Ten on Tuesday.

1. We went out to Tall Timbers Tree Farm this past Sunday to pick out our Christmas Tree. We took a ride on their little bus called the Elf Express in search of our Fraser Fur. It was such a joy watching the boys get so excited about the whole process. Jack kept saying, "how about this one, this looks like the perfect tree." They completed the experience with a cup of hot cocoa. Owen loved this part as he kept asking, "Momma, hot COCO peeese....peeese, more".

Riding the Elf Express.

 

The boys on the hunt with their Daddy.

It's hard enough to take a picture of two little boys let alone when one has to go potty.

2. We then decorated the tree that night while listening to Glee, The Christmas Album.

 

Both boys wanted a chance to put the star on top.

Jack helped decorate the tree......

while O-bubs decorated Beasley.

I know I say this all the time, but the boys are at such a fun age (minus the 2 year-old tantrums). They get so excited about everything as they (especially Jack) are starting to understand the holidays. I think Pat and I had smiles on our faces the whole time we decorated the tree. It was so pretty all lit up that night. This is definitely a tradition I can see us doing for a long time.

3. And here was the Christmas Tree about 15 hours later....

Those little bubs just couldn't keep their hands off of it.

4. Shhhh...don't tell the 15 year-old Jack, but the almost 4 year-old Jack went with his Momma to see Tangled. He even held my hand and sat on my lap for parts of it. Yeah, I was pretty much eating it up the whole time! This was a great movie, for both girls and boys. It has lots of music (a nice surprise) and action.

5. I just may never learn how to use Photoshop. I need to take a class...know of one? I still hold out hope..it's on my list of to-do's. Well, in the meantime, I still have picnik, which I just discovered has textures. I like!

Before:

 After:

6. Another Christmas album that I have been listening to everyday for the that two weeks is Josh Groban's Noel. Not to sound too corny, but it just fills me with the Christmas spirit and makes me want to decorate every corner of my house while baking cookies. Did I ever tell you that I saw him once on the streets of Chicago? Yep, we crossed the street together, I was right next to him. Really, it was him, but I was too nervous/star struck to say anything. 

7. As a Registered Nurse, I need to fulfill 24 CEU's every 2 years. My license needed to be renewed and for this to be done these 24 credits were due today. So, guess when I started all 24? On Sunday night! Sheesh...such a procrastinator I am. 

8. I think these are three great DIY Christmas gifts. 

    -Lemon Scrub for the gals

 and

    -Cubicle Snacks for the guys

and

    -Going Fishing game for the kiddos

9.  We miss GiGi!

10. My birthday is on Friday. This means that in 3 days I will turn 32 years-old. Can I be honest with you about something? Yes? Okay, here goes....I am so dreading it and the thought of it is actually making me slightly depressed. Ugh!! What happened to 22 or 25 or 28 or 30 even? Good thing (great thing actually) I am meeting up with my girlfriends in Chicago for the weekend. Woo-hoo...cannot wait girls! May I will see Josh Groban.

Tailgating in a new pair of boots.

We had our annual visit from my brother Keefe and my SIL Holly. I'm not sure who was more excited about this, the boys, the dogs or me! The boys (and the dogs) vied for their attention the entire time. We truly had so much fun this year and the three days went by way too quickly!

 

My poor guests...these two pups glom onto them.

They may have even wanted to sneak into their luggage?

Their visit was coordinated perfectly on the same weekend as the University of Michigan vs. Wisconsin Badger football game. I'm not sure if I ever told you this, but Keefe is an absolute die-hard Wolverine football fan...actually more like a F.A.N.A.T.I.C.

  

Fanatic

definition: A person marked or motivated by an extreme, unreasoning enthusiasm, as for a cause.

Yep, that pretty much sums him up!

So it was a must that we go to the game and really give it our his fanatic all. This meant that tailgating was in order. We started our morning with a 5:00 am alarm in order to leave our house by 5:30 am so we could drive the 2 hours to the football stadium. With a stop of course at the only Caribou Coffee that I know of in Michigan (so miss that place!). We he wanted a great parking spot for our 4 hours of tailgating festivities. I know, I couldn't believe that I was doing this, but I'm so glad I did! Anyway, we got there at the perfect time as our car was probably 10th in line and we got ourselves a perfect parking spot with the stadium as our back-drop.

Our location may have been sweet, but our set-up was pretty week...laughable actually! 

4 chairs, 1 cooler, 1 grocery bag filled with munchies and 1 cell-phone that played music we could barely hear! Oh well, it was still a blast! I'm not sure if we had more fun just being together or if we had more fun people watching all the other crazy fanatics? Tailgating is a part-time job for these people...pure craziness and serious fun that I had never experienced before in my life!

 

The Big House seats 120,000 people (right Keefe?) and we were 4 of those.

Some pics of us...

Into the game we go....

We had so much fun watching the game, eating great food and having enough room in our seats for one butt cheek.

 Keefe, however, looked like this the entire 2 hours.

Ohhhh...did your team lose 48-28? Bummer.

So, all-in-all the whole day's worth of festivities were awesome! I just had so much fun, and I'm a little sad because I'm not sure if I will ever get to do something like this again. For that, I definitely feel as though I checked something off my bucket list with the whole experience (even though it may not have been on my list previously).

Now, about the boots.

I had been needing a new warm pair of boots, but I had also thought rubber boots could be considered a necessity to my wardrobe.

I just happened to come across a pair of boots at Target that could full-fill both of those criteria (at least until it snows). Flannelish-lined rubber boots (yes, I know that is not a word).

The more "fun" we have, the more likely the faces appear. I don't know?!?

Target

I love these boots. 

They are cute and warm and keep my feet dry and are cute.

Here are some other cuties, all under $20!

 

Target

Target

Target

Or these rubber boots for $125. Huh? No way.

 Zappos

What a great Christmas present for yourself...don't ya think?

Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful, delicious feast...all of us!

(Lola would not partake in such silliness...she is much better than that)

My mom was here to help us bake, cook, eat and play (and do my laundry).

What a treat it was to have her here for a whole week. Sniff..Sniff, she goes home tomorrow.

And a moment I want to remember (forever) is when during the traditional 'go around the table and say what you're thankful for', this little man (who was first to go) said, "I am thankful for my mommy and daddy and my family". When this received "oohhs and ahhs", he followed it up with, "I have been keeping that in my brain to tell you guys". This is the first year that I was able to explain to Jack what the holiday of Thanksgiving really means. It warmed my heart to hear him say what he was thankful for....little bugger was listening. It will be fun to hear how his answer changes in the years to come. Now Owen, he told us what he was thankful for, but his adorable babble-talk, only a mother understands.

It was a wonderful week and holiday filled with family that I love dearly.

Now I must go to bed, Christmas decorating starts tomorrow!

Turkey Hats: A 5 Minute Project

My Lil' Turkeys

We put these together last night in literally 5 minutes 

and the boys liked them for another maybe 5 minutes.

Ohh..so cute...1 minute.

2 minutes.

Can I just get one of you both kinda smiling? 3 minutes.

Perfect Jack! 4 minutes.

And Owen is over it....5 minutes.

Cute while they lasted!

Blocks!

Here is a recommendation for a great Christmas present for the preschool boy in your life. 

Trio Blocks are hands-down the best toy we have bought Jack (and Owen?) in a long-long time.

They come with a pamphlet full of "how-to build" instructions (for example, the airplane modeled below), perfect for inspiring creativity and imagination. The blocks are super easy and fun to use as they just "click" together. In the past few days that we have owned them, the boys have already made so many different creations...airplanes, robots, letters, boats, houses, etc. The possibilities are endless!

I had been wanting to buy Jack some sort of big boy 'blocks', such as Legos, but I was apprehensive as he is still a bit young. I randomly saw The Trios on sale at Target and made a quick/not much thought purchase. I like to check the reviews and ratings on anything and everything I can before I buy just to see what the people have to say. I'm so glad I bought them on this whim! My review is that this a great set of blocks for a preschooler and maybe a younger sibling toddler who likes to follow his big-brother around and do as he does! They challenge him to use his imagination to create and then use his imagination to play! Ahh...so refreshing!

Oh and the Spiderman costume with the Superman cap...not much else I can say about that other then, "it's still going strong".

If you give a boy a mattress.

If you give a boy a mattress

and you put it on the floor,

he will jump and jump

to his hearts content,

 

and beads of sweat are dripping down his forehead onto his rosy, red cheeks.

And if you give a boy a mattress on the floor, he will jump until he giggles uncontrollably, asks for a glass of water and starts jumping again.

Note to self: It may be a good idea to keep this futon mattress up for the winter.

And This Evening.

A child's shaving kit equals an endless amount of fun during bath time.

Lathering up with bubble gum smelling shaving cream.

Get it all over your cheeks Owen!

Making sure he is giving himself a good clean shave.

He doesn't want to miss any spots.

Jack loved this little shaving kit that happened to be a Christmas present from last year.

We had to pry it out of his hands when his cheeks were turning purple from pushing down so hard during the 12 shaves he gave himself in 10 minutes.

Definitely a great little gift/stocking stuffer!

This morning.

Friday Random.

1. Jackers and I made SLIME this afternoon. It was gooey, slimy and fun for him to play with for a wee bit. I think I may have added too much water because it never solidified as much as I thought it would (think slimy, clear play dough). I will definitely need to try making this again because it has potential! 

2. After the slime fun wore off, Jack started his version of a Letter to Santa. Scissors, glue and Santa...all very exciting for an almost four-year old.

3. While he did these projects, I made a few things!
Chicken Tortilla Soup-This is probably one of the best soups I have made in a long time! It has got lots of lime (which I love!) and you can't go wrong with shredded cheese and warm tortilla chips crunched on top! I whipped up some cheesy-corn bread muffins to go with it...yummm! Do make!
and
The Best Homemade Granola Ever-We are having another round of house guests (I love me some visitors), so I thought this would be good to have on hand for in the morning!
and
Puppy Chow (just cause I was having a major craving!)

4. Whenever Jack tells me something and he really wants to make sure I am listening to him, he takes my chin in the palm of his hand and looks me right in the eyes. It's just too sweet, this Momma can't stand it! So I thought I would document it here...

and then give him a smooch!

 I never, ever, ever want this sweetness to end!

5. My above chosen hairstyle, I am pretty sure will be my daily hairstyle for the next 52 days. Oh Salon Ultimissimo, I cannot get to you soon enough! Look at those roots...so gross.

6. My aunt and cousin are here for the weekend. I think we might check out Saugatuck, Holland, or trusty old South Haven. Perfect time especially when it feels like late spring around here. The boys played outside this afternoon with short sleeves and bare feet. I am loving it!

This is my cousin Jenny with her husband popping up behind us.

Were you thinking sisters? Lots of people do!

7.  And just because I need some of my O-Man in this post.

 

Pretend or Real...he is always talking to his PaPa.

8. My mom, brother and sister-in-law will be here in "5 more sleeps" (this is how we explain it to the Jackers). Yeah!