My Christmas Wish List

Trying to pick out things for myself for Christmas was hard this year. I would rather spend my money on my sweet baby girls. Or in this case, someone else's money on my girls. But I searched for a few things that I want, but have never pulled the trigger on.

VS Dreamer Henley PJs in Tall. I love pjs/lounge clothes now that I am crawling on the floor with the girls all the time and these seem cute and warm. I need more lounge clothes in my life and Banana Republic also has some amazing lounge pants that I just picked up and could use a few more pairs.

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette. I love eyeshadow and it is no secret that Urban Decay has some of the best colors. It has my favorite half baked in there and I need to add some new colors into my life. Plus this will last me for the foreseeable future.

Sam Edelman Louie Black Suede Bootie. I had these booties on my list last year, but I never received them and I never bought them for myself. But I am in "need" of a pair that has a thicker heel so I can actually wear them when I am around the girls as my other ones have a stiletto heel which is only used on date nights. The suede and fringe are beautiful.

Toms Lunata Suede Bootie. Another bootie in suede for some choices. I love Toms. They are so comfy and I am sure these booties will be the same.

Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace. Another item that was on my wish list last year. I love long necklaces and wear them daily. This one I have been eyeing forever and just never have bought it. I have no clue why as it would get so much use, but it never made it into my shopping cart. This year I hope it comes in a pretty box under the Christmas tree.

Twin Mama T-Shirt. I love this shirt because I get asked all the time if my girls are twins. No I just had them at the same time, but they aren't twins. People don't get it. I want the grey and purple combo more than this one, but this was the only picture I could find. They are soft t-shirts and show my twin mama status loud and proud.

Gift Cards. Gift Cards are always awesome for moms. Heck for anyone. It gives me a chance to go get something I want and to shop alone. Total win on both parts. So I'll take one from J Crew, Sephora, Nordstrom, Zara, Banana Republic, etc.

What is on YOUR shopping list? Anything I am missing and can pass onto others?

2015 Christmas Card

I had been looking forward to holiday photos and cards for a very long time. And if you remember, we had our photos done in October. I loved most of them, but realized how much parenthood has taken its toll on me physically. Bags under eyes and even some new small creases around my eyes. Wow, how times have changed.

But we got some pretty amazing and cute photos. Plus we have two of the most beautiful girls who really stole the show in them.

I worked with Minted on my Christmas cards this year. I am obsessed with everything metallic or glittery and this card fit the bill. Plus they had free addressing for a limited time, so I gathered up my addresses (securing some new ones of those who have moved and came into our lives) and used the service. I can't wait to save my hand from writing out over 50 cards.

So without further ado, here is the 2015 Butler Family Christmas card.

So in love with this card and I can't wait to design the girls' 1st Birthday invitations with Minted.

Here is our 2014 Christmas card (including Walter in his bowtie!).

Weekending and a Rant

Happy Monday all!

Get ready for a little soap box rant here because I have to get this out here otherwise someone's twitter feed is going to get dumped on.

On November 2nd, I order a fireplace screen since last year ours broke and we have did a temporary fix to it. I researched it and finally pulled the trigger. I bought the screen from Plow and Hearth. I had heard good things about them and this screen got great reviews.

 

Cast Iron Screen

We paid a pretty penny to have this shipped to us with a promised shipping of 5 to 7 business days. Weeks later, we hadn't heard anything so I contacted them using their chat feature to be told the screen shipped that day. Great, I guess, but only a month late.

We received the box Wednesday evening and it was smashed.

We opened it on Friday and only the screen and instructions were in there. No legs, no back legs, no bolts, no nuts and no wrench. I called Plow and Hearth and told them that it took over a month to get this, it came damaged and most of it was missing. They reordered the parts and told us it would be 5 business days. Fast forward to this morning when I get to work and I have an email saying they were backordered until January 4th. That means it won't even ship until then. So I will have to wait at least 2 1/2 months, if not longer given their track record, to receive my full item. And I paid $22 for shipping for this piece of crap. They won't give a discount or anything. They just said they are sorry and hope it ships sooner or I can send it all back. So mad right now. Piece of crap company with crappy service during the holidays.

End rant.

My weekend was pretty good other than that. Friday after work, we went out to lunch with the girls and on the way home, I told my husband that my belly button area has been tender for the last two weeks. I just didn't say anything about it, but it was to the point that it really hurt. When we got home, I had him feel my belly button and surrounding areas. He could feel the bulge that was sticking out too. Basically my umbilical hernia is back and way worse than before. Or at least we think. Before, it stuck way out and only was tender if you pushed my belly button in. Now I can barely even graze the area and it is in a lot of pain. And if I am holding a baby and she touches it, it is on fire. So I have to go back to my doctor, but not until Friday because they didn't have any openings today and Wednesday I am in Vegas for work. Boo. So hopefully I can get some answers then.

 

 

 

That night I made taco pasta bake while the girls were playing and we ate it after they went to bed. Saturday we headed to the mall to get the girls pictures with Santa. They are really good. I just need to scan them so I can post them. We did a bit of shopping around the mall since there were some good sales going on. We got quite a few Christmas presents for family. Then we headed home to feed the girls and I headed back out to get the girls some diapers, household items and ran to another mall for some other deals on Christmas gifts (all for our families). I may have snuck in a pair of lounge pants for myself, but at a huge deep discount. We have everyone done now except my in-laws. Oh and I need a few more things for my husband's stocking and a few things for the girls.

 

Saturday night we got Indian take-out and relaxed at home watching football. Sunday we headed out to breakfast again, and then to Target to return the yard reindeer that I wrote about here. It was so tiny and not worth the $50 price tag. So we bought a few other things we needed and spent way less than what we returned.

Once we were home, I headed out again to go grocery shopping. I came home to start cooking for my work December day of food. I made a huge fruit salad and bacon, cheddar and chive muffins. So good. But it took a long time. Worth it though. I got to hang out with my girls in between which was so much fun. They really are into climbing all over me and playing now which makes it so much more amazing. We gave the girls a bath, I started cooking dinner, we did their bedtime routine, I finished cooking and we watched the rest of SNF and a few other shows before turning in.

The girls have been waking up a lot more the past few days and it is wearing on this momma. Hoping for a good nights rest tonight.

Tomorrow I am headed to Las Vegas overnight for work and I get to see my dear friend Steve for dinner. I can't wait to catch up and hear all about his grandbaby who will be here any day now.

How was your weekend? 

Finally Friday

It's Friday and I am finally starting to feel better. I still have a cough and I am still a little congested, but I am on the mend. This cold really did a number on me. Drained is what I have felt like all week. But now we are onto the weekend.

Linking up with Karli and Liz this week.

Can you believe we only have 3 Fridays until Christmas? Ya me either.

One. Cyber Monday. I got some great deals on Cyber Monday, but only for my husband and girls. Families didn't send over any ideas until after which is a bummer. Hopefully I can find coupons and deals between now and Christmas. My husband is pretty much done other than a few stocking stuffers and we got our big ticket item for the girls. Now to get some stocking stuffers, Christmas pjs, books and some robes for the girls and we will be set. I got a screaming deal on this for the girls' first Christmas.

Radio Flyer Wagon

And for the first time in a long time, I didn't buy myself one single item during Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Priorities here.

Two. It was this pretty ladies birthday this week (Monday) and I am missing her birthday dinner celebration tonight. I am super bummed about this. Especially since many of my beautiful friends will be there and it is at one of my favorite restaurants...Campo. I dream of their caramel budinos (most favorite dessert EVER).

Three. We have been decorating the house over the course of the week and I am so happy with all my new Target purchases. They had a killer deal going on with 50% off all Christmas decor and since I brought my husband with me last week, we picked up quite a few new things.

Four. We have a month of food at our office for the month of December and my husband and I are signed up for Monday. I need some suggestions on things we can bring that I can either make/prep the day before and taste really good. I am open to breakfast casseroles, muffins, etc. Send me some of your favorites so I can change it up this year. Last year we did 2 pounds of bacon (that took over an hour and a half to cook in the morning which isn't doable with the girls this year) and a french toast casserole bake. So ideas please? And thank you in advance.

Five. We are venturing out this weekend to take the girls picture with Santa. But first I need to pick out their outfits (or buy new ones). I can't wait to see how the girls react to Santa. I love all the photos that are popping up in my feeds of the children happy as can be or crying. So cute and something I NEED to have.

Sutton and Avery's Christmas Wish List

Sutton and Avery will be celebrating their very first Christmas this year. And just four days later, they will be celebrating their first birthdays. Time is flying and it needs to slow down!

Everyone (mostly family) has been asking for a few suggestions on Christmas and Birthday gifts for the girls. Here are a few things on the girls' Christmas Wish Lists.

Sutton and Avery's Christmas Wish List

One. Toms Pink Corduroy Crib Shoes. These shoes are beyond adorable and perfect for dressing the girls up in all their holiday and winter-y gear. The girls are starting to wear shoes more often (harder to take off then socks are) and they need some Toms in their lives. Enough said.

Two. Vtech Touch and Swipe Phone. The girls are obsessed with our iPhone and even try to swipe at them (learning way too young). This is the perfect option for your phone loving baby. Even though it isn't educational, it will hopefully curb their need to chew and drool all over mommy and daddy's phones.

Three. Contours Options Elite Double Stroller. We are in need of a new stroller. The girls have a great one, but it is meant for the carry infant car seats and the girls are about to transition into big girl car seats. So after some research and recommendations from some fellow twin moms, we want the Contours Stroller. It has 7 configurations for the seats and folds up nicely. Plus the blue color is beautiful.

Four. Radio Flyer Wagon. Another twin mom recommendation is the Radio Flyer Wagon for pulling your children around when you want to take them in and out quickly, for cute photo ops, walks around the neighborhood and perfect for Trick or Treating. We want the one with the canopy as the Reno/Tahoe area has very unpredictable weather.

Five. Vtech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker. The girls are on the move and we really want to encourage walking. They stand assisted and try to take steps, but we think a walker would really help them out. Plus they are interactive with all the things they can play with. And it gets amazing reviews.

Six. Pottery Barn My First Anywhere Chair. I have wanted two personalized chairs since the girls were in my tummy, but knew they wouldn't get much use out of them...until now. They love sitting in big girl chairs and can be like their daddy with their own chair.

Seven. Play Tent with 100 Balls. Another twin mom recommendation. She says her boys love playing in the ball pit. It keeps them in one area (which is hard when your children are on the move), entertains them for hours and gives them their own little space. Plus this is so much cleaner and safer than ball pits at restaurants.

And there you have it. This is only a glimpse into what my girls want (they would probably be happier with the boxes and paper), and I will share another for their birthday items.

What's on your children's Christmas Wish Lists?

Baby Girls are 11 Months!

I am a few days late (due to the holiday and being sick), but on Sunday my girls turned 11 months! I can't believe it. Time is flying (I always say this) and in less than a month, they will be 1. One. I can't even fathom this. It feels like yesterday I was going into labor with them.

nicknames: Avery: Avery Girl, Avey, Bunny, Chunky Monkey, Avery Madison  Sutton: Sutton Muffin, Sutte, Bear Cub, Little Miss, Sutton Kira

weight: Again, the girls haven't been weighed or measured in a long time. Their one year check up is January 8th and we will have a better idea then. I can't wait to see where they are at. They seem to be growing like weeds.

sleep: Sleep was a bit better this last month. I think in part due to them being sick for a little over a week and finally adjusting to daylight savings. Thought with that change, they do want to go to bed earlier. That means we have less time at home with them on the weekdays now. Give and take. The girls go down to bed between 6:30 and 7 pm each night. They will sleep until 3:30 or 4 am and then want their pacis back in. They don't even really fully wake up, but little cries. Maybe this next month will mean they will sleep from 6:30/7 to 5:40/6 am. One can hope, right?

eats: The girls are trying new foods all the time. They eat purees twice a day and still take 5 bottles (for now). They have also been trying new foods lately...mashed potatoes (huge favorite), bread, croissant (loved), polenta (Sutton liked it, Avery didn't care for it), french fries, sweet potato fries, ice cream, cheese and yogurt. Yogurt was huge for the girls this month. They weren't if they liked it the first time, but after a few bites (and it sitting on their lips for awhile) they really loved it. Probably even more than their purees. They have tried pear, blueberry, apple and peach (YoBaby by Stonyfield). Less than a month until they can try whole milk!!
 
loves: Sutton: Sutton loves to be on the move. She is a crawling machine. She crawls to her toys, to Walter, to Walter's toys, in search of mommy or daddy and anywhere she can. Especially the areas she isn't allowed to be around. She loves to stand and tries to walk with the help of mommy or daddy. She can stand for a few seconds on her own. She is also pulling up onto things like the table, crib, boxes, etc. Sutton loves to squeal and talk. She has been saying mamama (November 20th) over and over again. Melts my heart. Sutton loves her toys, especially her sisters toys or Walter's toys (she has taken over his frisbee, cleaned of course). Sutton loves when you pretend to eat her tummy. She loves Patty Cake, Patty Cake and Peek-a-Boo.

Avery: Avery loves to play Peek-a-Boo. She is also a big fan of If You're Happy and You Know It, Clap Your Hands. Avery loves when you sing to her. She also loves to talk. Baby girl babbles all day long and her voice is so sweet. She started saying dada this month (November 21st) and it melts her daddy's heart. Avery loves to stand up and bounce around. She likes to stand and hold onto the chair, crib or whatever is near her. She is so close to crawling. She gets on all fours, rocks back and forth and then decides to sit down and reach her way for something or scoot everything. Avery gets around the house by scooting. She loves to try to walk as well and can stand on her own for a few seconds. Avery loves to play on her own or with someone. She is a very happy and content baby. Avery loves to shake her head no over and over again. She also loves to hug. She puts her hands around your neck and lowers her head to your chest. It is the sweetest thing.  

dislikes: Teething, being sick, when mommy and daddy leave the room, having their diapers changed and not getting to bed on time.

clothing size: The girls are wearing 9 and 12 month clothing.

diaper size: Size 3.

Baby girls, mommy and daddy love you both so much. You are changing daily and learning so fast. This month seems to have brought many new milestones and many more are to come. You two will be ONE in less than a month.

This month we celebrated your first Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas tree cutting adventure and met more family. This next month brings new family traditions, Christmas, your birthdays, New Year's and so much more.

You two are the light of our lives! Love Mommy and Daddy!

Thanksgiving Weekend

And so my long weekend ended. Yesterday I was cooped up at home by myself as I was sick. I am still sick, but I had to come to work today for a meeting. Boo. Being at work while you are sick is no fun.

But we did have a great 5 days off with family and friends. Get ready for a photo overload.

Tuesday after work, I headed out to get my hair done. I didn't change much except I had her cut some sweeping bangs again. My so called bangs were really long and always getting in the way. After my hair, I headed out to Picasso and Wine (in the snow) to meet two of my favorite ladies. I wasn't too sure of the painting before we started it, but mine actually turned out pretty good.

 

I arrived to Picasso and Wine a little early, so I stopped in William Sonoma for one of my favorite treats (they were half off).

Wednesday we went out to breakfast and ran a few quick errands. Nothing crazy and we did them early in the morning. That night my husband headed out to the basketball game and the girls and I cuddled by the fire and hung out. Perfect evening.

 Love this photo of Avery

Thursday was Thanksgiving and I had so much to be thankful for this year. We got up and made breakfast at home and it was a nice little treat. Then we relaxed at home until it was time to headed to my cousin in-laws house for Thanksgiving dinner. When we have Thanksgiving with my in-laws they have a themed Thanksgiving (ie dress like characters from a movie, white trash, etc.), and this year's theme was Dr. Suess. Since the girls already had costumes (from Halloween and that wasn't planned), we decided to match them. The only problem was, we couldn't find any red and white stripped pants, so we went with red and black.

The girls with their cousin Ryan

Friday we got up and headed out to our annual Christmas tree cutting excursion, but this time with the girls in tow. It was really cold out. So we bundled everyone up and headed out. The girls got cold and cranky about a half hour or so after we got our tree, so we had to head out early. But it was still a lot of fun! And my in-laws came too!

Friday evening we had a Italian dinner at my cousin in-laws house again. Complete with meatballs, lasagna and homemade New York cheesecake. It was THE BEST!

Saturday we headed out early again and this time we went snowboarding. The girls' grandma and aunt came over and watched them while my brother-in-law, husband and myself went snowboarding. It wasn't as good of conditions as last weekend, but it was still a lot of fun. And I am still sore from it. Oh and I did fall once too. I was already feeling under the weather when we went, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Saturday night we went to my in-laws house for dinner. My brother/sister-in-law made tri tip (marinated overnight), twice baked potatoes and a salad. It was really good and a nice way to cap off hanging out with them. We watched some football and headed home to put the ladies to bed.

Sunday we lazied around the house since my sickness was in full force. We put up the Christmas tree and I started decorating. It probably wasn't a good idea because it wore me out, but it looks and smells so nice in the house now.

Sunday night we went to dinner with my family and our family friends. It was a lot of fun and the girls got to meet Blaine (a lifelong friend of mine). The girls may have crawled on the tables and banged bowls on the table. We were that family and it was so much fun.

Monday I was full blown sick, so I stayed home, did a bit of Cyber Monday shopping and laid low.

How was your Thanksgiving weekend?