Turbo Tax

New job!  Started at the IBM call center supporting Turbo Tax software.  Not a fan of this work but do love working on a MAC.  I think I have to have one now.  This job will is giving me a ton of computer experience.  I think this is the first in my life I've even worked a 40 hor week...I know it's the first time I've ever worked more than one in a row.  Kinda sucks...I'm not gonna lie.

New Bike for Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  Jayke had a great Christmas this year...new bike...fish acquarium...iPad. Not to mention his new game room, which I have yet to take pictures of.  We had Christmas at Dad's and then our house and my Mom's then he was off with his Dad to have Christmas at his grandparent's house.

Wish

Elf Catch Up

Frisbee is taking a bath in marshmallows...


Hanging out in the stockings...


and apparently he got stuck trying to get into the cabinets...probably trying to get the marshmallows for his bath!

Ballin'...Shot Callin'...

First game done. We lost. I think I was more nervous for this than I was for football! Jayke is by far the smallest one on the team. He is the youngest and probably the one with the least amount of experience. He didn't do too bad. He says he got one rebound but I didn't see it. It was a little confusing because we had a kid show up for the game who hasn't been to any of our practices because he plays on another league. He, of course, was VERY good so he got the ball all the time and confused out plays that were run in practice. Hopefully this will all get better.

This is the first time Jayke has gotten a jersey with his name and number on it so I had to get a shot of his and Zion's backs while they were waiting for the game to start. Cute.

Still At It

Good thing that was an old box of cereal I was about to throw out or I may have been upset with Frisbee for wasting food!!

The Elves Rock picture was today's mischief...yesterday he was found trying to squeeze between the shelf and the top of the turtle acquarium. He didn't quite make it and was just hanging there. (no pic) This morning when Jayke got up he came in to tell me that Frisbee MUST be stuck because he didn't leave last night! Oops. Frisbee must have been so busy he forgot himself last night! Good thing Jayke went to his friend's house this morning and gave him a chance to leave and get back to play in the cereal!

The picture below was from a couple of nights ago. Apparently the Lego Star Wars guys got fed up with the elf's antics and decided to take matters into their own hands...

So Rotten!

Our ornery elf decided to get a little creative with Jayke's picture last night! I think this may be the one Jayke has liked the most. He looked a little indignant at first then yelled at the elf a little. After that he began to laugh. After a few minutes to contemplate Frisbee's mischief, he then was mostly concerned with whether or not he would "Clean that up!"? I told him that I have to clean up after his elf every night and that seemed to relieve him somewhat. He doesn't mind that his mother has more work to do as long as I remove that marker from his face!

The night before the elf was busy in the cabinets. He made snowmen out of marshmallows. Jayke just wanted to know if he could eat them. I didn't allow it but there were plenty left in the bag for him to snack on when he got home from school which made him happy.

This elf business is becoming quite the chore! Now that he has gotten so creative it is a challenge for him to come up with new and better ideas every night. Thank goodness he saved all this creativity for the days closer to Christmas! If he had started out this way I don't think he would have had enough ideas to make it 25+ days!

Silent Night

Ornery Lil Elf!

Our elf has been busy! Fishing for goldfish and hiding in interesting places!

Looks like someone needs to go to the grocery! I did throw out the expired eggs!

Turkey Surprise

I love when I find things like this in The Boy's backpack!

What I'm Loving

and can't get enough of! I found this pillow on Etsy and HAD TO HAVE IT! This pillow is so perfect in my house. I just wish I could find coordinating ones to go with and maybe even bring these colors into my bedroom.

Speaking of Etsy...it, along with Pinterest are my new two addictions. Like I needed any more. I get so many ideas from Pinterest it's crazy. Went out and bought some canvas and stencils for a project. Hopefully it will turn out great and I will be able to post it. For now you can just admire my pillow!

Another Sport!

I realize this ins't a very good picture...it is the only one I've gotten so far. I will have to get one next weekend at our first game! So far he loves it. He and Zion are the only two second graders on the team with a bunch of third graders and I have to say I think they are the best two of the bunch! Jayke needs to work on endurance and his arm strength though to be able to get the ball up to the basket easier. I think he is picking up the general idea pretty well though. His coach is pretty old school and has them running suicides and playing shirts and skins. Thank God Jayke wasn't one of the "skins"! He won't even take his warm ups off in the gym with other people around and he has shorts on underneath! He thought it was pretty funny that Zion had to take his off though. We will see what happens when he is picked to play on the "skins"!

Mason's Birthday

Mason's birthday party was at Escapades this year. A bunch of rowdy boys let loose on an indoor playground...CRAZY! There was a moment when I was sure we would get kicked out. We had kids ON TOP of the huge climbing apparatus instead of IN it like they are supposed to be. We had a group of boys cheating at the games that give you tickets for prizes. It was insanity. When our group left we had random kids we didn't know running up and hugging the kids in our group to tell them bye they had so much fun with them. The kids in our group ranged in age from 6 to 14...the older ones were the ones climbing where they shouldn't have been and cheating at the games. Maci and her friend spent a large amount of time just laying in the ball pit with random kids climbing all over them...or over them to get through. Balls were being chucked every which way...both in and OUT of the ball pit. Some how we managed to not get the boot and all had a wonderful time!

I have the bowling alley booked for Jayke's party this year but after the blast they all had at Escapades I am now considering moving it so they can all go back. Matthew has been begging Ang to let him take Jayke and Mason to Escapades for months. He was so happy to finally be there...I'm sure he would love to go back. Above is a picture of Jayke, Mason, Zion, and Levi. Jayke and Zion are in the same grade, as Mason and Levi are too. They all play soccer together and Zion is on Jayke's basketball team. They all get along and have a great time together.

After the birthday party, Mason had a birthday dinner on his real birthday a couple of days later, and cake the day after that. I'm sure Jayke now thinks he needs to have a 3 day birthday as well!

My Motto

This pretty much says it all...



Favorite ornament this year!

Nemo Loves Tinsel!!

I must say I have been highly disappointed in both my cats lack of cooperation in their Christmas photo shoots this year. Too much movement leads to blurry pictures...I just need them to sit perfectly still with the garlands and different items wrapped strategically around them. Is that so much to ask?

Just Enough For Frosty

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We finally got to use the snowman kit that Aunt Dona gave us a couple of years ago. Good packing snow fell today. Unfortunately the yard was so wet from all the rain before the snow that our snowman was a little muddy. This also prevented us from making him bigger and also from placing him where I wanted him...up closer to the tree with the snowflake lights by the house. At least we were able to make a small version of Frosty and The Boy was more than thrilled with his snow buddy!

He did all the building himself...I just lifted the snowballs on top of one another. I imagine he will melt by tomorrow night but at least we got to enjoy him for one day. I saw the neighbor slow down to take a good look at him as she drove by.

I think it's about time to buy some new snow gear. The Boy's snow pants are a size 4/5...he wears a 7. They are long enough but a little snug in the waste and the hat he now "LOVES" that he hated last year is pretty tight as well. I tried everything to ge thim to wear this hat last year and he absolutely refused. Got it out today and he said he loves it. No idea what changed his mind.

The Halls are Decked

Luna is one happy cat...that I finally got her favorite toy back out! Her eyes lit up and I'm pretty sure she grinned as I pulled the tree out of the box and began to assemble it. She sat quietly and watched as each piece went into the next and the lights were finally lit. As Jayke and I fluffed each branch she circled the perimeter watching with anticipation. As I strung the garland around the tree I think I saw her begin to quiver with excitement. Once the garland was on I gave The Boy the go ahead to hang the ornaments. Luna could stand it no more. She dove into the tree and started batting at every ornament within her reach. Tugging at garland and even making a run for it with one ornament that Jayke made causing The Boy to darn near have a heart attack. We got the water bottle out and by the time the tree was done Luna looked like she had survived a monsoon.

Nemo is not as mesmerized by the glittery tinkling tower of fun as Luna is. He approached with caution and quickly learned that touching the shiny dangling objects caused an unpleasant shower of water to hit him in the face. He does enjoy hiding under Luna's tree and attacking her as she is trying to dismantle it though and I had to remove him from his perch about three quarters of the way up the tree once last night. About three hours after the tree was finished the cats both were curled up asleep...exhausted from their attempts to take down the tree of toys I provided them with. I'm sure visions of shiny balls and fluffy garland danced through their heads! No doubt they were planning their next assault!

Old and New Traditions

Every year as a child I received and Advent Calendar in the mail around Thanksgiving. The calendars were usually a pretty winter scene with lots of glitter on them and I couldn't wait for December 1st so I could see what was behind the little doors and windows. I've looked for Advent Calendars similar to the ones I remember as a child but I can usually find are the ones that have a chocolate behind each door. They are plain and each chocolate is basically the same. Not much excitement to the chocolate Advent Calendar.

I've been disapointed by the calendars and had all but given up on that tradition then I found this!! A Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar!! How cool is that? Yea, I know it isn't the old fashioned card stock calendar, covered in glitter of my childhood but I think it will elicit the same anticipation and enjoyment that I got from my calendars as a child. Jayke will have this waiting for him when he returns from the weekend with his dad!

Each day he will get to open a little door and remove a small plastic bag filled with the parts needed to create one of the following Star Wars characters or ships...

He is going to LOVE this...highly recommend to anyone who has kids who love Star Wars or LEGOS or both! Also to moms who are big on creating Christmas traditions with their children.

Gobble Gobble

Jayke got to be an Indian at his "Feast" at school the other day. Here he is in in his vest that I had to go out and buy a package of white t-shirts and use half of my coffee to make. Apparently the teachers haven't changed their curriculum due to the economy! They still have us spending money every other week.

Jayke is with his dad for Thanksgiving so it was pretty quiet at Mom's for dinner. Not so much at Dad's. There was a lot of complaining about the fact that it was 6 o'clock and the turkey was STILL cooking! Everyone was starving. I guess it takes longer than one would think for a 22 lb turkey to thaw. It should be ready in a week or two! LOL Good thing they also had an 18lb ham too!

I skipped Black Friday this year. I have all my shopping done so there was no need to go out and spend any more money. We are heading to IKEA Saturday though for my birthday!! Can't wait...first time at IKEA!! Happy Birthday to me!!

Can You Keep a Secret???

Don't tell Jayke...below are two pics of what he is getting for Christmas this year. His is black and will probably be decorated like the one in the top picture...




I really love them both but I think he will like the top one better. He will get a gift certificate to go pick out his fish after the holiday.