A Christmas Recap

Well it's over.  I can honestly say that I am ready to pack up the Christmas tree, take down the lights and stay out of the kitchen.  Christmas was good to us this year. 

Brody made out like a bandit, of course, and I managed to snag a few awesome gifts myself.

No more dreaming about that pirate ship!  I think he played with this a good ten minutes before he even realized that there were even more presents under the tree!

This was a sort of impulse buy on my part - I was finished shopping for him when I saw this.  It's like the policeman one I thought about, but it's a racecar helmet.  and since Nascar is in the family, I thought it would be perfect, and it is!   He loves it!

Oh wait, back to the pirate ship. Who cares about all those other unwrapped presents.  Here's one of me and him.  He thinks it's really funny to make faces when I want him to smile.  I didn't get a good one of the two of us all day!

Here's a few more, of Brody playing with a few of his favorites!

and what did I get??  Gift cards to Menards (I have a new house and have several projects started or on a list, so those are GREATLY appreciated!!!)  an Apple AirPort Extreme (for my new laptop), and... 

I bought this dining room table with the rest of my cash/bonus check!!!  I am in love...

Just a quick one -

Okay, so I promise I'll post a real post later today, I'v been sooo busy and I swear I've got a Christmas hangover -

But both John Deere Mom and Finding Normal are having Blogiversary Giveaways, so in the meantime, go check out their blogs!!

A Christmas Tradition...

Meet Skipper. He is our Christmas Elf. Santa sent him to our house to keep an eye on Brody. Every night, he flies back to the North Pole to tell Santa all the good (and bad) things Brody may have done that day. Then he flies back and hides somewhere in the house. When we wake up, we have to find him.

Here he is, sitting on the mantel in my Christmas Village. He likes to sit up high, so he can see everything.

He came to us with this wonderful book that explains everything. He is not allowed to talk to us, and we are not allowed to touch him. It might make his magic disappear!


We read our story about him every night, and then go and talk to him, telling him if we've been good, and which room we think he'll be in the next day.


This morning, we found him next to the computer in a lampshade! You just never know where that crazy elf is going to be....

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Some Christmas Goodness...

Yesterday might have been the longest day of my life. First, I woke up at 5:30. and excercised for 45 minutes before even starting the coffee and taking a shower. Then, I couldn't find the keys, couldn't find Brody's left boot, and I still have no idea where his mittens went. It had snowed the day before, and the streets were packed still, and of course, my house is at the bottom of a hill. After 3 attempts to make it up the hill in my little car, I finally gave up and went down 5 blocks to a flatter street. To the post office we go.

Because of the snow, I hadn't made it there the day before, and knew I had a few packages waiting. One, from my secret santa was a HUGE box! I coulnd't wait to open it! But, I had to get to work...

So I get to work and it was crazy, of course. I actually was only going to work unitl noon, because I took my very pregnant with twins friend (tomorrow is the big day!!) shopping in the afternoon for some much needed baby essentials. Finally around 12:30 I got out of here and headed to the city to pick her up.

After shopping for a few hours, not really accomplishing much of anything, (I have forgotten how when you are really pregnant, bathroom breaks and rest stops are very needed, and they take up a lot of time....)we had to head home. I had to work my other job, bookkeeping at a feed lot last night, and needed to get back. So, a quick stop at Grandmas to drop off the Brodster, and 2 1/2 hours of invoicing later, I pick him back up and FINALLY head home.

I saw the big box sitting there and wanted to open it sooo bad, but I couldn't just yet. First, (and fast, since it was almost bedtime) we had to make treats for Brody's daycare Christmas party, and wrap those presents. (Puppy Chow, pretzels and M&M's, since the originally planned chocolate suckers would take too much time).

Then, finally, after Brody was warm in bed, I got to open the huge box that had been calling my name since 7:30 that morning. I tore into it. First, I saw this:

Then I looked inside! Everything was individually wrapped and it was so much fun!! (But I don't have the patience to take pictures like that, I dug right in.)

Inside the purse, I found goldfish crackers, TWO bags of brownies, a pack of gum, bath salts and body wash, two suckers, a washcloth, and an adorable Christmas apron and oven mitt! I couldn't be happier with my secret santa, Jody! I can tell she read through my blog and really thought about what to get me!

She also sent this wonderful little note, explaining why she got me certain things:

The fish - because you love seafood NOT!

The bag - because you are a girl after my own heart.

The bath stuff - time for you to relax and take a time out.

The brownies - HELLO.....

Gum and suckers - to share with your cute little son.

The apron - Make sure to find joy and happiness in all you do!

Thank you so much Jody! It was the PERFECT ending to my day!!! I wasn't even tired anymore after I opened it and was sooooo tempted to make some brownies...



I also participated in an ornament exchange, and I received this adorable Santa music box. I should have taken a picture of the inside, there are reindeer and a sleigh that go in a circle as the music plays. I received this from Bonnie, I don't have a blog for you, Bonnie, but thank you! Brody loves it, and so do I! I hope things are getting easier for you, too!


One last thing, I purchased this snowman print from Sandi Lou. It is wonderful and I love it! If you haven't been to her blog, go! She has several prints for sale, VERY reasonably priced, and they are all ADORABLE!!!

Fiestaware

Ravings of a Mad Housewife is giving away 4 place settings of Fiestaware!! Click here to check it out!

Getting ready for Christmas

We made a Gingerbread house this weekend. This picture was taken about 10 minutes before it completely fell apart. (Pretty sure that a certain young boy had something to do with it. Big crocodile tears and all.) He thinks I'm going to buy another one. I think I'll just print off this picture instead!


Here's little Ern Dog. I couldn't resist. He hates it of course, but I did manage to get a few good pictures. I still haven't taken Brody to see Santa yet. I was planning on taking him down yesterday, but then I had company and the weather was horrible, so we still haven't gone.

He is starting to get a little anxious that Santa will forget him. (right.) So hopefully this week. My friends twins are also due to arrive this Friday, so we are all excited for that too!!

I still need to finish shopping. I'm starting to feel a little stressed. It seems there is never enough time!

Christmas Shopping (again) and a haircut

So last night I took Brody to my parents house so that I could go Christmas shopping by myself. (for toys.) Doesn't it seem silly to you to make a special shopping trip to buy $200 worth of toys?? I think so.

But I got in the mood pretty quick, and I am so excited. I found great deals. On pretty much EVERYTHING that was on my list for him. Which means, I ended up buying even more than I had planned. So, 5 stores later, he is going to be sitting with a whole lotta new stuff. I decided to go with $300 budget again, because honestly, that is more than enough.

I ended up spending $354 and some change, on $540 worth of stuff (regularly priced). A lot of what I got is stuff we would have gotten anyways, like new socks and underwear. (I don't know why, but instead of using them now, I'm going to pretend Santa gave him new underwear. Pretty sure my parents did that to me too.) I also got Wall-E and that Horton movie, which I would've bought anyways.
I can't wait to see him open everything on Christmas morning.

Also, I cut my hair. The wedding is over, so I am "allowed" to do that now. (Heather wouldn't let me before.) This is about the best I can photograph myself, but I really like it.



Cute and sassy, like Reese Witherspoon. (At least according to my hairstylist. I think it's a stretch.) But now I don't like my coloring. I think it needs to be "funner" since it's short now.

22, 28. 22, 28...

You know what I am talking about?  The scene in the Sweetest Thing, where Christina and Courtney are in the dressing room talking about boob saggage and floppy arms??  I have officially reached that stage.  I gave up on the flat stomach after I had Brody, and also have gave in to the "back roll" that pregnancy so graciously left me.  But now, my arms are going downhill fast.  I can only imagine the girls are next.  

It's not just the arms though.  Lately, the "little squish" that I have accepted in the belly region has become more of a jiggle, and I'm afraid gravity  is going to take it and it'll fall.  I am not happy.  I spent all day today making 7 different kinds of Christmas cookies, and realized that I can not eat them.  (Or at least shouldn't).  It wasn't fun.  

It also seems lately I have been eating a lot of chocolate and cheese, which are my "comfort" foods.  I haven't been very happy lately, and I think it has a LOT to do with turning 28, my sisters wedding, and my relationship with Adam.  (It seems I'm the one pulling away now.  Why is it that we just can not get back to being on the same page?  It's so good when we are.)  But when I am feeling down, I turn to chocolate and cheese.  My hips love it, apparently.  

So, I have decided that starting tonight, I am back to excersising daily.  I always try to at least use the gazelle or do some step aerobics a few times a week, but have been slacking on that since the end of October.  and it's amazing how much I can tell.  So wish me luck as I go and dust off the Bootcamp and Denise Austin DVDs and search for my workout shoes, and throw in a half hour of walking stairs.  It feels like punishment.  Too bad I love chocolate and cheese so much.

A few pics of the wedding

I didn't take ANY pictures myself, I was so busy, but I have had a few people give me a few, so here's a look at what I've got so far. Above is Brody, of course, and his new "girlfriend" the flower girl. They were adorable together.


Here they are dancing their first dance. They totally stole the show, it was the sweetest thing ever. I can't wait to see the video! At one point, the flower girl took his hand and lifted it up to spin herself. It was priceless.



Since Justin is into cars, and works for Nascar, we had to do some "Hot Rod pictures" which were actually pretty awesome. I can't wait to see the professional ones. The cars were all hot.


Here's my proud daddy walking his middle daughter down the aisle!!


So far, this is the best picture I have gotten of Brody and I. I really hope the professional ones turn out. The poor kid was sooo tired by the time the dance started, he fell asleep at the table.
He woke up in time to do some dancing, but I ended up taking him back to our room around 11:30. Bummer.


Here's the Bride and Groom's first dance. Kinda dark.


Look at him....It was such a long week for this little guy! He did such a great job. I'll put up some other pics when I get some!!

Merry SITSmas!!

Christmas season has officially started! We put up our tree last night, but that is far as we have gotten on the decorating. I am still a little worn out from this past weekend. I got 8 hours of sleep in THREE days. Ugh. Too old for this!



It's another fun day over at SITS!! Check out everyone's SITSmas cards and leave comments!!