Weekending.. Christmas Week Edition!

Happy Monday everyone :) I am linking up with B Loved Boston and Champagne and Suburbs for Weekending... 

Mondays definitely different for me now that I am on Maternity Leave haha. I don't feel any less busy-- but I am so enjoying the time with my daughter, Addison.Before getting pregnant I never really thought about Maternity Leave or what FMLA actually entailed. Since my pregnancy and having Addison-- I definitely have a new appreciation for all those moms who have to go back to work exponentially early. I am off until the first week of March and I am already dreading it. It really is a shame that moms (and dads for that matter) don't get as much time off as they should--paid time off that is. I feel so blessed that I am able to take off as much time as I am. 

 Thankfully Jim is only working Monday and Tuesday this week so he will be able to join us in the Christmas fun :) We still have a few gifts to purchase (no I am not one of those people that gets it all done months in advance-- I wish!), but I am excited to be out and about with my little family. 

While I am so excited that Christmas is this week, it feels bittersweet. It is almost over :( I love this season- my husband loves this season. There is just something about the holidays that the rest of the year can't compete with. I also will admit that the past few years hasn't truly felt 100% like Christmas up here and that's because of the lack of snow! There really isn't anything like a white Christmas. Ah-- oh well. I guess we will just have to venture up to the White Mountains (hint, hint). 

Onto what we did this weekend.....

{SATURDAY} 

- Saturday (after sleeping in of course) we ventured to Jim's aunt's house for their annual extended family Christmas Party. Good food, good company-- it was just perfect! Addison definitely stole the show-- she was loved on by just about everyone! 

- I made Monkey Bread for everyone and it was a hit (per usual haha). There are so many recipes and variations out there-- I made the classic bread which you can find here. 

{via}

- I loved seeing Jim's parents interact with Addison-- the love they have for her already is so beautiful! 

- After the party, we headed home, relaxed and watched movies. Perfect ending to a great day. 

{SUNDAY} 

- On Sunday, my cousin Kelly took newborn pictures of Addison! 

- Kelly is an amazing person- she just had her baby two weeks ago via C-section, she had been in the hospital for over 9 weeks due to some complications, and was a trooper through the whole process. Her baby, Noah, is still in the NICU but he  doing amazingly well! I am so glad and honored that Kelly was able to take Addison's pictures. I can't imagine anyone else capturing these memories for us. 

Here are some sneak peak images (courtesy of my husband my aunt who captured some of the magic!) 

I mean..I can't even haha. I know I am biased-- but she is so adorably perfect.  I can't wait to see what Kelly has captured-- I know it will be amazing. 

If you are in the NH/Massachusetts area, feel free to check out her website: Kelly and Kristina Photography. 

- After Addison's photoshoot, we went to my grandparent's house for dinner and to make our family's famous peanut butter balls. I don't have a copy of the recipe- but I will see if I  can snag it from my grandmother :). 

- Sunday night after we got home, we ended up watching my absolutely favorite movie ever: The Sound of Music. Although-- my husband and I were both a little confused. We weren't sure when this movie became a Christmas movie? There is literally 0 Christmas scenes in this film! Oh well-- any excuse to watch it is fine by me :) 

I hope you all had a great weekend-- enjoy the last week of Christmas!