Third Annual Davidson Family Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

The first Saturday in December was our family's annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.  Lots of folks were unable to make it due to weather, travel, and just the general craziness of the holiday season, but we are so thankful for the family and friends who came, ate, played games, and had fun with us!

It was a great night of fun, as I hope you can see from the photos below.  I apologize for the delay in posting, but our computer is on its last legs, and it's hard to write blog posts and add photos from my phone with the Blogger app.

At the end of the night when the votes were tallied, Gran won the prize for the best (ugliest) outfit, with Connor in second place, and my sis Lindsay in third.

Third place

Second place

First place

So sad that the photo I got of Lindsay and David was blurry...my auto focus was off, I later realized.  :(

I am already looking forward to new ideas for next year's party!

Ten Months

Yesterday London Elise turned ten months old.

Since her nine month update, she has started standing all on her own.  She eventually loses her balance, and she doesn't seem ready to take a step yet, but she's definitely closer, which makes me a tinge sad.

She also finally cut her third tooth.  We are still waiting on the other top tooth to match, so she looks a little unbalanced at the moment.

Can you see her new top tooth? 

London has discovered a few new faborite foods in the last month, including strawberry yogurt and toast.  She is still a great eater and sleeper, and just an all-around happy, smiley girl.

She experienced her first snow, as miniscule as it was.

  She just learned the "p" sound (thanks to Aunt MB) and loves to say it over and over.

My favorite thing this month is that she is really starting to understand and respond when we talk to her.  If I ask her for kisses, she leans over into my face, often with her mouth open and her tongue out.  :)

London at nine vs. ten months:

Connor and London both at ten months old:

We love our darling girl!  Happy ten months, London Elise!

Meaningful Beauty and Braun Forehead Thermometer Reviews from Influenster

I have had a profile on the website Influenster for quite some time, but it hasn't been until the last few months that I have really put my membership to use.

Influenster is a great website where by simply inputting data and taking surveys about the products, food, and other items my family and I use, I can become qualified for a Vox Box.  In a Vox Box, I am sent samples of various products (for free!) to use, review, and post about.  It is simple, fun, and best of all, I have been able to sample amazing products that my family has truly put to use all, all at no cost.

The most recent Vox Boxes I have received are very different, but both equally useful in our home.

The first was a Meaningful Beauty Vox Box, which contained Creme de Serum from Cindy Crawford's beauty line, Meaningful Beauty. 

I have very dry skin, so as soon as I squeezed the serum into my palm, I knew from the thick and silky feel that it would be perfect for me.  It goes on smoothly, feels thick and rich but not smothering to my skin, and I can truly, after a few weeks of use every day, that my face feels softer and smoother.  It really feels hydrated after using this product.

To learn more about the Crème de Serum, go here:  http://www.meaningfulbeauty.com/products/products,default,pg.html

Meaningful Beauty purchasing information: http://www.meaningfulbeauty.com/select-a-system/order,default,pg.html


The second Vox Box, and the most recent I received was the Braun Forehead Thermometer, which I have actually been wanting to purchase since our now four year-old was a baby.  However, until now, I always just used my old-school under-the-tongue thermometer under Connor's under arm.  For some reason, he has always HATED that method of taking his temperature. 

When I got the Braun Forehead Thermometer in the mail, Connor was instantly drawn to it.  He wasn't scared, but instead excited to see it, touch it, and even let me take his temperature.  I haven't had to use it yet on London, our ten month-old, but I know that it will be equally as easy with her.  It is much quicker than a typical thermometer, and it even has a great color-coding that shows not only the exact temperature, but if that temperature is normal (green), a low-grade (yellow), or high (red).

Neither of my children have been sick   I would highly recommend this thermometer to other parents.


*I was given these products to try for free by Influenster, but all opinions are 100% my own.

Family Photos by Lindsay Williams Photography

I am blessed to have three amazingly creative photographers as friends and colleagues (Lindsay, Candice, and Davene), and all three of them have captured our family's photos as we have grown over the years.  The latest session was with Lindsay, who has been one of my closest confidants since middle school, and who has recently discovered her insane talent behind the lens.

She was able to capture the craziness and true personalities of each of us, and still managed to make us look better than we do in real life.  :)

I wanted to share the photos she took with all of you.

Thank you Lindsay; we love you!

I cherish photos more than just about any other of my possessions, especially any photos by the three ladies mentioned above, and I am thrilled to have these to add to my collection of memories from this stage in our lives.