Sawyer's Christmas Wish List

So obviously Sawyer is a little young to be wishing for things, the only things he really wishes for are food, and bottles, but these are the things I want for Sawyer this year, or maybe some things I know Santa is going to be bringing him. Because Santa and I... we're tight. 

1. Fisher-Price Little People A Christmas Story I have had my eye on this little set since before I was pregnant! I bought it for my nephew for his first Christmas, and I just think it's the cutest! It's something that we can continue to use year after year, and I love toys that also will teach Sawyer about the true meaning of Christmas. 

2. Power Wheels Ride-On Lil' Quad by Fisher-Price I know he's a little young for this right now, but common... Just picture him cruising around on it! How cute, right?!

3. Freshly Picked Green Camo Moccs I only hear amazing things about these shoes, and they are so cute too!

4. Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set  Sawyer got a little basketball hoop for in the bath tub for his birthday. He loves it, and spends the majority of his bath time dunkin'. He's a natural. He is also obsessed with balls. Obsessed. And it's by far his favorite word. Every Christmas tree bulb is a "ball" that he wants to hold. Anyway... this seems the obvious choice for Sawyer's Santa present this year!

5. My First Crayola Scribbled Egg Crayons  He has started scribbling every now and then with chalk or crayons, or whatever I let him get ahold of. These cute little guys are egg shaped so they're easier for little hands to hold on to. They'll make a great stocking stuffer!

6. The Story of Christmas Books, books, books! I cannot get enough. Our library is overflowing and I still want more. But again, I am all about teaching the real meaning of Christmas and this book does a great job. We have The Story of Easter as well, and they're great!

7. Burt's Bees Jammies We started a tradition this year of matching family jammies! I am so stoked about it. Justin was skeptical at first but even he loves them. They are so comfy, and we all look great. I promise. Just wait and see. 

8. Santa is Coming to Idaho There are a few of these kinds of books (The Easter Bunny Comes to Idado, a Halloween one, and I think Thanksgiving too) and they are so fun. Santa stops by all of these Idaho specific landmarks, and even stops specifically in our city in our downtown park! I know this will be a fun book to read when Sawyer gets a little bit older. I also bought Santa is Coming to California for my Godson! I can't wait for him to read it!

9. Melissa and Doug Wooden Alphabet Magnets  I love the retro feel of all of the Melissa and Doug toys. And Sawyer needs some alphabet toys in his life!

What do you guys think? Is there anything not on this list that I totally need to get for my little man?! What is on the top of your kiddos' Christmas List?

Wish List 2015

Ahhhh! The wish list! This is one of my favorite posts to put together! I always do it in the fall, and it's a signal that my birthday is around the corner! I waited until the last minute this year, since my birthday is on Thursday!! But there's always Christmas too! ;) 

1. Keurig 2.0 K250 Brewing System- So I love me some coffee. But Justin goes a little bit crazy in the morning with his coffee. We have to request "normal" coffee when we have guests. Justin's coffee has been called sludge and mud, it's basically straight coffee bean in liquid form. He makes a pot in the morning and then drinks is all day long, and even sometimes the next day again if its not all gone. Sick. Anyway. All of that to say... I like to be in control of my own cup of coffee. So me and my keurig are buddies. When I first got one a couple of years ago I got the personal one, that only brews one cup at a time, and you fill the water each time you use it. It's great and all, but I would really love an upgrade!

2. Maskcara IIID Foundation Palette- I have been following Ms. Cara Brooks since before I had a blog. I found her on Pinterest and became obsessed with her make up tutorials. She talked in all of them about how one day she would create her own make up line, and then she did it! And I want need it. I have been admiring the before and after photos on the Mascara instagram page for far too long. 

3. Alex & Ani Cross Wrap Bracelet- I love my collection of Alex and Ani bracelets. They will probably always be on my wish list. I would love this cross one, or the apple one. 

4. Bip & Bop Kelly Cluster Necklace- I would love to have one of these necklaces! I would put my anniversary on the bar, and Sawyer's initials on the circle! 

5. Custom Address Stamp- Before we moved I had one of these. Then Doodle ate it. Then I ordered a new one. Then like 6 months later we moved. So now I need another new one. They are just so fun! And they seriously save so much time!

6. Cutco Galley Set- I grew up with Cutco knives, and then when we lived with my in-laws, they had Cutco knives too. They are the best. And i got used to a certain level of greatness, so now my knives are just not cutting it anymore (see what I did there ;)). 

7. Silverware Set- (Ours are from Bed, Bath, and Beyond but I couldn't find the exact link.) You know you're getting old when your wish list is filled with kitchen and home products. But seriously. I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year, and we only have one silverware set, which does not have enough pieces for my family. This simply will not do. 

8. Pacific Beach Sofa- We really need a new couch. The one from our old house just doesn't fit right in the new house. This plus a big fancy arm chair would be my dream. Justin's dream involves leather and cup holders and something I am not willing to put in this house. So we are at a stand still. But a girl can dream!

9. Calvin Klein Gigi Boot- A girl can never have too many boots. And I have been really wanting some over the knee ones!

10. Littlest Warrior Be Kind Tee- Be Kind could pretty much could be my life motto. Plus, I hate mean people. Plus, Littlest Warrior is a super cool business, spreading awareness and inclusion and I love it. 

11. Pink Box Drill Set- Since we moved into our new house I have been doing more and more projects lately that involve a drill. I would like to have my own so that it can always be charged, and clean, and organized, and I don't have to go into the cold garage and dig around in that mess to find it. Plus, its pink!

12. Apollo Tools Set- Basically the same reasons as 11. But I have started my own little collection of tools. I have a hammer and a measuring tape, and I could really use some screwdrivers so that I can more easily put new batteries in all of Sawyer's toys without breaking off the tips of my knives (another reason I need new knives!). 

What do you guys think? Good list? Are you in agreement with me about the couch? And I totally need that new Keurig right? I'd love to hear what you think!

xoxo

Christmas 2014

Wow Christmas really snuck up on me! When I started maternity leave Christmas seemed like the end of leave and also a million years away. I cannot believe how fast it has gone by!

We started off our holiday week with a super special event. Sawyer was baptized December 21st. It was such a special day and I am so glad that so much of our family could be there to celebrate this with us. I didn't get a picture of the whole group... Blogger fail. But we had quite the little section there supporting our little man.

Parents and Godparents

He was so great! He didn't cry at all, and I think he actually kind of liked it!

So fancy

After the baptism we headed down to Moscow to spend a few days with my family. Then we came back up to Coeur d'Alene to do Christmas Eve with our family here. We spent Christmas Eve Eve playing games and also finding out that my sister in law is going to have a little girl! On this side of the family Justin has no girl cousins, and so far there are only boy grandchildren, so it was a pretty big deal, and very exciting! 

We woke up Christmas Eve morning and had our traditional aebleskivers (yum) breakfast, opened presents, and had a relaxing day before a delicious ham dinner and then heading back to Moscow! Thank goodness we were lucky enough to have good weather for all of our traveling!

He loves it! =) 

On Christmas Day we woke up to our second set of stockings and more presents. We were definitely spoiled! We had a delicious prime rib roasted in rock salt (so delicious) for dinner! It was a wonderful day! 

We stayed on Moscow until Saturday and spent a lot of time watching movies, playing games, napping, and just spending time with my side of the family that we don't get to see that often! It was a great great vacation!

Rock Salt Prime Rib

Sawyer is really enjoying this... 

Cuddles with Uncle Chad!

First tub at the Corner Club together!

We sure do love this happy guy!

Merry Christmas

This Christmas season sure has gotten away from me! I have spent the first part of my break cooking, shopping, baking, gift wrapping, and hanging out with wonderful family and friends!

I also have been a bad blogger and have not taken any photos of my vacation so far! I will get on that and promise to have some posts with actual content later this week.

I will also be heading to Seattle to spend time with some of my favorite ladies, starting on the 1st. So be looking forward to some great posts recaping that!

For now... Please enjoy the Minert Family's first Christmas card!

High Five for Weekends!

Tomorrow is Monday. Blah. Which means my weekend is over. And while I normally detest this day of the week... tomorrow will be my last Monday before Christmas break, so there's a small silver lining.

My weekend was great. Five great things happened.

1. We got out Christmas cards in the mail! I was nervous that they were going to take too long to get here and I would get them out late but they are here! And addressed! Doing big things here!

2. Justin (finally) put up our Christmas lights on the outside of the house, and they look great. He did a really good job. And I have to say I am surprised that they can look as good as they did last year without me standing at the bottom of the ladder shouting out orders requests.

3. My MIL and I made and decorated a butt load of Christmas cookies. And I decorated them. And we used homemade buttercream frosting that is seriously so delicious I could just sit and eat it with a spoon... which I kind of did... #sorrynotsorry #worthit

My favorite

4. The Christmas party went off without a hitch! So fun and with such great people, and such great food.

My MIL's beautiful mantel... I dream of moving into a new home with a mantel available for holiday decorating!

I'm also a professional gift rapper slash bow maker. 

5. I spent all day today lounging. I didn't even get out of my pajamas! And I took lots of naps! It was glorious.

Yay for great weekends and here's to my last week of school before break!!

What I'm Loving Wednesday Is Back!

Oh WILW... I have missed you, I'm so glad you're back! And I have been saving up quite the list for you lovelies.

I am loving that my MIL is throwing one heck of a Christmas celebration this weekend! It is going to be the party of the season! And I am so excited to help her throw it, but also to get to celebrate with some awesome people.

              

I am loving the Christmas cards we ordered! I am not on the ball at all and had to rush order them so that they would get here at a decent time...but I'm still excited.

I am loving that The Taste is coming back!!

And I am loving that The bachelor will be back on JUAN-uary 5th.

Yummy!

I am loving that we finally got back our Wedding photos. Although I did not love my photographer, the fact that I have not gotten my photos until now is not his fault, it's mine. After the wedding I was so done with stress and wedding planning I was just ready for a little break from all of that. But anyway, you'll be getting to see those soon!

I am loving all of the Christmas lights on my street! One of the benefits of living in a cute suburban neighborhood I guess... but there's a street right around the corner from mine that literally has 20 houses in a row with lights. It's so beautiful. I love it. I wish our HOA rules made people put up lights. Haha

This isn't the actual street... but this is what it looks like. 

I am loving mexican hot chocolate. This is something that was such a treat when I was a little girl. I was craving it so badly the other night I sent Justin out for it, and now I can't get enough of it! I'm obsessed. You all need to try it.

I am loving the ornament exchange I am doing, hosted by Life of Meg. I can't wait to get my ornament from Emily at Love Woke Me Up This Morning, and send one to her!

I am loving that Justin and I have been watching Christmas movies every night. Monday night was Elf, Tuesday night was White Christmas, and tonight we have scheduled A Christmas Story.

Happy Wednesday you all! Hope your holiday season is starting out as wonderfully as mine! 

Recent Life Happenings and a Little Brain Vomit

Whoa you all. It has been too long. I'm going to get better at this blogging and working thing... I promise.

I've been pretty busy with work but also with some super fun things.

Thursday Doodle got a hair cut. You guys... this is something we do because it is necessary. Not something we do because we think he looks good this way... He grows out in a few weeks and looks super cute again. I promise.

before

after
So sad. 

Shadow also got a haircut. Yes, we give our cat a haircut, and yes she loves it. Bible.

Boots with the fur...

Also on Thursday my MIL and I went to a Bachelorette dinner for our yoga instructor and friend. It was at The Wine Cellar which is a really cool restaurant in downtown Coeur d'Alene. We had the top floor to ourselves and we had such a blast.

While at dinner we all went around and gave the bride-to-be our best piece of marriage advice. It was so great to be able to give advice as a married woman!! But also so nice to hear advice for myself as well! Some key notes... Pray. Pray with your husband, pray for your husband, pray for patience, and love, and just pray. Also remember how you felt on your wedding day and all of the reasons you got married and love your husband. Also, keep that fire alive!

Friday Justin and I decided to have a night staying in, just us two. We made eggplant parmesan for dinner, yum. And when I say we I actually mean Justin made it and I read him the recipe. We also watched some of our favorite TV shows... including about 5 episodes of The League. Do you guys watch this? Oh my goodness I think it's so funny. It's definitely kind of a man show and can sometimes be a little bit raunchy but if your man wants to watch it, give in. You'll get points for letting him pick the TV show, and its actually really funny. And it's on Netflix! Win.

On Saturday my MIL and I had a total girls day. We went to yoga in the morning and then spent the day sipping wine and getting ready for a wedding that night. The wedding was at a church at Gonzaga University and was so amazing.

It was such a beautiful and fun night spent with good people having such a great time and celebrating a great couple.

Sunday was spent recovering, and thats about it. Oh, and mourning the Niners loss.

I don't want to talk about it.

In other news it's 100 days away from Christmas today so that's great. I almost want to make one of those paper count down chains but I'll hold back... at least until after Thanksgiving.

Also, as much as I love fall... it was dark tonight when I got out of yoga. At 7:45. This is the first time this has happened and it made me a little sad. But then the new Miley song was on the radio and that made it a little better. Speaking of... I'm loving that song, but why do her videos have to be so weird?! Miley... why do you have to lick random things and have your tongue out all the time?

When did this become a thing? I don't like it.

Well that's all for now... enough brain vomit for one night.

Happy Monday loves!