a "you know your a mom when" moments.  Who asks for a training potty for Christmas?  This Mama who is tired of changing diapers!