Browsing Tag

Christmas

New Year's Day is always an exciting day that brings new adventures. It is a day that allows us to look forward to change. Hello 2020!
CELEBRATE, Family, Holidays, LIFESTYLE

Hello 2020!

New Year’s Day is always an exciting day! It is a day that brings new adventures. It is a day that allows us to look forward to change. It is a day that opens the door to new goals and dreams. So as we ring in the new year, let’s give thanks for all of our blessings!
For my family, we say goodbye to our first year as a family of 5, and we say hello to a new year ahead of growth and more adventures to come.

We are so excited to celebrate new beginnings… HELLO to a new decade – Hello 2020!

Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come.Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come.Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come.Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come.

Take time today to thank God for the blessing of Day 1.  
Lamentations 3:23 – Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.

From my family to yours, we wish you a Happy New Year! Hello 2020!espressoeverafter.com

Thank you for the beautiful photos La Brisa Photography.

January 1, 2020 by
Our Month In 9 Squares is a 9-photo recap of the month, filled with photos and cherished memories. Check out our favorite moments in December 2019.
Our Month in 9 Squares

Our Month In 9 Squares – December 2019

Dear December 2019,

December was just as great as we’d hoped it would be. With all the holiday festivities and Christmas functions, it is a month we will always cherish. We love filling the month with Santa, Christmas decorations, holiday lights and Christmas parties! But, I must say… The best part was our mountain getaway. We were able to sneak away and visit Santa at the North Pole, hung out with friends in the snow, and the girls got to ski for the first time! We are a winter-loving family, so December you are always our favorite!
This December was extra special because our girls are old enough to understand that Jesus’ birth is the true meaning of Christmas, and there is nothing more special than that!

As January brings a new year and a new decade, we are beyond excited to see where 2020 takes our family. We have so much to be thankful for and looking forward to a bright future as the Wodiske Party of 5!

:: Our Month in 9 Squares – December 2019 ::Our Month In 9 Squares is a 9-photo recap of the month, filled with photos and cherished memories. Check out our favorite moments in December 2019.

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December 31, 2019 by
I love sharing a good book. In my new book review series, Recent Reads, I review the books I have recently read and let you know my thoughts and opinions.
Book Reviews

Recent Reads – December 2019

I did it!…  I have officially joined the digital world of Amazon Kindle reading and I am a huge fan! Don’t get me wrong… I know there will be times that I miss actually flipping the pages and smelling the paper, but so far I am loving it. Go Team Kindle!  And ever since I bought a Kindle, I have been able to fly through Books! It goes everywhere with me and it is filled with all of my favorite titles. Thanks to the convenience of electronic reading, I have some great books to share… I enjoyed these titles and I think you will as well.

So here you go, a good round up of books that you can’t go wrong with!  In full disclosure, please know that I adore a Hallmark style love-story with a happy ending, but I am happy to say I branched out a little bit this time around. These books have some unexpected plot twists, surprise endings, in-depth storylines and historical connections… Which I found very intriguing as well.  I also read 2 great books that have a Christmas theme – just in time for the holidays!

My 12 Recent Reads

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December 19, 2019 by
Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come.
CELEBRATE, DIY, Family, Holidays

2019 Christmas Traditions: Christmas Cards | Family Photos | Matching PJ’s | Santa Photos

These are a few of my favorite Christmas Traditions… Family Photos + Christmas Cards + The Santa Visit + Matching Holiday PJ’s!

SANTA is always a fun visit for us.  It is our chance to see who will smile and who will cry.  Is it bad that I always (secretly) wish for tears?? Sadly, my dream didn’t come true.  Kensie held it together and we are officially the ‘smiley-Santa-photos’ family.  Oh well, at least I am thankful for the joy.  Don’t get me wrong, Kensie is extremely skeptical of Old St. Nick, but I am sure next year she will be his biggest fan!  Payton and Paisley, on the other hand, never wanted to leave his side.  It is so sweet to watch their belief shine!  Enjoy our Santa visit!Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Christmas Traditions 2019 is a recap of a few of our favorite holiday activities. These are the moments that we will remember for years to come. Continue Reading

December 19, 2019 by
Our Month In 9 Squares is a 9-photo recap of the month, filled with photos and cherished memories. Check out our favorite moments in December 2018.
Our Month in 9 Squares

Our Month In 9 Squares – December 2018

Dear December 2018,

You were the best!!! Christmas time is always the best time, but now that we are a family of 5… Everything was better than ever!  We filled the month with family holiday functions and made sure the girls knew the real reason for the season – Jesus – Love came down! From live nativities to Santa, we did it all and made so many wonderful memories along the way. The best part of the month had to be our first Christmas Vacation and it was one we will never forget. Getting away to cold weather and indulging in Christmas spirit made this Christmas season our best yet! And it was so much fun watching Kensie enjoy her first Christmas! Thank you December 2018 for a month we adored.

We are so excited for 2019 and a new January of family-fun!

:: Our Month in 9 Squares – December 2018 ::Our Month In 9 Squares is a 9-photo recap of the month, filled with photos and cherished memories. Check out our favorite moments in December 2018.

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December 31, 2018 by
2018 Christmas Cards Season is here! This year I partnered with Shutterfly to create the most creative and festive cards around! Here is a sneak peek!
CELEBRATE, CREATE, Holidays

2018 Christmas Cards | With Shutterfly

Shutterfly outdid themselves this year with their amazing 2018 Christmas cards selection.

As you know, we are big Shutterfly fans in this house, and once again I was pleasantly surprised with their adorable cards.  Now that we are a family of five, I found that I gravitated towards the card options with more than 4 photo slots, so that I could highlight each of the girls.

This year I found that they really up-ed their game on the total card package.  Not only are their card options fabulous, but their envelope liners and pre-addressed envelopes are so creative and colorful!  I am all about the feeling you get when you pick-up a card out of your mailbox; the happy mail experience starts with the envelope! 2018 Christmas Cards Season is here! This year I partnered with Shutterfly to create the most creative and festive cards around! Here is a sneak peek! Continue Reading

December 18, 2018 by
Our Month In 9 Squares is a 9-photo recap of the month, filled with photos and cherished memories. Check out our favorite moments in November 2018.
Our Month in 9 Squares

Our Month In 9 Squares – November 2018

Dear November 2018,

What a great month!

You were a month filled with gratefulness, thankfulness, and the reminder of kindness.  November, we filled you up with great moments and treasured times… Mainly Kensie’s first cross-country adventure and our hubby/wife trip to Washington D.C.  DC was beyond words – FABULOUS! We also celebrated daddy’s birthday, Thanksgiving, our first girl-only STAYcation slumber party and Christmas came early this year with decorating the house and setting up the tree.

November you were good to us, but we are so excited for Christmas and the holiday month of December! Bring on Jesus’ BIRTHDAY!!!

:: Our Month in 9 Squares – November 2018 ::Our Month In 9 Squares is a 9-photo recap of the month, filled with photos and cherished memories. Check out our favorite moments in November 2018.

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November 30, 2018 by
2017 Christmas Cards Season is here! This year I partnered with Shutterfly to create the most creative and festive cards around! Here is a sneak peek!
CELEBRATE, CREATE, Holidays

2017 Christmas Cards | Shutterfly

December is here so you know what that means… 2017 Christmas Card Season is upon us.

YAY for Happy Mail! 🙂

This year I decided to order our 2017 Christmas Cards through one of our favorite online stationery companies… Shutterfly!  If you are a regular here at Espresso Ever After you already know how much I adore partnering with Shutterfly and all of their personalized options; they make beautiful and quality goods for all to love! To tell you the truth, this pregnancy has really slowed me down this year and I am so thankful that I can trust Shutterfly with this aspect of the holiday season.  The tired mama in me wanted to skip the photos and the card making, but since Shutterfly was able to help me with the heavy lifting… It was worth it.  Their online program is extremely user-friendly and their options this year are unique and creative.  As usual I loved so many of them, that I had a hard time narrowing down my favorite card styles.

2017 Christmas Cards | Shutterfly

We went with a bright and colorful look for our photos this year, and I knew I wanted to pick a card that offered a happy and cheerful theme.  When I found this 5×7 Gate Fold Card, I knew it was the winner.  It offered multiple text areas, different sized photo slots, 2 types of paper styles and a fun flip-open effect.  Thank you Shutterfly for always bringing a winner! Continue Reading

December 19, 2017 by
Christmas S'MORES In A Jar | Gift Tutorial
CREATE, DIY, Holidays

Christmas S’MORES In A Jar | Gift Tutorial

I love giving gifts!!! But lets face it, this time of the year can get pretty pricy if you have to buy a gift for everyone you care about.  That is why I am all about DIY presents.  If you can buy in bulk and make multiple gifts at once, gifting doesn’t have to be exhausting or expensive. Remember, it’s not the cost of the item that makes it special, it is the thought and care behind the gift that really matters.

This Christmas “S’MORES In A Jar” DIY gift tutorial is perfect for anyone in your life that likes chocolate, campfire S’MORES or mason jars.  It is easy to make, filled with yummy goodies and will bring S’MORE love to your Christmas season!  Continue Reading

December 21, 2016 by
Getting Christmas Crafty | Reindeer Photo Gift
CREATE, DIY, Holidays

Getting Christmas Crafty | Reindeer Photo Gift

I don’t know about you, but thinking of a new and unique creative way to make a gift for a loved one for Christmas is exhausting! I love getting crafty, and putting my DIY-thinking cap on, but sometimes life gets in the way and we are too busy when it comes time to executing our amazing and complex ideas.  If this hasn’t happened to you, that is amazing, but true confession… it definitely has happened to me!  This time of year can be very overwhelming thanks to Pinterest.  To help you out this year, I made an easy-to-do, very inexpensive and simple photo craft for all of the grandparents in our lives.  Trust me, very little creative skills are needed for this one!  I hope this adorable and easy-to-make tutorial brings you peace in this crazy-busy time and allows you to impress your loved ones. Are you ready to get crafty???
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December 19, 2016 by