On to better things

I was talking to my Mom last week about Christmas

It's a whole lot of planning and in one day it's all over

My mom describes it like planning a wedding

You plan for a year and in about 30 minutes the ceremony is over

Christmas just didn't feel like Christmas this year

The temps were warmer than normal

There was no snow

Christmas Eve day was spent at home
and

We decided not to drag our coughing children to the Christmas Eve service at church

As sad as I am that Christmas is over,

I'm ready to move on to better things

But first I thought I would recap some of our holiday memories

On Friday night we had Christmas with my Mom's side of the family

Lots of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Good Food and Laughter

The boys were spoiled rotten

I LOVE this picture

Parker got Iowa gear from my cousin Erica and her husband Joe

This little guy sure can melt your heart with those beautiful eyes and adorable dimple

Spencer was over joyed with his new cage bingo game

Bingo might become a new Christmas tradition

On Saturday (Christmas Eve) we didn't do much

We relaxed all day and watched Dolphin Tale

I highly recommend the movie
and the boys liked it too

On Christmas morning,

The boys opened gifts

Let's just say Santa was nicer than Mom and Dad

but I'm guessing next year my boys will know the truth about Santa (sniff sniff)

 

On Sunday (Christmas Day) we celebrated with my parents

That Mama of mine can cook!

We ate way to much yummy food

Tried out the keurig

Had a fire in the fire place

Opened gifts

and

Played

You're going to shoot your eye out kid

I think my Dad was more excited than Spencer

While we opened the gun

Grandpa made him a target

After he shot that for a while,

he moved on to pop cans

Not to shabby

I heard Grandma even tried the gun out,

Where was I and why didn't anyone have the camera?

On Monday we had Chip's mom over

and we were successful cooking our first turkey

Monday night we had a family reunion

Today, we are finally done celebrating Christmas

I woke up this morning feeling like I need to detox my body

This body has taken in way to much sugar and fat in the last 4 days

Blahhh.....

Today we will be working hard taking down all of the Christmas decorations

We have a busy weekend planned
I can't wait to share what's going on with you

From our family to yours,
We hope you have a healthy and happy new year

Recovering from the birthday bash

We are trying to get ready for church this morning

I think we are still trying to recover from the birthday bash

We are all moving a little slow this morning

The kids only want to play toys, who really needs a shower before church anyway?

And

The hubby is laying in bed with an ice pack on his head

(No, there was not alcohol at the party)

Our birthday bash started on Friday -

Parker took cupcakes to school

and

Friday night we went to Jungle Bungle for the 3rd birthday in a row

But he loved it

I love the Happy Christmas tree

Is it absolutely crazy that Jungle Bungle charges 45 cents per ounce of ice cream?

HOLY COW!

When we got home

My friend brought over Parker's birthday cake

I really wanted him to have a pirate ship cake

I had attempted twice and failed

so my friend kindly said she would make the ship and we could decorate it

It's hard to believe 7 years ago

Carmen was holding Parker for the first time

and this year she made his cake

 Thank You again Carmen !!!

On Saturday morning Parker opened gifts from us

And Amelia helped

Then we patiently waited for the BIG Birthday Bash

 Mama and her birthday boy

 Yay! Chicago Bears Clothes

 Legos!

 A cool car

Gummi Worms : )

 Clothes, clothes and more clothes

Lots of artsy stuff

and

A silly birthday boy

We had an AMAZING evening celebrating with family

Thank You to those that came

and

to those that couldn't be with us,

we missed you and will see you on Friday for Christmas



He's 7!

Happy Birthday Parker Thomas John!

I still can't believe it has been 7 years since this -

This is one proud Grandma

Even though she really wanted a girl and was 100% sure you were a girl

She loves you to pieces

I'm so glad I have this picture

Your Grandpa's

We had your middle names picked before we had a first name picked

Thomas - After Richard Thomas and John - After Charles John

John was also Mama's Grandpas name (your Great Grandpa)

And because Daddy is a 3rd , The name John is everywhere in that family

Spencer is your biggest fan

Grandma brought him to the hospital the day after you were born

As they were walking through the sky walk on their way to see you,

Spencer looked at Grandma and said

Do you think he will like me?

You were perfect!

And 7 years later

We still think your perfect

Happy Birthday Parker!

We love you!

It's birthday week

It's birthday week at our house

for this handsome little guy

I can't believe it was 7 years ago today

that I was begging my Doc to induce me

I was miserable

With swollen ankles

High blood Pressure

A two year old

and

A fear of having a baby on Christmas

WOW- I was huge!

I must only have good luck when I'm pregnant

because the Doc would only induce IF -

I was dilated to at least 3

Well guess what, this mama was at 4 and READY

I only had a few days to get my life in order

before baby number 2 would make his or her arrival

We had an ultrasound at 20 weeks
The technician showed us what she thought were BOY parts

The hubby didn't agree and was determined that black spot was a shadow

I was 100% sure we were having a BOY until the week I delivered

EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE

told me I must be having a girl

I began to panic and started packing pink things

JUST IN CASE

The technicians have been wrong before
and I didn't want to have a precious little girl dressed in blue sleepers

The next 3 days would be the longest 3 days of my life

but in the end, they would be so worth it

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK PARKER!

What's on your Christmas list?

He's making a list and checking it twice . . . .

Have you made your Christmas list?

The hubby asked for a wish list
(That was before his computer crashed)
I told him he didn't have to get me anything and he could get his computer fixed

I can't have what I REALLY want
(PEACE ON EARTH)

So I'll have to settle for some material things
if he really wants to get me something

Here's my list hun-

And yes, I'm being serious
(You can get one of these at Wal-Mart)
I only want one of these so I can make this

Cinnamon bun popcorn

YUMMY!

And

I would also like one of these if you think you can manage
(Hallmark has a great selection)

Oh and a puffy quilted coat to match the head band
(I'm not too picky)

3 things

I would have to say

that I might be the easiest person to shop for


If I were little again, All I would want -
IS ONE OF THESES

I'm not sure what it is a about a Lalaloopsy doll

BUT I LOVE THEM!

Why didn't they have these when I was a kid?

I look at them EVERY time I'm in the toy aisle

Walmart has the dress up clothes and blue wig

If your daughter is getting the blue wig for Christmas
Can you talk her in to letting me try it on?
I would LOVE THAT!

I hope you get everything that's on YOUR list!

                                 

What a week!

I'm back and I'm in a MUCH better mood

Time spent with my boys
and
some holiday fun
did the trick

Last week was. . . . Well, it was what it was

Lets just say we have had better weeks

The week didn't start out so bad but by Tuesday,

I was ready to climb in a hole and hibernate

I had a bad attitude and needed an adjustment

I hadn't been feeling well

I'm trying to plan a birthday party

I'm busy working
My friend (my stylist) posted this on her facebook page

If you ask yourself why hairstylists"charge so much" for doing your hair ... They don't get paid vacation, they don't get paid sick days, they don't get bonuses for outstanding performances nor for Christmas They don't have insurance plans nor do we qualify for unemployment They sacrifice their family on special days so that they can bring happiness to others. Illness or personal affairs are no excuse for a bad haircut/color. Next time you ask, remember that hairdressers are hairdressers because of the love of doing hair, but that love doesn't pay debts. Happy hairstylists Day!! Re-post if you're a hairstylist or have good friends that are hairstylists. RESPECT THE STYLIST!!!

So while I had plans of going to Davenport and buying new shears,
I'll be working on my day off

On Thursday I took Spencer to the eye Dr.

Thankfully we got good news

Later on Thursday I found myself at the Dr.

After an hour wait,

I learned that I have either strep or a staph infection in my nose
 NO FUN!

Antibiotics 4 times a day for 10 days

has left me feeling like I have been sucking on a penny

I have this NASTY taste in my mouth
(It's going to be a LONG 10 days)

I also walked out of the Dr. office with an appointment to see the orthopedic Doc

for my pain in the tush toe
I would like to just cut it off but the Dr. says that's not the answer

On Saturday we attempted to order Spence new glasses and failed

It was just a rotten no good week

Last week I was struggling with some things

Just personal stuff that I don't care to share
Sometimes, I need this reminder



It's the holidays and I'm going to enjoy them
No more bad moods around here

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Appreciating the good days

Every day can't be a good day

We need those crummy rotten days

so we can appreciate the good days

Yesterday was one of those rotten days

It felt like a slap in the face

I'm tired

Tired of stooping to that level

The level I won't stoop to any more

I'm tired of trying to please

A part of me wants to keep trying to please

while the other part of me is done

I need a good devotion, a bible verse, something....

It's the holidays and my jaw in clinched with tension

Why do I feel like this

and

Why would I let someone make me feel this way

Are they even aware?

Do you ever feel like there are people that get joy out of making people miserable?

I'm taking a break from blogging
 I hope to be back next week
I need to refocus on my family
and get an attitude adjustment

Does he believe?

"I don't really have to sit on his lap, do I?"

(This picture was taken last week at the Mosanto kids Christmas party)

He hasn't come out and said he doesn't believe in Santa

but I'm sure the kids at school have been talking

Our Elf on the Shelf made his debut on Black Friday

and Spencer just laughed

UNTIL

we watched the Elf on the Shelf movie

In the movie, there is a little boy that doesn't believe in the Elf

The little boy touched the Elf and he lost his magic

I think the movie got his wheels turning a bit

but I still don't think he's on board

I guess I'm okay with Spencer knowing the truth

but I don't want him to ruin the fun for Parker

The hubby says I have to wait until after Christmas to discuss this with the boy

Until then, I'll keep trying to make things fun

This year I decided to do something a little different

Instead of putting name tags on each gift,

Everyone has their own gift wrap

and only I know which gift belongs to whom

This has eliminated the shaking of gifts

and figuring out what they got before Christmas morning

I love to hear the boys talk about which gifts they think are theirs

There was a down fall to this though -

I only got to use about half of my rolls of gift wrap

Remember, I have a fetish

I have gift wrap

and more gift wrap

and more gift wrap

and more

I LOVE GIFT WRAP

We have also been having fun going to Christmas activities
and eating WAY to many holiday goodies

Can you say, YUMMY (The diet starts January 1st)

We have a lot more Christmas festivities coming up
and many more goodies to eat
I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Yes, I ordered this

If you want to complain,

complain to me

I'm the one that ordered the snow

It's BEAUTIFUL and I'll be ordering more

I hung snowflakes in my kitchen windows JUST in time

 

I'm not the only one excited about the snow

The boys couldn't wait to come home and play in it

My angel made a snow angel

  I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

How about you?