Christmas with a Twist

Every year my family seems to want to do something different for Christmas.  One year we did Garage Sale Christmas where everything you gave came from garage sales.  That was a lot of fun in my opinion, but some people were pretty hard to find stuff for!  Then we tried taking a trip over Christmas...but the destination we went was a small town with not a lot going on.  So, two for two we haven't decided to stick with the "new idea."

This year we got together to discuss some fun new options (thanks to ideas on the www and FB friends) and Justin comes up with a great new idea.

Each person picks a store where they would want a gift from.  We put those individually in a hat.

We then put each adults name in a hat.

We pick a name, we pick a store...and you have to buy that person a gift from that store.

Who knows?!  My dad might have to go shopping for my brother in law at Bath & Body Works...

It could be a lot of returning on the day after Christmas...or it could be really fun to see what people find specifically for you.  I'm excited.  We got together Friday night, filled out questionnaires to help people shop and picked our name and store.

Let the shopping begin!!

Changing the Rules

Our family has gotten in a routine. And not a great one either. Justin would come home from work to kids and Momma going crazy, we would eat what I attempted to make for dinner and then we would turn on the TV and sorta take care of the kids until we were forced to get up and put them to bed.

I read an article on FB about how we as parents are too in to our phones, iPads, TV, etc and we aren't living in the moment. Our kids are only going to be little once - we only have this one chance - so put away your phone or turn off the TV because what you are watching is not more important than your babies.

Convicted, I talked to Justin about it and we decided no TV in the evenings while our kids were awake and limit our phone calls and iPad time. Because our kids are more important than what is happening on FB. And they are learning habits and skills from us - so they will be addicted to the phone or iPad for games or texts if we keep showing them that's what important.

So we started the no TV thing at night and I love it. We are more "with" our kids while playing and being together as a family. We have read more books, played more games, and actually gotten the kids to bed on time instead of waiting until the last minute or final commercial break to squeeze it in. Haylie is easier to put down and falls asleep quicker. Jace just falls asleep no matter what, he is one tired baby.

It's been a nice change for our family. I'm not going to lie - there are many nights when I would rather veg out or have Justin do all the work with the kids. But they are so important to me that I need to change my habits so they know mommy would rather be with them than watch some stupid TV show. I'm not judging those that do - we are just trying to make a change in our family, for us, for our kids.

Just me and Jace

This weekend this kid and I spent some one-on-one time together.  It was awesome.  And this is the only picture I took of him.

So Justin was planning on going hunting for a long weekend and I was about to go crazy with my two kids - love them so much - so I shipped Haylie off to see Grandma while I relaxed at home with my baby.  What did I do?

Thursday night.  Sulked.  Cried.  Missed my hubby and baby girl.  Jace went to bed at 7:30 and left me on my own for what felt like hours. I was second guessing myself on everything.  I might have even cleaned.

But things got better Friday, even better Saturday and blissful on Sunday.  We might have missed church Sunday morning because he was sleeping - until 10 AM!!

It was weird only having one kid - and one that only grunts at me.  I missed my crazy conversations with Haylie but it was nice to have two breaks during the day and an easy peasy kid who just likes to eat!  I was very excited to see my baby girl on Sunday night - glad we were ALL back together.

Jace and I did a lot while H and J were gone.  Shopping, garage saling, craft night, baby shower...I even mowed the grass and cleaned the house!

I'm thinking this might be a yearly tradition where hunting season begins and Mommy gets a weekend to herself.  Ha.  We'll see about that.

9 months old

11.2.12

This kid is growing way too fast.  9 months old!!

We went to the dr today and he weighs 19 lbs, 12 oz (25-50%) and is 29 1/4in tall (75%)!

They said he was average in his stats - but he is still a big boy!!

 Jace is wearing size 3 diapers and 12 month clothing.  He shoves food into his mouth like it's going to run off his plate if he doesn't eat it fast enough.

His favorite past time is kicking his legs.  On the floor, on the wall, on his bed right before he falls asleep. It sounds like a steady drum beat.  Hilarious.

He loves when Caramel comes up to him - he grabs her and "pats" her with a big goofy grin on his face.  Anything Haylie does usually makes him smile - except singing to him when he is hungry.  That. Does. Not. Help.  He loves it when I get out my phone or camera to take his picture.  He was born for blogging.  (Except this one where he just looks like he is freezing and has a tummy ache.)

Or this one where he is awkwardly doing the splits on our couch.

We are working on weaning already.  I just can't keep up with him so we switched to whole milk per our doctors recommendation.  So far, so good!

Jace is still chillin' - he can stand with support for about 5 seconds, sit without support and rolls from place to place - though not very far.  He can feed himself - which I LOVE and still sleeps like a champion.

We are still working on his outbursts of screaming...we thought he was a lot more relaxed than Haylie, but I think he was just working up to his big reveal of "the temper."

Best of all, he is a sweet boy who will snuggle with you still and loves lots of kisses.  One of the best parts of my day!

Ladybug & Skeleton

I don't remember Halloween being at least 5 different times of dressing up.  I remember dressing up on Halloween night...and that. was. it.

This will be a shocker to my kids.

So far we've done:

- Storybook Forest @ Lake Arcadia

- Trunk or Treat/Fall Festival @ MRCC

- Fall Festival @ Sonshine School

-Trunk or Treat by OC Clubs

-Actual Halloween night.

But they are all so much fun that we can't pass it up!

First up, Storybook Forest with Fancy Nancy (aka Julianne) and the Lumberjack (aka Hudson).

Storybook Forest is at the lake near our house and you walk through the "forest", stopping at different story book character booths for candy (Humpty Dumpty, Snow White, Three Little Pigs, etc.) So cute.  You can also do a hayride, play games, roast marshmallows, drink hot chocolate and hear a story read live. I'm saying this is a must-do for all local Edmond-ites.  Preferably when it's not freeeeezing.

Jace doesn't really have a costume.  We borrowed an elephant from a friend, but it was a little snug so we only wore it once.  He was thrilled.

 
So we settled on being a fluffy skeleton.  This was right before their fall festival at school.

It's been a fun time.  We definitely got a bunch of candy that we don't need, but had lots of fun getting it. 

Happy Halloween!

Girls Night Out

Monday night my mom, sister and I went to Hefner Grill to try out a painting class - Wine & Pallet.


Our self-portrait didn't turn out so well.  At least Mom is in the picture!

I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was so much fun.  You could use your own creative direction on the original painting.



This is what we were supposed to paint.  I liked it on the website, but when I saw it in person, I knew I wanted to do something a little different.  To me, it just looks messy.  It's called "Antique Key."

So, off we go.  We could each paint our canvas whatever color we wanted.

Canvases to my right.

 This was mine. So far, we just painted the whole canvas one color.  That we mixed in a circular motion.  (Some of the directions she gave were more like "painting for dummies".) Not too difficult.

The beauty of this painting experience?  The food.  The wine.  The laughing.  Especially at the three drunk sisters across the table.  Thanks for sharing every (uncensored) detail of your life...

This is progress on mine.  At this point I thought I might hate it.

But in the end, I liked mine!  And I liked my sister's and Mom's.  I thought we all did a great job for our first time.

I'd definitely recommend this to any group who wanted a fun night out!  I plan on going again!!

Melts My Heart