Life in the Midle(s): A Peek at 2012's Christmas Festivities

Well, the wait for next year's Christmas season has begun all over again. So sad. I had big expectations to post updates of our Christmas happenings, but of course that didn't happen (who was I kidding?!). Now to play catch-up and show you all what Life in {the} Midle(s)' family was like this past month. Our Christmas Day will be another post soon. Warning: many photos ahead!

I put a ridiculous amount of lights on our Christmas trees...like seriously, sometimes I think I'm trying to one-up the Rockefeller Center tree (don't anyone worry, I'll get there someday)!

Beautiful flowers my hubby surprised me with: romantic AND festive...this is why I married him!

This fireplace drives me absolutely insane. I think fireplaces are the one of the greatest places in a house to decorate but how the heck are you supposed to decorate a 1980's wood stove with a giant pipe that covers the center of the mantle?! I'm still working on it but I did whitewash the brick a couple months ago which has toned it down a bit (possibly more on this later if anyone is interested). And just ignore the plethora of "baby gear" hanging around!

Stockings: Pottery Barn

Trying to display some of the adorable Christmas cards we received this year (well done, everyone!). I originally only had one string up but the hubby wanted more cards displayed, so I made another one. In an effort to not take over all our walls with cards, I put the rest in a basket. Please ignore the poor lighting of the photos!

I'm totally in love with this little hutch (no idea what it officially is called) from Target (where else?!).

Oh What Fun printable is from jandpaper

We drove around one night to look at all the lights in our neighborhood. Zack humored me as I crisscrossed all over the place and we listened to Christmas music (I'm obsessed!). And look what we found!! Clark Griswold would have been so proud!!!

Audrey and I tried to make cinnamon handprint ornaments. After experimenting with two different recipes and trying to get an overtired 5 month old to put her handprint on about a dozen ornaments, we gave up. The finished product isn't even worth showing...maybe next year. Side note: my mother-in-law was over at our house watching Audrey and preheated the oven, unaware that I had left some of the ornaments inside. Before she knew it, the house was filled with the overwhelming scent of cinnamon from a mystery source. I got a confused text while I was at work. I'm still cracking up about this.

Halfway through cookie making. I got waaay too excited and made 5 different kinds of cookies. After giving them to family and friends and a huge plate to my husband's coworkers, we still have a ton left over. Anyone want to help me get rid of them?

Audrey's 1st snow just a couple weeks before Christmas! I'm loving this adorable snowsuit but she was pretty immobile in it and totally reminded me of little Randy from A Christmas Story ("Ralphie! I can't get up!"). She was absolutely perplexed by the snow.

Opening an early Christmas gift from her Aunt Kenzie (it was an adorable outfit which I'm sure you will see in later posts!). Audrey seemed to think wrapping paper was always some sort of super delicious snack.

Can't forget that at the very beginning of the Christmas season, Audrey turned 5 months old (let's all please ignore the fact that she will be 6 months in two days and I'm super late on posting this photo!).

SANTA!! I know him!!! Actually, Audrey acted like she did know him and didn't even do a double take when we put her on the lap of a stranger in a giant red suit. This girl seriously loves the camera, such a ham! I found it funny that I was super excited and felt the same anticipation I had as a kid when I was about to visit Santa. I guess the Big Guy never loses his magic.