A Very Merry Christmas

Here's wishing all of you a merry Christmas.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 

 

Just had to throw in my Hollywood diva on Christmas Eve!

A Very Merry Christmas

Distractions

These past couple of weeks I have missed out on a lot of blogging.  I've missed my Not Me Monday posts two or three weeks in a row now.  I even had my post for yesterday started and still didn't get it done!  I have to say, though, the reasons for my being so distracted are pretty good.

Sage's choir performance

 

wall climbing... Raiden didn't get much further than that!

 

Raiden  riding the Christmas train

Sage and Kaitlan getting off of the train

 

We rode the Bear Affair!

 

Sage didn't really want to ride

 

My boys making brownie bites

Poor Logan!  Raiden is such a goof.

 

 And my baby girl

There so many other things where I forgot the camera, but we have been having loads of fun.  I love this time of year and sharing this time with the kids.

Distractions

I Neeeeed This!!

Okay people.  If you haven't heard of this giveaway I'm about to talk about, then you must be living under a rock.  Or you don't follow MckMama or GrammieMommy.  Well they are hosting a duel giveaway that just knocked my socks off.  How can you pass this up?  I know I couldn't.  I've been wanting to get either one of these, but they kind of cost a lot and they're not exactly in our budget right now.  I know, I know.

Get on with it lady!!

So here at MyCharmingLife, out of the kindness of her heart and her love of the product, MckMama is giving away a brand new, still in the plastic Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2. 

OMGolly, I know, right?!  I so hope I win this but if not, I can always hope for this:

Yes, yes, y'all!  GrammieMommy over at The Grammie Diaries is giving away a brand-spankin' new Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.  Either way I will be in photographic heaven.  Now wish me luck cause I am in it to win it, baby!  Let's hope random.org is on my side cause my pics could use some help!

I Neeeeed This!!

Five Question Friday

It's Five Question Friday, baby!  So there's this cool little lady that does this thing.  She goes by the name Mama M.  She is adorable so you needa check 'er out.  I mean her blog.  I doubt Mr. Wonderful would appreciate you actually checking her out.  Anyhoo, she's the host of 5QF so click over, read the rules and participate if ya wanna.  You know you wanna...  Here are the questions.  I'll let you decide.

Questions for Friday, December 18th: (Thanks to Kyrsten, Liz, Brianne, and Keely for their question suggestions!! Wanna be linked on a future 5QF? Offer up some questions on the thread in my community!)

1. Which boygroup did you like most in your teens?

2. Do you do Christmas cards, letters, photos, nuthin', all of the above?

3. If you could meet one celebrity who would it be and why?

4. Favorite thing to cook with (i.e. stainless, non-stick, Dutch oven, microwave, debit card...or, perhaps, a cauldron, etc.)?

5. What is the one thing you wear the most, besides your unmentionables?

 Okay, here we go:

 

1. Which boygroup did you like most in your teens?

 

Well, I was in LOOOVE with NKOTB, but that was preteen.  As for my teen years, I, well, kinda made fun of he boybands.  (don't yell at me please!)  That's right, I was not into the Backstreet Boys or Nsync until I was out of high school and raising a family.  I was more into Nirvana, ICP, Tupac, and some others that may scare you just a little.  I sure wouldn't let my kids listen to that mess now.  So I guess none of 'em at that time.

2. Do you do Christmas cards, letters, photos, nuthin', all of the above?

 

 I would like to do Christmas cards, but I am just such a procrastinator that even if I bought them I wouldn't get around to mailing them until March.  That said, I guess nuthin'.  I'll do e-cards, though.  Much easier!

3. If you could meet one celebrity who would it be and why?

Hmmm.  It would probably be nice to say Bill Gates, President Obama or someone else that has done something great.  It would totally be Brad Pitt, though.  I heart that man!  He's gorgeous and seems quite funny.  I bet he's awesome to hang out with.

So, Brad, if you're reading this... just give me a jing-a-ling.  Let's do lunch, Sugar.

4. Favorite thing to cook with (i.e. stainless, non-stick, Dutch oven, microwave, debit card...or, perhaps, a cauldron, etc.)?

 Can we say Crock-Pot?  I love prepping a meal in the morning or the night before (if I remember) and then smelling that smell all.day.long.  My honey gets home, I warm up some sides or some rolls and dinner is served.  My kinda meal!

5. What is the one thing you wear the most, besides your unmentionables?

I guess I can't say my glasses either, can I?  If not, then it would have to be my comfy clothes.  You know.  Those awesome fleece pants and a tank top.  I'm at home most of the time so that's what I wear.  No need to get dressed up for All My Children.  Unless Ryan is coming over.  Then I'm pulling out all the stops!  Sex-ay!

Well there ya go.  My answers to this weeks Five Question Friday.  If you'd like to play along, click over to Mama M's My Little Life, and link up to Mr. MckLinky so everyone else can see what you gotta say.

Five Question Friday

Fridaaaaay!

Whew!  Has it been a busy day for us here in O'Connorville!  Poor me Kaitlan was home for a total of 2 hours this afternoon since leaving the house in the morning.  We had a great time, though.  First we went to Raiden's school to do some Christmas caroling.  That was a lot of fun!  From there Kaitlan and I had a little breakfast at McDonald's where she had her first sausage biscuit and I must say she was lovin' it.

Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic, but that's what I had :) 

After grubbin we headed over to Michael's to look for some pint jars.  No luck.  They did have a great deal on a three pack of cooling racks.  $7.99 is not bad.at.all.  Next we crossed the highway to Hobby Lobby.  I didn't really want to get the jars from there because theirs cost more, but it was slim pickins there too.  They did have some nice wide mouthed ones so I grabbed six and headed back to Michael's because they have better ribbon and they had Christmas specific ribbon and it was half price.  Heck-to-the-yeah!  Finally it was time to head back home.  Poor KK was tuckered out.  I checked out MckMama's bad-out giveaway (which I will blog about next) and we grubbed once again before heading out to the school for Raiden's class Christmas party.  Can I just say that I am so glad to be sitting in my comfy little chair?  I am!

Fridaaaaay!

National Geo Mom

I have discovered that I have a problem.  I think I need to nip this in the bud now before it goes too far.  Umm, I have a clothing issue.  It's more of an underwear issue actually.  You see, I have found myself going for far too long into the day without wearing my bra.

Yes, bra-less.

I know.  I know.  That's just not right.  I am a mother of three children and I have breastfed two of those children for 26 months of my life(so far).  Could you imagine?  Could I be traumatizing my children!?

You know what it is don't you?  I know former breastfeeding moms should anyway.  I had to wear a bra for 9 (really 10) months of pregnancy including during sleep.  They were far too tender and swollen.  Then you have the baby.  Your milk comes in.  You feel like you have rocks that constantly leak stuck to your chest.  Of course your milk evens out after a while and -for me anyway- breastfeeding is enjoyable and extremely bonding. 

Kaitlan has been nursing for 14+ months now and I don't foresee her stopping anytime soon.  I don't really mind much anymore, though.  Because now.  Now I can sleep without a bra!  I love how I make enough milk for what she wants and don't have to wear those stupid nursing pads anymore.  I nursed Raiden for 12 months, but it never quite got this good. 

So is it bad that I wanna go for a little while without feeling the restraints of a bra?  I mean, I wear an appropriate top.  And it's not like they don't all see me nursing the baby.  Anywho....  I'm doing it 'cause I can ;-)

* I just had to post the goofy picture because it made Kaitlan laugh so hard!

National Geo Mom

Not Me Monday

 
Monday already.  And just when we were getting into the weekend swing. 

You know what Mondays mean, though.  That's right, folks.  Mondays bring Not Me Mondays from MckMama.  A fun little carnival where we can confess some of our imperfections.

I normally have a pretty laid back life.  Getting the hubby up and off to work.  Get the big kids up and off to school and hanging out with K-diddy all day.  Oh yeah, a little bit of cleaning thrown in there, too.  This past week was a little busier with the holidays and all.  With that, you wouldn't think that a Momma would finally nag convince the old man to drag out the Christmas tree and decorations just to let it all sit in the middle of the living room floor all week long.  Nope, not me.  I never procrastinate and I always do everything in a timely manner. 

There's no way, with it being roughly two weeks after Thanksgiving and two weeks before Christmas, that I would have made a turkey dinner for my family for a little thing we're calling Thanksmas dinner.  No way.  I wouldn't have decided to make a 6+ course meal for my family of 5 to enjoy at our very own dinner table.  I could not have been so super proud of myself for successfully cooking my very first turkey.  I would not have told everyone I know! 

So that is just a snippet of what I did NOT do this past week.  I'm sure there's more, but I don't think to write things down and have my short term memory store in a peanut.  So if you would like to join in Not Me Monday, hop on over to MckMama's blog and get started.

Not Me Monday

And Another One

Isn't it just grand?  The giveaways that is.  I have come across another giveaway from a blog I found just recently.  (Maybe that's my good luck that I found her right before this giveaway!)  Deb at Menopausal New Mom is giving away a simply gorgeous set of some vintage 1950's bling. 

I wanna win this, but go ahead a check it out if you wanna... just know that I do plan on winning!

And Another One

Friday Fun

Happy Friday everyone!  So we're smack in the middle of the holiday season and I've got the Christmas spirit!  Now hang on, cause we're squeezing a few things into this one.

Last night I dedided to do a little something that I'm now thinking of making a yearly tradition in our family.  As I mentioned in this post, we don't get to spend the holidays in our own home.  This year for Thanksgiving my husband's company gave out 18 pound turkeys and we were going out of town.  Come Christmas, we probably will again.  That being said, what the heck am I gonna do with an 18 pound turkey!?  So yesterday morning I got up and started cooking that big ol' bird.  Now mind you, I've never cooked a turkey in my life unless it was ground turkey.  Within an hour of sticking her in the oven, I could smell that smell.  You know the smell.  It was Thanksgiving all over again.  Later on I cooked up some green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes and some of the best rolls I think I've ever tasted.  I'm tellin' ya.  I was in heaven!  So we had a wonderful feast that we called Thanksmas.  (Get it?  We're right in-between Thanksgiving and Christmas so. I. just... never mind.) 

Now I think we have a new family tradition we can call our own.  Our very own Thanksmas.

And now moving on to today's business at hand.  Oh, wait, I don't have any business... this is just pure Friday fun!

First we have Tamara's Fill in the Blank Friday (or blanks as it is today).  All ya gotta do is answer the question below on your own blog and then go back to The (Un)Experienced Mom and link up in the MckLinky to share with everyone else.  Snag the button code and add it to your post as well.  Don't have a blog?  Then head on over and leave your answer in her comment section.  I mean, who doesn't like comments anyway!?  So, the question for this week:

The children's show I can't stand is_____________.

But the show I secretly like is _________________.

As a stay at home mom I have to watch these kiddie shows on occasion.  Actually, Kaitlan doesn't really seem too interested in them yet.  Believe me, I do try to stick her in front of the boob-tube during those times when Mommy just needs to get something done, but she can't sit still to save her life.  When I do have them on though, I simply cannot stand that Yo Gabba Gabba!!  I don't know why.  Maybe I just never have given it a fair chance.  As for the one I love can tolerate, I would have to say it's sort of a tie between WonderPets and Backyardigans.  Both of those are just so cute!

Now without further adieu, on to another fun little blog carnival from Mama M.  If you haven't guessed from the picture below, it's called Five Question Friday.

So, let's play.  Same basic rules apply if you'd like to play along.  Post your own blog answering the questions, give credit to Mama M. and head on over to My Little Life to link 'er up to Mr. MckLinky.  I'm gonna take the lazy easy way out and answer the questions right along with the questions.  Anyhoo!  Here we go:

1. Does Santa wrap the presents he leaves at your house?

Some of them, but not all.  He (she) likes to keep a few unopened for the kids to see as soon as they walk around the corner.  That usually ends up being something like the Star Wars lightsaber he got Raiden last year or other odd shaped items that are difficult to wrap.

2. When is your "big" Christmas celebration...Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Tell us about it...
It is a little different for us.  It really kind of depends on what day Christmas falls.  As I have said before in this post, we don't spend much if any of the holiday at our own home.  We usually try to at least have a little bit of time on Christmas morning at home so the kids can open their gifts.  I'm seriously thinking about knocking all of this travel mess out, though.  Anyway, we do have a Christmas Eve thing we do at my dad's that I love.  That's always a big deal and I just love getting to see my step-brother, his wife and step-sister as well as my nieces.  That's one of the few times of the whole year we get to see them.  We also have a Christmas thing at my mom's whenever it is that we get up there to C-town.  We very seldom go down to Houston, though where my FIL lives.  First, I don't care much for Houston.  Second, we don't care much for the FIL's wife!  (I'm always super nice, though!)
 
3. Are you big on keeping tradition every year?
I really wish I were.  You don't know how badly I yearn for tradition.  It's hard though when you were the product of a marriage that ended in divorce and traditions were hard to keep up.  I also have a husband who doesn't seem to be to interested in keeping any traditions going.  I guess I'm just gonna hafta get it done myself from now on if I want to have any traditions upheld.
 
4. Do colored lights or white lights tickle your fancy?
It depends.  (I know, I know... depends is what old people wear.  Just hear me out.)  First, it depends on the tree decorations.  Usually I just let the kids put on whatever hodge-podge deco we have collected over the years all over the tree.  In that case, I've always allowed colored lights.  Last year I found these uber cute boxes of decoration at Ikea, though.  They were on sale for like $2 or $3 for a box of 28 ornaments.  I think I'm finally gonna have a color coordinated tree!  If the kids allow it.  If I get my way and get to use my adorable blue, silver and white ornaments, I'll use white lights.  You see, I can actually change them at anytime during the season, though.  We got smart and bought a pre-lit tree a couple years back.  It's definitely better than the headache of wrapping the tree in strings of lights!
 
5. Do you decorate outside your house for Christmas?
Once again, I wish.  We did at one time but the hubby just works too much now.  Maybe that's another thing I need to take of for myself.


Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?  Maybe even a little fun?  If you'd like to play either one of these carnivals, just click on the buttons, head over to Tamara and Mama M's blogs to get started.  Everyone have a fantabulous weekend!!

Friday Fun

Hotslings Giveaway, Right This Way!

 Hey, ladies!  I have something I wanna tell you about. First off, I have to admit that although I really, really want a sling to carry my Kati-bug in, I have yet to get one.  Actually I don't know where to get one without buying online.  I'm telling you, she's the tiniest little thing and always feels the need to be connected to Momma (which I love, of course), but she does get a bit heavy and I do have to get something done around the house occasionally.  Anyway, I can tell you where you can try to win one. 

11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven is giving away a gorgeous Hotslings baby carrier!

To enter click HERE.

 Isn't it just so precious!?  Now if you would like to win one of these then click on the link above and follow the rules set forth.  Good luck to you... just not too much luck.  I do wanna try and win it for myself after all!

Hotslings Giveaway, Right This Way!

A Visit to C-town

When it comes to most major holidays, we usually head out west to a little redneck town where a lot of our family lives.  The Thanksgiving holiday also brings us my mom's birthday on the 27th of November.  This year she celebrated her 50th birthday so my sisters and I decided to throw her a surprise party.  It really kinda sucks though because I live over 200 miles away from my sisters.  Makes it hard to plan a party along with them.  Anyhoo,  this year wasn't really any different from any other as far as going to the Moms was concerned.

So we get to C-town and hang with the MIL, my biglittle sis, and finally (3am!) head to Mom's to crash for the night.  The next day we ate.  And ate.  And ate some more.  I love my momma and her hubby's cooking!  We had turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, mac n cheese (not Mamaw's but it was still good), pumpkin pie, and a bunch of other stuff I can't think of.  Anyway!  It was gooood!  We also had to backtrack to Quanah to give thanks and share some eatin time with some of Sean's family.  Here are a few pics and just a warning, disclaimer, what-have-you:  I have been trying to get this post done for days now and I am too lazy tired to edit the photos so they are raw as can be!

My Momma who had just put my Kati-bug to sleep.

My biglittle sis and her silly boy.

another adorable nephew

she can't even put up the texting during vacay!

my boy -- don't know what he's doing!

The day after Thanksgiving there is a tradition in C-town called the Treasure Hunt.  The city park is decorated in lights of all kinds.  They also have Santa come down and all of the kids in the town line up to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they want.  We, somehow, ended up first in line to see Santa.  And by somehow, I mean, well... I'm not the most timely of people.  I am always late no matter how hard I try to get there early.  Brandi had my older 2 kids so it was just Sean, Kaitlan and myself and I just told Sean to go on to the park and wait like for an hour and half before Santa was supposed to even be there while we munched on some McNuggets. 

Moving on....  Everyone enjoyed a cup of hot cocoa while we waited for Santa's arrival.  That's us first in line!

Then all of the kids got their turn in Santa's lap.

 

 

Of course the baby always cries!!

Another little tradition that we adopted was walking around after seeing Santa and taking the kids pictures in front of some of the light displays in the park.

The goofy kids like to act out some of the scenes!

 

We got 'em all together!

 

Daddy and his baby girl

(don't ask me why he's trying to look all hard and stuff.  LOL!)

  **And I'm too tired from stressing over getting this post done and dealing with the drama of Cub Scouts (a whole 'nother story!) that I'm not going to go into Mom's surprise party tonight.  So stay tuned.  I know just how riveting this post was so I'm sure you'll be back tomorrow for the second half of our trip to C-town.  Humor me and tell me this was interesting, ok?  Love you all!  Soooo...

I wanted to end this with a big ol' Texas-style Merry Christmas Y'all! 

A Visit to C-town

Getting To Know You

Good Sunday evening, everyone!  Today I'm gonna play a little game of sorts that Keely over at MannLand5 swiped from her sister Kassi's blog.  It's just a few questions so that we all can get to know each other a little better.  So here goes:

1. How old are you?  

     29 with 30 creeping up on me in about a month and a half

2.Where are you from and where do you live now?

     I was born here in the DFW area and after my parents split up I lived between Childress over in west Texas and Carrollton, a suburb of Dallas.  Now we live in Grand Prairie, TX.
 

3. What music have you been diggin lately?

     Well with it being Christmas season and all I've been listening to a lot of Christmas music.  Besides that's what they're mostly playing on the contemporary Christian station I usually listen to.

4. Favorite food(s)?

     I have to say that my favorite foods are pretty much anything Mexican.  Of course, it's pretty much the Tex-Mex stuff although I do love some authentic Mexican just not the seafood stuff!

5. Single,married, divorced?

     married for 11 1/2 lovely years  (okay, it hasn't always been that lovely)
 

6. Kids? If so, how many and how old?

     of course there are kids.  We have Sage(11), Raiden(8), and Kailtan(14months).

7. What are 3 blogs you read daily?

     I really don't think I could just name 3.  I read several blogs daily and love all of them.  It wouldn't be fair to name just 3.

8. What is your favorite Christmas/Holiday tradition?

     I suppose my favorite tradition is going to my dad's for Christmas Eve.  We gather with my step-brother and step-sister and their families for some good food and gift giving.  

9. Lastly, if you're a blogger, how long have you been blogging and if you don't have one..how long have you been reading blogs?

     I began blogging at the end of October this year but have been wanting to get started for a while actually.  I had always heard of this blogging thing and jumped in after discovering a old school friend of mine's blog.  She takes great photos... you should check her out at Erick Moore Photography.

Now that I've told you a little about myself, answer the questions yourself, jump over to Keely's blog and hook up to the MckLinky to share with everyone else. 

Hope you all have had an awesome weekend and have a great week to come!

Getting To Know You

Five Question Friday--12/4

 

 You know what that button means, don't you?  Yes, people.  It's time for another round of Five Question Friday hosted by Mama M. I really like the questions this week and look forward to reading what everyone else says.  So here goes:

Questions for Friday, December 4th: (Special thanks to the following for their question suggestions this week!! Liz, Rhonda, Heidi, and Kimberly! If you have an awesome question suggestion, check out the thread in my community!)

1. Favorite gift you are GIVING this year?

Well, this year is going to be especially tight as far as money goes.  I have tried many times to talk the DH into doing things that would be more wallet-friendly (i.e. ornaments or cookie mixes in a jar) but he always so no.  That it's goofy.  I am sticking to my guns this year, though and I'm gonna jar up some homemade hot cocoa.  Is that too cheesy?

2. How many parties are you attending between now and Christmas?

We've attended one so far and will another next week.  I think that'll be it for this year, though.

3. What is your favorite Christmas song?

Oh, I love all kinds of Christmas songs.  As far as a favorite, I just don't think I can pick.  I really like the kiddie ones because they are fun to sing with the rugrats kids.

4. Who was your favorite elementary school teacher and why?

I think my favorite teacher would be Mrs. Haseloff in 5th grade.  She was always so nice and ended up being one of my little sisters 5th grade teacher two years later.  She was just as awesome then.  I could go into a least favorite as well (that mean 1st grade teacher that made me vacuum the floor) but I will restrain.

5. If you had a choice to live in any other period of time (other than now) what era would you choose and why?

Hmmm... there are so many answers to this one.  I can think of a ton of different eras I would like to live in.  Okay, maybe not a ton, but a few.  I think the 1950s takes the cake, though.  It sounds like it was such a feel-good time.  The war was over and people were busy making babies, watching television and eating t.v. dinners.  I would have hung out at the malt shop with Nancy and Donna while making googley eyes at Dennis or Biff and sipping on ice cream sodas.  (You like my 1950's names?!)  Dressing in poodle skirts and saddle shoes... that musta been the life!


You wanna participate?  Then get movin' over to My Little Life, grab the button (gotta follow the rules!) and get to answering those questions.  Have fun!

Five Question Friday--12/4

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Truthful Tuesday

Oh how I have missed the blog world!!  It seems my mom prefers to live in the dark ages and still does not have a computer set up.  She tells me she has one in her closet, though.  (Gee, thanks, Mom.  That doesn't get me online!)  Anyhoo!  I'm now back from C-town and ready to get back to my life.  (More on that later!)

Today I am participating in a little something called Truthful Tuesdays as you can see from the button at the top page.  This little gem is hosted by Elizabeth at Confessions from a Working Mom.  This week she's asking a somewhat personal but valid question:

Would you get a boob job?

This is something that a lot of us moms ponder.  I have thought about it myself being that I've breastfed 2 kids for a total of 26 months so far.  To tell you the truth (it is Truthful Tuesday, ya know), my 14 month old is attached at this very moment.

So, would I get a boob job?

Well, I really miss my nice, perky, full C cups, but haven't seen those for about 9 years now.  Kid number one really didn't do much damage.  We attempted nursing, but it didn't go so well.  Put it this way:  it hurt so bad I would have preferred to lose the breasts altogether and grow a penis!  Since that was not an option, we bottle fed.  Now the boy.  Well, the boy was a booby-milk drinking machine and this one is also.  I have thought of maybe getting a boob lift until I heard that they still do a small implant.  I don't want implants, though.

So I guess that would be a no.  If they could do a surgical procedure to pick these babies up without placing a foreign object into my body that I have to break up by hand periodically (BTW, I've heard that can really hurt) then I would consider it.  I think I'd rather invest in some really good bras!

Now head over to Elizabeth's blog and check out what she and others have to say on the subject.

Truthful Tuesday