The Roast Beast

  

 We made this salt encrusted prime rib last year and liked it so much we decided to be adventurous again.

 You have to take a hammer to it to crack the salt crust.  A little Christmas entertainment.

So juicy and delicious, served with a side of my homemade horseradish sauce.  

Delicious!!!

Rest of Christmas

 Damian got a new lawn mower, now he can help daddy this summer.

 Addie and Rachel made these cute little mustaches!

 Heidi and the boys got Addie the ultimate collection of dress-up clothes.  She was so cute modeling everything for us.  

 Even Jonathan looks nice in the hat.

 Taking a moment to rest with Grandpa.

 It got a little toasty so off came the vest and the pants.  He was channeling Tom Cruise in Risky Business. 

Oh yummy Christmas cookies!!!

Christmas Morning

Thankfully Damian is not at the age yet where we have to get up at the crack of dawn Christmas morning, I know it is coming though.  It will be pay back for the many years that I woke my parents up super early.  His expression was so cute when he walked into the living room and saw all the presents under the tree.  I was taking video of it so I don't have any still pictures.  

 Santa came and he filled our stockings up!  

Yes, even Charlie had Christmas pajamas.  I completely forgot to take a picture of my cute cookie plate for Santa, next year.  

 Charlie checking to see if there is anything under there for him.

Daddy helped him open his presents. 

Doesn't take Charlie long to rip into his toys. 

He would get focused on one toy that I'm not sure he realized he got anything else!

Looking cute in Christmas pajamas.

Christmas Eve Tradition

A tradition from my childhood that I have kept going is the opening of Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve.  It is the only gift you are allowed to open on Christmas Eve at my house.  Damian did a pretty good job of opening his present.  There had been nothing under our tree until that present so I am sure that intrigued him.  Something to play with other than ornaments!

Merry Christmas!!!

AMMWCM: It's A Wonderful Life

In my opinion everyone should be able to quote at least one line from this movie.  If you can't, well then you need to watch it again.  This is such an amazing classic Christmas movie with a wonderful message. 

"What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary."

AMMWCM: A Christmas Carol

There are so many great versions to this classic Christmas tale.  The one I am enamored with currently is the new Disney animated version.  Jorge and I went to see it in 3D when it came out in the theaters, I could have sworn it was snowing on us!  If you haven't watched this version I highly recommend it for your family.  I watched the making of the movie on the extra features on our DVD, pretty fascinating what they are able to do.  

AMMWCM: A Christmas Story

Another Christmas movie classic that everyone should be able to spout at least one quote from.  Poor Ralphie, nothing seems to go the way he wants.  Jorge and I started watching this on Christmas day and the tradition has kind of stuck.  

"You'll shoot your eye out" 

O' Christmas Tree...part 2

Here is my decorated Christmas tree.  It is hard to tell from far away but their are no ornaments from about the middle of the tree down.  It seems like every day I am having to move the ornaments higher and higher.  Damian just loves the tree, when he is the living room he heads straight to it.  I usually like to keep my tree up until New Years day, not sure I will this year!  I love the tree skirt that I made, the fabric is reversible so either side looks pretty.  

I did have some non-breakable ornaments down where he could reach them but then I just found them all over the house.  

Jolly Ol' St. Nick

No the "C" isn't for candy cane...it's for Campos of course!

Jorge and I have been exchanging ornaments every Christmas since we met.  Jorge got me this one last year to symbolize our new home (not that we were currently living their).  

This was Damian's first ornament from last year.  

My Christmas Decorations

Here is a look at what my house looks like this Christmas. 

 Since I lost all my decorations in the fire I have been busy sewing and replacing everything.  My other decorations were blues, white and silvers with an emphasis on Snowmen.  I decided that since I was buying all new anyways I would change to a more traditional feel.  

 Every year I have said that I want to make a gingerbread house, well this year I finally did it!  It normally does not live under the tree, but it looks better in the picture that way.  

 I am really enjoying having a fireplace!  It is so much fun to decorate it for all the holidays.  These red stockings I sewed as temporary stockings for this year since I didn't have the cross-stitch ones completed yet.  So next year, hopefully, you will see the real stockings!  

Ornaments are for more than just a tree! 

Though I am not quite finished with this Advent Calendar I hung it up anyways for Damian.  It is hard to tell but each train window is a pocket with the chocolate inside.  Damian knows exactly what is in there.  After dinner when we tell him it is advent time he walks right over and reaches up.  Too cute!!! 

My dining room table.  I plan on getting some fresh holly to put in the middle but keep forgetting. Hopefully before Christmas Eve dinner I can remember! 

 They are salt and pepper shakers!

This is the only Christmas decoration that survived the fire, it was hanging up in a back bedroom.  I made this a few years back and I just love it.  You can't tell in the picture, but the tree has actual Christmas lights that twinkle.  

Gotta have a little decoration for my kitchen island.  I love these reindeer tea-light holders. 

 I almost forgot to post a picture of the pets stockings!  

AMMWCM: The Grinch-double feature

Dr. Suess' Grinch that stole Christmas is a classic and must watch.  

While you certainly cannot replace the cartoon version the Grinch, Jim Carrey does an amazing job portraying the Grinch in the film version of this story.  The movie really brings more life and understanding to the Grinch.  A wonderfully made family movie.

If you can catch me....

You can put my pants on me!

AMMWCM: Polar Express

This is such a magical movie for people of all ages.

  I cannot wait until Damian is older so I can take him on the Mt. Hood Polar Express.

Warm & Cozy

Yesterday Damian discovered the joy of warm, cozy blankets right out of the dryer.  

AMMWCM: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

"Drum roll please.......Joyyyyyyy to the Worlddddd".  

I aspire to someday have a house as beautifully decorated as Clark W. Griswold!

AMMWCM: Elf

Will Ferrell does not disappoint in this family Christmas comedy.  

The Grover Family Christmas Tree

Thank you April for sharing your pretty tree with me!  

Elena looks so cute in her festive dress by the tree!

Just like in our house, all the breakables are just out of reach of those little fingers!  

  

Christmas with my parents

My niece Addie spent the night at my parents house this past weekend so while she was here we trimmed their Christmas tree!

I love my parents tree because it reminds me of my childhood.  It still has ornaments that Heidi, Jonathan and I made.  Though Jonathan seems to dominate the tree with his picture ornaments.  I should do something about that!

Christmas Decorating with Dara

Here is a sneak peak into my friend Daras house this Christmas.  

I love love love the Christmas ball garland that she made this year and cannot wait to make my own next year!  Her fireplace/stockings are in her daughters playroom so she had fun creating a whimsical yet Christmas-ey feel this year.

 Even a little blue so her husband Chris doesn't feel excluded.

These stockings are super cute 

On Daras blog you can see some of the decorations she and her friend Melissa made for their daughters Christmas themed birthday party.  http://happywillsfamily.blogspot.com/