December 2011 holiday picture re-cap

Since I slacked off and never posted my project 365 for the last ummm 2 weeks of 2011, I thought I'd share a few of those pictures here today. (o:


We took the boys into Hollywood Studios to see the lights for the first time.


Tracking Santa on Norad


Santa brought a new basketball and a new hoop.


Canoe rides with Gramps


My favorite picture from the holidays
Don't forget to take an "Aa" picture to share on Wednesday! (o:

Avoid the meltdowns

The holidays are a crazy exciting time for children. They are wound up enough with anticipation of the holidays, but then throw changes in schedules on top of that and you are doomed for a meltdown, oh and the kids are too.

I love to bring the holiday excitement into the lives of my children, but at the same time I still want them to behave, sleep, eat well and well... be happy. How do I do this? I keep them in routine. We do a lot of art projects. I dvr the Christmas shows instead of letting them stay up to watch them. We read Christmas stories. We limit the extra stuff during the week.

The weekends are always the time for busyness during the whole year, so going to a tree lighting ceremony, driving around to see Christmas trees, and those kind of thing occur here on the weekends.

We try to keep Christmas simple at home. The boys get gifts from Santa, oh and Santa doesn't wrap gifts here (o: Well not yet anyway. So there is no wait until all the gifts are open to enjoy. The get enough wrapped gifts from the relatives. We don't overdo with gifts either. We try to get one big gift for each child each year and then pick up other gifts we feel they will enjoy.

So if you want to keep your kids on a more even keel this holiday season... keep them in their routine and don't forget to get to bed on time. See if that helps you from having to used the empty threat of no gifts from Santa. This is something I've never said to my boys. I don't use empty promises or threats with them so if I don't actually plan on having them get coal then I won't say it.

Let the countdowns begin... tomorrow

Wow November was a long month this year for some reason. I'm so ready for December to kick in full force. I'm excited that my boys are so into Christmas this year. Blake woke up the other day and asked to listen to Christmas music. I hear the boys singing along with the radio all the time now. We listen to a 24 hour Christmas music station. The house is decorated. And best of all I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping.

I decided I wanted to get some of the more daunting tasks done before the end of November so that I could enjoy the holiday season with my sons. I managed to get my Christmas cards done, ok so I was short a few envelopes and haven't bought stamps yet, but still. I have the boys shopping done, we have a few things to pick up or wait for them to be shipped and then stocking stuff. I have a few more small projects for the grandparents to do, but nothing major.

Tomorrow starts our Christmas countdowns. We have 3 this year. Each day we will open one Christmas story to read together. We have a magnetic cookie tray that we will take one "cookie" off each day to countdown to Christmas. This year each of the boys also made a Santa that is hanging on their bedroom door. Each day they will add one cotton ball to it to fill in Santa's beard.

I hope you are enjoying getting ready for the holiday season. I know we are!

check that off the list

I love getting things done. Especially when I can get it done ahead of time. I feel that way about Christmas shopping. I'm not one of those last minute people. I like to plan things out and then get it done. I've finished shopping for the boys, except for a few more things for their stockings. I've finished Richard's parents. I've finished my nephews. Picked up gifts for Blake's teachers. Picked up the special Christmas cards (parents, grandparents kind of thing).

So that leaves: my parents, Richard's sister and Richard (we only do stockings for each other). I have a few thoughts for Richard's sister. I have a few things for my parents, but need to figure out one or two more things. I have no clue what to get for Richard's stocking but that hits me at odd times usually. I still need to make the Christmas card for us to mail to the masses.

So for me I feel like I'm on the right path to be done with everything way before Christmas this year. Then I can focus on baking. Doing special little things with the boys and such.

I already wrapped the 24 Christmas stories to read as part of our Christmas countdown and this year I'm going to make Christmas countdowns for each of the boys... more on that later.

So, yep, I'm feeling good. Maybe I'll even find time soon to make my new background for my blog... maybe!

Happy Thanksgiving (eve)

May your turkey be crisp and your stuffing fluffy.
May your pies be perfect and your leftovers yummy

May your blessings be many and your hearts be full
May your bounty overflow and your home aglow

Wishing you a Thanksgiving full of good food, lots of love, laughs and smiles.

Enjoy your turkey day!

Thanksgiving?

Where is Thanksgiving? I am really beginning to wonder if Thanksgiving is soon going to be a lost holiday? Ok I know people aren't going to want to give up Turkey dinner, a short week, Thanksgiving football games any time soon. But, do you notice that we seem to be jumping straight from Halloween to Christmas. Actually I saw Christmas coming out in a lot of stores before Halloween this year. That's one thing, but at least down here the plazas and towns are putting up their holiday decorations already too.

We went to Disney yesterday and I knew we'd see Christmas stuff there. They begin it early so that those who visit in November can celebrate the Disney Christmas magic. Yep, it's a money thing too.

But, seriously does the Walmart plaza down the street really need their Christmas decorations up on the street lights now?

Will Christmas loose some of it's magical feel if they keep starting earlier and earlier? Will children not get as excited because it is norm for months to see Christmas everywhere? Will it motivate you to start thinking about Christmas shopping earlier? Who knows. But for me, Christmas season doesn't start until after turkey day.

Halloween 2011

As promised... Halloween pictures. Blake was Mark Webber, a Formula One driver for the Red Bull team. Colby was a T-Rex, in the last picture you can see his tail.

Hope everyone had fun trick-or-treating, those who didn't have it canceled due to the snow storm.

Trick or Treat down memory lane

2010


2009



2008

9-11

Ten years ago today our country was united, not by something positive, but a major tragedy. It is a day that sticks out in my mind, a day that I can describe in detail. It was a day of fear and sadness. But the next day, was the first of many days that was time to show your pride. There were American flags flying everywhere. People were proud to wear red, white and blue. People stood up and said, you may break our buildings, you may try to damage our properties, but you will not break our spirits. You will not scare us. You will not bring fear, but bring pride.

I look at the life today and say, why did it go away. At what point did people stop waving the flags? At what point did we say it was ok to relax and not feel the need to stand up and scream "I'm proud to be an American"?

Life often gets in the way of doing things. But as we reflect on that tragic even that unfolded before our eyes ten years ago today, take time to stand up again and say:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands. ONE nation under. INDIVISIBLE, with liberty and justice for ALL!



Then say a prayer for those who lost their lives that tragic day and the days following. As for peace for their families, as well as the many heroes that emerged from those ashes. As as always to thank the men and women who put their lives on the line each day to protect those freedoms that we often take for granted.

Happy 4th of July

I hope you take today to enjoy the freedom this flag symbolizes. Remember those who have served and especially those who are serving and the family they have left behind. Take time to appreciate the family and friends who surround you, the food on your table, the roof over your head, and the fact that you get to choose all those things (ok not your family, but you can choose to associate with them).


Take time to stand up tall, salute the flag and say... God Bless the USA!

Happy Easter?

I hope everyone had a very peaceful and happy Easter with their friends and family.

Our day started at 5:30am when Blake woke up looking for his water cup, luckily he went back to sleep. Colby woke up around 7:30am and Blake shortly after that. We headed out to see what the Easter Bunny brought, but didn't really get that far. Before we left our bedroom, Blake was complaining that his stomach hurt. After going to the bathroom we thought he'd be ok, but he wasn't. We found the letter that the Easter Bunny left, and then Blake felt sick enough to put himself back to bed. (If you watch the slide show, the first picture was taken before Blake went back to sleep. You can see how miserable he looks.) Richard decided to go for a bike ride. While he was gone Blake woke up came out for about 20 minutes, threw up and went back to bed. Not a good way to start Easter.

After Richard returned from biking, we put Blake into the shower with him, gave him some motrin, since he now had a low grade fever. We decided to have some lunch to see if that would help. Blake then asked to search for his basket. (again you can see in the slide show that he is feeling a bit better, but still not himself). Blake was seeming so much better so we decided to head out to my parents.

Shortly after we got there, Blake put himself back to bed again. Not a good sign! After taking his temp we were off to get Tylenol. 102.5 temp is never a good sign. The Tylenol helped and we were on our way home. After dropping off Abby, Richard and Colby, Blake and I headed to the after-hours clinic. Guess what... he has tonsillitis AGAIN! Yes, they swabbed for strep. Again it came back negative. So it is viral tonsillitis. His throat was swollen with lots of white puss... Gesh just when I thought we were out of the woods on all this, NOPE!

Hope your Easter was a lot more uneventful than ours! Enjoy the slide show of the hunt for Easter Baskets (the bunny hid the baskets and left clues to find them)

Valentine fun (Wordless Wednesday)

(You didn't think I'd skip sharing Valentine pictures... did you?)

Christmas projects

Magical Night

Richard and I went to see Jim Brickman's Holiday concert last night. This is our 3rd or 4th Jim Brickman concert since we've been together. If you don't think you know Jim Brickman, you are probably wrong. He is a fantastic piano player and composer. Some of his more popular songs are The Gift, Valentine,  Never Alone, Coming Home for Christmas to just name a few.

We used Jim Brickman's The Love I Found in You as our wedding song and it sort of solidified our love of his music. I think one of the biggest things I love about his music is how much it touches everyone who listens to it. The cool thing about his concerts is between these fantastic songs he and the people he has touring with him joke around and have you laughing to the point of tears.

This concert he had Anne Cochran with him. She has actually been with him for all the concerts we have seen him. She has such a beautiful and powerful voice. They actually sang one of her songs from her Christmas Album (Joy In Our World) and it was very moving too.

Tracy Silverman who is an electric violinist also played. He is soooo cool to listen to. He has a very unique instrument.

The male vocalist in the concert was Richie McDonald from Lonestar. He sang I'm Already There and Amazed which bring chills to me every time I hear them on the radio never mind in person! I think one of my favorite songs that he sung was from his solo album Why Santa's Fat?

What a great way to spend the night together.  Then this morning I got to say good-bye and safe travels as he drives to Georgia until the 18th.  Oh well.  Guess I should clean up here and go get the boys for a crazy week together.  Hope you take a few minutes to listen and remember It's the Simple Things, the simple things just ARE!

Update and Thanksgiving projects

Oh the joys of the ups and downs. Well... I took the boys to the doctors on Monday. The strep has cleared up in both of them, buttttttt.... Colby now has an ear infection (yes that is an ear infection that occurred while ON antibiotics) and his wheezing warranted a dose of steroids daily. Blake now has pneumonia. Yeppers you read that right.

So needless to say we've been doing a lot of staying inside lately. This weekend felt like a week. On Sunday I said to Richard, can you believe it was only a week since Halloween... are you sure that wasn't like a month ago? We are all going a bit stir crazy. We were out from 9-1 on Monday, but that was at the doctors, getting chest x-rays, back to the doctors, then to the grocery store to fill 4 prescriptions. Today we only went out for about 45 minutes. We headed up to Blake's preschool so he could be in the class picture and the ran to get gas for my car.

Both boys slept through the night, for the most part. Colby is having a hard time falling asleep because of the wheezing and coughs and coughs. He also woke up really early this morning because of the same thing. Today he decided that for most of the day he needed to be held. Ummm, you weigh 28 lbs. 28 lb's of dead weight is heavy!

Oh well... we did get a few cute projects done the last few days so I thought I'd share them with you.

The body is their foot. I cut a bunch of feathers, beak, waddler, and eyes and let them glue as they wanted


Color the top of the paper bag (something they weren't really in the mood to do), stuff, tie off, cut the top into strips. the head is their foot, and again I cut eyes, a beak and a waddle


We painted paper, cut into leaf shapes, wrote on them what the boys are thankful for:

Blake was thankful for: playing at the playground, going to the Y, Mommy and Colby

Colby was thankful for: Blake, Daddy, Abby and our home

Hope you are thankful for a healthy family. Can you believe in 2 days Blake will be 4? Lets just hope he is well enough to go to school to celebrate!

Happy Halloween!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe All Hallow's Eve. On to the holiday season we go...