Happy New Year!!

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Merry Christmas!!

Santa strikes again!

What she asked Santa for this year

Tearing into the gifts

Her own version of opening presents

That's better!

Hey!

My girls

Love them

Snack time

Playing with her toys

Check, check, double check...

Cookies baked...check
Supplies for Christmas dinner bought...check
Presents finally all wrapped...double check

It really IS a Christmas miracle!!

Santa's got nothing on this mommy...

So i'm officially done Christmas shopping!!
Well, i have 2 gift cards to buy yet, but they practically don't count since they just go in cards and are ready to go when you get them.
Everything is bought.
I'm so happy!
Now comes the hard part.
Saturday night and last night, i have been up until 1245am and 12am respectively, wrapping presents.
In years past, it was so easy!
Frank would watch Mady downstairs while i wrapped gifts upstairs.
It was so easy, in fact, that i had presents in HER CLOSET! And i would wrap in HER ROOM!
I also did wrapping and storing in the attic, so i wouldn't risk waking Mady up when "Santa" came.
Well now, i'm in a bit of a bind.
Mady is getting nosy, and very observant.
Plus, she has the memory of an elephant!
You can't so much as buy a candy bar in front of her and she's asking where it went 3 days later!
So i have to be sneeky now.
I've been hiding presents in the basement in the far corner.
I wait until she goes to bed, then i bring piles of things upstairs and i wrap as long as i can keep my eyes open.
And i have to make sure to do "Santa's" gifts in one paper, and Mommy/Daddy gifts in another...so she knows that "Santa" was really there.
Then i have to wrap Em's gifts in yet another paper, and Em's "Santa" gifts in another paper, because Miss Ever Noticing will definately put it together.
You can laugh as you read this, but she is a lot smarter than you think.
And then each person we buy for gets their own paper, so i know what is who's and nothing gets mixed up in the shuffle of the day.
It all takes so darn much time!
In 2 days of wrapping, all i've managed to wrap are the girls "Santa" gifts, their Mommy/Daddy gifts, and half of Franks stuff.
Yikes!! I better get my butt in gear if i wanna be ready in time for Christmas!

Totally over today...

This is a TMI post, so feel free to skip if you want.
So today was a horrible day in our house.
It was super windy last night, so it felt like we were up half the night listening to huge tornado like wind gusts.
Then, when the girls and i got up and went downstairs, the real fun started.
It was about 30-45min after breakfast, and Mady said she had to pee.
Well, next thing i know, she is on the potty telling me she's sorry she pooped in her undies.
Here, the poor kid has diarrhea.
So needless to say, after the 3rd outfit change of the morning, i left her on the potty.
I brought in a box that was tall enough for her to reach, and i brought in her coloring book and crayons, and i let her color while she sat there.
Hey, at least she wasn't bored!
1 hour and 15 minutes later, she finally stops pooping every 5 min!
So she says she's hungry.
Ok, i can give you something.
And i'd make it something that's good for diarrhea too.
So i gave her a banana.
Not 20 minutes later, she's pointing to her tummy with this distressed look on her face.
I scooped her up and sprinted for the bathroom, only to make it to the doorway of the bathroom before she started puking everywhere.
So i had her standing in front of the potty for 30 minutes while she puked.
And those of you that know me, know that i am really really really really really not good with puke.
So cleaning up a lot of a lot of it, yea, that wasn't going over really well for me.
So then, it was bath time.
Mady reaked, and i figured i might as well give Em a bath while i was at it.
So i gave Mady some toast with butter for lunch, and got her in bed for her nap (which she actually took, since she's sick and all).
That's the only good part of this whole being sick thing, she actually naps!
By the time i got her into bed, Em was ready for a nap...so i actually had 30min to myself to get a shower!
So i guess today wasn't ALL bad, i just didn't get to do anything but clean up sickness all day.
Oh well, i guess it could be worse!

Same to you lady...

So yesterday, i had a wrestling match at work.
I tell you this because when i have a game/match/what-not, i don't bring my phone into work with me, i leave it in my car.
Well, wouldn't you know it, something always happens on those days.
This time, i was my darling hubby.
Apparently, he was on his way home from work, and he was right around the Turkey Hill at the end of our road (those of you from around us know that that is about 12 miles from our house) and his car started acting funny.
The check engine light came on, and he said that it started smoking.
So of course, he pulled over.
He tried calling me, but like i said before, my phone was in the car.
So needless to say, something is wrong with the engine.
So this morning, he was going to take it to the dealership to get it worked on...thank God it's still under warranty.
So he called the dealership by the Burger King, since that's the closest one to our house.
He spoke to someone that said he would need his VIN number to make sure it was still under warranty.
So we got the VIN number, and luckily it was.
Then i told him to ask the lady if they had a loaner car there for him to have, since it's a warranty issue and they give you a loaner for those situations.
Well, she starts giving him all this attitude and ignorance!
She starts telling him that they don't have to give him a car, and that they don't even have cars for people with "those issues".
Really lady?! Are "these issues" that infrequent that you specifically don't loan cars out for them!!
And then, with even MORE attitude (which if you know Frank, he wasn't taking very well at all), she tells him that she wouldn't even look at his car until at least Tuesday.
Really lady?!?! What do you think he is going to do without a car until then?! And then, when you tell us he needs a bunch of new parts, what do you think he's going to do without a car for 2-4weeks?!
He was really flipping out now. He was so mad he was turning red.
So, instead of getting too mad, we hung up and called another dealership that is a bunch farther away, and they are giving him a loaner car until his is fixed.
Luckily for us, we can go get it tonight too! Which is a relief for me because if he didn't have a car, he would be using mine and i would have to go to work late...and i'm not a huge fan of that.
So that's been our morning.
Ca-ray-zi-ness!
Now we just have to hope that they don't keep the car forever....HA!

A typical Mady outing...

The scene: We were at the mall, Mady had to pee, so we went to the bathroom.

(Standing in line, another mom walks in behind us with her toddler son)

Mady: Mom
Me: Yea baby
Mady: Mom, that boy can't be in here!
Me: Mady, it's ok, he has to go potty too
Mady: But mom, he can't be in here! This is the bathroom with the dress, and he is a BOY!!

Oh the things kids say

Mady debut...

Last night, Mady had her performing debut.

She was in a ballet show at the mall.

Well, it was more of a "show off what we do at practice" type of show, but the little girls were soooooo cute!

Mady's class is all 3, 4 and 5 year olds...and she is the youngest in the class.

And i know, i'm just being a mom and i'm bragging, but Mady is totally one of the best!

She has such a good time performing though, it was hard to get her to be done.

I can tell i have a future star on my hands here.

Sneek peek at our Christmas cards...

Here are a few out takes from our Christmas photo shoot...
ENJOY!!

Getting into the holiday spirit...

It's definately starting to feel a lot more like Christmas around our house these days.
The tree is up, decorated, and still alive!
Most of the decorations are up inside the house (well, the ones i plan on putting up are, the rest are still in the tubs).
The decorations outside are up and running every night.
Presents are starting to pile up in the basement (yup, that's right, i said basement...there really isn't a safe place in my house to HIDE things...and this is going to be the one and only year i will be able to hide things in the basement, since it will be finished next year and Mady and Em will be down there quite a lot)
I really need to get working on wrapping everything that's sitting around, i really do. But the trick is finding time to do it all in.
And i need to finish shopping!!
I was doing really well, at least i thought i was.
I bought a ton of stuff on Black Friday, i even bought some stuff after that, i did some online shopping on Cyber Monday, i got a ton of great deals!!
But that left me in a bind.
I still have things yet to buy for people.
Here comes the problem...
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE!!!
The sad truth is, as we get older, it gets harder and harder to buy things for people for Christmas.
Everybody already has everything they want, and if there is something they need they just go out and buy it themselves.
Short of telling people that they can't buy themselves anything after September 1st, there isn't really anything you can do to fix this problem!
And you don't want to buy people things that they don't really want or need.
Nothing is worse than watching someone graciously accept a gift you gave them, only to have them go home and never use/wear the thing.
In cases like that, i'd rather have given a gift certificate or something.
But what fun is a gift certificate?!
Gifts, boxes, bags, presents...now that's where the fun is at!
Who wants to open an envelope on Christmas day, while everyone else is opening boxes?!
What a predicament!
Guess i better get my google on...
That, or i better borrow someones thinking cap, and quick!!

Catch up pics...

This is like a glimpse into the future...Mady getting picked on by Em

My babies on Thanksgiving

This is our house, decorated
Another house shot

I'm back...

I know, i know, i've been slipping on the blogging lately.
What with the Thanksgiving holiday, running in the annual Run for the Diamonds race, black friday shopping, trying to get my whole house spring, er winter, cleaned, trying to get my house decorated for Christmas, and dealing with weight certifications at work (yuck), i just have lost track of time completely.
But i'm back now.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and i hope you all did too.
There is nothing quite like spending quality time with your family...it just puts you in a good mood (if you have a great family like i do).
Black Friday i managed to get a decent amount of shopping done, although now as i look at what i got, i still realize that i have a ton to get yet. Yikes!
It always seems like i need to get something else, even when it's down to the last minute. I could totally go out on Christmas Eve and shop some more, no doubt.
We managed to get our house decorated for Christmas, though i won't let Frank turn the lights on just yet.
We have a ton of stuff in our yard, and a ton of lights all around...and the bill is going to be high.
But it looks so nice, i figure it's only 1 month.
But i won't let him turn anything on until this coming weekend. It just wasn't time yet. I'm not totally sure why, since Thanksgiving is over and all, but it just didn't feel right yet.
I'm big on not turning anything on until AFTER Thanksgiving is over. Since when did it become ok to just skip over Thanksgiving all together? I for one love Thanksgiving, and i don't want to skip over it.
So we wait until i say so, lol.
This weekend, we will most likely be going out to get our Christmas tree.
We are real people (by that i mean we prefer real trees to fake trees)
I don't have anything against fake trees, they look very real and sometimes really nice.
We are just real kinda people.
We like the tradition of going to the tree farm, searching around for the "perfect" tree, cutting it down ourselves and taking it home.
I DON'T like the part where no matter how hard i try, and no matter what i do, the darn thing dies early and sheds needles all over my house making a huge mess!
But i digress.
We'll most likely be getting the tree this weekend since my indoor seasons start next weekend and i'll be busy almost every night again.
We have to go out and get new ornaments for the tree this year. A ton of our old ornaments were destroyed in the flood.
On the positive side, we saved all the really important ones. And we get a chance to go out and buy all new pretty ones to decorate however we want to.
We'll see what we end up with and how it all turns out.
I'll be sure to add pictures of our tree cutting expedition and our ginormous tree sometime this weekend.
Now that we have a bigger house, Frank can't stop me from getting a huge tree, nor can he guilt me into a smaller one. Watch out people, i'm a girl on a mission!!

THANKSgiving...

Nov 14~ I am thankful for...craft and crafty websites. Where else would i get my wonderful ideas and great motivation for all the crafty things i like to do, both by myself and with my kids. Sometimes being crafty is so much fun!!!

Nov 15~ I am thankful for...Santa. Mady is finally old enough to sorta get who Santa is, and what it is that he does. So now i can tell her she has to and she has to do it because "Santa is watching, and he only brings toys to little girls and little boys that listen to their mommys and daddys. Muah-ha-ha-ha-ha.

Nov 16~I am thankful for...front row parking (or close to it). Now, i don't just mean on any old day, but on days that i have both girls with me and it's pouring down rain. If it were just me, i don't care how far i have to park away, and i can always take my umbrella. But it's hard to carry the carseat, hold an umbrella, hold Mady's hand and make sure that she holds her umbrella right and doesn't poke anyone (ie me, Em, or a passing stranger). They really need "family parking" spots. Not necessarily up in the front with the handicapped spots, but maybe the ones that are right close to the carts. That would be soooooooo handy!

It's a picture overload...

This is how my days usually end, with everyone crashed out on the floor

Sliding into the leaves

Running from leaf pile to leaf pile

Where's waldo?!

Sliding into the leaves

Striking a pose

Pap Pap Gary's Halloween mask

Chillin with her best friend

Building snowmen with Uncle Jack

So excited about her snowman

Lovin bein mobile

Mobile baby

Stiffie family totem pole...minus mommy

My blondie in her Blondie onesie

Hey!

Sisterly love <3

Penguin teether

Daddy hugs are the best

Pap Pap Gary's Halloween mask

Purse theif...on the move with Mady's purse

Seriously always smiling!!

THANKSgiving...

Nov 13~ I am thankful for...cooking shows on tv. How else would i get new recipies to torture, i mean test, on my family. Sometimes they're good, sometimes not so much...but it's always fun to try!

THANKSgiving...

Nov 12~ I am thankful for...Christmas decorations. I love the christmas season. It's just so, well, festive! I love all the colorful lights. I love all the inflatable decorations. I love the Christmas trees. I love all the knick knacks. And i can't wait to put it all up!!! But i won't do that until AFTER Thanksgiving, thank you very much.

THANKSgiving...

Nov 11~ I am thankful for...a non mobile baby. Well, technically, she is semi-mobile...but she isn't crawling (yet). I know i say that i want her to crawl all over the place, and i can't wait and all...but secretly, i really don't want her to be able to move when i put her down because it's so convienient right now! How am i going to be able to pee when she starts crawling?! I already have 1 kid following me around the house, soon i'll have 2! And then i have to child proof the whole house...oy!

THANKSgiving...

Nov 10~ I am thankful for...leftovers and/or microwavable foods. Cuz somedays, you just don't have the energy or the time to cook a really great meal.

THANKSgiving...

Nov 9~ I am thankful for...opinions. I may not always like yours, and you may not always like mine, but that's what makes them wonderful...everyone is entitled to think whatever they want! There is no law governing your thoughts, except your own of course. Now, you can't go and act on your thoughts without reprecussions, remember that when you say what you want. But by all means, think whatever you want! I know i do :)

Thanks...

Nov 8~ I am thankful for...hot drinks on cold days. They taste so good, and they warm you all the way from your mouth down to your belly. Then, they warm the rest of you all up too! And take it from me, sitting out at a freezing cold football practice calls for something, anything, to warm you up.

Can't sleep? Try counting your blessings...

In honor of Thanksgiving (yes, there really IS a holiday between Haloween and Christmas), i am going to make my best effort to blog every day with one thing i am thankful for. I hope i inspire everyone to count their blessings, and cherish what they have.

THANKSgiving:
Nov 7~ I am thankful for...my job. I know i tend to complain sometimes about job, who doesn't?! But i really am thankful for what i have. My job is meaningful, for the most part it's non-stressful, and it's something i really enjoy doing. I like the people i work with, i like the kids i work with, and i like doing what i do because i feel confident that i can help people when other people would falter and not be able to. Also, my job allows me to be able to be home with my girls all morning, and getting that quality time is a very rare thing for a working parent. And most nights, i'm home at a reasonable time to eat with my family and play with my girls some more before bed time. And, i get summers off...yea buddy!

Nov 6~ I am thankful for...my church. There are so many wonderful people that attend my church, and our priest is very accepting of everyone...including the screaming kids. Some people tend to lose patients with kids, especially during mass, but it really seems that the people at my church enjoy having the kids there, screaming and all (except when they get REALLY out of hand, but that falls back to the parents at that point).

Nov 5~ I am thankful for...my jogger strollers. If it weren't for my single before, and now my double, jogger stroller, i would not be able to stay in shape with my kids in my new house. It's so nice to be able to go outside and run, having both my girls with me. Now, i wouldn't say that if you stopped me during that said run, since pushing BOTH girls AND a stroller is hella heavy!

Nov 4~ I am thankful for...my new house. Well, i guess i can't really call it new anymore, since we've been here since February. The new house has given us more room inside for our growing family, it's given us a huge yard for the girls (and the dogs) to play in without fear of getting hit by a car or stolen by a random stranger, and it's given us a better sense of independence. Someday we'll finish all our projects around the house and we'll finally be able to sit back and do nothing but enjoy our surroundings...HA!

Nov 3~ I am thankful for...my family. Both my flesh and blood family, my through marriage family, and my friends. Everyone is always there for us whenever we need them, and who could ask for more?!

Nov 2~ I am thankful for...my amazing kids. My girls are my world, and i can't imagine my life without them...come to think of it, i can't REMEMBER my life without them! They make me happy, even when it seems nothing is going right. Having them in my life makes me know that my time here was worth something and has made a difference.

Nov 1~ I am thankful for...my wonderful husband Frank. I am not always easy to get along with (hey, who is?!), but he is always there for me when i really need him (and even when i don't). We may fight, but i would definately have to say we are a perfect match for each other.

Happy Halloween!!