Its Cookie Time

How can it be Christmas if you don't have any bake and decorate cookies??

 

 

Bree was explaining to her father how much she does NOT like those little red balls.

 

However a little later on I caught her sneaking one. 

She decided she liked them...

 

...and must cover every square inch of every single cookie she decorated with the red hots.

 

 

It wasn't until we were on our last pan of cookies that I discovered something very, very wrong.

 

Can you spy it?

 

 

 

Jim is frosting cookies while watching football. The kids are 1/2 pound of sprinkles to their cookies. All in all everything seems as it should, right? 

 

Lets zoom into the Christmas tree in the corner, shall we? 

 

 

And there hanging on the tree are the aprons that I spent all of naptime making as a surprise for my children.

 

Oh well.  Its the thought that counts anyways, right? 

More Elfin' Around

Oh that crazy elf....

 

 

 

 

 

Why not?

Did you ever want to do this?

 

 

There was something appealing about loading up your bed with all your toys and blankets then sitting smack dab in the middle of it all. 

 

I think Jacob misunderstood the concept.

 

Take a closer look.

 

 

He might have had a little help in being buried.

 

Mysterious

Why am I digging through my trash can with a pair of grill tongs? 

 

 

No its not to show you my late night Wendy's craving.

 

Its because of this guy.

 

Looks guilty, doesn't he?  And he should.

 

Someone climbed up to the shelves of the entertainment center.  Someone got down his dad's Nintendo notebook.  Then that someone proceeded to rip pages out of said notebook.  And now the notebook cannot be found.

 

I've looked everywhere.  Every.  Where.

 

Under beds.  Under toys.  Under furniture.

In drawers.  In every nook and cranny.

 

The only place left to look is in the trash.

 

And nada.  Nothing. 

 

 Jim's Nintendo notebook has officially disappeared from this house.

 

Where it went, we may never know.

My little weirdo

I found a picture today that I don't think I ever posted.

 

Remember back in May when temps were reaching the high 90's and the grass was starting to turn brown like it was the middle of the summer?

 

It was hot.  So hot.  Hot enough that I bought my kids a pool and filled it up in the same day.

 

Oh the burning sun.  Sunblock was a necessity as was wearing hats.

 

 

 

I guess I should have been more specific on what type of hat was needed. 

Elfin' Around

In no particular order here is what our elf buddy has been up to:

 

 

I'm so glad our elf did research over the summer (through Pinterest, of course) and came prepared with a list of mischief to get into.  It makes late night or very early placement so much easier.

In the name of health

Its the cold and flu season. 

What do you do to stay healthy?

 

 

We've polished off two bags of Cuties since they hit the store a week and a half ago!

Welcome Elf

Well...  I did it. 

 

 I caved. 

 

Caved to the pressure that everyone is doing it? 

 

 Caved to the heart melting excitement that it will bring the children? 

 

Caved to the years of memories that will make Christmas even more wondrous and magical than it already is?

 

Caved to the traditions I hope to instill in my children for them to pass on to their children?

 

Caved to the illusion that by doing this that it will hold me accountable to do everything I always say I'm going to do?

 

To all the above... yes.

 

I now introduce you to our new elf buddy - Fred.

 

 

Day One

 

 Fred helped himself to hot chocolate and marshmallows after his trip back from the North Pole where he reported good behavior for the first day.

 

Fred was even kind enough to set out extra cups and hot chocolate packets for us to enjoy for breakfast.

 

Nothing like a sugar high for breakfast.

Dilemma

Being a mother you are faced with tough decisions, day in and day out.

 

What food to give them that isn't full of processed junk but convenient enough to fit into a working parent's lifestyle?  Is this show educational enough?  Does this book send the right message? Where to send them to school?  Am I being a good role model as a Christian?  Financially?

 

The list goes on and on.

 

Then there are the lesser important decisions but decisions none the less that you have to face every single day.  

 

Do they need a jacket to go outside?  Are they safe playing on the trampoline?  Are they going to need baths tonight?  Should we watch a movie together?  Where are all the matches to the socks I have in front of me?

 

Then there is the age old question.  You notice your child has fallen asleep in what cannot possibly be a comfortable position:

 

 

Do you

 

 A.  Attempt to move him into a more comfortable position so he won't wake up cranky and crying with a sore neck?

 

or

 

B.  Leave him alone for fear of waking it up?

 

Well....  What do you do?

 

I was faced with that dilemma today.

 

It was a bad day. 

 

He was riled up.  He was rambunctious.  He was a chatter box.  A terror to his sister and the cats.  His stomach was a bottomless pit.

 

So when I noticed that he had fallen asleep in the chair, I chose the latter.

 

They are so cute...when they're sleeping.

 

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

Like Father Like Son

I'm sure if my husband had a handheld Nintendo device back in 1982, this is what he would have looked like:

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the glassy eyed, mouth hanging open position to the unwavering amount of time Jacob would spend on the DS if allowed, leaves me with only one thought.

 

 

Like father, like son.

Christmas comes early around here

 

 

 

I just LOVE this most wonderful time of the year, don't you?

More Changes

Remember last week when I mentioned all the changes that 2013 will be bringing?

 

 

Our pine trees that died this summer will need to be cut down next summer....

 

 

Bree will be starting Kindergarten....

 

 

Jacob will be starting preschool....

 

 

Well there is just one more little change that is coming in 2013:

 

Ultrasound picture at 10 weeks - as of today I'm 12 weeks.

 

 

Baby #3 on the way - due May 2013

 

The fun part about being pregnant this time around is that I won't have to go through this alone:

 

 

Two of Jim's brothers are also expecting little bundles of joy and we're all due within three weeks of each other!

 

Talk about a baby boom for the Dominique family!!