Christmas Recap

Technically, Christmas just ended yesterday with the 6th being the 12th day of Christmas and the Epiphany, so I figure I can eek out a quick Christmas recap post still. Right? Sure.

We started the festivities by meeting my brother's family, my parents and my aunt at the zoo for Zoo Lights (my mom and dad delivered our gift for B and me - our Zoo Membership - early so we got everyone in on my membership with only having to buy one guest pass, which was awesome). Our zoo closes at five to get ready for Zoo Lights and reopens at 5:30, but we knew that the kids would get too cold and lines were crazy, so we went at 3:30 and planned to spend an hour and a half at the zoo. They started to tur the lights on around 4:30, and at 5 they started to tell us to make our way to the exits, but as we left, the music was playing, it was dark, and all the lights were on. It was the best zoo trip ever - animals and lights! A new tradition was born.

On Sunday the 23rd, I wanted to take Tom and Emma ice skating at the rink by our house while my brother and my dad were at the Broncos game. B came with us because I knew I couldn't handle two toddlers on ice skates by myself on skates, and we had a blast. I skated with Emma, B skated with Thomas, and unfortunately for our future sports budget, T was a natural on skates and refused to get off the ice. Our oldest nephew plays hockey, and Thomas is obsessed because of Zack, but I just figured he'd have my coordination on ice and that would be the end of hockey. Oh well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Christmas Eve was perfect, but I still haven't gone through all the photos. My great Aunt and great Uncle, as well as their daughter (my second cousin? cousin? I call her Aunt Debbie) were in town and my mom's entire Colorado side of the family plus the guests of honor had a big, Scandinavian Christmas Eve dinner at my mom and dad's house. It was perfect.

Christmas morning, we woke up at our house and the kids played with their Santa gifts before we all opened presents, then we headed to Mr. B's mom and dad's for brunch and games. It was a perfectly balanced Christmas - lots of play, lots of family, and lots of fun. 

And now, Christmas season is over. I took the tree down on the 26th, but left the outdoor wreaths and lights up until the season was truly over on the 6th of January. On to the new year!  Happy 2013!

DIY Activity Advent Calendar

My friend Kim is doing her Dare to DIY series again this year, and while our Christmas seasons get busier and busier, I try to participate when I can.  I'm making only one gift this year for my cousins' families and our neighbors, but I can't share that on the blog just yet. So, here's a little DIY gift our neighbors dropped by our house on Friday night.

Our sweet neighbors showed up with two glasses of wine and an Activity Advent Calendar they put together for each family on our block. And it's darling. They stayed and chatted for a few minutes and then continued down the block to the next neighbors house to deliver wine and an Advent Calendar...we figure they made six stops that night. We have the best neighbors and neighborhood ever.

While I didn't do this myself, I thought it was too awesome not to share.

I've loved the idea of a Activity Advent calendar, but I just have never gotten my act together enough to make one. So it helps that my neighbors have their acts together.  And what a fun idea for a gift for neighbors or extended family - it's an act of time and love to put it together, but doesn't cost a ton of money. And the wine for the parents doesn't hurt either.  Our neighbor put together 25 small red envelopes, punched out the circles and put 25 mini clothespins and a long strand of ribbon in each bag. And inside each envelope was a cute little tag for the activities we were doing.

We love the gift and we love our neighbors. Every time I start to think we could use more living space, I'm reminded of why we'll never actually want to move. B and I joked as we opened Day 1 that it would have been awesome if they'd put totally extravagant activities in each little envelope, like "Make 4 dozen cookies for your neighbors two doors down" or "Take your children on a three day snowboarding extravaganza". But our neighbors are much nicer than we are :). I'm saving the envelopes and the activities so that I can just reuse this next year. Because we've already established I won't get my act together to make a new one with new activities.

Link up with Kim and see what DIY gifts others are giving this year.

     

Christmas Kitchen Centerpiece

I just got a new kitchen table and chairs (to go along with the completed banquette...3 years later...so hold your breath for a post on that one!) in our breakfast nook, and since I'm madly in love with this table, my old standard centerpiece (or what some would call Thomas's shoes and Casco's leash) just wasn't going to do. So when I saw this Better Homes & Gardens idea on Pinterest, I beelined for the nearest Hobby Lobby to pick up some greenery and berries. I already owned my signature green colander and a green candle, so this was an inexpensive little project (especially since all Christmas items were 50% off).  For a girl who has always operated under the "I don't really decorate for the holidays" motto, this is big, friends. The Hobby Lobby Christmas aisles were a new experience for me, but that's another story. 

I'm kind of in love with the new centerpiece. The colander makes it so kitchen appropriate. More on the table, chairs...and banquette soon. I promise!

Dare to Eat Cookies: Family Swedish Spritz Christmas Cookies

It's Week 3 of Kim's Dare to DIY Challenge, and in week 3 we throw our food diaries out the window and eat cookies! I mean, how could I say no to that?

Being a girl who was born with a Mc last name and married a Mc (I took my maiden name as my middle name when we got married so I'm a double Mc kinda girl), I usually claim my Irish heritage. Because it's just in your face like that. But there's a significant Norwegian and Swedish contingent to both sides of my family, too (just ask my ribs...they're very Norwegian). And that half of me really loves Scandinavian Christmas cookies.

I didn't actually bake the cookies this year - my aunt made her grandmother's (my great-grandmother Emma for whom I was named) Swedish Spritz cookies for our weekend in the mountains for Thanksgiving this year. But I would have made them for this week if my aunt hadn't done all the work for me :). And we actually have two family recipes - Grandma Emma's cookies and Grandma Stella's cookies. Pictured are Emma's cookies, the recipe is Stella's...they're very similar. Just trying to keep you on your toes, friends.

Grandma Stella's Swedish Spritz (Detroit Lakes, Minnesota)
Cream together:
1 1/2 cups Butter
1 cup Sugar
1 egg, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons almond extract

Sift together:
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Add the flour and baking powder to the creamed together mixture and force through a cookie press.

Bake at 400 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes

We love cookies. Swedish Spritz, Norwegian Krumkake, the secret McD family Christmas cookie cutouts. It's no wonder I'm always dieting come January. Head on over to Kim's blog to get even more great cookie recipes!

Christmas Card Display

I was so worried that we wouldn't get Christmas cards this year, what with everyone claiming there's no point in sending one because everyone sees the family pictures on Facebook first, anyway.  Bah humbugs.  Thank goodness for Shutterfly's link building scheme that innundated Google Readers everywhere with the same post on every blog but assured me at least one more year of Christmas Cards.

And, since we were throwing a Christmas party this year, I couldn't just pile all the cards in a bowl like I usually do.  Nope, they needed a prominent display.

I bought jute webbing (for reupholstering chairs) at Hobby Lobby and hung a strip on our basement door - which just so happens to be the first thing you see when you walk through our front door.  Then I used clothespins to clip the Christmas cards to the jute.

For the first week we had two cards on the ribbon and I was nervous.  But the cards have been flooding in and I'm loving it.  We'll need an extra strip of jute next year if this pace keeps up.

Merry Merry!  I love this part of the holidays!

Faux Christmas Letter 2010

Well, another year has almost come and gone - and what a year it has been! Ready for your yearly dose of highly sarcastic imperfection?
'Twas the month before Christmas, and throughout our home

We're reflecting on our year from Denver to Rome.

The stockings are hung and the tree's ready to trim,

So through 2010 we are ready to skim:



Though his Fantasy Sports teams had a tough showing,

Catching a walk-off home run ball left Mr. B glowing.

He handled electrical explosions and wildfires in stride,

But spit-up and diapers humbled his pride.



Thomas Kirby arrived with much fanfare in June.

He's healthy and happy and we're over the moon!

Tommy loves to eat and bounce and play,

And he's known for his lungs, our neighbors can say.



Casco spent his days sleeping, playing and pouting,

Despite our best efforts, his training we won't be touting.

He's decided that Tommy is kind of okay,

Especially when the kid throws food his way.



And for me, the stars aligned for a much needed job switch -

Now Mr. B comes home to less of a witch.

I've kept busy and had plenty to learn and to do -

Working, parenting and tongue biting to name just a few.



Together we've traveled, learned and grown,

We've cherished our family and started one of our own.

What a year it has been, sweet Twenty Ten -

Great memories, new babies and fun places we've been!



Here's hoping that your year was just as blessed,

You're ready for the holidays and your Christmas cards are addressed.

As this year draws to a close you will hear us cheer,

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Happy New Year!"



Faux Christmas Letter 2008

Faux Christmas Letter 2009

Easy Christmas Cookies

I made cookie dough, cut out and frosted sixty of my family's secret family Christmas Cookies last week for our Caroling party on Friday night.  And the 13 kids we had in our house devoured 57 of them in 2.5 hours.  Which is exactly what they were made for.

But, I wasn't feeling mixing, rolling, cutting and frosting more cookies for a neighborhood cookie decorating party two days later (I figured since my hands would be full of six month old I probably should just take the cookies decorated).  So I cheated.  I bought pre-cut Pillsbury sugar cookies, chocolate chips and candy canes.  I baked the cookies, melted the chocolate and did a mediocre job of crushing the candy canes.  Then, I dipped the cookies and sprinkled crushed candy cane on top.

The result? Cookies adults loved while they watched their kids pile spit laden frosting onto sugar cookies.  If I'd had a little more time I would have made the dough myself, but Pillsbury was the name of the game on Sunday (it's Finals week in the McKevitt household.  Which could also be called "Thank God I'm not a Single Mom for real week").  Total time? 20 minutes. From package to plate.  Easy.

Christmas Caroling Party

We threw a neighbor Christmas party last weekend.  We've become pretty close with a number of people on our block - and last year our friend, at her son's first birthday party, pulled me aside and said "How do you feel about Caroling?" I told her I was pro-caroling and she said "Good, let's start a Christmas caroling party next year".  Which, on our street means, "Hey B and Emily, why don't you bring our idea to life?".  We have no idea how we became the party planners, but we're embracing the role. 

Naturally, I didn't take pictures once things really got going, but we had so much fun.  Here are the invites I made and dropped off (I try to avoid evite if at all possible - I love printed invites!). 

All the men (and some of the women) came griping about the caroling.  But once the kids were into it running door to door and ringing doorbells, most people got into it.  And it turned out to be so much fun!  I can't carry a tune to save my life, but I sang loud and proud and off key.

We made far too much food.  The biggest hit were frosted Christmas cookies.  I feel for all the parents whose kids we hopped up on sugar.  And my famous bleu cheese pomegranate guacamole was a huge hit - that is by far my most asked for recipe among friends.  I made Clover Lane's Feta Dip and it was popular.  We also had bacon wrapped dates and buffalo dip.  The kids loved Cheese and Crackers and Lit'l Smokies...but mostly the sugar cookies.  We had wine, beer and cranberry bellinis for cocktails, and pink lemonade for kids (in plastic cups) and preggos (in wine glasses - even knocked up girls like to feel festive). 

I went all out on decor this year.  Translation: I did more than put ornaments on our Christmas tree.  I added garland to the mantle.  I know, I'm a disgrace to real Christmas decorators.

We had a blast!  We'll definitely do this again.  When we were starting planning we said, "Well just do neighbors this year and if it's fun, we'll expand next year."  But keeping it "small" - 12 adults and their kids - was fun.  Almost everyone knew each other and had things to talk about.  So it might just be perfect as a neighbor party.

It was a perfect way to start the Christmas festivities!  I am so grateful for our neighborhood - and love that everyone is neighborly!

Jar Gift Tags

A couple years ago I shared these Christmas S'mores Jar Gifts.  I made some impromptu tags that I shared in a Google Document. 

I get a lot of requests for those tags and everytime I share the file I think "Oh, man, these tags aren't that great". So I made some new ones.  They're nothing fancy, but they're easier for you to download (I hope).  You should be able to click on the tag, save the image and then print them yourself.  (Oh, and here are the instructions for assembling the S'mores jars).

And, I thought I'd share another jar recipe with you.  I think it's fun to give little jars filled with special cocoa mix - something a little tastier than your typical grocery store cocoa.  I made some yesterday for Mr. B and me while we decorated for Christmas and watched football.  Super delicious.  You should be able to save and print the following image as a tag, too.

And that's what we're doing for neighbors this year for Christmas.  What about you? 

Want to see more homemade gifts?  Check out Kim's Dare to Give Handmade Gifts party.

Out with the Old

I'm a taker downer after Christmas - Christmas decor usually feels very cluttered to me, and that's not how I like to live. Usually everything's down before New Year's. But this year, we didn't do much putting up, and since we were gone for a few days over Christmas, I didn't feel the need to de-Christmas immediately - we tackled it this weekend. The deep cleaning and rearranging post-Christmas is my favorite!

So we went from this (our only indoor Christmas decor this year):


Back to sparse but bright and cheerful.



As we all agreed on this post, I loved the look of our cane back chairs in the living room. But I've always promised B he has veto power if he doesn't like something. In over two years in the house, he's never vetoed anything, but when he said to me before we left for Christmas "Em, the room looks fantastic, but after Christmas, do you think Casco and I can have the big green chair back?" I had to honor the promise of veto power.


So the green chair is back and the cane chairs have been returned to their original spot in the office. And Casco (and B) are very content.


So now I'm ready for spring - shorts, Sundays on the patio, and green grass and budding flowers. If only the weather would cooperate - anyone found me that 70 - 80 degree year-round location yet?

Our Christmas Review

We are back from the beach, relaxed, and moderately tan. Christmas on the beach is my ideal way to spend a holiday - less emphasis on the commercial part of the holiday, more emphasis on time together. I definitely missed my family - but getting to know B's family better was such a wonderful Christmas gift. Wouldn't have traded it for the world.


Mr. B and I woke up and ran or walked the beach together every morning. It's funny how getting up to run is so much more appealing when an ocean is greeting you rather than a snowy street.


Casco spent Christmas at Camp Caroline (my mom and dad's house). Between photographic evidence presented to us upon our arrival home, text message updates from my new-to-texting papa, stories of Christmas Light tours for Casco's cultural benefit and rumors that Casco suckered Caroline and Mr. McD into a lot of treats in order to do what they asked of him we think he had a fabulous time.

Mr. B and I exchanged gifts before we left for Florida. I got a new lens for my camera and Mr. B got a Roku for instant Netflix streaming - after just one day of having it setup we are now much more sympathetic to single parent dealers trying to support their families. Our television problem may only get worse.

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas - I'm glad to be back. Hopefully we'll resume regular posting in 2010 - I'm feeling rejuvenated.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and get a nice break to spend with your families and friends.



We'll see you after the holidays! Merry Christmas!

Pottery Barn Knock-off Ornaments

I'm one of those minimalists when it comes to Christmas decor...aka, Kim's worst nightmare :).  I thought about doing more this year - hanging garland over the fireplace, making a tree-topper and stringing the tree in fake pearls.  But then I looked at our House Envelope, and realized that I could decorate for Christmas or pay for shipping and delivery on a new couch.  The couch won out.  Budgeting can be so limiting - and empowering.  Making that choice - couch over more Christmas decor, that was empowering.  I LOVE budgeting - should have gone into finance.

So this year things at our house are pretty much like they were last year.  Not too much to share.  But, I decided last summer that I would make monogrammed ornaments for the family this year - with Pottery Barn as my inspiration.

I bought the plain glass balls at a craft store.  Made the letter monogram stencils out of contact paper, and used glass craft paint in green to paint initials on the ornaments.  I use a toothpick to pick off the paint that gets outside the lines - because it happens.  They're topping packages this year to help our loved ones deck their halls.  

Linked to Dare to DIY at Newlywoodwards.

Mele Kalikimaka

It's been bitterly cold here.  Absolutely unbearable.  We made it out of negative temperatures yesterday for the first time in a week, and we were still below freezing.  Not a fan.  Seriously, name me a place with a 70-80 degree year round climate and I'm there - tomorrow.

Cold doesn't equal Christmas for me.  Snow does not a Christmas make or break.  I spent a lot of Christmases on the beach growing up.  Beaches, warm weather, palm trees.  Yes please.  This year I'm getting my beach, warm weather and palm trees - just on a different coast.   We're headed to Florida to spend the holiday with B's sweet grandparents.  I cannot wait - to sit on the beach, to dominate at cards with B's grandpa, and to enjoy the break from the cold.  

When I look through decorating magazines in December, I'm drawn to the beach Christmases over the snowy ones.  It's just in my blood.  Starfish on trees, sand in my shoes, smile on my face.

All images from Coastal Living - December 2009.

What about you? Do you have a Christmas climate of preference?

No-Sew Children's Tutus

This week's Dare to DIY challenge is here and we're giving homemade gifts.  My nieces are 4 and 2 - they have books, toys and clothes, and that can make them hard to shop for.  As my cousins and I were reminiscing about our grandparents this fall, we talked a lot about playing dress-up in Grandma and Grandpa's basement.  Dress-up was awesome, wasn't it?  Every little girl likes some semblance of dress-up.

So armed with 10 yards of tulle, pink for the oldest, purple for the youngest, and some elastic, I started making dress-up tutus for the girls.  There are loads of tutorials online for this, but I just used my common sense - tying strips of tulle (cut in half width-wise) in knots around an elastic band sized for each girls' waist.  

This is Casco's "Back off, woman" look.  Mr. B was humiliated on Casco's behalf for this picture, but I don't have a toddler just waddling around my house to use as a model.  And while we have a few other gifts that we will at the least adding a personal touch to, that's all I can share for now - because the 4 and 2 year olds don't read yet, but other members of the family do.  Check out Kim's blog to see some other awesome homemade gifts for this season!

imperfect Christmas Letter 2009

Faux Christmas Letter 2009, ready, go:

Dearest Friends and Foes,

Merry Christmas to you and yours. We hope that your year found you happy, healthy and eagerly awaiting your yearly dose of imperfection.

So what did 2009 entail for the McKevitts?

Mr. B counts 2009 as his most successful year of parenthood thus far - marked by teaching Casco to swim, chase rabbits and act like a dog at least 10% of the time. He spent a majority of his free time contemplating which beer to fill the kegerator with next, flip flopping on whether or not to finish the basement and deciding how to convince Emily that the beat-up but perfect for napping couch should have a permanent place in our lives. B made it a mission to gain 15 pounds in 2009 and is entering 2010 at -5.

The highlights of Emily's 2009 included wearing UGGs to formal events, stealing rescuing a dog out of its own yard, trying to strike a balance between miles run and cheese enchiladas consumed and adding more foes than friends to the list of people in her life. In 2010 she aspires to watch less HGTV and more CNN, write zero snarky Facebook status updates and convince Mr. B to move to Texas to breed high school quarterbacks with her.

Casco's 2009 was marked by sleepless camping trips, being forced to act like a dog, and the discovery of a big window in the guest room for watching the world. He most enjoys the work weeks when he has the run of the house and isn't subjected to having to pretend to like cuddling with humans.

From our ever so accomplished family to yours, we're wishing you a very Merry Christmas and only the best in 2010.

Love,

Mr. B, Emily and Casco

2008's Faux Christmas Letter

Christmas Gift Philosophy

I've taken a stand on Christmas anxiety - there will be none of it. Last year I planned out the Christmas shopping months in advance, literally put months of thought into gifts for our family and friends, and at the last minute panicked that we didn't have enough for a few kids. So we ran out and bought them something they already had. Totally not worth the stress and panic.

Credit

So I realized that it doesn't matter. That we need to refocus on what Christmas is all about. There's the religious aspect to the holiday - which is important to our little family. Spending time with people, yes. Remembering the people you love, yes. Gifts, no. And that's the philosophy I've adopted - Church, Love, Family. That's Christmas.

Credit

For gifts, I'm going simple. If I know of something someone wants or needs, I'll do what I can to provide it. But beyond that, the whole point of giving Christmas gifts, to me, is that the people you give to feel thought of and loved. And I put a whole lot of thought into every gift I give. As we add McKiddles to our family, I know this will evolve. But I'm vowing now to stick to a minimum - something you want, something you need, something to play with and something to read.

Credit

It may be bought or made; edible, drinkable, wearable or use and tossable; but I can promise that thought, time, love and sometimes sweat and blood went into the gifts I'm giving this year. So that's just going to have to do. Because putting into motion now that Christmas is about people, love and spending time together instead of a competition to spend the most money is not a bad thing.

Christmas Ideas

I know - it's not time to decorate for Christmas yet. But the catalogs don't care about that.

I saw this in Pottery Barn back in September (at least I saved it for two months before I subjected you all to Christmas decor).


I love this Advent Calendar - a big beautiful pin board with tags for December 1 - 24th. And instead of chocolate or toys each day, there's an ornament to add to the tree. Wouldn't this be a fun tradition for a family- decorating the tree each day with a new ornament? So fun - and a pretty piece of decor, too!

Our Christmas Loot

I refuse Christmas/Birthday combined gifts with the exception of my those from my friend Emily - she's in the same birthday boat as I am, and she also is an incredible gift giver, so she gets to bend the rules. I also don't accept birthday gifts wrapped in Christmas paper. Well, I might accept them, but I'll wrap your June birthday gift in Ho Ho Ho wrapping paper just to retaliate. I might sing Christmas carols instead of "Happy Birthday", too. I'm brutal. But I digress...

Anyway, at one point I mentioned to B that a DSLR camera might be the only exception he will ever be given to the no combined gifts rule. But then the economy went down the tubes, and we decided we wouldn't do gifts. Then I got laid off and quickly found a job, and we had a very small severance check that we wouldn't be relying on after all for living expenses - so we bought each other a new mattress. And then B went shopping. What?! We already bought our gift for each other. Listening is not his thing. I'm so glad, because I got this little beauty!

I thought about not mentioning the camera on the blog, because you'd expect my photos to be, at the very least, not crooked anymore. But, we've established numerous times that I'm not perfect, so crooked but crisper photos are coming your way in 2009 - once I figure out which switch turns the camera on.

My parents gave me this coat from LL Bean (my favorite place to buy outdoor gear after spending summers in Maine) so that I would walk Casco (named after my favorite place in Maine - there's a theme in our house) in the winter. Therefore, it was mostly a gift for B, but I'm very excited about the goose down warmth.

And when I realized B went shopping for me, I went shopping for him and got him exactly what he wanted- no surprises, I like practical gifts. I also like healthy teeth. This thing is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. B brushes his teeth 5 times a day now. Seriously, you need this tooth brush.
Here's to bright white teeth for all those crooked pictures in 2009! Oh, and if you see Mr. B at the mall between now and my birthday, remind him that he's already given me a birthday gift and send him home - he might be just a little, tiny bit nervous about my true reaction to a combined gift on my actual birthday based on past birthday run-ins.

Fa La La La La

I've been tagged twice, how exciting! The first tag is from the darling Prius-driving, Christmas-decor-loving and all around wonderful Kim over at NewlyWoodwards - she invented a Christmas themed tag, and I couldn't be more excited to be one of the first recipients. Thanks so much Kim! The rules are to share your Christmas traditions, and then pass the tag along.


So, here are our traditions old and new:

1) Sending out Christmas cards to friends and family.

2) Christmas light tours - B and I hop in the car and explore the neighborhoods looking for the best lights.

3) St. Nick's Day - In my Irish Catholic family growing up, St. Nick's Day was a huge deal. And when we have kids, there will be shoes laid out by the chimney before they go to bed every year on December 5th. But, we decided to start our own St. Nick's tradition, too. B and I use December 6th to decorate our tree and exchange ornaments that represent our year together.

4) My mom's Christmas Cookies

5) Stockings. Traditional, right? Wrong. I have a very sad youngest child story for you all. My siblings had stockings that my mom made for them with their names embroidered on them. Guess who never got a stocking? Baby Emily. Sad, no?

6) Spending Christmas Eve with B's family (New).

7) Spending Christmas morning together as our own family (New).

8) Spending the afternoon and evening on Christmas day with my family (New).

9) The Christmas book. My mom kept this exact book (from her favorite illustrator) the last few years we were at home, and she gave us all our own 5 year memory book last year.

10) The Resolution Run - I started running this race with my family on New Year's Eve while I was in High School and it's become a tradition - we all run a 5K before heading out to party all night long.

I tag All Things G&D, Kari, Karen, Meredith, Sarah of Simply Living and WEHolmans


I'll get to the next tag tomorrow!