Christmas Eve

Holy guacamole.  Christmas Eve.  Is here.  Today.

Unbelievable.

We’re just lazing around this morning, in no rush to do much of anything. 

It’s been a busy week, so lazing is a welcomed change.  B totaled his truck at the tail end of November, so we spent a large portion of the week car swindling shopping.

 

There’s no better way to put this: car shopping SUCKS.  It does.  Plain and simple. You just walk around the lot feeling like you’re getting ready to get taken advantage of.  Seriously, at one of the dealerships we went to, it was as if vultures were getting ready to attack.  While we were cruising the lot, FOUR (4!!!!) salesharks magically appeared.  We didn’t buy from them.  Or the guy that let me test drive a vehicle and then told me he wouldn’t be able to work within the price range I’d given him before the test drive so as not to waste his time or mine.  Grrrrrr.  So stinkin’ frustrating.

Anyway, long story short(er) – we finally bought a vehicle that has four doors and the ability to fit 2 carseats.  {Nope, NOT preggo!  Just thinking in terms of the future!}  B and I had some “conversations” that helped us arrive at the decision to NOT purchase another 2-door truck.  (i.e. Momma said, “I ain’t puttin’ Becks in the front seat of a truck EVER AGAIN.  Uh uh, no way!”). 

Completely changing topic, this week was the First Annual K Girls Christmas Cookie Decorating Extravaganza, wherein we baked, decorated, sprinkled, iced, and discussed inappropriately-shaped cookies for hours.  Super fun!

 

There were SO MANY goodies! 

Then, of course, I had to take a picture of the bakers, which my sisters insisted on making extremely awkward.  {Though, Chels is 3.5 months pregnant and Aubs just had her tonsils taken out, so they both have genuine excuses for not feeling up to snuff to pose for an Abbaratzi picture.}

Yesterday, I turned 29.  TWENTY-NINE.  The last birthday I will ever celebrate.  Not have, but celebrate.  I will henceforth be 29.  Forever. 

Before B and I went out, I attempted some terribly awful pictures.  No one seems to want to cooperate when I want to photograph them.  It’s very frustrating, especially when you’re the Birthday Girl.  The Birthday Girl whose birthday is completely overshadowed by Christmas.  Just sayin’.

Fortunately, B was more cooperative for the waiter at dinner.  Much better.

Afterwards, we came home to this:

B did that!  All by himself!  So impressive.  And delicious, too!

And back to this morning.  Christmas Eve.  When I feel like I just posted about last Christmas Eve not too long ago.  Where, oh where has the year gone?

Thanks for checking in our daily randomness.

Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours’!!!!!!!

French Fries on the Front Lawn

 

I think that title aptly describes my life right now.  And it’s 100% true.  There are, in fact, french fries on my front lawn right now, because that was the quickest way to evacuate them from my car.   I also found a chicken nugget, but french fries on the front lawn has more alliteration than chicken nuggets on the front lawn, no? Anyway, so, hi!  Life’s still crazy!

And this post is going to have a crazy amount of randomness and pictures, so brace yourselves.

No, I’m not engaged despite the fact that the self portrait below looks like I’m displaying new bling.  Which I guess I am since the new bathroom is totally blinged out, in a sense. 

But, first, let’s visit the old bathroom.  She was a real peach, if you know what I mean.  {Note the soffit above the shower because that’s the last you’ll see of it!  Yay!}

Behold, le new salle de bain.  Fancy Nancy for bathroom :)

My favorite part?  I go back and forth between the space-saving wall-mounted sink and the open shelving.  Oh, and this nifty feature on the new toilet paper roll…

I mean, seriously, I’d change the toilet paper twelve times a day just because it’s so dang easy now.  No more awkward fumbling with the roll holder, just tilt that baby up and it’s done.  Love. It.

* * * * * * * * *

Moving right along…it’s Christmas!  Yay!  Santa is coming real soon, so we’re all festive and such.  Our Christmas card this year turned out just being the Beckster because I wasn’t content with any of the family ones we’ve taken.  I have to say, the picture montage I chose really epitomizes our life with a  3-year-old.  Crazy, wonderful, and completely unpredictable. 

We decorated as soon as we moved back into our home, and I’ve still been tweaking things.  So far, this:

The family Christmas tree…

One of my fav Christmas decorating traditions is magnetizing all of our Christmas card pictures to a chalkboard that my BFF (hi, Allie!) gave us for our wedding.  I love looking at the pics so much, they’ll sometimes remain there until February or March!

And, lastly, if you’re looking for a quick gift to give the children in your life, this is what I gave my pumpkins at school this year – from The Dollar Tree and I monogrammed them with each student’s first initial.

I’ll be back…tomorrow-ish with the First Annual K Girls Christmas Cookie Decorating Extravaganza!

{Happy, Mom?! ;)}

Shutterfly Holiday Photocards!

 

I am so excited to be using Shutterfly this season for our holiday photocards.  I am always impressed with their products – the quality, the designs, the quick turn-around time, and – most importantly – the fonts! Ha!  In all seriously, I just love their stuff and have been a happy customer for years.  They’re on ideal online enterprise for not just photocards, but picture calendars and photobooks, too (both which I own!)    I can’t speak highly enough of this company, and would recommend them to anyone.

I was fortunate to participate in their holiday card promotion last year, and we selected the design below.  Seriously, high quality paper, vivid colors, and they even edited out that second “s” that I missed in Mullinss before they shipped it! 

So, how excited was I when they contacted me again to join in on the fun?!  Like, 12 kinds of excited, of course!!!

And, now, for the hard part: just which card will I choose?!  I love them all!

These were three contenders, but not my final choice!  Can’t going showing that one off just yet ;)

Here are a few of my favs…

Are you a blogger?! Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register HERE!

Happy shopping!

Portrait of a Saturday

Today was our first Saturday back home in three weeks.  We had our one and only bathroom remodeled, and subsequently had to move out of our home for the duration of the demo and remodel.  Since you really can’t, you know, shower and pee without a toilet or tub.

But we’re back now – and I’m sorry I haven’t kept up with this blog to post pics of the whole remodeling process (but I will! soon!) because it was quite the overhaul.

Anyway, we had Becks’ cousins over this morning.  I would say we had them over to play, but the bottom line is that none of them really play when they’re together.  Instead, they run and jump and carry on like crazies the whole time they’re together.  And, no, I do not advocate bed jumping, but I was so distracted by Sutton and the wall stud finder he was showing off that I apparently missed launch.

Any mothers of 3-year-olds out there who can relate to the picture below? Which literally occurred not 30 seconds after the above pic where he’s grinnin’ a fool.  The whining is just about to kill me, and also explains why I’m going to consume an entire bottle of riesling before bed tonight.  Ok.  I kid.  Just a glass.  But still. 

And, within seconds, he’s a pirate and all is swell again in The World of Beckham. 

Soph spent a large amount of time in front of the camera rolling around the bed, posing upside down for me.  She’s my favorite 5-year-old and spelled the word “illustrated by” today like this: ILSTRADID BI.  I kid you not, smartest little kinder kiddo ever.  Love her.

And look at the Butterboo fixing Stinky the Garbage Truck (which, by the way, is most annoying toy invented.  EVER.).  Totally presh.

Just to make chaos a little more chaotic, we added Leland into the mix.

 

If you hadn’t noticed, though you probably don’t even remember because it’s been eons since I posted about, the pics are all from Becks’ “Big Boy Room.”  It’s such a random smorgasbord of stuff right now.  I had big plans for it – and still do – but it’s functional, so it’s been a little neglected.

Anyway, to wrap it up, here’s a teaser pic from our new bathroom!

Happy Weekend!

Deep Breaths.

Hi, hi! 

There is sooooooo much going right now!  I do intend to be a better blogger.  Someday.  I just don’t know when.  Between school and family and grad school, I just can’t keep it altogether!  Really, I can’t.  So, I’ve become the ultimate procrastinator. 

My thesis?  That’s due in 2 weeks?  Only 75% finished.  I just can’t bring myself to wrap up the last 25%.  Mostly because it involves a significant amount of data analysis, and I’d rather bond with my husband over the the latest episode of Call of the Wildman than run another dang t-test.  Seriously, though, have you seen that show?!  No lie, it’s all kinds of better than Jersey Shore, making it my new favorite reality series.  Better yet: totally taped in Kentucky.  Holla!!!!!

When I think about the fact that I won’t have to do any more schooling for the rest of my life (unless self-inflicted and I pursue my Rank I), I could turn a dozen cartwheels.  Though I’d probably pull something because my knees are giving me big trouble lately.  I am going to be turning – gulp – TWENTY-NINE next month.  What?!  What?!  REALLY?!

I know.  I can’t believe it either.

But, back to life.  Our life.  The life that is all consuming and wonderful and stressful and crazy.  That life. 

Well. 

Prayers have been answered, and Becks has had a stellar past four days.  This is big news around our house because the sweet little pumpkin has been testing our patience like you wouldn’t believe.  And here’s a bazillion pics of our cah-to-the-razy 3-year-old… 

To add to the craziness, and because it’s been, oh, 4 months since since the completion of the kitchen…we’re getting ready to remodel again!!! 

Hopefully I’ll have the time and motivation to post again soon.  Hope y’all are having a happy fall!