Christmas Eve Eve

Tomorrow will be a good day!  I will start new traditions with my boys and we will make sweet sweet memories.  They will wear their new matching PJ's (from Santa of course) and we will put out cookies and milk and carrots for the reindeer's.  We will listen to Christmas music and watch Christmas movies and drive around looking at "Kiss Light" (Christmas Lights) as Lincoln calls it.  We will cuddle and read stories about the real meaning of Christmas.  And we will read "The Night Before Christmas" because after all it is a classic!  And we will talk about Santa and Baby Jesus and we will get all excited and giggly!  And we'll kiss our little babies goodnight and patiently wait for "Santa" to bring the boys their presents.  And we will hang the stockings by the chimney with care.

Yes indeed tomorrow will be a VERY good day!  And I can't wait!!!

And on a side note...baby Nate got his third toofer today!!!!  An early Christmas gift from Santa and the Tooth Fairy!  And to top it off he's a teething angel!  Now let's just hope the 4th tooth doesn't decide to pop while we are on the airplane!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!  I hope the Christmas season is magical for you and your family!

A Pretty Sweet Day!

I'd have to say that today was pretty sweet:

An impromptu trip to the Old Clayburn Store for some overly priced candy.

This can't be illegal...picture taking and driving.  If it is I broke the law-but he just looked too darn cute sitting back there eating his candy!

A visit with Papa:

Lincoln showing papa his new trains



We checked out the new pad:

My new kitchen

And had lunch at Grandma's:



Yes that's candy, cookies and bacon...please note we don't normally feed our child this for lunch!  It was just an extra special day!

And how stinken cute is this kid:

And thank you Auntie Chrissy, Uncle Adam and Avery for the presents:

This is Lincoln's "cheese" smile...we have to work on it:-)

Big Brother helping little brother open his gift!

Now that's a smile:-)

Nate loves his Zuny elephant!

And Lincoln is obsessed with his new trains!

Moments

My favorite moment yesterday was listening to Lincoln sing along with Tad (his singing frog) to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in our bedroom.  He doesn't fully know all the words but he has the sweetest singing voice.  I just stood in the bathroom and smiled-it warmed my heart:-)

Adults Night Out

So my husband says to me Sunday morning, "Dude we haven't partied like that in a long time."

Me: "Dude we're parents, when do we ever party?"

But it was a great night to be had by all!
Gotta love hall parties!  Good conversations, a few good laughs and some booze!  What more could us parents ask for!

And some highlights of our night:





The Formo's







The Renzmann's







The Edwards









What's a hall party without keg stands?







I just don't know!






Kevin told me I looked like Mr. T. 

 




This is probably my favorite photo of the nigh!

 



And it just isn't a hall party without snow-yes it snowed just a little bit but it brought back sweet sweet memories of Hall 7 Christmas Party 2008-good times!

I finally crawled into bed at 3 a.m.  I went and picked up baby Nate from my parents house and decided to leave Lincoln-he was nestled in between Mama and Papa and I couldn't bare to wake him up!

December 17, 2010

My inspiration for the evening:

It's going to be a good good night!

Is So Thankful

I am so thankful for this woman:

It doesn't matter what she's doing or where's she's going-my children are always welcomed.  I don't know what I would do with out her.  Lincoln calls her mama!  I thought it would bother me to hear my son call another woman mama but it doesn't it.  She is there second mama and she loves my babies like they are her own and for that I will be forever grateful to have such an amazing woman in our lives.

Feeling Young?

Lincoln found a new use for my breast pump:

Eye Pump

I freakin love this kid!  And just to to clarify I didn't just use the breast pump.  He sometimes finds it and walks around the house making weird noises (I'm assuming it's the noise my electric breast pump makes).  It's quite humorous!  I'm hoping I haven't scared him for life.

So I turned 28...I don't know why but 28 makes me feel old.  I know it's just a number and I know I've done alot in my 28 years of life.  I think it's the fact that I can't stop time.  I'm getting older which means my kids are getting older and I just can't believe how time flies.  I guess it's just a reminder to stop and REALLY enjoy life.  To REALLY take it all in.  To stop every day and enjoy moments...special moments with my babies...because they won't stay babies forever. 

Saturday was a good day.  Mr. Early Riser (aka Nathan) slept in till 7:45 a.m!!!!!!!!!!  He is usually up between 6 and 6:30 (sometimes earlier) so for him to sleep in till 7:45 was a real treat:-)  I did tell him before I put him to bed that he needed to sleep in...clearly he listened:-)  I love him for that:-)  I got cuddles in bed, presents, lunch with my mama (sans kids) and Greek Islands for dinner!  One thing I really wanted for my birthday was a picture of my WHOLE family (not just a pic with MOST of us but ALL of us) and ta-da:



A family pic...with significant others and all!



I am very fortunate to share my birthday with this woman-my mom!  She turned 50!  I couldn't ask for a more amazing woman in my life!  She's inspirational and I have ALWAYS looked up to her!

And even though I am now 28 these two make me feel young at heart!  And I just love them so much! 

Yes I may be 28 but I have so much to be grateful for: babies, hubby, family and health and that's truly what is important!  So I will try not to dwell too much on turning a year older!

Momma's Shouldn't Get Sick

I was "blessed" with the flu yesterday...no I am NOT pregnant just to clarify.  It was awful...pure hell!  I couldn't keep water down.  Lincoln went and stayed with my mom for the day while poor little Nate clung to my legs as I hurled into the sink (there was no making it to the bathroom).  At one point I thought I was dying (a little dramatic I know but this flu literally sucked the life out of me).  I think there needs to be a rule that momma's are not allowed to get sick!  We are here to take care of everyone else when they get sick and that's our job!  Kev was so great with taking care of the boys and trying to take care of me.  Today I felt a thousand times better when I woke up so I went straight to doing 6 loads of laundry, made Nate some organic apple sauce and then vacuumed.  I think maybe I should have rested cause now I am feeling drained.  Time to curl up on the couch and watch 4 Christmases!  This movie is quite special to me-2 years ago I took Lincoln to see that movie when he was 5 months old (it was at one of those parent and baby movie things).  He ended up pooping at the beginning of the movie and of course I left the diaper bag in the car.  And he pooped right through his jeans (and I didn't bother to pack any spare clothes).  So I ended up changing him in the front seat of the car and luckily Chrissy had just given Lincoln his Christmas gift early which was a pair of super cute way too big Guess jeans from New York.  Once he was in his clean clothes I headed back to the theatre where I was stuck outside in the freezing cold  with my baby who wasn't wearing a jacket because they locked the front doors and I had to bang on them until someone heard me!  Aww the memories!  But still it was a great movie and I think Lincoln quite enjoyed himself!

And to end this post with some pictures of my boys-both 8 months old:-)

Aren't they just the cutest?  And I think they look so similar yet so different!

You Make Me Smile:-)

I couldn't help but smile inside when I came across this:

Lincoln-you have a way of capturing my heart and making it melt:-)  How sweet is this-he filled the dishwasher soap dispenser and when I opened it up he had put the little detergent pack in.  Sometimes in life it's the little things that remember you how precious life is!  This just made my day!  Lincoln thank you for making me smile and making my days so much brighter!  Mommy loves you so much!

I Woke Up to This

This morning I woke up to this:

It felt like a scene right out of Christmas Vacation (one of my all time favorite Christmas movies).  So I guess it seems quite appropriate considering the season!  Now I just pray the owners of this beautiful trailer that will be living in front of my house for the next couple of months are nothing like cousin Eddy and his family!

Three Years Ago Today

Three years ago today I peed on a stick...a pregnancy test to be exact...and a bright vibrant blue positive sign appeared in the little window!  My life changed forever.  In that moment I experienced every emotion possible.  I still remember telling myself "take this moment in...this is what it feels like to find out you are pregnant...just take it all in."  I never envisioned myself telling my husband I was pregnant crying in the stair well at work shaking uncontrollably after taking a pregnancy test in my work bathroom.  I am a dreamer and everything has to be planned and perfect and needless to say that's not how I envisioned finding out I was pregnant.  I was shocked...really really really shocked.  It's not that I didn't want children...I have wanted babies really badly (in fact I wanted 10 at one point in my life) but I just assumed that since I wanted children so badly that when the time came it would take awhile not randomly on some cold December day. Little did I know how my life would change...how I would fall madly, deeply, passionately in love with a little boy...that love is unconditional!  I am grateful and I am thankful for that December day three years ago.  Thank you God for choosing me to be Lincoln's mommy, thank you for changing my world completely!  Thank you for the best life experience!  Thank you for making me a mommy!

Giving Back

December 1 is always a special day for me.  It's the day the Salvation Army sets up their Angel Tree up at the mall and today I will take my boys to pick 4 little boys and girls!  I love this day and look forward to it year after year!  It's a tradition I hope my boys will always carry on!  It's important...really really important!  We have been so blessed throughout the years and it's one way I like to give back and help others.  So today I will go and teach my boys how to give back and help others.  I love that Christmas is such a giving season!  I want my boys to know it's not all about getting presents but also about helping those in need!  Today is going to be a great day even if two of my glass balls have already been broken and the tree has been up for less than 24 hours-at this rate my tree is going to be ball-less my Christmas!

I Finally Did It!

I finally did it on Sunday…went shopping ALL day with no children. It’s been over 7 months since I’ve done that...maybe even longer! I don't mind shopping with the kids and for the most part they are normally pretty good.  And when they get bored and restless that's usually my cue to go home.  Yesterday I just wanted to shop by myself.  I didn't want to rush, I didn't want to have to struggle with trying to push a stroller in a crowded store, I didn't want to have to stop to feed a hungry baby.  I just wanted to shop at my pace.  I tried on clothes in a normal size change room and wasn’t rushed. I got in and out of the car without having to unbuckle and buckle children.  I shopped in every store I wanted to shop in. And most importantly I took my time. I was excited for my day to myself.  I saw dust in my rear view mirror leaving our street (just kidding) but it happens every time...I spend a few hours away and then I start to miss my babies.  I really couldn't get home fast enough.  I missed them but I needed that day to myself.  In fact I think every momma needs days to themselves.  I felt rejuvenated!  My patience level felt renewed and I think both boys were happy to spend a whole day with just their daddy doing man stuff.  I don't like leaving my babies even when I know I am in desperate need of a few hours out of the house and I think I need to make more time for days like yesterday.  On Saturday Kev and I had a wonderful date night out which didn't start out so wonderful and at one point I even said, "I don't feel like going out, let's just stay home" but there was nothing sweeter than picking up our sleeping babies in their one piece fleece footed pajama's.  Leaving my babies for a few hours really does make me fall in love with them all over again and it makes coming home so much sweeter.  I've had a few rough days with Lincoln (aka Mr. Independent/Do it Himself has to do everything including flushing the toilet after I pee or else he has a major melt down) so the times away this weekend have been much needed and greatly appreciated.  And I got some Christmas shopping done and a few goodies for myself:-)

Lincoln Loves to Swim...What?!

So....we dropped swimming lessons.

  After two horrendous sessions I pulled the plug. But not before I gave it much consideration.  I mean I don't want my children thinking that they can just drop out if they don't like something...I am all about facing your fears and finishing things to the end but I really did fear that I was doing more harm than good...and he hated it...really really hated it!  He clung to me as if I was going to let him drown and screamed at the top of his lungs-I just couldn't go through another four sessions with him like that.  MRC has parent and tot swim on Fridays and I thought I'd take Lincoln to that just to see how he did in  a less structured environment and the kid freakin loved it!!!!  He was up to his chin in the water splashing, kicking blowing bubbles.  I was shocked, baffled, speechless!  Seriously, seriously, seriously?!  I don't know if maybe my Lincoln is too cool for swim school but he played in the water as if he's been a fish his whole life (FYI he's always hated pools).  He loved it!  My eyes are still bulging but I am happy oh so happy that he had such a great time.  We were in the water for almost an hour and a half and he didn't want to leave!  I don't know if it was because the water was warm or if it was the fact that he could walk into the water and touch the bottom the whole time.  I just don't know but all I know is that I have a little fish on my hands and we will be back.  I don't know if we are ready to re-start swimming lessons again but I do know that we are off to a great start!  Ahhh I am so proud of him!

Haircut

I cut the back of Nates hair...I didn't want too but it was long and he kept getting mistaken as a girl...my mom says it will grow back nicer...I hope she's right...I really did love his long locks...now he looks so different...a little more grown up...but he's still my beautiful baby!

Presents

I am in full Christmas shopping mode and once I start I can't stop!  It is friggen cold out there and that didn't stop me from bundling up the kids and hauling them around trying to get some shopping done!  I told myself this year I was going to shop sans kids but Kev's been away and all I can think about is presents!!!!  I almost become obsessed-searching and shopping, trying to find the perfect gifts!  I finally found a cute but masculine kitchen for the boys-only problem is the website I want to buy it from is out of stock!  Arg!  I hate seeing "Out of Stock"-it drives me crazy!  So I've been scouring the Internet looking for another one at the same price and Amazon just increased their price by $120-damn you Amazon.  I think I'll just have to wait until Dec. 7 when they get some more in!  One of the things I love about Christmas is making my budget list and trying to stick to it...even though I've never stuck to it...I am ALWAYS over budget...but honestly it's such a thrill for me just trying!  And I love love love making lists of all the goodies I am going to buy!  I really must stop buying the boys stuff-they already have way too much stuff and before I know it it's going to be Nate's first birthday!  I have stashed all the goods in the bath tub in the other bathroom-it is officially time for a bigger house!  Now I must continue my online shopping...oh the anticipation of waiting for my packages to arrive!  I love Christmas!!!!

Christmas is in the Air!

Nothing beats cute little Christmas jammies!  I searched high and low for super cute jammies for the kids to wear on Christmas Eve and I thought I found them until I came across these:

They are so stinken adorable!!!!!  Of course they didn't have Nate's size so I had to phone around until I found a pair and had them shipped to my house.  I am so exicted to see the boys in them on Christmas Eve.  I had the boys try them on to make sure they fit and I just had to get some photo's which isn't easy when you have two little boys and it's bed time but seriously don't they just look adorable!!!

Lincoln had to hold his brothers hand!



OK time to stop!



Ahhh I love it!

And won't their cute little jammies go perfect with our new stockings?

And to top our weekend off...pictures with Santa!  I had to seize the moment.  It's November, Santa's at the mall and there was no better time then to get their photo's done!  I had the boys decked out in their matching outfits only to have Lincoln start screaming as soon as we got close to Santa!  Of course he loved waving to him and yelling his name from afar but up close it was a different story!  So...I had to be in the picture too!  I really wished they would have printed the picture of Lincoln screaming...that picture really captured the moment! 



Poor Lincoln

All that matters is that we beat the line ups!  I was never really into getting Christmas photo's with Santa done-and I think it was because of the line-ups and I couldn't be bothered to stand in a 3 hour line up with my child just so that they could get their picture taken with Santa!  Now knowing he comes in November...well it's a whole new ball game as well as a new family tradition.  Where's Kev you ask?  Well he was trying to make the kids smile and I know he was thinking the whole time "let's just get this done and over with already."  Photo's with Santa isn't for the kids...it's for me.  So one day I can look back and reminisce on the day I dragged the family to the mall with the boys in their matching outfits just to get a pictures with Santa to say that "we did it."  One day they'll thank me for it!  I hope!

I loved the boys in their Christmas matching outfits but I couldn't help but think of this movie:

Bahahaha!  Yes I have become THAT mother that dresses her boys in matching outfits!  Kev says I better enjoy it while I can!  And I will!!!!

McDonald's Free Coffee

I don't think the 16 year old McDonald's drive thru employee was too impressed when I ordered my large coffee with extra cream...I could sense it in her voice when she said, "is that everything?"  Yes that was everything.  Then again I suppose I'm not the only one that's been holding up the McDonald's drive thru in search of some free coffee.  I have to admit it was worth the wait!  And by the way 16 year old McDonald's employee I wasn't about to drag my two kids into the restaurant to order my free coffee so sorry if your drive thru times are through the roof!  That's the magic of a drive thru baby!

The Train-I just had to post this!

So I finally made it down to the states with both boys.  Lincoln hates sitting in his stroller so I decided to opt for the big red Target cart.  I know I probably looked like a fool cruising the mall with that thing but hey it worked and I wasn't the only mom doing it so I still looked semi-cool!  Bellis Fair has this great little train that travels the mall-and it's a bad idea when you don't have any American cash and your child has a melt down in the middle of the mall when you say no!  And hey conductor dude our cash is at par...get with it!

Since the conductor guy wouldn't take my "at par Canadian cash"  I had rush to the candy store to get it exchanged all the while Lincoln is sitting in the back of the train while I feared the strange conductor dude would take off with him.  Although in this video he doesn't looked stoked...he was trust me he was!!!!  I think he was probably a tad bit embarrassed that I chased after the train with my big red Target cart!

Yes the clonking and clacking is me chasing after the train with my big red Target cart!  I'm sure it was a sight to see!  I know I looked like a fool and poor baby Nate was slouched to the side in the cart...without a seat belt...and eating paper...I kinda forgot about him for a moment when I was chasing after Lincoln in the train with my big red Target cart trying to get a video clip of him!  I was so excited for him cause I know how much he loves trains...I was one proud momma I tell ya!  I didn't go with him cause I couldn't leave our big red Target cart in the middle of the mall in hopes that someone wouldn't jack our stuff plus Linc's 2 now...he's practically an adult and very self sufficient...and I think he quite liked the independence!  I loved loved loved seeing the expression on his face...seriously the best $3 I ever spent!  It's little things like this that make being a mom so worth it and so much fun!  And I have to laugh every time I see this video...I will embarrass my kids and this won't be the first or last time.  And I know I keep mentioning the big red Target cart but seriously who shops around the mall with a big giant cart (especially when I have 3 yes 3 strollers sitting in my garage at home) and they all cost a pretty penny.

He loved that train!

And yes I left my child alone with this man...I feared he'd drive that train right out of the mall with my child in it...hence the need to chase after the train!

I took this picture after I fastened his seat belt and over heard some ladies talking, "Oh look he's eating paper"...uh oops!