Hello December

So Thanksgiving just flew by and now we are less than 2 weeks until Christmas, how did that happen??!!

I completely overbook myself and kids the months of November and December and I absolutely love it.  There is so much to do this time of year, we can rest in January.

I hung out with my guy Andy Cohen

kicked off the Christmas season with tea at the Ritz

trimmed the tree

checked out the activities around town

did our annual big bear brunch

decorated gingerbread houses

watched my kids dance

sing

act

and play

  Been to plenty of work parties for the hubby

and my favorite shopping party for me

I've done the cookie exchange

and we have already been to 2 breakfasts with Santa

We still have so many activities,

 and I am saving the best for last

The Nutcracker

with a pre show tea with the cast mastes

Santa at the symphony

wild lights at the zoo

my annual girls Christmas dinner and gift exchange

the BEST breakfast with Santa in the city

Holiday brunch at American Girl Doll

and Christmas Eve dinner at our house



But before Christmas I have the 1 final activity that I am not looking forward to at all

ugg!!

Girl Friday

It's officially crunch time!! The last weekend before Christmas, last chance to get things done.  I actually feel ready for the holiday.  I just have a few loose ends to wrap up but nothing big left to do.

Today is also the last day of school for my kids so I have just a few short hours to run errands solo.

Tonight the hubs has an office, Christmas, happy hour party.  I am popping in right at 5 for a quick hello and a cocktail...

then the hubs and I have to shop for our stocking gifts...

and then onto a dinner date

the hubs just loves his whiskey

Saturday is my day of beauty...

(it's a lot of work getting ready for Christmas)

Saturday night we are taking our kids to Powell Hall...

for the annual Christmas concert.  This is the perfect night for kids.  The St. Louis Symphony plays all the Christmas classics, the ones that the kids know the words to, and they are encouraged to sing along.  They have hot chocolate stations in the lobby plus Santa and his reindeer show up.

Sunday I am taking my girls to a Sugar Plum Fairy tea

they get to meet the dancers in the Nutcracker while we have lunch

then it is on to watch The Nutcracker

I do this every year with my girls

Christmas 2012

And then after the show we are off to the Zoo for the Wild Lights display

then ending our weekend with dinner with Santa  at the zoo

ho ho ho,  have a beautiful weekend!!

Girl Friday

My in laws are spending Christmas in Michigan and we will be in Mexico, so tonight we are having an early Christmas celebration with them

I actually think this works great with kids.  Stagger out the gifts, some years when the kids open all their presents on the same day they are overwhelmed and don't touch half of them.  This year they will have round 1 of gifts tonight and round 2 Christmas morning.

Saturday morning we have our annual breakfast with Santa

this one from 2 years ago always makes me laugh

Saturday afternoon I am going to finish a few things

my shopping.

I have promised to make cookies so my kids can decorate them...

they literally ask everyday.

pack, so I can enjoy Christmas

I will reward myself for all my hard work with dinner and drinks Saturday night with friends

Sunday we have another breakfast with Santa

 at my daughter's school

a Christmas piano recital by my 2 older kids

then I am hosting our annual Christmas with the Girls.  I have 12 friends coming over for dinner and a gift exchange

I swear, girlfriends give the best gifts...

my friends always know exactly what I want!!

Have a beautiful weekend