Christmas Eve 2011
02 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
This year for Christmas Eve we were invited to dinner with my Dad’s side of the family. We had a delicious dinner (thanks Tanya!), a few rounds of card games, and the kids of course had a blast running around and playing. We got home later that night and the kids were pooped. It made for an interesting Christmas Eve experience, ha!
Here’s hoping you enjoyed your Christmas Eve with loved ones or at home.
Merry Christmas!
25 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in daily
Hope you enjoy your Christmas Day!
(No, I’m not on today – ha! The ability to schedule posts is so fun.)
Merry Christmas Eve Eve!
23 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in daily
We’ve finally arrived! The countdown on the mantel has come so close to its end. Olivia keeps announcing to her siblings, over and over, “TOMORROW is Christmas EEEEEVE!” How disappointed they’ll be when they find just coal in their stockings.
Just kidding!
We’re all excited for Christmas and can’t wait for its arrival. Since we have church first thing in the morning (just an hour for that Sunday) Daddy is even making his famous cinnamon rolls Saturday morning so they can rise all day Saturday, bake Saturday night, and be ready for right after presents!
From our house to yours, Merry Christmas. 
Wait, the what?
22 Dec 2011 1 Comment
in daily
Funnies from the past: No idea why this popped up when I went to my Posts. Apparently it never made it past the “Draft” stage? It was dated March 8, 2011.
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Me: Time for lunch! What do we want? Noodles?
Rae: Yesh!
Dunc: Yeah, I’ll get the sauce.
I start dishing out cold noodles into bowls for the kids and alternating them in the microwave. Duncan climbs down from the chair next to the fridge holding Jalapeño Ranch dressing.
Me: Ohh, no no – Dunc, that’s Jalapeño Ranch, it’s way too spicy, honey. Grab the other sauce if that’s what you want.
Rae: ‘Picy. [Spicy]
What can I say? My kids are weird. They like dressing as “sauce” on their noodles. He gives me the dressing and grabs the other bottle of regular ranch dressing.
Me: Okay, Duncan – Rae’s noodles are done, can you get her a fork?
I spoon out some Ranch onto her noodles and stir them up.
Rae: Noooo! Mama, no, too ‘picy!
Me: No, Rach, it’s okay. This is regular sauce, it’s not spicy.
Rae: Yes, mama, ‘picy!
She covers her mouth and shakes her head. Big brother to the rescue…
Dunc: No, Rae, it’s okay. Mama’s putting on the good kind for ya. This is regular Ranch.
He spins the bottle around for her to read.
Dunc: See, Rachie? It’s not ‘picy because there are no jalaweños in it.
Gingerbread Jedi
21 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
The kids and I sat together and scrolled through Pinterest links that I had pinned with this lovely break in mind. All in all, it hasn’t been horrible so far. Normally, I look forward to Winter Break with the kids. We get to sleep in – at least, past 6:40am… and there’s no rush in the morning, just your basic getting ready for the day, a few chores here and there, and then play for pretty much the rest of the day. Well, for them. But after experiencing INSANE sick day after sick day over the last four weeks, I was beginning to have my doubts about how easy this break was going to actually be. So, anyway, I started pinning ideas! Yesterday we actually sat down and looked through and found some great ones.
Duncan picked this craft off of this pin:
Source: sassysites.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest
The real idea says to use foam, gives a free printable template, and then ideas for other crafty things to use while decorating your little man (or woman). But, who needs foam, right? I’ve got LOADS of scrapbook paper and good ol’ construction paper. This would be easy. Just a quick search through my stash for brown paper (one of my favorite colors) and we’d be on our way.
Can you believe that out of ALL of that paper I have NO, NONE! Not ONE sheet of plain brown paper?!
We made due. Rachael chose a mostly brown paper from one of my scrapbook pads that had a creamy white flower and dotted type pattern across it. Really, it looked like pre-iced gingerbread. Excellent choice. Olivia, of course, chose a very loud pattern with no brown in it at all. Her plain cut out looked like a gingerbread version of The Illustrated Man. Very Olivia! And Duncan’s looked like a red velvet cake version of gingerbread choosing a streaky bold red paper. Meh, who says gingerbread needs to be brown?
They set out to decorating while I assisted with some tricky cutting jobs and gluing occasionally. Rachael was thrilled over the idea of something to color on, Olivia began cutting everything in sight (including the ginger girl’s feet into high heels), and Duncan started to cover his in Jedi-boy colors as he likes to call them.
Click here to see the set – our finished Gingerbread and a few more shots of the kids!
The photos were taken with my iPod Touch and have an Amaro filter added from Instagr.am.
Wanna go get my iPod?
20 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in daily
So here I am, sitting here… I remembered that I had planned to post a collage of the kids and their gingerbread creations from this afternoon. Unfortunately, I’ve beached my whale-like pregnant self on the couch. And my iPod? In the kitchen. Totally not getting up and walking over there to get it. I play the miserable, sick, kill-meeee card. It’s my excuse for being lazy.
So instead! I’m going to post the photos I’ve been waiting to post… my brother got engaged! Dan and Laura, his now fiancé, asked me to take their engagement and wedding photos and so here is a selection from the first!
To see the album of engagement shots, click here!
Congratulations Dan & Laura!
Sick.
20 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in daily
I was going to post some cute little instagram-style photos of the kids’ craft today.
But then I fell asleep while the children watched Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol.
Now it’s after 3pm and I need to do dishes. And blow my nose 17,892,321 more times.
The photos will have to wait until tonight. If I live that long.
ta-ta.
Christmas is coming!
01 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in daily
ETA: The lists are still attached to the little questionnaires for each child. You can find these by going up to “THE LITTLES” drop down menu on the upper left and then selecting each child’s name for their individual lists.
A real post is coming soon but I wanted to push this update to let all wondering grandparents and loved ones know that the kiddos have officially updated their Christmas lists. Most of the things on their lists are available in store through your normal and typical toy chain stores. So, for those of you who have requested, here are some links – click below!
