TRAINS

Can a boy ever have enough trains? Santa and Sugie & PawPaw added to the GeoTrax collection this Christmas. And Daddy and Garrett worked on getting it just right today. It has now outgrown the playroom and resides in the living room. And I don't think all the pieces are pictured here. Yes, we have an obsession.




So this brings our train set tally up to four. One for all of us ;)

Today is just yucky. We were going a little stir crazy so we went for a quick trip to Target. After that it was lunch and nap time. Lance and I took a nap while Garrett watched CARS. He has to watch the movie with all his die-cast CARS lined up in a row. Billy paid bills and fun stuff like that. Now all three are in the garage "building" with scrap wood, screws and little plastic hammers.

Here is one of my construction workers.


I am enjoying all my presents I received. The tablet is awesome! So much fun being able to draw and actually use my own handwriting. I have a few layouts with my own handwriting but they still need some finishing touches. But I do have this one to share:

credits: Joy to the World by Ashley Olson available at The Digi Shoppe. Alpha is Stacie Prinzo's and scallop is Jen Caputo's from The Digi Shoppe Essentials. Font is pea Marcie.

That is all for now folks. Off to have more family time. Whatever will we do when Billy goes back to work? He has been on vacation for 8 days and has 3 days left. That has been the best Christmas gift so far!

CHRISTMAS MAYHEM!

What a wonderful Christmas we had! Santa was very good to us! It all started Sunday around lunch when we went to my in laws for Christmas Eve. Good food, great presents and lots of entertainment provided by the boys.


And this grill. Love that I can now cook my chicken inside and not wait for Billy to get home. And I know Billy is excited about cooking breakfast on it. Aren't we dorks!



We came home, took baths, put out reindeer food and made a snack for Santa. Santa had a good variety- tortilla chips, slice of cheese, candy cane, sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies and milk. And we had to move the chair from in front of the fireplace so Santa could come inside. This was a major concern of Garrett's. Then it only took about 2 hours for the boys to calm down and go to sleep.

This is what they woke up to:


And a gift wrapped by Garrett:



They loved all their gifts but the biggest hit was the enormous Thomas and Friends train set. That sucker is 8 ft. long!






After they opened gifts and were busy playing Billy and I opened our gifts. The boys got me Photoshop Elements 5, mascara (Garrett picked it out), and a camera case. Billy got me a pillow because I am always taking his and a 2GB SD card (Yay! now I can shoot in RAW). And he totally surprised me with a Wacom tablet. I am having so much fun with it!



Billy got his fishing reel that he picked out, a few shirts, 2 corks that the boys picked out and a stocking full of stuff he needed.

After all that we went to my parents house for more madness. The boys had a blast playing with their cousins. Parker and Garrett played with their CARS and Lance just ran around following all the big kids. The adults had a Dirty Santa gift exchange that was as entertaining as ever.




Then after that crew left we had our gift exchange with my parents and brothers and sisters-in law. And I opened this:


I am out of USB ports now!

It was a wonderful Christmas for us all but the best present was seeing my boys having fun with family and the smiles and laughter. It gets better every year as they get older.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We were not able to send out a letter this year with our cards. I think this is better! Enjoy!

Make an online slide show at onetruemedia.com

SUGAR HIGH

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

It all about how much longer around here. We are ready for Santa! The boys are getting very excited and anxious. Garrett knows what will happen and Lance just feeds off of Garrett. Not an hour goes by that we don't have a conversation about Christmas.

Yesterday we mailed another letter to Santa. Just in case he didn't get the first one. This time we had to go inside the post office and Garrett had to drop it in the slot himself. Lance did not want to be left out so he mailed a few letters also. But he thought it was like his mailbox at home and tried to get them out to mail again. He was a little frustrated and started growling. Yes, my sweet littel boy now growls.

After the post office we took Lance to see the doctor- again! We just couldn't make it through the month of December without a visit. This time it is a yeast infection that would not go away. And he has a cold but his doctor couldn't do anything about that. So now he is on a new cream that will hopefully clear this mess up. I guess I need to put him back on his daily yogurt. He has the most sensitive skin. I have no idea what triggered this infection. It came from out of the blue. Time to start potty training so I can get him out of diapers.

Today is Garrett's party at school. He was very proud because we brought a birthday cake for baby Jesus to the class. They will have pizza, cake and do a book exchange. Poor teachers! 12 little kids on a sugar high! I am sure he will crash into the grumpies when he gets home. Doesn't help that he has caught Lance's cold!

The rest of our week should be fun and relaxing!

Wednesday- make Gingerbread cookies
Thursday- shop for Daddy's gift, go to Target and Kroger
Friday- make cake balls and chocolate pretzels
Saturday- clean house, make reindeer food

and then it is Christmas Eve! YAY!

And since I will probably be covered in flour the next few days I thought I would update my layouts.

This is my good friend Kirsty's daughter:

credits: Jennilyn's Baby It's Cold Outside kit available at The Digi Shoppe, alpha is Vikki Stegall's DIY Chip Alpha filled with papers from Jennilyn's kit and the bow is Nikki Meador's- recolored. Font is pea Jessica (I think)



credits: Alpha is Misty Mareda's Brown Wrapper Alpha. Kraft paper is Misty Mareda's from The Digi Shoppe Essentials, solid papers and patterned papers are from Janel Kretschman's Down Home paper pack, tag and ball chain are also Janel's from The Digi Shoppe Essentials. Paper tears are Jen Caputo's also from The Essentials.Fonts are Amanda's Hand and Mom's Typewriter.


credits: Circle Square Template by Jennifer Layden, everything is by Dani Mogstad- Naughty or Nice mini kit. Fonts are pea Sarahloo and Stamp Act.


credits: papers and gems from Becky Vosburg's Sweet Thang mini kit, the stamped alpha is Stacie Prinzo's from The Essentials and the photo turn is Lauren Reid's from The Essentials. All are available at The Digi Shoppe. Font is Susie's Hand.


credits: Everything is from the 365 Collection by Christy Lyle and Robin Carlton. The papers and elements are from the September kit. Font is pea Karen Print.

BAD SANTA PHOTO

Today we went to visit Santa. Luckily we got there early (like an hour early) because there were many other parents that put this event off to the last minute. Garrett was excited at first but as it got closer to lunch time and the longer we had to wait the less he wanted to see Santa. When it was finally our turn he refused to go near Santa. Rather than fight a very strong and loud boy I decided to torture Lance. Daddy and Garrett bypassed the jolly old man and I threw Lance on his lap. And this is the bad Santa photo:



BUT do not think there was ever a GOOD Santa photo!

From 2005(my personal favorite):



From 2004:



From 2003:



Ok- the one from '03 is kinda cute. Garrett just turned a year old and didn't know any better.

Sorry about the bad scans. I need to clean my scanner and reset the settings.

That is all for tonight. Taking three boys (one big, two little) to the mall can be exhausting.

PROUD MOMMA

Tonight was Garrett's Christmas Program. It was adorable!







Not the best images. It was dark and there was a big bald guy in front of me. Garrett sang, he did the motions and he was very serious. I have some video but since all the other parents might not want their kiddos on here I will burn it to CD for the fam.

It is late and I am tired. We are crafting tomorrow. That should be entertaining!

TIDBITS

Sesame Street cracks me up!

Lance's vocabulary is exploding. It now includes: Whoo Hoo, UH HUH, more, milk, G It (Garrett), ookie (cookie), chip, ingle (jingle bell), toes, nose, eye, I tuck (I stuck), Ideeit (I did it), git (get it or give it), me me me (mine), agin (again), BYE and HI. There is more but that is all I heard today. And he can now jump off the floor with both feet- at the same time.

Garrett is emotional. No other words to describe it. Everything upsets him and how he describes it is hilarious! "I too crowded." "I too excited to clean up." And the tattling has begun. My favorite is when he blames Lance for things that Lance cannot do. And when he blames Trevor.

Trevor is getting old. I have to push him out the door in the morning. He refuses to go out if it is wet. He spends his day under our bed hiding from Lance.

Billy is Billy. The same- never changes. I think I have about a week until he is no longer THE GRINCH. The Christmas spirit does not hit him until after December 15. I am looking forward to his office party without kids!!! I might even be able to convince him to dance a song or two.

The house. It does not stay clean. No matter how hard we try. I think we will be doing some majoring purging in January. Maybe I can convince Billy to build me some shelves.

The piano. It will be gone before Christmas. Sorry Clayton. It will be going to a family with 5 little ones. I know it will get lots of love and use.

Shopping is done- just waiting on my internet orders to get here. Christmas card is made and will be mailed this weekend. Need to start my baking soon.

Garrett has his first MDO program this week. I am looking forward to watching him stand on the stage and look down. I seriously doubt he will do any performing. I need to warn his teachers!

That is all for today. Need to go see what the boys are throwing in the playroom.

I CAN'T BELIEVE

I can't believe that it is already Friday. Where did this week go? I don't even remember what all we did this week but I know it wasn't laundry.

I am just about done with my shopping. A few gifts that were ordered online are on their way and a few homemade ones still need to be done. I don't think Billy has started his shopping yet. But he always waits until the last minute.

The boys are starting to get excited. They both like singing Christmas songs and redecorating the tree. They are very concerned about a wooden Santa I have. He is hinged and his right foot fell off. Lance brought it to me and said "ix it." I guess they want Santa well so he can bring them all the goodies on their enormous wish list. Oh- Garrett made Lance's wish list as well as him own.

I did not take any pictures this week so I don't have any to share. But I do have one of the cutest "Natitity." The boys love playing with this. The hay is missing in this picture because I was needed at the Little People Thanksgiving Feast.



And a few more creations from me:

Everything is from the Year of Memories 2007 Collection by Dani Mogstad and Shawna Clingerman. I used the August kit and the binder clip is from September. Font is pea Jessica. Photoblast on the picture.


A Year of Memories 2007- March kit by Dani Mogstad and Shawna Clingerman. The frame is from Dani's Tool Box.


folded corner action and alpha (Blueberry Pop)are from Jen Caputo. Staples, tears are from Jen Caputo, tag and ribbon are from Julie Howard from The Digi Shoppe Essentials kit. Paper and holly are from Jennifer Layden's My Kinda Christmas kit available at The Digi Shopppe. Font is problem secretary.


clasp by Misty Mareda, tag and tears by Jen Caputo- part of the DigiShoppe Essentials, the folded corner is also by Jen Caputo. The papers and bow are from Tangerine Dreams by Scrapping with Nikki at The Digi Shoppe. Fonts are incognitype, stampact and pea Olson

Have a great weekend and stay warm!

IF YOU WANT TO SEE

what Little Gran has been up to check out this link: Benavides ISD

AN UPDATE

Blogging has fallen to the bottom of my list. What list? The mile long list of stuff to do this month. So here I am posting this and NOT folding clothes.

We are all well and staying warm. The boys are getting excited about Christmas. We talk about Jesus' birthday and Santa all the time. Garrett knows that he has to behave because Mommy knows Santa's phone number. And Lance is Lance. I think he enjoys the music the most.

We decorated the outside Sunday and had our own little lighting ceremony. Garrett thought it was great. He was really proud because he helped put the lights on the tree with Daddy.

I am just about done with the shopping. I have a few gifts to order online and a few to go buy this weekend. The boys are done and Billy is done. And they are wrapped. Now I just have 20 days to wait.

Here are a few new layouts. Enjoy!

CREDITS HERE

CREDITS HERE

CREDITS HERE

I AM NOT IGNORING YOU

There is a problem with our phone lines. I can receive some calls but you can't hear me. And some calls aren't even coming through. So I am not ignoring you if you are trying to get in touch with me! Just send me an email- I'll be checking them throughout the day. Or call Billy if it is really important.

Be back later with a real post!