Happy Merry ThanksBirthdayMas

So the greatest thing happened last week.  Before all of the turkey and dressing and wine and family time and wine, I received a package from FedEx.  A package I had been waiting five loooooooong months for and it had finally arrived.  My birthday gift from my darling husband.  By the way, my birthday is in June.

I had picked out a vintage chalkboard on Etsy.com and the order was placed a couple of weeks before my birthday.  But set back after set back, week after week....no chalkboard.  This was due in large part to the weather over the summer, the treatment that was done to give it the right color and distressed look wouldn't set with it being as hot as it was.  And there was no way it would survive the trip from Phoenix to Dallas in the back of a 130 degree truck without being ruined.  

Well all that didn't matter.  Because when my beautiful chalkboard finally was in route from Arizona to my kitchen.....the FedEx truck delivering this masterpiece CAUGHT. ON. FIRE.

Believe it.  I wanted to cry. Devastated really. (No I'm not that self centered - no one was hurt, just the packages.) But Kimber over at Shabby McFabby on Etsy.com immediately jumped on making me another one.  And now that void in my kitchen has been filled.

Seriously go check out her stuff, she's amazing. You can find her HERE.

Now for Turkey Talk.  Thanksgiving Day was spent at my grandparents house this year. Since my mom decided she was taking over the Bourbon Sweet Potatoes this year, a dish she passed down to me several years ago (no bitterness here) I had to come up with a Plan B.  Alright, I'll do Broccoli Casserole.  What's that?  Oh, Hailey found a recipe for Broccoli Casserole on Pinterest she wants to try? Oh. Ok. Plan C.  Green Bean Casserole courtesy of The Pioneer Woman.  Plan C was a good one, if I do say so myself.

Best part of the weekend hands down was spending time with this little man.

When I'm around most little ones, I can tolerate only so much before I whisper to Brad, "see honey? This is why we don't have kids yet. They do that."  Liam is the exception to the rule.  Greatest kid ever. And I'm not just saying that because I'm his favorite aunt. 

Honestly, if God were to promise me one just like him I'd have one tomorrow.  But it doesn't work that way. Brad was a high maintenance little tyke and it's only fair that he be paid back for that.  No matter how much of an angel I was back then.

What's that? You want one more Liam pic?  Ok.

I didn't take this. It's not even from Thanksgiving. But I love it.  The boy just loves to put his head on soft things, this includes all dogs.

So is your heart all warm and fuzzy now? Good.  Let's jump right into Christmas, shall we?  Now I don't have to lie to you people so here goes...I've secretly been listening to Christmas music for exactly 11 days now.  I did my very best to wait until after Thanksgiving but I failed, yet again.

I also wasted no time in getting the house ready for Christmas either. Yep. It's done. Pretty much all of it.  There are even five presents wrapped and under the tree. 

Come on in....

Even the wine cage is festive

And there you have it.  The Bingham's are holiday ready.  Now I can play my Christmas music as loud and as often as I want....while I stare at this:

I bet you're wondering which of those delicious meals I made tonight. The answer is none of them.  Brad had class and I went to the gym where I got my butt so thoroughly kicked I didn't have the energy or strength to get a pan out of the cabinet.  Yeah, I ate a bowl of cereal instead.  Almost ate it dry because the milk was too heavy. Tomorrow could be rough.

Happy Holidays!