Shannon’s World

Our friends The Ardnt’s sent Libby the cutest apron last week – I just love it…so does Libby. Libby is very lucky as she often receives the best hand me down toys from the Arndt’s. Honestly, her favorite toys are from them. She recently acquired some Barbies that she adores and we play this game almost everynight (I would recommend this game to anyone with a toddler – it reinforced colors for Libby and helped her learn her shapes. Libby asks to play it ALL THE TIME). Well loved toys are the best. . .thanks Arndt family!

Here is Libby “cooking” in her apron:

A group of us spent some time brain storming cute ideas for very small gifts for people in our office/people we work. Budgets are tight (as in there is no budget. . .remember the post about no holiday party to wear a fancy dress to?!) so we needed to be creative…here are a few ideas we came up with that are inexpensive and easy to produce in mass (many gleaned from various places online):

- I have had to do small gifts for as many as 80 employees. They don’t expect anything, but they do appreciate being remembered. Last year I gave a bag of microwave popcorn with a tag attached with a ribbon and small bell that said, “Hope Santa pops up with everything you want.” Smelled hot popcorn for a week!

- Last year, I bought nut crackers (about $3 each) and mixed nuts in bulk. I put a nut cracker and nuts in a Santa holiday see through bag and added some red tinsel on top. It was a great gift.

- Last year I bought 3 dozen metal kitchen whisks. I filled each one with hershey kisses, wrapped them in cellophane and tied with curling ribbon. Then I made little signs out of paper that said “We whisk you a merry kissmas.”. They looked adorable and were a huge hit. (Michaels and Target have whisks for about $2-3).

- What we decided to do was purchase some chocolate riesen candies, decoratively bag them and include a list of 10 Riesen’s we’re thankful for you!

Here’s another site with cute ideas, thanks Kim.

We woke up yesterday to our first snow. As Libby and I made our way downstairs we were both surprised by the thick dusting that covered our lawn…Libby quickly ran back to our bedroom to tell Mike about the snow.

Libby asked to go “snowing”. . . we’re still trying to figure out what that is, but she seemed to enjoy walking, running, climbing, sliding and rolling around in the snow. Mike couldn’t make it to work (roads were terrible) so he joined us outside and he helped Libby make her first (mini) snowman.

The “snowing” we did must have worn Libby out – she slept over 3 hours yesterday afternoon!

Libby and I were lucky enough to be invited to join some friends in a suite at Disney on Ice last week. It was my first time at the Fieldhouse and my first time in a suite – it was fantastic.

To say Libby enjoyed the show is an understatement. She clapped, yelled, cheered and sang the entire time. It was so much for to watch her.

Above are Libby and Ella (in full princess regalia) just before the show started.. . .that smile never left her face!

Every December we host Mike’s team at work for their monthly poker party. It’s very low key – we order pizza (as they do every month at poker), put beer in the fridge and throw out a few snacks.

I’ve bookmarked the following easy holiday cookies to make with Libby for everyone to enjoy at poker night. I think she’ll enjoy making them!

Sugar cookie trees

Simple snowmen

Slightly more complicated snowmen (I made these last year as cupcakes)

And a few reindeer options here and here

Here’s a cute appetizer Santa…a little labor intensive for a 2 year old, but something to keep in mind for next year. I’m not crazy about ricotta but I’m guessing you could pipe/spread cream cheese, too.

We took down our fall/Thanksgiving decorations on Saturday and put up the Christmas ones. Libby doesn’t seem to remember any of Christmas the decorations from last year and loved helping set everything up.