The first few are Lady of the Snow, which is a wonderful place to go during Christmas, it has camel and donkey rides, petting zoo, crafts, puppet show, legos and little people to play with, Christmas tree exhibit, and of course, the lights.
The next few after will be Christmas at the nursing home with Sam's family, then Christmas eve at my mom's, and finally Christmas morning at our house. Enjoy!
Merry Christmas! It has been a good day for us. Blog post with pictures to follow later.
Earlier this month was out towns annual Christmas parade. Since the parade started at 7 and Sam doesn't get of until 7:30 I ventured out with all 3, which wasn't very far, maybe 60 feet up the road. We enjoyed the parade and the jolly fat man in the horse and carriage at the end. Afterwards we waited for Sam while we played eye spy with the Christmas village. Then we walked home the long way as a family. It was nice and something I love doing every year with the kids.
...then you know its pointless to clean the toilet. That is all.
Today is just an average day for us. I am washing diapers, cleaning house, and spending time with the two little piggies. Here is my cleaning list for the day.
Kitchen: counters, table, floor
Alta's room: put laundry away, vacuum, dust
Boys' room: pick up toys with their help, dust, put laundry away, vacuum
Living room: sweep floor, dust, put things away
Bathroom: pick up, wipe things down, clean the nasty toilet
Big list. Plus I need to go to mom's to change her dressing, clean out the van, and do laundry.
Oh yeah, and if by some miracle Parker takes a nap, wrap the stocking presents. Whew. I hope I can get it all done before Sam comes home at 7:30.
Earlier today Parker and I had a conversation, it went like this:
"Mommy, you play batman with me!"
"Ok, who do you want me to be?"
"Bat Gorilla!"
Gee, thanks kid. Couldn't even be cat woman.
Later on today he was messing with the pillow in the living room.
"What ya doing, P?"
"Pickin feddas." (Feathers)
I love this kid.
Oh how I miss the healthy summer days. Our family has been passing colds back and forth for a month now. Even better, today all three kids have had fevers, which we didn't find out Landon had one until he was home from school. I hope he didn't pass around the illness to his classmates. They are all coughing and lethargic. It should be a great night, and a great day tomorrow. Wish me luck!
When something big, like a birthday or major holiday, comes along,.we like to make a countdown chain. This time our chain is counting down to Christmas. Landon, Parker and I worked ever so hard to make our chain. We made it 35 days until Christmas. Every morning one of the boys gets to break a link on the end. When we get to the last one, it's Christmas. How exciting! We try to make a big deal by announcing, "30 more days till Christmas!!" And then we cheer. It helps the boys see how close Christmas is, and each day it gets that much closer.
So, here is a picture of our chain, its hanging in the doorway of the boys' room.
*note our ugliest decoration on their door as well. I am not even sure where we procured this awful thing, but anyway, there it is for your enjoyment as well.
Just popping in to say happy thanksgiving! Promise to post pictures of a 5 month of piggy tonight and our chain that I promised. Been very busy with family lately, which is how it should be, especially this time of the year!
5 months old today!
She does all kinds of things now. She rolls wherever she feels like rolling. She laughs at her brothers. She grabs things and gets frustrated when you take them away. She smiles all the time. She is starting solids, not too much though. She's a happy little girl. She is starting to sleep all night. She still wakes about every other night to eat. She weighs about 15 or so pounds and is 24 or so inches long. She is beautiful and I love her more than words can express.
Pictures of her coming soon and also a post about our Christmas countdown chain.
Parker had his 3 year check up today. He weighs 29.5 pounds, and is 36 inches, or 3 feet. The ped said he is perfect and very smart. But I could have told her that. Of course he is perfect, he is my mini-me. ;)
He also got his flu vaccine. He didn't make a sound but the tears were pouring for about 30 seconds. Poor man.
Our family as a whole has been trying to move to a greener life. This spring and summer we had our first garden, which didn't amount to much, but it was a start. We are trying to eat healthier. We are trying to make do, make homemade, or do without. With that said, I started making my own laundry detergent. It is similar to every else's homemade detergent. Here is what I do.
1. Gather ingredients. Borax, washing soda, oxi clean, and fels naptha.
2. Grate the fels naptha finely. In a bucket (I use an empty oxi clean tub) add 2 cups each of borax, washing soda, and oxi clean. Then add half of your fels naptha shavings.
3. Go wash clothes, add around 1/8 cup of mixture. I also add tea tree/ lavender essential oil for smell goods.
4. Enjoy the savings!
The other day I was scaring the kids, and after on particular good scare, Landon declares, "Mommy! You just gave me a heart a cat!"
MLT or Moments Like This.
Lately Parker has been saying "huh" instead of "uh-huh"
For example: "Parker, do you like that banana?" "Huh."
"Parker, do you want lunch?" "Huh."
"Parker, is that batman?" "Huh."
Sometimes, it gets on my nerves. Especially when I repeat myself 1000 times because I think he is being a rude little shit by saying "huh".
For example: "Parker, do you need to pee?" "Huh." "Parker, do you need to pee?" "Huh." "I SAID, PARKER DO YOU NEED TO PEEEEEEEEEE???!!!!" "Yes."
But still, moments like this are fleeting and pretty soon he will be using all the correct terms with the correct meanings. And probably using words I don't agree with him using. Like I am sure my mother wouldn't agree with me using "rude little shit" to describe my child.
Well our littlest boy turned 3 on Wednesday. Crazy, right? The birthday festivities started Tuesday by taking him with his big brother to see Puss in Boots, then out to eat at Chick-fil-A. Which happened to be family night, so the boys ate free and got a stuffed cow. Nice. I love it! Its a very wholesome restaurant and very family friendly. After we ate, it was off to Andy's for frozen custard, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. After we picked up our pint sized princess it was home again.
On his actual birthday, we had family over for cake and ice cream and presents. He loved every minute of his Toy Story birthday party.
Then Thursday I had to take my mom to Wal Mart to do "some light shopping" which turned into 3 carts full. Wow. It became apparent that I wouldn't be home to pick Landon up, so my dad came to the rescue and got him for me. He then had the surprise of getting to stay with mawmaw and pawpaw with his cousin. He was delighted.
So that brings us to today. Me and the little ones are picking up, doing laundry and baking bread today. Oh yeah, and resting. Its been a busy week.
Happy 11/11/11!
And more importantly, happy veteran's day! And thanks to all the vets and all those who are serving.
Today was Landon's last day of soccer. Sam got to take a half day and watch, which was awesome because at the end they played the parents. It was chilly, but we survived. He got a medal and a bag of soccer themed treat bag. Afterward, we went to eat dinner with my mom. We all had a nice day out.
My little boy only has 3 days left of being a sweet 2 year old. :)
The other day while looking for some non-maternity jeans, I came across my truck jeans. What's so special about them? Well for one, I haven't fit into them since I was 18, before kids. So I decided it is my goal to wear those jeans again someday. And today starts my walk toward someday. I probably couldn't fit them to my knees right now.
So I did 20 minutes of aerobics, and then 20 sit ups on the exercise ball to get started. I had Special K for breakfast and have already drank 16 oz of water. Let's get this weight loss started! My first goal is to lose 30 pounds by Christmas, which gives me roughly 8 weeks, so 3.75 pounds a week. My second is 80 pounds by my 25th birthday in April. 23 weeks, so 3.5 pounds a week or a little less after Christmas, if I make my first goal.
Our littlest one, four months old. Our first girl and very special. She loves to smile and talk at her daddy, brothers, and me. She weighs in around 15 pounds now, and is healthy as can be, except for the reflux. She is currently in her swing talking to the birds. She is a little sweetheart who is finding her own personality, but looks just like her biggest brother with a tinge of red hair.
Parker, Parker, Parker. Where to begin? He is a clown, he loves to make people laugh, loves to say cute things, he's very outgoing. He also wears his heart on his sleeve and cries at the wrong look. He sticks his bottom lip out and makes a frown, and the tears start. He is only 2, but will be 3 in just a few days, still a baby, but toeing the big boy line, he wants to cross it, but is still a little unsure.
Landon is our oldest. He turned 5 and started Kindergarten in August. He is a shy guy at first, then he doesn't shut up. He can be outgoing, but also prefers to stay by my side. He likes to think he is as big and old as his older cousins. He is a great kid who is very giving, except to his little brother. But he loves his little sister and is great with her and quick to help. He plays soccer on Sundays and is pretty good at it. He loves pizza just like his daddy. He's an all around good guy.
Monday was Halloween. Landon had school, so our festivities didn't start until he got home. While he was at school I made homemade chicken and dumplings so I didn't have to worry about dinner directly before or after trick or treating. I made the boys clean their room before leaving, so after blood and tears and finally cleaning was over, we got dressed. Landon was Batman, Parker was Spiderman, and Ali was a little lady bug.
Finally we started out, we hit up the fire station first and the boys got to climb in and out of a firetruck. Then we went begging, er, I mean, trick or treating down the main road in town.
Sam's mom met us about half through and then daddy himself came with us the last bit. It was a fun night and the kids, well boys, since Ali was just along for the ride, made out like fat little piggies.
And for the record, the dumplings weren't my best. :(
I hope my pictures turned out right.
