Our Christmas (Better a few days late than never)

Just wanted to share some Christmas pics and memories. I didn't get around to this earlier this week because we just vegged! Alot! Literally! I wouldn't have left the house on Monday if my sis hadn't called and said I should go with her to take our dresses and shawls for the wedding to be pressed. On Tuesday, I would not have left the house if we hadn't NEEDED milk (well, ok, John needed milk, Wheeler and I could have done without.) I don't know if it was just the post holiday let-down, if it was being so tired, or that we just wanted to spend time at home, with each other. Even Wheeler wasn't begging to get out!  That's unusual!

We started the long weekend at Dollywood.  Wheeler loved the big lighted presents.  He ran around them like nobody's business.  We had a great time just walking around, looking at lights, and watching Wheeler ride the rides.  I love going there with my boy, he gets so excited about everything.  Each visit with him is a new adventure and I love seeing things through his eyes.  It's brings back memories of my own childhood, but also helps me to see life in a different way.


Christmas Eve we gathered at Kelli's house.  We had finger foods and visited for a while.  It was so nice to see everyone together.  It just doesn't happen often enough!

Mom, Kelli, and I

A couple of cuties!

                                                  

Waiting on presents!

Mom and her brothers and sisters! Aren't they a great looking bunch?

Cody reading the Christmas story.

TRYING to wait patiently.  Believe me, before this, he was not being so nice and cute!

Finally!

We woke up Christmas morning and Santa had visited!  I have to admit, though, we have to do better at this Santa thing next year.  We completely forgot the milk and cookies!  

He loved his basketball goal!

Hmmmm, this one is for Wheeler and Daddy from Santa.

Mommy totally got Daddy this year.  I had him convinced I couldn't find an XBox.

The closest Santa could come to "water shots" in the winter.

This, by far, has been the best Christmas.  Wheeler was so exited when he woke up.  We asked him if he thought Santa had been here.  His reply "Yes, I heard him." We asked what he heard, he said "I heard his boots....they sounded like REINDEER!"

When we got home Sunday night, I thought about how truly blessed we are.  John has been out of work over a year now.  We have been able to pay all the bills and take care of incidentals that have been thrown our way.  I saved all year for Christmas, and we were able to buy for others.  We are all healthy.  We have a roof over our heads.  We have more than enough food to eat.  We even have what we want.  It occurred to me that I don't know what it is like to go to bed hungry and not knowing where my next meal will come from, that I've never had to deal with any major health issues, and that we aren't even in danger of not knowing where we will lay our heads to sleep at night.  GOD IS GOOD!  We are blessed in every sense of the word.  I took some time to thank God for everything he has given us.  I hope you all did the same.

Merry Christmas

Linus says it best.

My Randomness

I have many random thoughts running around in my head, so here goes.

I love, love, LOVE, L.O.V.E my Kitchenaid Mixer.  I had to get a new mixer back in the spring when I was taking the cake decorating class because the one I had was a cheapie bought for like five bucks one black Friday.  I have actually burned out many a mixer making peanut butter pie in the past, but I kept buying cheap ones.  Then I got my Granny's stand mixer last year, and burned that one up (I don't remember the brand name, but apparently it was no Kitchenaid.)  I have already gotten my money's worth outta this thing.  Wheeler loves to help me mix when we make cupcakes, cookies, and many other delicious confections.  Love.  It!


Baking

Peppermint Cupcake!

Daniel's Birthday cake I made back in May

I love creating new desserts.  It seems to be an inner passion of mine.  I don't have near enough time to bake.  To make a mess of my cozy little kitchen.  I also love that Wheeler loves to help me bake.  It's a great way to spend time with two of my loves.  I so wish there were enough time in the day to do it all, but alas, there is not.


Elf on the Shelf.....Fail

We attempted the elf this year.  I picked one up on Black Friday excited about Wheeler's reaction, what the elf would do, where he would be each morning.  We read the book together.  Wheeler named him Joey.  I'm not sure why.  I'm not sure he's even heard the name before.  But there was Joey Elf.  We all started out so excited....what would Joey tell Santa?  Could Wheeler be good enough for Joey to give a good report?  We even tried bribing Wheeler to eat with "what will Joey tell Santa?"  However, the truth of the matter is, we barely remembered to move him each night.  Then, we left Joey too low, and not fully understanding about the Elf Magic, Wheeler picked him up and loved on him.  That led to sleeping with him.  Now, I truly don't know where Joey is at.  Wheeler doesn't ask about him.  I have looked at several blogs with elaborate scenes of elves.  WHERE do you people find time for this?  While I think the PG pics and setups are HILARIOUS, and I love that some elves leave huge breakfasts, or a swirl of North Pole Magic all around, when!


My Little Guy.

We measured him over the weekend.  He's grown 3/4 of an inch since October 27th.  Almost an inch and a half since his birthday in August.  I got a little teary eyed at this.  He continues to amaze me every single day.  He is so smart, yet so rambunctious.  I personally think he's just like his daddy must have been at three, because I'm suuuurrrreeee I was a good, sweet little girl who always listened to my mom and dad (*cough*cough!)

My Amazing Husband

I wonder every day how in the world I was blessed to marry such a wonderful man.  He is so good to Wheeler and I.  I know my daddy would be so proud.  And that's all I'm gonna say about that right now, 'cause I'm getting a little teary eyed.

Ok, I suppose that's a long enough post.  For now.  There's so much more randomness in my head no jokes please!!!)  I don't know if it's the time of year for reflection, or that my brain just needs to let it all out, but here it is.

It's Donors Choose Matching Week!

Hello Friend!

Until December 12th the Board of Director's for Donor's Choose are matching all contributions.  If you are still looking for that end of the year tax deduction, could you please help out my classroom by donating toward an ELMO Projector.  The link below will direct you to my page and tell you a little bit about our classroom.  Thank you for your consideration of this project.


Capturing Students Attention with an ELMO




Again, thank you so much!!!!

Sick Day #2

I'm on my second day home with a stomach virus.  Actually, I'm close to being over it, thank goodness!  Yesterday was rough.  This morning I woke up with that headache from dehydration after the stomach virus.  After guzzling juice, water, Sprite, and taking a couple Tylenol, I think I am going to live.

Here is how we spent the gorgeous weekend.

We went to the park, twice.  Saturday we went late in the day.  It's amazing to me how big my little guy is getting.  Right before my eyes he is turning into this (mostly) sweet, (usually) caring, smart kiddo!

John wouldn't let him near me yesterday since I was sick, so he'd come to the door of the bedroom and ask, "mommy, you still sick?"  I said "yes baby, I am."  He would say back "you feel better soon mommy I love you."  Then he'd run away before daddy caught him that close to me.

This morning when he came up he came to the door again "Mommy, you still sick?" I said "yes a little" he said "You gonna be sick all the time?"  I said "no I'll be better soon."  He said "Good, I miss you."  Melt. My. Heart!  I love that kid!

Ok, I'm going to try to eat something....first time since dinner Sunday night.  Hoping all is good.

Christmas Yumminess!

So I found a recipe for peppermint cupcakes about a month ago and I've been itching to make them.  I did just that today, and YUM!  It's so easy, just add peppermint oil.

Gotta Love the Kitchen Aid! 

I made mini cupcakes, they are easier for a three year old to handle.

Fresh from the oven!

I put the Andes Peppermint Crunch on top, instead of crushed peppermints.

The final, delicious, cupcake.

I can't wait to make some more wonderful seasonal treats.  

Pseudoephedrine Induced Insomnia

Pseudoephedrine (pretty sure that's not spelled right, sorry) still keeps me up at night.  My sinuses are clear but my headache is gone.  I didn't think about it when my sis offered it to me, I just knew that Tylenol, Advil, and caffeine had not touched the headache, and my head was congested.

Lying here in this state of twitchyness all night got me thinking about a few things.  First, this is the second night in three I've been up all night (Black Friday Madness and all!).  Second, I haven't posted in a long time.

I can attribute my lack of posting to busyness, but aren't we all busy these days.  I know I am not the only one.  Sometimes I will think of something to post about on the hour commute, but it would be hazardous to try to post from my phone at that time.  When I get home all I want to do is snuggle with my little guy, then go to bed.  So writing (not that I do it that well) gets put on the back-burner.  When I do take a minute to think about posting I tend to put it off because I'm on the laptop and don't have the pictures readily accessible (they are on the desktop.)  Which led me to another line of thinking tonight, maybe ya'll are sick of pictures of Wheeler! HAHA! Sure probably not, he is adorable after all.

Then I got to thinking about something my husband said to me lately, that I need to take some time for myself.  While I completely agree that in the busyness of day to day activities, I need to take time for myself, it dawned on me, I am happiest when I am with my family.  My time to myself is a wonderful day with family.  So far this fall Wheeler, John and I have been on short hikes (well with a three year they would be called hikes!), we've been to Cherokee, driving through the mountains a couple of times, to the pumpkin patch, to the park a few times, to Dollywood several times, we've played in the backyard, done crafts, cooked together, and so many more things.  I want Wheeler to grow up and remember that mom and dad may have been busy, but we made time for family.  We did a lot of little things together that make big memories.

We've Been Busy

Long time, no blog again!  I've thought about it several time, but work and the boy are keeping me busy!

We went to Dollywood earlier this month.  Wheeler always loves to go there.

Love him!

On the obstacle course.

With mom.

With mom again.

Then the next weekend we met some friends at the pumpkin farm in Sevierville.

With my new friend!

Here we are again!

Baaa!

After the pumpkin farm that day, we went to Cherokee and Wheeler saw his first concert.....Charlie Daniels.  He wasn't too impressed......

On the way to Cherokee on this afternoon, we saw a mamma bear and her cub in a tree.  I tried to get pictures, but you can't really see the bears.  Wheeler and I got out of the truck and stood under the limb momma was on.  It was a little frightening to me.  Wheeler loved it!

We went to Oaks farm with Daddy the next weekend and had a ball!

Sliding!

I loved jumping!  Mommy got on, too, but those pictures won't be posted!!  haha

The rabbit was soft.

Finding the perfect pumpkin!

In a field of pumpkins....aka....pumpkin heaven.

A Wheeler sized pumpkin.

Riding back with daddy.

Just hanging out and exploring.

We had game night last week, and since Sophie was sick and couldn't come, Wheeler entertained himself.....

He said he was in his car driving.

And this one just cracks me up..........

I love John, and all he does and tries to do for us!  Notice what he's trying to teach
Wheeler.......including the square root sign!