Looking Like Christmas

It has actually been looking like Christmas for a few weeks now, but I've been slacking on downloading pictures and updating the blog. It seems that nesting (if that is what you want to call it) has hit hard and early, as I never really felt this during my entire pregnancy with Isabel. I think it really just has to do with the fact that I know I won't have time to do all these things after Mia arrives, like organizing the basement, painting the girls' rooms, organizing the pantry, hall closet and the list goes on. So most nap times (when I'm not napping) are spent doing the above and usually any down time I find. Its not a bad thing though, and I'm loving all the organization. It is also getting me excited about decorating a second girl's room (this one will have a pink theme) and if all goes to plan, Mia's room should be "hers" before my parents arrive next week and our hobby room will be converted to a guest room/hobby room combo.

Of course you wanted to know all of that, right? Anyways, onto the pictures. Me, my mom and Isabel decorated the majority of the tree the Monday before Thanksgiving. The hallmark airplane ornaments that Geoffrey has been collecting since the series began were hung a week and a half later, during our first snow fall. So far Isabel has not messed with the tree. She loves to point out the different objects, occasionally will touch it (and we then remind her "no touching") but never yanks, pulls or has attempted to climb the tree.

She took her job very seriously and figured out how to open the loops and attach the ornaments to the tree. Of course many wound up in the same spot, but that was fixed later on.

Trying to make the felted dog sit. Because dogs are supposed to sit, right? This one was a bad dog (as she often calls the pugs) and didn't want to sit.

A little under 2 weeks ago we had our first snow fall and got about 5-6". It was perfect. The snow started Saturday morning and had melted away from the roads by Sunday afternoon. We went out early to drop Geoffrey's car off for its check-up, and made a quick run to Magruders, a local grocery chain...that just so happens to have a cookie club for kids. Isabel has caught on very quickly that a trip to Magruders means a cookie. Luckily she rarely finishes it and will share it with mommy or daddy.

Here she is, proudly displaying her cookie in front of the tree.
Putting the final touches on the tree with Daddy. Geoffrey enjoyed using this as a teaching moment and explaining what kind of airplanes each model was, and a little background on the aircraft. I should have taken notes...
The snow after about an hour. I'll give you 3 guesses as to who dressed Isabel, but I'm thinking you'll only need 1...


I had already planned on making a snowman cake for Eric, as a babysitting thank you, so it was appropriate that it did indeed snow. I bought the pan 3 years ago from William Sonoma, but had never used it. It was a bit time intensive to put together (and eventually wanted to fall), but I think it will be a fun tradition to bake a snowman cake with the girls when it snows.

The finished product. A week later the cake was gone. I didn't get to try a piece but Kevin and Eric told me it was quite good.
I assembled the cake at the boys' condo and also helped them get their tree set up. Isabel was excited to help decorate another tree.

This is what happens now when you ask Isabel to say "cheeeeze."

It seems that the DC Metro Area could be getting quite a bit of snow this weekend...I've heard rumors of up to 8". Looks like I might be adding a snow man cake to my big list of baking for the weekend. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!