H-Dub's Favorite Gift

We had a very merry Christmas! It was fun filled and fairly exhausting. We all had a great time with family and friends.

I know I mentioned H-Dubya moved into a big boy bed. Most nights he would do great, but about a week ago he was up and down all night. He finally slept from about 4-7 with me on the floor. Brokeback sure did put his crib right back up the next morning so that could be an additional option to threaten him with. Well, he now gets out of the crib up to 10 times before naps. Today we took turns fighting him on it from 12:30 to 3:15. I finally stripped him down and rubbed his back and arms till he went to sleep. We would go so far as to swat him and he would bawl and cry, then wait for us to leave and get up. Soooo exhausting. He finally fell asleep in his big boy bed, which we will give him the option to sleep in again tonight since Brokeback is scared he will hurt himself crawling out of the crib.

Anywho, here is a pic of H-Dubya in his favorite gift. We have hidden it for now, but will allow him to wear it to Gigi and Poppy's tonight. Brokeback and I were given a gift certificate from Ray and Pat, and he is an eager beaver to use it as he hasn't been there, or out to eat period in a very long time.

Both kids got a ton of stuff this year. Other favorite gifts include his Geo Track which is a remote controlled train, though he enjoys tearing up the tracks, and his Woody doll.

Merry Christmas!

Here is the Christmas card we sent out this year. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

The Polar Express!

I am sure if you are from or live in Lubbock you have heard about this over and over. We went Friday as a big family. Gigi and Poppy, Granny and Aunt Morgan all enjoyed the fun. And it was a ton of fun! Both of my kids LOVED it, and we were on a really nice car with tables where we faced each other so we couldn't have been happier. H-Dubya was restless at first but once the train took off her began to bounce and loudly and manically laugh. Syd enjoyed having Racee and Brentley there with us.

We brought the book to read along with, but were too excited to bother. Syd enjoyed the dancing, Santa, and elves most.

We definitely recommend it! We plan on going again next year, though probably just as a foursome.

Here are many pictures.

The Christmas Parties

When we arrived Brokeback went on down to H-Dub's room then came back saying the lights were out and no one was there. Went back one minute later and the teachers had turned the lights out to signify clean up time, and H had seen his father look in the window then look away. So when we returned he was sitting in the middle of the floor sobbing and red-faced. Got off to such a great start. After that Hayden would never sit in his chair with his friends, he had to sit in Ron's lap. They enjoyed some food and exchanged presents. H-Dub got a too cute farm puzzle. He then went on down to Syd's party where he enjoyed playing in the kitchen.

Syd decorated an ornament and did some eating of her own. She got a cute Mickey Mouse Clubhouse puzzle that we have put together only once so far.

The cookies were pretty darn good! We have one left I am holding onto.

Current Obsessions

Tulle ribbon. And wrapping paper from Holiday Happening. My mother bought me both and I. LOVE. IT. The tulle is so easy to work with. I have already run out, though. I would recommend buying two rolls. The paper is so thick and wonderful. I used it to wrap a present for my girls' Christmas get together last weekend and the gal who opened the present (H.C.) didn't rip the paper. It just comes off that way, she said. So pretty.

Hobby Lobby Christmas decorations. I have been there once a week (at least) for a month. I can't go back. I love their stuff because I can afford it and there are so many options.

The Shack. Have you read it? It is so good. I learned so much. I read a book a week usually and it took me 3 weeks to finish The Shack. I borrowed it from the pastor's wife, and he had already gone through and underlined the parts he felt were important, so it was like having my own little Cliff Note version in the book. He also had question marks on some parts which made me so happy because alot of it was over my head. Has anyone else read it?

Christmas music on the cable tv. I listen to it while I have my internet time.

Dion's pizza with green chilies. Oh. Mercy. It so good. You have to go pick it up but it is so worth it. And it is just a few blocks from our house.

Knitting. I am back at it. FINALLY finished a blanket and I am now working on a scarf for Syd. It may not be too cute but I love to knit and watch movies that I DVR'd every night lately. I also enjoy a fire but our is the gas logs and while we plan on having it going on Christmas Eve it is like throwing dollar bills into the fireplace so I don't get to enjoy it often.

STEPHANIE MEYER. She is the author of Twilight series and The Host. The books are so good. So good. I am eagerly anticipating the sequel to The Host but she hasn't posted when it will be out on her website. If anyone has any inside info on this please comment. I also enjoyed the Twilight movie. Sure there were times when my sister, Heather, Whitney and I cringed and gave nervous laughter because the acting was so embarrassing (Jasper anyone?) but I am looking forward to the next book to come out.

Paperbackswap.com I have mentioned this before, I know. But it is such an amazing site. I just wish Brokeback and I had thought of it first. I was able to order the best book on twin pregnancy for TWO of my friends that are having twins in June, and they shipped directly to the friend who lives in Dallas, Conversation Peace which is the first book we are doing for our bible study in January, AND a book about toddlers who talk late that had really high reviews. And I still have 3 credits left over!!! You can also have a wait list, mine is up to 70 books now and there aren't many things I enjoy more than one of my books coming up! What a fun surprise!

That is all for now, other then those cutie oranges. My whole family loves them. We consume at least 3 a day. Yum.

Lollipop Cookies

I signed up to bring cookies to H-Dub's Christmas party tomorrow. I found this recipe and decided that the kids would love them. It was a family affair. The dough wasn't difficult but getting the paste mixed into the dough wasn't easy so that was where Brokeback came in. Syd helped make balls and pushed in the sticks. She loved every minute of working with the colored dough and wanted to help with the rolling up and everything. We we will definitely make these again. She asked is we could make more tomorrow. H-Dub came in afterward and picked one up, and said, "Cookie. For me. Hayden." I told him that they were for his friends at school and he didn't respond but he put the cookie down, thank goodness, and looked with his eyes.

I am one short. I am so praying that someone is absent in one of the classes (I made some for Syd's class too, of course). Otherwise I don't know what we will do. There is also one with only 3 colors. We ran out of red there at the end.

We are also giving each child an ABC Coloring Book. Another blogger I know drew them herself. I bought one then made copies and had them bound. This is my first time to give a gift to each child. Last year Syd participated in the gift exchange and that was it. But every other child brought an additional something for everyone in the class, and since we are with the same kids this year I succumbed to the pressure. And had a fine time doing it!




We both look haggard, don't you think? The Christmas season will do that to a lady, believe it.





Please don't comment that it might help my appearance if I would wash my hair. I already know.


Ready to go.



The coloring book. I even printed out labels. I don't have the greatest handwriting, and it seems to slant when I am doing something free hand and important. So I decided labels were the way to go.

A Christmas Surprise

We have received a few packages today. One for the kids from Ray Ray and Pat Pat, one for me from Brokeback, and then one to "The Lowes". And it said that it must be opened IMMEDIATELY because there was a living plant or animal inside.

I opened it up to find a BEAUTIFUL eucalyptus and berry wreath inside. A LIVING wreath, as it said on the box. Our entire house immediately smelled of clean, fresh eucalyptus. Ahhhhh........

Thanks so much to P-Pa Steve! It is the perfect gift and I hope it dries well so that it can be put in it's spot year after year.

Here is Brokeback and I's handy work:

Our first Orange Pomander

Syd and I decided to partake in this tradition, this year. I secured the ribbon with straight pins and wrapped it around the orange like a present. Brokeback helped out with a little hot glue on top. We marked where to push in the cloves with a toothpick, but we didn't stick to it exactly. I love it hanging off of the china cabinet. I plan on letting it dry out best I can. Smells really good, but I am afraid my fingers might also smell like orange and cloves for the awhile, too.



We plan to do another tomorrow. One without ribbon and cloves just pushed in every which way. We may also do one with a heart.

Words to Parent By

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less, and know to care more.

I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.

I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.

I’d do more hugging and less tugging.

I’d build self-esteem first, and the new house later.

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I’d teach less about the love of power, and more about the power of love.

-Diane Loomans

Today

Was a good day. I feel like I got things accomplished, which is ridiculously important to me.

We had a friend over this morning while his mother had a sonogram for her TWINS. I took Syd to dance and worked on a Christmas project/present in the car while I waited, and read the most dramatic and fabulous chapter in the book The Shack thus far. Chapter 15.

And then. I went in to get her and have never been so disappointed to not have my camera on me. Mrs. Karla had the girls dressed up as reindeer. They each had on antlers and sleigh bells around their ankles. They were lined up in pairs and Syd was in the front. They then had the girls inside a long piece of ribbon, and they walked around the studio to a reindeer song and their sleigh bells made a wonderful sound. The teachers were wearing elf hats. So precious I will never forget it.

We have been having nap issues. We moved H-Dub to a big boy bed as I mentioned before, and he won't stay in it during the day. So Brokeback broke out the pack n play and he sleeps in that during nap time. Syd no longer naps everyday. She will be in 4 in January but I still don't appreciate it. Anyway, they both napped today, and afterward they BOTH fingerpainted, and H-Dub said the colors just to please me extra special.

Syd then did watercolor painting and we did this craft. Turned out pretty darn cute, though I didn't use pinking shears. I had to trace three different sized circles due to my cutting deficit. Syd also practiced cutting and she is becoming quite good. Tomorrow we will work on following a pattern when cutting.

I have most of my Christmas shopping done which I am quite proud of. We made a garden stone for someone who will not be named this evening, and now all I need to do is gather some switches and coal for some very special family members.

Holiday Garland Show and Tell

I am way into the decorating blogs lately. Part of the fun is how impressed I am with the good deals they find. The other part is admiring how neat and organized everything seems to be. One of the creative ladies had this challenge on her blog.




Here is her blog. Be sure and check out her garland. It is unbelievable.

Anywho, here are some pictures of our Christmas decorations.

This is all garland in the kitchen. On top of the cabinets.

I love this plate. I bought it while at the MOPS convention this year. You can write a message for every season and you change out the ribbons, also.





The big living room tree.

I did the best I can with what I had. Underneath a 50 inch flat screen.


My first village piece. Very special because it is the same one we bought for my mother as her first piece about 15ish years ago. My mother found it for me on craigslist.com .

Above the bar.

The "formal" dining room/area.


Adobe fireplace in the breakfast room.

Big cabinet to the right of the 50 inch plasma.

Christmas Crafts

We have only done two crafts so far. We are expecting some additional crafts from Oriental Trading, which we split with some friends. And I have another craft or two up my sleeve. Of course we will let you know how it goes.

We first did a Santa beard with poster board and cotton balls. Syd really enjoyed the craft but I couldn't figure out how to get the beard to tie around her head well so it was kind of a bust.

We made ornaments by stringing beads onto pipe cleaners. I would then shape them into a candy cane, tree, etc. Syd really enjoyed this so I think we will do it again.

CHRISTMAS COOKIES!

Syd loves to make Christmas cookies. I think it is her favorite Christmas time activity. This year it was a whole bunch of work. We made the dough at home, and it was really good. Then I had to let it chill, and the chilling took longer than I thought. So I told Syd we would cut the cookies out and cook them after her nap. I just left the oven on. Somehow it got to hot and locked itself up. So we had to finish up at Gigi's house. The cookies were quite good, I must say. They must have been because we had dozens and they were all gone within 3 days of putting them on the cookie plate. I blame Brokeback.

We used Royal Icing this year because it is supposed to harden well. It hardened very well within like 1 minute of Gigi and I painting it on. Which made some of the sprinkles sparse but that is okay.

H-Dub enjoyed pushing down on the cookie cutters. He actually participated! I couldn't find Syd's cute gingerbread apron and chef hat. So we went with these utilitarian denim ones, instead.