We are thankful

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. Our usual turkey day routine involves heading to my mom's in the morning to watch the parade (which Ella loved this year and is STILL asking to watch it again) and then helping her prepare dinner.

The rest of the family usually joins us around 2 and then it's time for the main event-- dinner. Everything turned out wonderfully this year and of course between Josh, Mitch and my cousin Brian there were plenty of laughs at the table.

After dinner Ahma & Papa handed out a gift to each of the 5 grandkids that were there.

 

Christmas pj's for all!

 Ella & AJ deep in conversation

 Cute little jammie butts!

 Yum! French vanilla cupcakes with brownie filling and peanut butter frosting!

Our holiday card 2010

Snowflake Rainbow Christmas 5x7 folded card

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Check out Shutterfly for all of your holiday photo cards and gifts!

In keeping with my holiday post-a-thon, I have to share a sneak peek of the Christmas card I chose from Shutterfly to send to all of our friends and family this year. Find it here-- http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/joy-and-happiness-christmas-5x7-folded-card?sortType=1&fa=12&storeNode=93495

I love sending and receiving Christmas cards and it is always a great way to show our families how much Ella has grown each year. In fact, we used our 2007 Christmas card to announce my pregnancy to our extended family and friends! We got so many excited phone calls after those cards went out!

I have been ordering from Shutterfly since 2003 and I must say that I have always been incredibly impressed with the quality of their products. I have ordered so many different items and I am have been pleased with each and every one of them. We've used Shutterfly for our Christmas cards for many years (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards) and they have always been beautiful and high quality.

I have also found that Shutterfly has great photo gifts like calendars (http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars ) and photo mugs (http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/photo-mugs). All of the grandparents LOVE getting any gift with Miss Ella's pretty face on them and of course I can never resist ordering one for myself!

I will be ordering my holiday cards and gifts this week as soon as we get our pictures done. I can't wait! Head on over to Shutterfly now and get yours!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

With snow in the forecast for this week and Christmas music on the radio, I can't help but feel the itch to break out the decorations!

Ella was enjoying some Christmas music on the radio the other day and she asked what the song was about. I said well in this one they are talking about baby Jesus. So after that she kept talking about the "baby jaguar song" (ala Go Diego Go!, lol). I think this year is going to be verrry interesting as far as explaining all of the traditions go. I am sure it'll be hilarious though!

With Thanksgiving and black friday this week we certainly have our hands full but we will make the time to lug the Christmas decor totes up from the basement and get the house into the holiday spirit too! A little birdie also told me that I may be getting my new camera a little early (Thursday perhaps?!), so I will be excited to finally be able to take some new pictures of my beautiful girl!

Holiday Baking

There is nothing better than the smell of cookies baking and Christmas music playing! Though it's not Thanksgiving yet we are definitely getting into the Christmas spirit around here! Today is our annual baking day and we are making lots of yummy treats just like this...

and these..

and getting these ready for next week...