2013 Christmas Boat Parade

This year we were fortunate to be able to see the Festival of Lights Parade again this year.  My pictures are all dark or blurry, but I tried!

Taking pictures at night from a boat on the water is a special talent that I don’t posess!

This boat was celebrating 50 years of tourism in the Bahamas.

The Grand Marshall boat.

The Goombay Punch Boat

Geronimo had 2 inflatable snowmen on top

This boat had the Islands of the Bahmas Logo on it!

I think this one was the overall winner.

Some were very elaborate and others were more subdued.

The boys had a blast and even though I have no pictures to show for it, Michele was able to join us this time too!

A big thanks goes to our friend and capable Captain, Scott!

Gingerbread Houses 2013

Earlier in the month I picked up 2 Gingerbread House kits to do with the boys.  We have done them with out much success before.

Time got away from us and it was a few days before Christmas when we got to assemble and decorate them.

The boys were really into it this year and wanted them to be just so {i.e. they wanted me to do all the piping and them to do all the decorating}. 

It has taken me a few years to get comfortable with piping, so I knew this was going to be a good plan!

Most of the details were all their own and I was pleased that their creative sides are alive and well!

They turned out really cute!  This one is Miller’s

Jackson’s

He wanted his Gingerbread man to be making a snow angel!

His back was really nice too!

These pictures are testament to the old saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.”  The boys and I have finally made gingerbread houses that look cute. 

Now if I can just keep Miller from eating it!

3rd Annual Cookie Party

For the past 3 years I have hosted a really fun party for my girlfriends.  We get together on a Sunday evening and  it’s always a big time.

This year, per tradition, I made about 100 cut out sugar cookies and icing and we decorated them.

Once I saw this cover of Good Housekeeping Magazine, I was inspired and thought it might be fun to try some of these cookies.  Ambition is a good thing, right?

All of my friends are good cooks, it’s just that they claim not to be.  Good thing I know better.  The decorating is a bit different from actually cooking, so we had some practicing to do.

Can you tell we laughed a lot that night??

If there were mistakes, we just added sprinkles!

The results were impressive! 

Talented ladies!

We each put our favorite cookies in the middle of the table.  They are all so different

After we decorated we did a cookie exchange. 

Each of them brought 7 sets of cookies to swap.  I love that they were all different!

Poor Stef had a cookie accident on the way over.  She left the cookies on the roof of her car!  We know she worked really hard on them, though!

Everyone got an assortment of different cookies.

You know I’m southern and love a good monogram, so I couldn’t resist adding initials to the take home cookies!

I’m already looking forward to next year!

Elf Business

Our Elf Scout sent the boys a little message last week.

It said, “I can see you! Be Good.  Love Scout”

They sent him a little message back

It said, “OK we will be good for you Scout!”

Love that!

Today Scout sent them a note along with a Christmas ornament today.  It said,

Dear Jackson and Miller,

So even though you have been a little wild recently, Santa knew that you would like this Christmas ornament.  Santa and I hope you do your best at school today.  Remember that we see everything!

So here is the ornament

The teeth!

A couple of weeks ago when Jackson and I were on our date, we found a little puffer fish that had washed up on the beach.  Jackson was in decorating mode and said he wanted to make a Christmas decoration out of it.  Yep that didn’t happen.

Yesterday while Mama Scout was out shopping she came across this heinous decoration and knew it was destiny!

Jackson was beyond thrilled that Santa had taken that puffer fish we found on the beach and turned it into an ornament {with a straw hat none the less}!

That Scout Elf is just amazing!