Saturday
Ryan and I were both up rather early on Saturday. Sadie was a little restless and jumped up off our bed at 5:30 a.m. to get some water to drink which woke us up and then we were both too wired to fall back asleep. Sadie is lucky she is a cute alarm clock!
I made myself an egg sandwich while Ryan headed off to the gym and settled on the couch with my devotional before sneaking in an hour or so of work before Chase was up. I had plans to take an 8 a.m. boot camp class – my first Saturday morning workout in weeks – and it was really nice to kick off the weekend the sweaty way!
I was home by 9 a.m. with just enough time to shower and assemble the holiday puppy chow I made the day before to bring to Alexis and Dan’s holiday cookie exchange party. I followed this recipe but added a large bag of red and green M&Ms to the mix at the last minute for a festive touch! Any yes, I realize puppy chow isn’t technically a “cookie” but I brought cups and baggies for people to scoop it up to bring home with them and it seemed to be a hit!
We were really looking forward to the party since last year we had an amazing time, despite the sheer terror on Chase’s face when he met Santa for the first time after my friend Alexis’ husband dressed up in a big red suit to surprise all of the kids. Thankfully Chase’s encounter with Santa Dan this year was a lot more mild and he gave Santa a high-five but firmly resisted any attempts we made at encouraging him to sit on Santa’s lap. At least we avoided any tears!
Everyone began saying their goodbyes around noon so we could take our kids home for naptime and while Chase slept, I got a jump start on making some cilantro shrimp and a sweet potato casserole we brought to Laura and Steve’s ugly sweater party later that evening. I also worked for a solid two hours right up until Chase was awake again. Ryan, Chase and I then curled up on the couch to watch the tail end of the UCF vs. Memphis football game (Ryan and I both attended UCF) and the game was a nail-biter… and that’s coming from someone who rarely gets super into sports. Thankfully UCF pulled off a win and continued with their undefeated record. Woop!
We arrived at Laura and Steve’s house around 5:30 p.m. and I was immediately so impressed with the beautiful spread Laura put together for our crew, complete with a sweet kid’s table for Chase and three of his best friends.
She really is the most incredible hostess and always blows us away!
Ryan, Chase and I had the best time with our friends and enjoyed an amazing holiday meal of ham, roasted carrots and potatoes, homemade bread, sweet potato casserole, roasted Brussels sprouts and an arugula pomegranate salad. I had to go back to fill my plate a couple of times because everything was so tasty!
(If you happen to need a sweater for an ugly sweater holiday party this year, I ordered mine on Amazon Prime! Rudolph’s nose lights up for an extra-tacky treat.)
We laughed a lot with our friends and Ryan and I left feeling very grateful for the people we’ve met in Charlotte since we moved here a few years ago. Sometimes it’s hard to be far from family but they make it a little easier!
Sunday
Sunday morning began with church and a little grocery shopping!
Chase fell head-over-heels in love with a giant $30 stuffed giraffe at ALDI but thankfully I pried him away from it and now Ryan and I are wondering if it’s something we should consider for Chase for Christmas since we have nothing for him other than this stomp rocket toy so far.
Can you tell they had a moment? Haha!
To those with past HUGE stuffed animal experience: Is this a purchase we would instantly regret? Chase loved the giant stuffed bear at his friend Lily’s house as well but I don’t know if it’s one of those novelty items that is cool for 5 minutes and then they ever touch it again. I think I’m romanticizing the idea because I have visions of Chase leaning up against his new beloved giraffe to read his books but who knows if that would ever actually happen!?
We arrived home ready for a quick lunch before Chase took his nap and Ryan headed off to the gym. I worked on making and photographing three recipes in the kitchen and by the time I was done our kitchen looked like it was hit by a tornado and I wished with all my might I could will the dirty dishes away. Ooph! I had just enough time to sit back down on the couch with my lap top and begin typing up this blog post before Chase was awake and Ryan and I were ready for a little more quality family time before the weekend officially came to a close.
We spent the rest of Sunday close to home, playing in the backyard with Sadie and reading Christmas books in our pajamas. I crashed hard in bed after reading a few chapters of my latest book.
I really hope you all had a wonderful weekend and appreciate you stopping by the blog today! Have a great week!
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What a great weekend!! I’ve also wondered about those stuffed animals. Costco sells a HUGE one that my girls are always interested in, but honestly that one is just too big. It would take up like 1/4 of their rooms lol! The Aldi one seems a bit more manageable…but yes, I also wonder if Chase wouldn’t be interested if he owned it. Curious to see what others’ say!!
Happy holidays!! Hope you have a great week!!!
-Sarah http://www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com
Exactly! They’re adorable and if it’s something he’d enjoy and use I think $30 is a pretty decent price so I’m on the fence!
I think puppy chow sounds great! I have a cookie exchange today, I am excited to see what everyone makes.
Two parties in one day – you’ve sure been busy! Love your friend’s table setting. I’ve personally never owned a stuffed animal that big, but it seems like a nice touch to have in his room. I’m not sure if he’d want to bring the giraffe everywhere, though. 🙂
Christmas festive puppy chow, LOVE IT! I love adding M&M’s and popcorn to puppy chow combos. And dang two parties in one day, what a fun weekend!
My son has LOVED his big bear for as long as he has had it! I am a strong supporter of big stuffed animals 🙂
Aw! Glad he loved his bear!! Thanks for weighing in!
Oh my gosh – my 19 month old lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw a massive stuffed animal in Walgreens last week. I tried to immediately push on past, and she whimpered and reached for it until it was out of sight. Broke my heart! I wasn’t considering getting it, but now I’m interested to come back to this post later and see what others have to say!
I fully support puppy chow at a cookie exchange. My goal is to come home with a good variety of goodies!
You have so many friends with babies/toddlers. How great is that! What flavor of chex do you like to use for your puppy chow?
I like either rice or corn Chex!
Mondays always come too fast! Why do the best weekends fly the fastest! My son has a giant stuffed dog that lays flat and he loves it! Lately its turned into a pillow while he plays his tablet, but I don’t think Chase would lose the infatuation with giant giraffe =)
We have a gigantic bear in my daughters’ room, she used to nap on it all the time, and now she uses it as a backrest when she is looking at her books.
I’m in love with the giant giraffe!
It really was too, too cute! I’m seriously debating going back for it!
My daughter has a very large stuffed giraffe which she has loved for months! She carries it around and likes to sit on it, it is the cutest! I don’t think you will regret the giraffe 🙂
Puppy chow is the BEST. I love your fun Christmas sweater!!!
My parents bought a similar, giant giraffe for my daughter when I was pregnant. I totally scoffed at it and now at 2 years old, she is OBSESSED with it! Also, it makes for a super cuddly body pillow for a couch nap, so, win-win…
I vote get the giraffe. The $30 will be worth the look on his face Christmas morning … Even if he is “over it” later on. But am am also a SUCKER for anything like this!
I’m such a sucker, too. And so is Ryan. I think the giraffe may be in our future…
Congrats on the UCF win from a Memphis Tiger blog reader! It was a great game. I hated that they announced yalls coach’s departure right there at the end of the game. It sure was a fun one to watch.
I need to make puppy chow asap! And a cookie exchange sounds like a great idea – perfect time of the year!
I still make your cake box snickerdoodles very year 😉
I think one big stuffed animal is good! We have a huge stuffed bunny that lays flat (and I despise stuffed animals). Besides having to move it on and off the bed when we make it, it’s a cute accessory to her room.
Do you think he would like Build a Bear for Christmas? My oldest loved it when she was little.
Build-A-Bear was so, so fun! I’d love to take Chase there soon. I think he’d love it!
My 2.5 year old has a huge stuffed bunny and loves it. he will lay on it, play with it, even try to put his own diapers on it! Definitely worth it.
I usually resist things like the mom-I-have-to-have-it giant stuffed animal. BUT! My parents gifted my son a giant teddy bear when he was a baby and he still loves it (he’s 2 now). We snuggle up with it for story time. It isn’t something he constantly plays with, but he does genuinely enjoy having it in his room.
Love the pic of Chase with the giant giraffe! super cute!
Remeber he will only be little once! Don’t blink!
If he loves it and you think he’d enjoy it then I say it’s worth it!
We are having the same debate over a big stuffed animal! My little guy loves the giant stuffed bear we always see at Costco, but he’s not super into the stuffed animals he has at home, so I can’t tell if he would actually like it once we got it home. It’s not expensive, but it’s a big space commitment, so I can’t decide!
Aww! I vote yes on the giant giraffe!! I am a sucker for all the Christmas joy so it would totally be worth seeing Chase’s face on Christmas morning if he were to get that giraffe!! He is just too sweet! Looks like it absolutely was a fun filled holiday weekend! Love your ugly sweater!!! It’s so cute!! Hope you are having a great Monday, Julie! Xoxo
What’s the new book?
A Tangled Mercy. It is SO, so good!!!
The ugly sweater party sounds like it was fun. I have friends similar to yours, who feel like family. I’m so grateful to have had them for so long (going on 20 years now!).
My daughter has the big Costco bear! It actually belonged to my Vizsla before she was born (insert embarrassed emoji). They have both adored it. She was a twin bed and the thing takes up at least half of it…but she LOVES it. It is probably 6+years old at this point!!!
This looks like such a fun weekend! I can see why it went by quickly. Ours did too with a fun-filled Friday and Saturday of holiday plans and an Air Force holiday party and Sunday spent organizing our apartment with cleaning, cooking, etc. Those are my favorite weekend though. I always love ending it at home and getting prepared for the upcoming week. Plus, pajamas all day. 😉
We have TWO of the huuuge Costoco bears (courtesy of grandparents) and my kids have honestly have loved them for years! I have 4 kids ages 11-2 and they all use them in different ways…my older kids lie on them while reading and my 2 year old will curl up on it and even fall asleep sometimes. I vote go for it!
My husband’s grandfather gifted a huge giraffe stuffed animal to our son for his first birthday. At the time, I thought it was over-the-top and he’d never play with it – well, I was SO wrong. My kiddo is now 22 months and he says hi to the giraffe every day, cuddles with it, etc. Meaning – buy the giraffe! You can always donate it later when he’s over it 🙂 And just imagine his sweet surprised face on Christmas morning <3
This is too, too sweet!!! You’re definitely convincing me!
I agree with everyone else who said – buy the giraffe! If for some reason he loses interest, you can always donate it later. And it’s only $30. But on the chance he hangs out with it……how fun would that be for him? And for you guys, to watch him? So much fun! I figure the best argument FOR the giraffe is – no matter WHAT you buy for the littles, you really never know if they’ll like a toy or not, you’re actually ALWAYS taking a chance, but this time, you have his reaction to the toy before it came home, and the reaction was that it’s a win!
Looks like a fantastic weekend. So much fun! I love the sound of EVERYTHING you did, and I also love that huge tree at your church! I’m a sucker for big holiday decor! I’m glad you were able to make so many good friends there.
30.00 for that big of a stuffed animal is a steal my kids still use our super big dog at 9 and 11 as a bean bag to sit watch tv and read on. I say make the splurge
My daughter received a giant stuffed dog for Christmas when she was 18 months old. She’s 9 now, and it is still one of her favorite posessions. She recently spent a night without it, and had to greet it immediately upon returning home.
Love reading your stories of Chase that remind me of Drew/Evan’s childhood (or my own)! This is the age when we gave the Little Tikes cozy coupe to each of the boys…. there were only two styles when Evan was old enough so Drew had the traditional one and Evan had the same one with different colors. They loved them!
A huge stuffed animal isn’t always a bad gift… I will never forget the polka-dot elephant I had as a kid! It was HUGE (to me…. but maybe was 4 feet tall??) and I adored that ridiculous stuffed toy. If it’s not outrageous and you catch him looking for it every time you go to Aldi, then I’d probably do it… 😉
Get the giraffe!! My husband had dreamed of getting a giant bear for our son ever since we found out we were pregnant. We have been on the hunt for almost a year now and everything was super expensive (we’re talking hundreds of dollars!). We finally found a giant bear at Costco for $40 and knew we had to get it. We put it in his room and I think we have enjoyed it more than he has (he’s not even eight months though). It’s a great place to sit on the floor when he’s playing so you are on his level, but not just sitting on the hard floor.
Just go get the giraffe!
Definitely get the giraffe! My mother in law bought a huge bear as part of my baby shower decor and my daughter has been obsessed with it since birth, she’s about to be three (someone hold me!). She went from laying on it, to playing games flopping on it, to now reading her books sitting against it during her afternoon quiet time. If you have the room for it, go get it!
My 13 month looooves the giant stuffed monkey we got for his first birthday. it’s just the right size for him to (kind of) walk around with it (and fall down onto it) and roll around on the floor and wrestle with it. Go for it!
I agree with the other posters about the stuffed animal being great for storytime. My daughter has a bear in her bedroom and it adds to the coziness of the corner where her books are. She likes to lean against it when she “reads” books on her own. She’s 2 1/2 and we have had it since before she was born. Her interest in it is not over the top but I think it was worth it!
I’m nervous that if you don’t go soon, you will miss out on the giant giraffe! I bought my son a huge narwhal at CVS and he lights up when he sees it. I passed on it the first time I saw it, but convince myself to go back the next day to get it. I’m so glad I did, because when I went back, it was the last one left! Merry Christmas!
I’m nervous that if you don’t go soon, you will miss out on the giant giraffe! I bought my son a huge narwhal at CVS and he lights up when he sees it. I passed on it the first time I saw it, but convince myself to go back the next day to get it. I’m so glad I did, because when I went back, it was the last one left! Merry Christmas!
My 9 year old has a huge bear she got before she was born and she still sleeps with him every night!
Your weekends always seem so fun yet relaxing and productive at the same time! I love it!
We have the giant bear from Costco
It was a haul to even get it in my car to take it home but we’ve had it for over a year now and my 2 yo daughter loves to lean on the bear. I find it Face down most days, not sure what she does with it when she is with our nanny but it is always in the center of her playroom.
We also have a giant giraffe too, she likes feeding all her stuffed animals and having them sit next to her on the couch.
I got a huge bear when I was almost 3years old (got it for Christmas) and fed it with cookies right away. And I never stopped loving it…it is still sleeping in my bed if my boyfriend isn’t here and I am almost 36 now. So, go for it!
Hugs from Germany!
Hi! Love the dining room chairs from your friend’s house… do you know where she got them? Thanks!!
I’ll ask and report back!!
As obnoxious as oversized stuffed animals are, our son adores his BFB (big friggen bear) and cuddles him for story time or when he’s feeling sad or for wrestling. Worth it!
OMG the giant giraffe is hysterical. Reminds me of the giant teddy bear in Friends they give Emma when she comes home from the hospital!