I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Enjoy the time with family an/or friends, take time to remember Christ and everything that this holiday means. Be safe and careful!
We are headed to Branson, MO tomorrow morning for Christmas with James' family and coming back on Thursday to spend time with my family! They will be here until Jan 2!!!!!! It is going to be great time with family and I will post a SUPER FABULOUS post when we return!
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tuesday favorites
This is something that my friend Kristen does on her blog and I thought that I would incorporate it today. However, this is going to be my kid's Tuesday Favorites. This is for multiple reasons. One is that my kids' favorite thing seems to change daily and also because they received some really cool toys last night from our dear friends, the Plummers!
The Plummers have been close to my family since my freshman year in highschool. Tami has been such a great friend to me for 11 years, especially the last 3 years spoiling my children as if they were her own neice and nephew! Her dad used to dress up as Santa and her mom Sharon would take him around to all of their grandkids delivering presents. They always included Hannah and Josh (and Britt and I too!). They would come to the house with presents for all of us. They have also bailed me out many times from car issues to cherry cordial ice cream!
Well, they have carried on the tradition of spoiling (that IS what they do best!) onto my children, although David doesn't wear the red suit anymore! ;)
Here is Peyton's list of her First Super Cool Christmas Gifts this year!
1. Chalkboard box-Do you remember those red sloped boxes that had the green chalkboards that slid to the sides that we had as kids? Well this one is similar, but so much cooler! It is a rectangle wooden box with a black chalkboard that slides. It also has her name and some white daisies hand-painted on it! Tami stuffed it with activity pads, sticker books and of course chalk. This is going to be really great for our trip that we are making on Sunday! YEAH!
2. "Dora knows your name" phone-yet another really neat gift of the season. This Dora phone can be programmed with your child's name. It says many, many things but the most important ones are Hola Peyton...Adios Peyton, talk to you later! This was a real hit! Last night Peyton said, "She said Adidos Peyton, talk to you later...I will call her back!"
3. Dora Doodle Pad with Water Brush- this little doodle pad is an ingenious invention! Like the aquadoodle, it can be used over and over and over again! You "paint" each picture with the water brush and it reveals the hidden picture. When it dries, the picture is hidden again so you can do it all over again!
4. Dora Story Time Pillow-This is what she got from David and Sharon. It is really cool! It is almost as big as a full size pillow that opens and has a full Dora story in it! When you are done reading the story, you just velcro the 3 straps back and cuddle with it or sleep on it, which is just what Peyton did last night!
Gavin's list of his First Super Cool gifts this year!
1. Thomas the Train, Ultimate Christmas DVD-this is Gavin first DVD that belongs to him! We check out a lot of DVD's from the library, but the ones that we own were given to Peyton. This is his very own! He is beginning to really love trains too! Not as much as his cousin Ethan, but love for them just the same!
2. Thomas the Train Doodle Pad with Water brush-Just like Peyton's, just Thomas! This will be really great for our trip as well because he still eats crayons. This way I won't have to worry about anything except for him drinking the water from the brush! hahaha
3. Leap Frog Guitar- This toy is super cool! He loves music and loves to dance. He is always trying to play his Uncle Michael's guitar with him! Now he has his own. Granted, there aren't any strings, but he loves it! It counts, has animals sounds and jams! It is also in both English and Spanish, like most Leap frog things!
4. Swing and score Baseball- This is what he got from David and Sharon. The baseball spins around and the announcer/umpire guy says, "you got a triple" or whatever. The coolest part is that he has his very own bat! I say that it is cool now, but we will see how he uses it. Aunt Sharon thought he needed a leg up on his sister and bought him something to protect himself. We will pray that it doesn't have to get to that! ;)
The Plummers have been close to my family since my freshman year in highschool. Tami has been such a great friend to me for 11 years, especially the last 3 years spoiling my children as if they were her own neice and nephew! Her dad used to dress up as Santa and her mom Sharon would take him around to all of their grandkids delivering presents. They always included Hannah and Josh (and Britt and I too!). They would come to the house with presents for all of us. They have also bailed me out many times from car issues to cherry cordial ice cream!
Well, they have carried on the tradition of spoiling (that IS what they do best!) onto my children, although David doesn't wear the red suit anymore! ;)
Here is Peyton's list of her First Super Cool Christmas Gifts this year!
1. Chalkboard box-Do you remember those red sloped boxes that had the green chalkboards that slid to the sides that we had as kids? Well this one is similar, but so much cooler! It is a rectangle wooden box with a black chalkboard that slides. It also has her name and some white daisies hand-painted on it! Tami stuffed it with activity pads, sticker books and of course chalk. This is going to be really great for our trip that we are making on Sunday! YEAH!
2. "Dora knows your name" phone-yet another really neat gift of the season. This Dora phone can be programmed with your child's name. It says many, many things but the most important ones are Hola Peyton...Adios Peyton, talk to you later! This was a real hit! Last night Peyton said, "She said Adidos Peyton, talk to you later...I will call her back!"
3. Dora Doodle Pad with Water Brush- this little doodle pad is an ingenious invention! Like the aquadoodle, it can be used over and over and over again! You "paint" each picture with the water brush and it reveals the hidden picture. When it dries, the picture is hidden again so you can do it all over again!
4. Dora Story Time Pillow-This is what she got from David and Sharon. It is really cool! It is almost as big as a full size pillow that opens and has a full Dora story in it! When you are done reading the story, you just velcro the 3 straps back and cuddle with it or sleep on it, which is just what Peyton did last night!Gavin's list of his First Super Cool gifts this year!
1. Thomas the Train, Ultimate Christmas DVD-this is Gavin first DVD that belongs to him! We check out a lot of DVD's from the library, but the ones that we own were given to Peyton. This is his very own! He is beginning to really love trains too! Not as much as his cousin Ethan, but love for them just the same!
2. Thomas the Train Doodle Pad with Water brush-Just like Peyton's, just Thomas! This will be really great for our trip as well because he still eats crayons. This way I won't have to worry about anything except for him drinking the water from the brush! hahaha
3. Leap Frog Guitar- This toy is super cool! He loves music and loves to dance. He is always trying to play his Uncle Michael's guitar with him! Now he has his own. Granted, there aren't any strings, but he loves it! It counts, has animals sounds and jams! It is also in both English and Spanish, like most Leap frog things!
4. Swing and score Baseball- This is what he got from David and Sharon. The baseball spins around and the announcer/umpire guy says, "you got a triple" or whatever. The coolest part is that he has his very own bat! I say that it is cool now, but we will see how he uses it. Aunt Sharon thought he needed a leg up on his sister and bought him something to protect himself. We will pray that it doesn't have to get to that! ;)- So needless to say, you know why I said that I was just going to take everything that we got them back, since they got SO MUCH last night! They are having lots of fun with their new toys though and today is a day of purging of the old ones! Wish us luck.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Holiday traditions with friends!
One holiday tradition that is the same for so many is cut out cookies! There is nothing like homemade sugar cookies that you have decorated with homemade icing and sprinkles! This year, we decorated them with our friends Bella and Nadya! Their mommy, Rene and I have been friends since 8th grade! We were even roommates for a while in a rickety old house behind AU! ;) I am so glad to have her back around and watching our kids play together!
Just getting started. See how neat everything was!
I couldn't get Bella to look at the camera at all! She was our Super Sugar-er. All of her cookies had little mounds of spinkles on them! She is also the neatest child I have ever met. I don't think she ever got ANY icing on her face at all!
Nadya was our super fast decorator! She would start on another cookie before she was even done with the one she was working on! I think she ended up decorated the most! (see the orange icing on her chin?)
Peyton had one purpose for decorating the cookies and one purpose only; TO EAT THEM!!!! As soon as she was done icing one, she was eating it. The only cookies that she decorated that actually ended up on the plate (or at least she tried to get them on the plate) were half eaten and the icing mostly licked off!
***Gavin was napping, so this was just a girl event!
****Rene, feel free to steal these pics! I can also e mail them in their original sizes if you want!
Menu planning Monday
Let's get back in the swing of things. I haven't posted in a while and I definitely haven't been doing menu planning Monday, so this is well past due!
Mon-Leftovers from weekend (it is James' late night, so the kids and I usually eat leftovers anyway)
Tues-Beef stroganoff, Mashed potatoes and noodles
Wed-Dinner in Indy with James' gramma (we are picking up Uncle Jim from the airport)
Thur-Pork chops, stuffing, corn
Fri-Chicken n noodles, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, rolls, cheesecake, sugar cookies (Christmas with our friends, Josh and Bailey and their twins!)
Sat- leftovers (last chance to eat any leftovers before we leave for Branson!)
That's all for this week! Next week will be FULL of fattening meals, over eating and way too many desserts. Maybe I should have gone a little healthier this week. ;)
Mon-Leftovers from weekend (it is James' late night, so the kids and I usually eat leftovers anyway)
Tues-Beef stroganoff, Mashed potatoes and noodles
Wed-Dinner in Indy with James' gramma (we are picking up Uncle Jim from the airport)
Thur-Pork chops, stuffing, corn
Fri-Chicken n noodles, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, rolls, cheesecake, sugar cookies (Christmas with our friends, Josh and Bailey and their twins!)
Sat- leftovers (last chance to eat any leftovers before we leave for Branson!)
That's all for this week! Next week will be FULL of fattening meals, over eating and way too many desserts. Maybe I should have gone a little healthier this week. ;)
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Gavin falling asleep
Gavin started running a fever Saturday afternoon and it stayed with him until about 1 am Monday morning. Needless to say, it wore him out a bit! This was lunch on Sunday after James and Peyton got back from church. He was eating a piece of a chocolate bar when he fell asleep. That is what is in his hand that he ALMOST started eating when he coughed and woke himself up! So funny!!!
We are awful parents for taping it, I know!
Christmas Tree Farm
This year, we decided to do this a little different. The kids are getting old enough to start some of our own family traditions. We went to a tree farm and cut down our own tree!
This tree farm was really awesome though. They had little displays that you could get your picture taken with/in/beside. The kids loved it and it wasn't too expensive! They have hot cider for you while they prepare your tree for travel! They have a "shaker" that they stand the tree on and it just shakes the tree like crazy which in turn makes all of the brown/dead/loose needles fall right off. They the put it in a plastic netting for easier travel! James and I said that was almost worth the $25! ;)
Here are some pictures of us at the tree farm. Some of the pictures are to the side of the blog so I will try and post different ones, but some of them you will have to just look at them twice!
This tree farm was really awesome though. They had little displays that you could get your picture taken with/in/beside. The kids loved it and it wasn't too expensive! They have hot cider for you while they prepare your tree for travel! They have a "shaker" that they stand the tree on and it just shakes the tree like crazy which in turn makes all of the brown/dead/loose needles fall right off. They the put it in a plastic netting for easier travel! James and I said that was almost worth the $25! ;)
Here are some pictures of us at the tree farm. Some of the pictures are to the side of the blog so I will try and post different ones, but some of them you will have to just look at them twice!
It was 29 degrees that day, so the kids were bundled up nicely in their snow suits! I froze to death! Didn't even have gloves for myself. Everyone else did though! ;)
Peyton wasn't so sure of the giant snowman looking at her!
They both thought it was fun to help daddy by "pushing" the cart that the tree was on. Everytime I tried to snap a picture though, they would let go!
Gavin "tried" to hang some ornaments this year. For everyone that Peyton hung though, he took about 3 off.
She did really well this year. She was rather precise about where she wanted them...all in one spot.
This is our tree! It was shorter than we thought and a WHOLE LOT WIDER, so just put it up on a box and draped a nice green table cloth over it then put the tree skirt on. It worked out better because Gavin doesn't have access to as many ornaments that way!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Finally professional portraits!
Like I said in a post before, it was almost painful the last time I got the kids pictures taken. Here are the pictures from the awesome sitting that we had at Olan Mills a couple of weeks ago.
This one is awesome because I have a picture of me when I was about 3 and my brother Brandon was 18 mos. I was sitting in a tan wicker chair and he was standing behind me. So this was one pose that I requested! It turned out wonderful!
(Peyton will be 2 1/2 mos and Gavin is 18 mos!)
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Awesome capture of his rotten face!
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This one was great and Peyton really enjoyed posing for this one. She has re-enacted it at home many times!
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Monday, December 3, 2007
Kristen did it, so will I!
Christmas Survey time!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually wrapping paper. With the kids, it is the only way to keep the presents somewhat of a secret. That or I have to do it RIGHT before we open them. I would like to have some gifts out BEFORE Christmas...We'll see!
2. Real tree or artificial? Always a real one! However, every year when it is time to take the tree down, I think about doing a nice fake one. That feeling usually passes by the time to set it up again the next year. This year we actually went to a Christmas Tree farm and found/cut one down as a family! It was a lot of fun! More on that in the next blog!
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the weekend of Thanksgiving, but this year we were working on the bathroom so I settled for the weekend after!
4. When do you take the tree down? Before New Years! That is one superstition/tradition that I like to keep. It was something that my mom always did I enjoyed it!!! I also like started the year off with the "feeling" that my house is clean and taking the tree down ahead of time helps!
5. Do you like eggnog? Not at all!!!
6. What about Fruitcake? James' gramma makes an awesome fruit cake...it is most and really sweet. That is the only one I will eat!
7. Favorite gift received as a child? Now that I have a daughter of my own, I have started remembering my Baby Alive. It was a year that Brittney and I wanted different things. She got a baby that was her own and I got the Baby Alive. They still have those babies, but they are much different now!
8. Do you have a nativity scene? No, but like Kristen, I would really like to have the one from Willow Tree. I have 6 other Willow Tree Firgurines, a keepsake box and an ornament...it only fits in the sequence! ;)
9. Hardest person to buy for? Usually my sister, Brittney. Now that she doesn't live in Indiana anymore, it is really easy. She is a big Colt's fan and there are LOTS of things to choose from in that category!
10. Easiest person to buy for? This year it has been Peyton and my 2 SILs, Amy and Cristy (we exchange names with the adults in James' family because we kept growing with new babies! Those are the 2 names that we got this year and it has been great!)
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I really don't like this question!
12. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail them and I think that I might actually be early this year!
13. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th St (old and new)
14. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I start towards the end of September and slowly buy over the months. That way it doesn't hit the budget so hard as it gets closer to Christmas. That way there is usually money for travelling to see family!
15. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes I have! Sorry...that is the truth!
16. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's cherry cheesecake, Queen Anne's Cherry Cordials, Decorated Sugar Cookies, and puppy chow. Now you know why I am having particular difficulty losing weight right now!
17. Clear lights or colored on the tree? I like colored but James really like white, so that is what we have done the past few years and I actially like it! We did have the discussion about blinking lights or not this year. They don't all blink together or blink to a song or anything, so I won that one! They are solid this year! Hahaha
18. Favorite Christmas song? This is sad! I don't really have one.
19. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? I love travelling at Christmas time. Unfortunately, my kids haven't been with my family on Christmas yet! We celebrated the 1st of Dec with my family last year, but the other years we have just mailed Christmas presents. I hate it! This year though, we are joining ALL of James' family in Branson. Hopefully we can go on to Arkansas from there and see mine as well. We'll see!
20. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes I can. Usually I have to sing the song!
21. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel
22. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open one Christmas Eve and the rest Christmas morning. We may start doing this differently once the kids understand the Santa concept.
23. What is the one present you want most this year? A new Bible. Mine is falling apart. Actually from the book of James all the way to the maps is already "out" of my Bible. I have to tuck them in!
24. Most annoying thing about this time of year? When I can't be with my family!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually wrapping paper. With the kids, it is the only way to keep the presents somewhat of a secret. That or I have to do it RIGHT before we open them. I would like to have some gifts out BEFORE Christmas...We'll see!
2. Real tree or artificial? Always a real one! However, every year when it is time to take the tree down, I think about doing a nice fake one. That feeling usually passes by the time to set it up again the next year. This year we actually went to a Christmas Tree farm and found/cut one down as a family! It was a lot of fun! More on that in the next blog!
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually the weekend of Thanksgiving, but this year we were working on the bathroom so I settled for the weekend after!
4. When do you take the tree down? Before New Years! That is one superstition/tradition that I like to keep. It was something that my mom always did I enjoyed it!!! I also like started the year off with the "feeling" that my house is clean and taking the tree down ahead of time helps!
5. Do you like eggnog? Not at all!!!
6. What about Fruitcake? James' gramma makes an awesome fruit cake...it is most and really sweet. That is the only one I will eat!
7. Favorite gift received as a child? Now that I have a daughter of my own, I have started remembering my Baby Alive. It was a year that Brittney and I wanted different things. She got a baby that was her own and I got the Baby Alive. They still have those babies, but they are much different now!
8. Do you have a nativity scene? No, but like Kristen, I would really like to have the one from Willow Tree. I have 6 other Willow Tree Firgurines, a keepsake box and an ornament...it only fits in the sequence! ;)
9. Hardest person to buy for? Usually my sister, Brittney. Now that she doesn't live in Indiana anymore, it is really easy. She is a big Colt's fan and there are LOTS of things to choose from in that category!
10. Easiest person to buy for? This year it has been Peyton and my 2 SILs, Amy and Cristy (we exchange names with the adults in James' family because we kept growing with new babies! Those are the 2 names that we got this year and it has been great!)
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I really don't like this question!
12. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail them and I think that I might actually be early this year!
13. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th St (old and new)
14. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I start towards the end of September and slowly buy over the months. That way it doesn't hit the budget so hard as it gets closer to Christmas. That way there is usually money for travelling to see family!
15. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes I have! Sorry...that is the truth!
16. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's cherry cheesecake, Queen Anne's Cherry Cordials, Decorated Sugar Cookies, and puppy chow. Now you know why I am having particular difficulty losing weight right now!
17. Clear lights or colored on the tree? I like colored but James really like white, so that is what we have done the past few years and I actially like it! We did have the discussion about blinking lights or not this year. They don't all blink together or blink to a song or anything, so I won that one! They are solid this year! Hahaha
18. Favorite Christmas song? This is sad! I don't really have one.
19. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? I love travelling at Christmas time. Unfortunately, my kids haven't been with my family on Christmas yet! We celebrated the 1st of Dec with my family last year, but the other years we have just mailed Christmas presents. I hate it! This year though, we are joining ALL of James' family in Branson. Hopefully we can go on to Arkansas from there and see mine as well. We'll see!
20. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes I can. Usually I have to sing the song!
21. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel
22. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open one Christmas Eve and the rest Christmas morning. We may start doing this differently once the kids understand the Santa concept.
23. What is the one present you want most this year? A new Bible. Mine is falling apart. Actually from the book of James all the way to the maps is already "out" of my Bible. I have to tuck them in!
24. Most annoying thing about this time of year? When I can't be with my family!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Finally getting a move on!
Thank God for family/friends that love us!
Now that my dad no longer lives here and James' dad has also moved away, we have been incredibly slow at getting the home improvements done on our house. James and I just don't have the God given talent that our folks do!
That is where my gratitude comes in! Even though my BIL, Michael is working his butt off trying to get his clinicals finished up at Ball Memorial ON TOP OF working almost full time there, his family came out for a second Sunday in almost a month to help us get some things done at our house! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!! My SIL, Amy brought a wonderful lunch of pork loin, veggies and Hawaiian rolls for after church AND brought a turkey pasta pie (pot pie with noodles instead of pie crust) for dinner! They are so awesome and so good to us. (just so you know, I am not buttering them up, they rarely get on the computer anymore)
Anyway, Sunday's tasks were completing the shelves in my kitchen cabinet where my oven used to be and the bathroom. James and I worked on the bathroom all day on Saturday. We scraped the old linoleum off the floor and James took the vanity/sink and the toilet out. Sunday I laid the tile (peel and stick guys) and then James and Michael put a new vanity/sink and a new toilet in my bathroom! It looks SOOO much better. Michael also finished the shelving in my kitchen. I don't have pictures of that right now, but they look great and I am sure that cabinet will fill up fast!
Below are some before and after shots of the bathroom.
This is the house when we first bought it. You can't see it very well, but the carpet is nasty and pink...the vanity had shelves built on the side of it that came crashing down...and the toilet is nasty and peach.
This is from a similar angle. You can see the new floor and also the new toilet! Yeah!
Here is the floor again! Sorry I keep posting the floor, but I did it all by myself! It was easier that I thought it was going to be and it turned out a lot nicer than I expected!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1119265229
Click on this link if you are ready for a laugh! I got this from my friend Bailey and put my family's faces on the elves! TOO FUNNY!!!
Click on this link if you are ready for a laugh! I got this from my friend Bailey and put my family's faces on the elves! TOO FUNNY!!!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Yes, I did!
Yes, I did go out and participate in the chaos of Black Friday! AND I HAD A BLAST!!!
Last Tuesday, James found a website that allowed us to look at the ads for the Thanksgiving weekend sales. This was HUGE because it allowed us to plot and plan out where to go! The site even had an option for a shopping list. So BEFORE we even got together with the Abels' family for Thanksgiving, I already had my list, separated out by store and everything! The site is http://www.blackfridayhome.com/ and it is awesome!
For traditions sake (and to make sure that I was able to see each and every ad to ensure that I didn't miss anything) we still bought a paper and went through it together at James' sister's house. James put my shopping list from my awesome website in a word document so that if I found anything else I could just add to it!
So, I can tell you that we were more prepared and organized this year than we have EVER been in the past! We had a printed list of items AND the stores were listed in order of importance.
I got home Thursday night from Thanksgiving with James' family about 12:15 a.m., woke up at 2:45, Tami and I were out the door by 3:10, stopped at Ricker's for caffeine and at Kohl's in Muncie by 3:50.
5 minutes after Kohl's opened, we heard the first crash of something falling to the floor and breaking. I was the guilty party! After grabbing up the portable DVD player for $49.99, I spun around too quickly and elbowed a really cute Christmas mug. I thought, Great! and started picking it up with the whole "you break it you buy it" attitude. A Kohl's sales associate was quick to begin picking it up for me, telling me to "Go on...we'll take care of this!" I was amazed! Then it was time to get in line....AAAGGGHHH! This was the part that I had forgotten about. The line was actually snaking it's way around the entire store! My MIL and SIL got all of us a place in line while Tami and I checked out a couple last items. We were in that line for about 30 min.
Next stop, Penney's. The great deals that we were looking for were already gone, but I was able to get my pillows and a couple of other items that are gifts, so they will remain unnamed! We stood in that line for probably another 30 min.
Next stop, Toy's R Us. I have found this to be a staple now that I have children, but on Black Friday and Black Friday only. We got most of the items that we were looking for there, except for the awesome deal on MP3 players...they were already gone. We stood in that line for an hour and a half!!! It was nuts, but well worth it!
Then, Wal-Mart and Target. We found almost everything on our lists at BOTH places, including a fax/scanner/copier/printer for $39!!!!! That was my joy of the day! We were done by 9:45, so we rewarded ourselves with an actual "sit down" breakfast this year! It was wonderful, but I was EXHAUSTED!!! I forgot what it takes to be a competitive shopper on Black Friday!
So, now you know why this post is JUST now coming to you! It has taken me all weekend to catch up on the sleep that I lost! Hahaha
We also worked really hard on our house this weekend, specifically the bathroom. So pictures and stories about that to come!
Last Tuesday, James found a website that allowed us to look at the ads for the Thanksgiving weekend sales. This was HUGE because it allowed us to plot and plan out where to go! The site even had an option for a shopping list. So BEFORE we even got together with the Abels' family for Thanksgiving, I already had my list, separated out by store and everything! The site is http://www.blackfridayhome.com/ and it is awesome!
For traditions sake (and to make sure that I was able to see each and every ad to ensure that I didn't miss anything) we still bought a paper and went through it together at James' sister's house. James put my shopping list from my awesome website in a word document so that if I found anything else I could just add to it!
So, I can tell you that we were more prepared and organized this year than we have EVER been in the past! We had a printed list of items AND the stores were listed in order of importance.
I got home Thursday night from Thanksgiving with James' family about 12:15 a.m., woke up at 2:45, Tami and I were out the door by 3:10, stopped at Ricker's for caffeine and at Kohl's in Muncie by 3:50.
5 minutes after Kohl's opened, we heard the first crash of something falling to the floor and breaking. I was the guilty party! After grabbing up the portable DVD player for $49.99, I spun around too quickly and elbowed a really cute Christmas mug. I thought, Great! and started picking it up with the whole "you break it you buy it" attitude. A Kohl's sales associate was quick to begin picking it up for me, telling me to "Go on...we'll take care of this!" I was amazed! Then it was time to get in line....AAAGGGHHH! This was the part that I had forgotten about. The line was actually snaking it's way around the entire store! My MIL and SIL got all of us a place in line while Tami and I checked out a couple last items. We were in that line for about 30 min.
Next stop, Penney's. The great deals that we were looking for were already gone, but I was able to get my pillows and a couple of other items that are gifts, so they will remain unnamed! We stood in that line for probably another 30 min.
Next stop, Toy's R Us. I have found this to be a staple now that I have children, but on Black Friday and Black Friday only. We got most of the items that we were looking for there, except for the awesome deal on MP3 players...they were already gone. We stood in that line for an hour and a half!!! It was nuts, but well worth it!
Then, Wal-Mart and Target. We found almost everything on our lists at BOTH places, including a fax/scanner/copier/printer for $39!!!!! That was my joy of the day! We were done by 9:45, so we rewarded ourselves with an actual "sit down" breakfast this year! It was wonderful, but I was EXHAUSTED!!! I forgot what it takes to be a competitive shopper on Black Friday!
So, now you know why this post is JUST now coming to you! It has taken me all weekend to catch up on the sleep that I lost! Hahaha
We also worked really hard on our house this weekend, specifically the bathroom. So pictures and stories about that to come!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Picture with Santa!
We just happened to try a picture with Santa this year and it turned out great! In the past, the kids screamed and wanted nothing to do with him. This time, they both talked and talked and talked to him. Gavin even called him Papa (his papa has a beard too!).Sunday, November 18, 2007
Peyton and Gavin...little helpers?
This was the first time that the kids really got to play in the leaves. Believe it or not, we have never raked our yard before! Last year, there was just too much going on, the year before that I was pregnant and the year before that I had a newborn! AGH! I got James a used riding mower this summer and he has really had fun mulching up the leaves! He even let the kids help a little today. They really liked it!
Gavin really enjoyed playing in the leaves!
I just couldn't get him to look up at me!
This was my favorite picture of them all!
Hope you enjoyed the pictures of fall! Especially those friends of mine that live in the far off places of the country that don't have 4 seasons!
We will be envious of you when the snow starts coming!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wonder of Wonders!
It has been a LONG time since I have had the kids pictures taken professionally. I don't always think about it because I take so many pictures myself. However, the pictures that are displayed in our front room are the most recent professional shots and Gavin was 5 1/2 mos old and Peyton was 20 mos old! So, over a year later...here we are!
I finally took the kids to get their pictures taken today. The both did a FANTASTIC job. We went to Olan Mills because those were the coupons that I had! ;) I remember the last couple of times we had them taken it was almost painful. Gavin was so young and Peyton was at the stage where she would just scream at the lady taking her pictures. I guess that is why it has taken me over a year to get the done again.
Anyway, they have been taken and should be online by the middle of next week, I will let you know when they are.
There were a ton to choose from and a fortune that could have been spent. I was wise and got what I thought we would need! Later, I will probably wish for more! I will post some poses as I am able!
I finally took the kids to get their pictures taken today. The both did a FANTASTIC job. We went to Olan Mills because those were the coupons that I had! ;) I remember the last couple of times we had them taken it was almost painful. Gavin was so young and Peyton was at the stage where she would just scream at the lady taking her pictures. I guess that is why it has taken me over a year to get the done again.
Anyway, they have been taken and should be online by the middle of next week, I will let you know when they are.
There were a ton to choose from and a fortune that could have been spent. I was wise and got what I thought we would need! Later, I will probably wish for more! I will post some poses as I am able!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Please pray for Peyton and Gavin
Earlier this year, we had a terrifying experience with Peyton while we were in Oklahoma for my sister's National Basketball Tournament. Peyton had her very first febrile seizure. At the time, we didn't know what was happening, except for our daughter not responding, then throwing up everywhere. Thankfully, God took great care of us and Peyton is fine. She hasn't had another seizure thus far and that is a great sign!
However, it is November in Indiana! This is not a good combination, because as most of you know...Indiana has NO CLUE what the normal climate should be! Take this past week for example, Tuesday they were calling for snow flurries and these past few days, it has been in the low 60's. Although I love the warm weather, my children don't do well with the changes! November is the season opener for ear infections!
Thus we wrap up the viscious cycle! Febrile seizures are caused by sudden spike in temperature, Peyton's sudden spike in temperature was caused by her 4th ear infection, ear infection caused by cold...you get the picture! The doctors said that she could continue to have these seizures until she is about 5 yrs old or she possibly may never have another one. But since she has them, there is a higher chance that Gavin could have them as well. So, we are praying hard, treating every running nose as fast as we can, and constantly carrying a themometer and motrin/tylenol with us every where we go!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
I have been slacking
I have been told by my friend Brandy that I have been slacking! ;) I know that I said I was going to try and keep up the challenge set forth by Kristen, but is just didn't happen. I just don't have the same skill and talent that she does!
So, today I will share with you one of the things that I enjoy the most from Kristen's blogs...
Peyton and Gavin speech!
P:Mommy, I don't have Dora! (She carries an imaginary Dora in her had almost everywhere we go)
M: Peyton, where is she, did you leave her at the store?
P: Oh yes, she is at the store. I left her on the counter.
M: Well, I guess she will just have to find her way back to our house. Do you think she can do that?
P: Yes, she can ask Map! Oh, my pone (phone) is ringing, 'Hello Dora? Where are you? Oh you are at the store? Welllllll, ask Map how to get to my house and come home. Call me when you are on your way. Lub you, bye bye' Mommy, I said lub you, bye bye to Dora!
M: Oh good!
Phone conversation with Gee Gee (my mom, this is just going to be Peyton's side of the conversation)
Gee Gee, I went to the mall and got candy and candy and candy and candy. I got 1 candy and 2 candy and 3 candy and 4. I got a whole bunch of candy! I wore my pink hair. I didn't want to wear my Dora hair. Mommy took it back to the store.
Gavin:
Here are the words that Gavin uses. Like Kristen, I am counting the ones that he has even said once! ;)
hat, ball, football, touchdown (he was spiking his grapes on the table last week and saying touchdown), more, juice(referring to anything to drink), sucker, cracker, thank you, please, Harwey (Harley, our dog), Amen, Jesus, Amy, Abby, Anna, Nana, Papa, Papa (Pawpaw), DeeGee (GeeGee), Hannah, Gramma, all done, mama, daddy, Teyton (Peyton), Ethan, It's poo poo. Nigh Night, Mornin, lub you (just with my dad, the little stinker!), Baby, diaper, shoes, bite
Okay, now writing them down, made me realize that he says a lot more than I thought. But then again, no one ever thought that MY children were going to be slow in speech!
That is all for now!
So, today I will share with you one of the things that I enjoy the most from Kristen's blogs...
Peyton and Gavin speech!
P:Mommy, I don't have Dora! (She carries an imaginary Dora in her had almost everywhere we go)
M: Peyton, where is she, did you leave her at the store?
P: Oh yes, she is at the store. I left her on the counter.
M: Well, I guess she will just have to find her way back to our house. Do you think she can do that?
P: Yes, she can ask Map! Oh, my pone (phone) is ringing, 'Hello Dora? Where are you? Oh you are at the store? Welllllll, ask Map how to get to my house and come home. Call me when you are on your way. Lub you, bye bye' Mommy, I said lub you, bye bye to Dora!
M: Oh good!
Phone conversation with Gee Gee (my mom, this is just going to be Peyton's side of the conversation)
Gee Gee, I went to the mall and got candy and candy and candy and candy. I got 1 candy and 2 candy and 3 candy and 4. I got a whole bunch of candy! I wore my pink hair. I didn't want to wear my Dora hair. Mommy took it back to the store.
Gavin:
Here are the words that Gavin uses. Like Kristen, I am counting the ones that he has even said once! ;)
hat, ball, football, touchdown (he was spiking his grapes on the table last week and saying touchdown), more, juice(referring to anything to drink), sucker, cracker, thank you, please, Harwey (Harley, our dog), Amen, Jesus, Amy, Abby, Anna, Nana, Papa, Papa (Pawpaw), DeeGee (GeeGee), Hannah, Gramma, all done, mama, daddy, Teyton (Peyton), Ethan, It's poo poo. Nigh Night, Mornin, lub you (just with my dad, the little stinker!), Baby, diaper, shoes, bite
Okay, now writing them down, made me realize that he says a lot more than I thought. But then again, no one ever thought that MY children were going to be slow in speech!
That is all for now!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
What an awesome evening!
This fall I joined a new group called MOPS (Moms of PreSchoolers). It has been such an awesome experience, thanks to my dear friend Rene, who thought enough about me to invite me! Anyway, 2 weeks ago a past MOPS participant came and showed us how to bulk cook/freeze for the family. It was great. We only made 2 dishes that day, it was Chicken Pot Pie and Enchiladas. Boy did it make A LOT of enchiladas!
Well, Michelle announced a cooking evening that she was doing with her church group and she invited the MOPS group to join. That ended up being tonight and it was better than I ever imagined. My friend Kelly went as well. We made 8 dishes (2 of them actually were split into 2 meals so technically we had 10).They were:
- Taco Soup (made 2)
- BBQ Chicken Pasta
- Orchard Chicken
- Mother's Wonderful Chicken
- Meat Filled Manicotti (made 2)
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Fiesta Taco Lasagna
All I was responsible for was 4 lbs of cooked ground beef, 9 1/2 cups cooked/cubed chicken breast, 6 raw chicken breasts, and (3) 9 x 13 pans. The cost ended up being $40/pc. ALL of the other ingredients were taken care of and were set up in stations, ready to assemble! We just moved from station to station, putting the finished products in our coolers and moving to the next one! It was wonderful!
Michelle does this quarterly so I am already inviting people to the next one! Ha! If anyone wants one of the recipes, let me know!
I feel so accomplished this evening. I have 10 meals in my freezer (11 counting the lasagna that was already there) and if I wanted to I wouldn't have to cook for over 2 weeks, couting the meals from the leftovers! How great is that!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Technically still Wednesday
Okay, so technically I haven't missed a day because I haven't gone to bed yet, right?!
So, on the way to the gym this morning I was almost broad sided by a blazer. The lady didn't even stop coming out of her apartment complex to turn onto the actual road. I had to run off the road and then back so that she would miss me. I almost hit a mail box trying to get back on the road.
So needless to say, I was pretty upset and shaken. I was upset with her all the way up to the stoplight. Then God did something amazing. The lady actually came up beside my at the stoplight and profusely apologized over and over again. I couldn't be mad. I was still shaken, but not mad. I motioned to her that it was okay and that I had done it before too. I don't know if she understand everything I was saying through the closed window or not, but she got the "it's okay" part I am sure.
Funny how God reminds you what is important. He kept me safe, I didn't have the kids in the car and nothing actually happened! What a shocker!
So, on the way to the gym this morning I was almost broad sided by a blazer. The lady didn't even stop coming out of her apartment complex to turn onto the actual road. I had to run off the road and then back so that she would miss me. I almost hit a mail box trying to get back on the road.
So needless to say, I was pretty upset and shaken. I was upset with her all the way up to the stoplight. Then God did something amazing. The lady actually came up beside my at the stoplight and profusely apologized over and over again. I couldn't be mad. I was still shaken, but not mad. I motioned to her that it was okay and that I had done it before too. I don't know if she understand everything I was saying through the closed window or not, but she got the "it's okay" part I am sure.
Funny how God reminds you what is important. He kept me safe, I didn't have the kids in the car and nothing actually happened! What a shocker!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
This is how I feel!
This is how I have felt all day!
It has been an incredibly nasty weather day. 40 degrees, overcast and windy! I have felt like just blah all day!
It has been an incredibly nasty weather day. 40 degrees, overcast and windy! I have felt like just blah all day!There is always tomorrow! I am praying for a huge turn around!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Papa's visit!
Gavin was really excited to see his Papa this morning!
Both kids really enjoyed trying on his boots too!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
National Blog Posting Month
Okay so my friend Kristen has said that November is national blog posting month. I have already missed a couple of days this month, but we'll see how things go! Here is an attempt. The rest of the month I will try and blog SOMETHING every day. It may be short and sweet and maybe even stupid, but if Kristen is up for the challenge, so am I! There will just be a HUGE difference in the quality between hers and my postings!
Here are some new picture of Gavin for you to enjoy. He did this on his very own and was so adorable!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Here you go
Okay, I am glad that we got such good shots Monday night of the kids because last night didn't lead to great ones, except for the pictures taken at the Plummer's house (of course). So...enjoy!
Billy Ray Cyrus blessed us that evening with his presence!
Gavin running for more candy. His back was so heavy, but he WOULDN'T let me carry it at all!
We went to the Plummer's house after the church. I thought it was to get more candy but I was wrong! It was right after this picture that Peyton said "He wants me!"
Peyton has been trying to take these puppies home since they were a week old! The very first time she got to hold them, she said "This is my puppy!" It might have been if we didn't already have 2 at home!
Gavin even got a turn to hold them. It was a short turn, but a turn no less! He wanted to pick them up by their necks!
Here is a picture of James with a Monkey on his back! hahaha
Billy Ray Cyrus blessed us that evening with his presence!
Gavin running for more candy. His back was so heavy, but he WOULDN'T let me carry it at all! 
We went to the Plummer's house after the church. I thought it was to get more candy but I was wrong! It was right after this picture that Peyton said "He wants me!" 
Peyton has been trying to take these puppies home since they were a week old! The very first time she got to hold them, she said "This is my puppy!" It might have been if we didn't already have 2 at home!
Gavin even got a turn to hold them. It was a short turn, but a turn no less! He wanted to pick them up by their necks!
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