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!
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