All About Me

A blogging friend Laura (I have met once in real life at the most awesome race, warrior dash)  posted 11 questions and then asked her readers to answer 11 of her questions. She's offering a chance for an $11 Starbucks card, but I'm really doing it because I have been a total slacker when it comes to my blog lately. Maybe you'll learn something about me.


1. What is your favorite Girl Scout cookie?

Peanut Butter sandwiches, but the shortbread are a close second

2. What is the one item on which you always splurge?
cheese, see number 6.  And chocolate, expensive chocolate always seems to taste better.


3. What's the best book you've read in the last 10 years?
Unbroken and Hunger Games.  Can't decide

4. What is your favorite summer drink?

Vodka tonic with a splash of lime.  Very refreshing

5. Spring or fall?

Fall.

6. If you are not doing your dream job right now, what would it be?

My dream job would be owning and operating a cheese shop.  Charlotte really needs one too.  Just too bad that I'm not that much of a risk taker. 

7. Is there a better movie role model than Maude?

Not sure, haven't seen Harold and Maude and I'm a super slacker when it comes to movies. 

8. If you had $100 to spend at Target, what would you buy?

Really good towels.  Plush "you don't want to take off" towels.

9. Have you ever tried boxed wine? If it was good, what was the brand?

Not since I stole my parent's Franzia out of the fridge. 

10. If you could meet one blogger who would it be?

Motherhood Uncensored, she is a super woman I think

11. If I could photograph you doing anything, what would it be?

I really want to have a good family photo done, but secretly (or not so secretly now) I want a classy pin-up photo taken.

Winter Getaway and Little Catching Up

We spent the weekend with great friends in Boone, NC.  The weekend was perfect.  A little bit of snow, first sledding experience, first hot cocoa, lots of laughs and a very big and time consuming puzzle.   I haven't posted anything since before Christmas so this is a photo filled post to catch up the family.

First Annual Gingerbread Smashing

Not a lot of snow on Day 1

Enough to make snow angels on Day 2

Tis the Season

This is the first Christmas where Holden is starting to understand the magic of the season.  We are having a really fun time watching him experience the holidays.   This year we started what I hope will become long term traditions in our house during the holidays.   We have checked off the obvious ones, decorated the inside and outside of our house.  We are the crazy people on the block with Christmas lights set to music. 

As always we decorated the tree and gave out this year's ornaments to the boys.   Holden helped pick out the tree and helped Dad put the angel on.  Holden has also made the astute observation that we have and angel on our tree and not a star (I hadn't noticed but I guess all of the commercial trees have stars on top).   Holden didn't really want to help put the ornaments on, but he had a blast looking at all of them as we unwrapped them.

 

The second tradition I borrowed from a blog friend, Laura.  Holden and I built his first gingerbread house.  Holden helped decorate it and we told him that the day after Christmas we can take it outside and smash it with our hammers.  He is definitely excited about the smashing part.  

Holden was hamming it up for the camera

We have also started the Advent Calender tradition.  I looked and looked for an Advent Calender before Thanksgiving and couldn't find one.  Low and behold, Black Friday there were Advent Calenders everywhere.  I never would have thought that the one Christmas item that is not in the stores before Thanksgiving would be an Advent Calender.  But I digress.   

We found a very cool book that does a story for everyday on the Advent Calender.  So, Holden opens his day, eats his chocolate and we read a story.  The thing I like the most about the book is the stories have a Christian theme about a little bear following the star to Bethlehem.  Since we have totally fallen down on the Church going (a story for another day), I have been looking for ways to teach Holden about our faith and the real meaning of Christmas (you know, Jesus' birthday and giving etc.)    Long story short, I really like the book because it a couple of paragraphs a day with a giving or loving message to them.

 

We started collecting a new Christmas Book every year.  It started with the Night before Christmas which Jeremy wants to read to Holden on Christmas Eve.  Then we got the Grinch and this year picked out a new book when we found the Advent Calender Book.  I'm going to keep this up at least until picture books are no longer favored in our house.  

 

One last thing we have done so far, that was met with very enthusiastic eyes.  Here you can get a video message from Santa.  Holden loved his and I have video of him watching his message but not at my fingertips to post. 

I still want to do the following with Holden before Christmas

• Visit Santa (probably this weekend)
• Bake cookies (we have a cookie party with Holden's BFF, Cameron in a few weeks)
• Christmas shop with Holden to start learning about the "giving"
• Make our JibJab electronic Christmas card

Lastly, a few more ideas that we will have to work on as Holden gets a little older and has a bit more patience

• Angel tree or similar giving/volunteering that we can do as a family
• Elf on a Shelf.  This phenomenon has me intrigued.  My only hesitation is will I be able to keep it up for 25 days every year.

Any other suggestions are welcome.  Merry Christmas Everyone!

Our First Date

I got an idea from a blogging friend to take time every once and a while for a special Mommy and Holden date.  Last night we had our first.  It was a little spur of the moment so next time I'll do a better job on the planning end.   We went to get him a haircut which yes you can point out isn't very fun, however he got to watch Looney Tunes, sit in a fire truck car and received a prize and lollipop afterward.  A lot more fun that when I get a haircut.  

We followed up the trip with a visit to the local toy store on a mission to find Thomas the Train stickers.  No luck, what toy store has everything Thomas but no stickers?  Holden's response "we go to Target".   Yep, that's right, my son thinks everything comes from Target.  In our house, its a pretty good bet that it did since our house has pretty much been furnished by Kohl's or Target.  We followed up the evening with a trip to Chick-Fil-A for some chicken nuggets and waffle fries.  


It was a pretty good first date.

Another First

Holden has been very much into Cowboys lately that we had an opportunity to go to a Cowboy Church Fun Day this weekend.  I'm not exactly sure what a Cowboy Church is, however it was a place where Holden got to see horses and Jeremy got to break out the neglected cowboy hat.   Holden loved the horse and he didn't ride very long as both of use were a bit concerned about the lack of Helmet (much to Holden's dismay).  Another first that was much earlier in his life than I would have imagined.

Not Sure I Can Parent a Boy

I have a boy and not sure if I'm up for the challenge.   We were out and about today and Jeremy wanted to take a test ride at Harley Davidson.  We indulged him since he was kind enough to sell his bike when we had Holden.  Plus they always have free food at those events.   Holden and I were getting him a hot dog and he wanted to go sit down.  As I'm making his hot dog up (i.e. Ketchup) he is about 10 feet away and tumbled from the picnic bench to the asphalt.  Normally this wouldn't phase me too much, a little crying and calming of a little boy's nerves usually does it with a tumble.  Not today, he cut the back of his head when he fell and I'll tell you a head wound is REALLY bloody.   I felt terrible.  He's fine and recovered well after being shook up a little.  But I'm not sure I'm going to let him do anything for himself again (not really that would cause more temper tantrums then necessary).  

I got all kinds of advice from strangers about rushing him to the ER.  Instead I called my mom.  They offer the best advice right?   Anyway, he seems to be just fine, case in point, I better just accept that I have a boy, and in 2 short years we have a dislocated elbow and a head wound.   Can't image what will be next.

And now for an update on the cuteness.

 Helping Dad loading the empty Keg.

 

Our Little Cowboy (the boots are most likely the culprit for the fall today)

I have found the most wonderful place

On the Internets there has been a buzz about a site called Pinterest. So I finally checked it out this weekend. It is the most wonderful, happiest place to waste time. It is a total time suck, not blocked by my company's IT department. AND I have already found an idea for my sister's Christmas presents, and Holden's third birthday cake.

I know I'm a bit late to the party on this one, but if your even later than me, totally look at it. A great place for new ideas.