Merry Christmas from St. Louis

We drove to St. Louis on Friday, with a car filled with presents and two cats. Lily Thomas was ready to co-pilot. Mr. F's family and I went to the St. Louis Art Museum to see the Monet exhibit, that afternoon.

Today, we met up with some of Mr. F's high school buddies before celebrating Christmas Eve at his Aunt's house. We all loved the paper crowns that we found in our poppers!We had an amazing turkey and pork roast dinner with our cousins. 

Merry Christmas!

My Random Christmas Mix

Please enjoy my Christmas mix!

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Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Jack Johnson
All I Want for Christmas Is You (SuperFestive!) by Justin Bieber & Mariah Carey
A Great Big Sled (feat. Toni Halliday) by The Killers, (RED) Christmas - EP
Little Saint Nick by She & Him, A Very She & Him Christmas

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My Only Wish  by Jessica Simpson
Christmases When You Were Mine by Taylor Swift
Winter Song by Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
Christmas Lights by Coldplay
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers by Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops Orchestra, A Christmas Festival
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Judy Garland
Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairy by Performed By The Appollonia Symphony Orchestra, The Nutcracker Suite
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! by Bing Crosby
White Christmas by Louis Armstrong
The Christmas Waltz by She & Him, A Very She & Him Christmas
Men of Snow by Ingrid Michaelson, Everybody
Waltz Of The Snowflakes by Performed By The Appollonia Symphony Orchestra, The Nutcracker Suite
20 Years Of Snow by Regina Spektor, Begin To Hope 
Holiday (iTunes Session) by Vampire Weekend
Frosty the Snowman by Fiona Apple, Winter Songs

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Dance Of The Flowers by Performed By The Appollonia Symphony Orchestra, The Nutcracker Suite

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Gingerbread houses!!

We have a gingerbread house contest ongoing at work. I think my team is going to win, especially with all our neat details.I mean, how cute is this chocolate ball, Milk Dud, Twizzler, peppermint, Tootsie Roll cat?!

 Our team was really creative and went all out! The only rule in the contest is use edible ingredients. We used a gingerbread house kit, but added a second story and tower with gingerbread graham crackers. We painted the house with Grinch green icing but then covered the majority of it with bread sticks. We painted the door and shutters red with icing. We made a wreath out of Fruit Roll-up, a peppermint, and red chocolate balls. The windows were made of blue taffy!We made a pond with melted blue gumballs, marshmallow snow, a reindeer out of Tootsie Rolls, and frost with eyes made out of mini marshmallows!We circled the chimney with Twizzlers and made trees out of ice cream cones with frosting! It was such a fun work bonding event!
Here are some Gingerbread Houses examples that gave us ideas.

Here's one of our competitors. They may, or may not, have used non-edible items...... Here are the other competitors from other departments.

 

Happy Holidays!

Halloween and winter is coming!

I'm still gathering items for my Halloween costume, Bellatrix Lestrange and Mr. F's Lucius Malfoy,

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but I was amazed to hear Christmas music playing today!

Have you thought much past Halloween yet? It's hard to believe winter is coming! (Yes, I'm also reading Game of Thrones.)

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Best Christmas Ever?

 We woke up leisurely Christmas morning and had a quick egg breakfast. Before we jetted off to the parents' house for presents, I took a few cute pictures of the Christmas cats, Lyra and Lily, under the tree!

 We brought the sparkling wine for the mimosa station. Mom had found these neat local juices that were oh, so tasty!

 Mom also had all these adorable Christmas mugs lined up on the windowsill! They're perfect for hot chocolate and marshmallows.

Stewart was ready to open presents and tried to help before we were even done with the big family breakfast!

I think there were more presents than ever, under the tree. My cousin thought there were more presents because we all buy presents now, unlike when we were little kids. 

 Mr. F was super psyched to open this remote control helicopter from Grandpa Larry and Tootie.

 One of our favorite presents was also in the biggest box!!

 My grandmother, Tootie, was so cute and excited every time she opened a present! I think the best one was the yeti coat from my Mom. Tootie looked so happy and ready to compete in the Iditarod! 

I love taking pictures with my sisters and cousin!! 

Later in the day, we went to a big family dinner at the Aqua/Terra restaurant. We had almost 30 people from my Mom's side of the family!

Here are all the presents in the white elephant gift pile!

 The decorations were so festive and fun!

 The dessert table was my favorite. There were creme puffs, petit fours, and cookies galore!

 This is our adorable newest cousin, in Christmas elf pants!

Janie got a GIANT box of chocolates in the family white elephant gift exchange!

 Mr. F and I won this awesome kabuki puppet in the white elephant after exchanging a few gifts!

My cousins, sisters, and I love taking pictures together! 

I think my favorite present of the day was, Glee Karaoke! Mr. F, my sister, and I sang with this for over two hours and made ourselves hoarse. It is sooo much fun!