{CHRISTMAS IN CAROLINA & A 30/30...}

And, this is the one when we road tripped it to Carolina to knock another one off of my 30 before 30!!! Number 22 on the list, visit my mommy with the boys.

CHECK PLEASE!

Normally we spend Thanksgiving with my side of the family and Christmas at home with the husband's. But, this year (well, last year...lol) we thought it would be great to switch it up a bit and visit my mommy for Christmas to let her get in on the festivities that were Kendy's First Christmas. 

We started the trip off with a big change for my baby boys that I like to call "the upgrade". The big lil' moved it on up to a booster seat and the new lil' went from a carrier car seat to a front facer for big boys. (The tears might start flowing right now just thinking about it!) 

Here's the big lil'...

and then the new lil'...

Front facers, DVD players, sippys, snacks, extra pillows....ummmmm, yes please!

I'll spare you the details of the trip in that I think road trips with under two year olds for any amount of time exceeding fifteen minutes is an overkill. Just know, we broke the trip up by stopping in Virginia to visit the bestie for a few hours and then made it to Charlotte by early morning while the lil's caught some ZZZZzzzz's. And, we were greeted by this....

My mommy even had a couple of gifts ready for the boys to hold them over till Christmas Day. She's a genius! Kept them occupied and distracted from the rest of the gifts under the tree...

my goWageous mommy and my first baby boy (***insert serious love for the photo here***)...

Me and my mommy...

As soon as we arrived in Charlotte the lil's caught something kinda nasty and we spent a major amount of time giving them treatments every 4 hours which is why the big lil' looks a bit pooped in this pic...

We snagged a walker from the store which kept the new lil' occupied and happy with his small servings of Cherrio goodness...

My grandfather and his wife were in for the holiday and brought along this train set which we spent Christmas Eve setting up to surprise the big lil' with Christmas morning...

and this super cute carousel... we were so excited to see the look on the lil's faces when they feasted their eyes on these babies...

We tripped it to one of my favs, Hobby Lobby, and picked up this super cute apron for me to wear Christmas Day. Please ignore the short leggings and high socks... there was a lot going on...lol.

I got this photo to prove that I am NOT the only adult in the world who sits Indian style!!! Just a note to my husband...I get it from my momma...

and here is the big lil' trying to get his grammy to get off of the phone and focus on the matter at hand...

let's get this box open baby!!!

Uncle Jay, facilitating project open gifts and get excited. One of my greatest family memories was of my brother and I opening gifts on Christmas Day. We barely even cared what the gifts were. It was all about the excitement and being grateful that we were thought of and loved.

back to the main attraction...A little Thomas & Friends...

The new lil' and his Christmas Jammies...

I love my lil's...

sidenote...this isn't the best picture (on my part), but the moment is priceless!!! My baby and his grammy...

And, now it was on to making some Christmas quiche...

I wish I had taking a TON more pics. But, with the kids, thier treatments, cooking all day etc. I missed a lot!!!! I didn't even manage to get one pic of my Grandpa Jo & his wife. Makes me sad but I can't catch'em all, right? The day after Christmas we tripped it over the the raceway to drive through the light show with the lil's...

Grammy was our driver for the night while I tried to grab pictures and keep the lil's super excited...

Christmas in Carolina was pretty awesome. I ate way too much. The kids got wayyyy too many toys. The time with family was priceless and if it hadn't been for the boys being under the weather, we would have done soooo much more. I am just now recovering from my lack of sleep. But, I would do it all over again if I had to. 

Mommy, thank you so much for making Christmas so awesome for my lil' men. But, next time, our new rule of thumb is...you come to the kids...LoL (at least until they are 13 and up) :)

XoXo,

Syreena

{HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY}

I LOVE a great holiday! A reason to celebrate, reminisce and have fun with the fam is always welcomed in my book. So we invited the family, drew up a quick menu, got the grill rolling, broke out a few decorations and decided to have some fun. 

Just thought I'd share a lil...

the apples were originally supposed to be candied and I figured I would offer them up minus the candy to have a healtier snacking option. Let's just say that they were all still accounted for when the day was all said and done (so sad) LoL...

my dessert table was a hit...

the two specialty drinks on the menu were strawberry iced tea and blueberry lemonade... but with everything else to get in order the blueberry lemonade was all that we got around to making...I think it was a hit :!

a little fun for the little guys...and the big kids too...

it seems that I have a sister that aiint too bad at face painting, although I strongly suggest she stick to her day job :)

The boys God-sister stopped in for some fun...

my how they grow so fast... it seems like just a short while ago they were babies...

we had a hot dog bar...

and the bbq looked a little something like this...

clearly, my big lil was in the pool ALL DAY...

having fun with the cousins seems to be what it's all about...

while my new lil spent a lil quality time with his Great-Grandmother...

I LOVE the holidays!!! Happy Fourth of July everyone

XoXo,

Syreena
 

{HOLIDAY TABLE}

I wanted to host a New Year's dinner. I really, really did!!! However, my newest little man decided to make his grand entrance 6 days before his due date and I pretty much ended up in the hospital instead. Yippieeee!!!! But had I actually been able to move along as planned here are a few pics I took of my finished holiday table all dressed and ready to go...

LoveS iT!!!!

I got the brown snowflake ornaments from Walmart and thought they made the perfect accent to my neutral toned napkins and plum colored chargers from Micheals. Love that place...

With a new kid on the way and a toddler that grows out of a pair of jeans every-other-day, money is pretty much accounted for these days. So I found that a great way to keep it thrifty is to shop around mi casa!

From the ornaments to the glass candy dishes, it turns out that my house is a regular ole' Hobby Lobby (hidden treasure style)

It would have been a lovely dinner :( Until next year holiday table of mine... until next year!

XoXo,

Syreena

{OH MERRY CHRISTMAS!}

THE. BEST. TIME. OF. THE. YEAR!!!! HONEST.

Even though I am nine months pregnant and would loveeee to be in the hospital welcoming our newest baby boy, I am really happy to be home for Christmas morning :) It definitely seems like Christmas morning comes at the speed of light now that we are the grown-ups in the situation but I love it all the more.

Just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas Day and can't wait to share photos of the little guy opening presents and tasting cookies for the very first time. Oh Joy!

ttyl my bloggy friends..... hopefully the next time you hear from me we'll be a family of four :)

  

XoXo,

Syreena

{STOCKING LOVE}

These last few weeks have been a tad hard on me and my pregnant belly. But the best thing about being super pregnant in the winter time is that I can lay my chunky self on the couch adjacent to the pretty white lights and super adorable stockings that line my fireplace. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... THE. BEST. THING. EVA!!!

This year I got the cutest stockings in classic white with just the right amount of holiday bling in the form of sparkly snowflaky goodness. LoVeS iT! I HAD to snap a few pics to commemorate the year just before the "three of us" becomes the "four of us". Ahhhhhhhhhhhh... I adore my little family. God is so super good!!!

I am going to try my best to be a better blogger during this last week before my due date but I can't lie, it's rough! So please forgive me in advance just in case :)

  

XoXo,

Syreena