33

my day started with a little present that you can't open. boys that slept until 8:00! and for a momma who adores being able to sleep in this was a fantastic start to my day! we bundled up and headed to Freddie's for doughnuts. doughnuts with sparkles, "not sprinkles mom". and little trip around the store in the seldom available race car cart! picking out extra fuzzy and snugly Christmas jammies. before bundling back up and heading home!

at home, we made yummy peanut blossom cookies and ate lunch. then nap time was uneventful. and by uneventful, i mean i got a little bit of me time....momma time....bliss! then we bundled up again and headed to the tool store (aka. Home Depot) to visit Santa. gabe was really excited that he was making a special stop in our town on the way back to North Pole. he could barely contain his excitement when we walked in. he ran straight up to him, climbed up in his lap, and chatted with him for at least 5 minutes!! another unopenable present, seeing the magic of Christmas in your little one's eyes!

nicholas, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with Santa. he couldn't even wave at him without buckets of tears erupting. i did manage to get him close enough so that he could snatch a candy cane out of his hand, but no pictures were to be had. kinda funny that last year i only had a picture of nick with santa (bc gabe wouldn't come within 20 feet of him) and this year i only have a picture of gabe with him. maybe next year i'll get lucky and get them both with the man in red!



Enjoying his Santa loot!

then we headed out for some yummo mexican food. we tried out a new place in town and were pleasantly surprised with the yumminess! good company, good food, good conversation. thank you jalapenos!

off we went again, to grandpa and grandma's for cake and ice cream! i have the most wonderful in-laws. they took it upon themselves to plan this little get-together because they knew jeff was gone to work. they knew how much family means to me and made sure my day was not forgotten.  for that, i'm grateful! my mother-in-law made me red velvet cake from scratch, and it was delish!

to many, this may have seemed like an ordinary day (with the exception of the yummo cake). but to me, it was nothing but extraordinary. over the past year, i have truly learned the value of time and that time that you have with your family. there is nothing more precious than the time you have with the ones you love the most. i've never been one who needs to be wined and dined. to be honest, it actually kinda makes me a little uncomfortable. so to have an ordinary day on my 33rd birthday, that is what is extraordinary! nothing better than a little love and fun with the little ones in my life to make this momma a happy, smiley birthday mommy!