Birthday Sleepover!

My birthday was a few weeks back and I was out of town. Also I've been eyeing a 'night away' from my Baby Bear for a while now. He's old enough now that although he still wakes up to eat he can take a bottle of milk - and then I could stay out, consume alcohol without having to do math, and just have a night's sleep without waking up to the demands of a third party! So the girls gave me just that (with the aid of Loving Husband watching Aiden) a girlie sleepover hosted by B & D! Yay! And it true B & D fashion it was an excellent time had by all!

Yep I said goodbye to my husband and Aiden around 5pm on Saturday night and headed over to B & D's - the festivities began with Gorgonzola honey bites! Yummy. We consumed a good quantity of that and then I got to open my presents! Yay! I was spoiled again and got all sorts of great things: a colander that I had been wishing for for a while, a subscription to Everyday Food, cute magnety tins, a silicone wisk, a Christmas cd, and soap for my new bathroom! All very awesome and all my kitchen stuff is in my fun red color! Very exciting. :) Thanks ladies!!

Then we moved onto making dinner! A group project! We made ravioli - yum! It was a sweet potato ricotta with thyme. Yum! Very delicious and really easy (as long as you know how to operate the pasta maker.)








After dinner we moved onto crafting and a movie. Yes, B & D had a fun craft project planned out where you upcycle well-used children's Christmas books and make garland out of them. So cute and very fun and easy! All you do is create a template and then trace, cut, hole punch and string. Some of us did trees only and others added in the festive stockings as well.

We then dyed some cupcake mix and made rainbow cupcakes and consumed those on their immediate exit from the oven. Yum! The rest of our evening's schedule was: throw some Sex and The City on, continue to sip some wine finish the jumbo size bottle of wine and relax. We posed with our festive pjs on for a few pictures (note the garland in the background!) And we slowly slunk off to bed between 12:30am and 3am - Jackie and I were the night owls of the bunch!

I then slept in a bed with polar bear sheets... ok 'polar bear' is a coined term by D ... so I recognize you might not understand what on earth I'm referencing. First let me state that no actual polar bears are involved and second it's like sleeping on a giant stuffed animal. It's sooo cozy!! Basically I'm speaking of mink - oh so cozy! I still woke up a few times in the night - just because my body doesn't know any other way. However, I was able to drift right back to sleep without having to feed anyone - I woke up much more rested and not wanting to leave the polar bear sheets! Ahhh. It was a fabulous sleepover! So much fun!

Thanks ladies! Let's do it every year for my birthday!! :) hehe

Where did the time go?

I recently transfered all my pictures back onto my laptop and was looking through a lot of my older pictures. Then my friend Lori from Livin' in a Fishbowl posted some pictures from when she was full-term pregnant in a flashback series on her page and so I was inspired to do the same. And let me tell you - I am glad she's apologized because her 'full-term' photo was what I looked like at 24 weeks or maybe 26 weeks. Literally. I was bigger by 28 weeks for sure. I'm not joking... I've stolen her photo to do a side-by-side comparison.


I know. I know. I was HUGE! I was being told I was going to 'pop' once I hit 28 weeks (just what a pregnant woman with 12 weeks to go wants to hear) but I survived and for the most part everything has shifted back to where it should be. I might even do it again someday. ;-) One of my favorite pictures of me when I was pregnant was this one taken around 34 weeks when we celebrated our 4th anniversary early:

My full term picture was taken on my due date and that night I went into labor at 10pm. Aiden Chase arrived in this world 30 hours and 15 minutes later. You can read Aiden's birth story here. One of my favorite early photos that I love so much is after Aiden's first bath (at home) at three days old and he looks so sweet and content.


At 12 days old we took him to get his first professional pictures taken. He was so tiny! Now my son is officially over half my size. I'm 61" and he is about 32" right now. Siigh.

And now he's just a few days shy of 15 months old! How fast time has gone.

Happy Birthday, Grum!

Today would have been my grandmother's 84th birthday. Her presence has been missed, but around this time of year starting today on her birthday it is even more noted. I was thinking the other day that it was nearly time to start making the cranberry relish and it was the first time in a few weeks that I truly felt my grandma's absence. I would not be able to call her this year to verify the recipe. It instantly made my heart sink.

We didn't spend birthdays or Thanksgivings together all that frequently once I got married. Although we did throw a grand party for her 80th and my mom's 50th (only a few days apart from each other) back in 2005. An excellent time had by all!

Last Christmas was the first Christmas in my 20-something life that I had not spent it with my immediate family. The first Christmas that I did not spent it with my grandma - ever. I don't regret that I didn't, but I am sad that I won't ever have the opportunity to spend it with her again. The last Christmas I did spend with my grandma was 2007 when we announced to our family that we were pregnant. She was so happy. I'm so blessed by all the memories I have.

So today I am missing her, but I know that in the days and weeks to come her absence is going to be all the more palpable, but I'll be ok... I know where she is. Happy Birthday, Grum! It's your best one yet, because this year you're partying with Grandpa and Jesus!

Aiden Antics

I've been after Aiden in recent days to not climb on chairs and thus most of our furniture is tucked in under the tables. So it was a bit of a surprise when I heard Aiden mildly fussing from the kitchen as if he was stuck. I thought he had tried to climb under the chairs in an army-crawl method, yet again - he usually bonks his head - but nope he had tried something else. When I started to film this I didn't think I'd get much more than just the visual of him encased in the chairs... but my son did not disappoint. He proceeded to have an entire conversation with his momma on how 'yes' he was stuck and 'yes' he was allowed to be up there. I love that he kept saying 'stuck' after he got down. Oh how I love my little climber and my heart melts for his kisses.

Wordless Wednesday - Yum!

My Speech

I like to memorialize things and some have asked - so if you're interested in my 6 minute speech to people you might not know, enjoy! My son provides excellent background noise throughout and I'm not sure if the camera man felt that he had to also raise his glass toward the end or what is happening, but it's been preserved and now that it is on the blog - it actually happened ;-)

My Christmas Musings

Is Christmas a holiDAY or is it a season? Why is it that 'Christmas' seems to seep into department stores, radios, homes, and public streets earlier and earlier. Is it wrong that people want to celebrate Christmas more than just the day of the event? Why do we? I personally start listening to Christmas music in October. I don't listen to it every day - but it just brings cheer to my heart. I get excited when I see decorations starting to go up and while stores have an ulterior motive of making money, it still makes me excited when the Christmas season begins to arrive.

Christmas is supposed to be about Christ, the birth of him more specifically. However, with most Christian holidays it has been commercialized and marketed into an explosion come November of tinsel, lights, and bows, but is that bad? Is it bad that a day meant to celebrate Jesus has spilled into the entire month of December... and now into November? Doesn't that commercialization of bows, lights, and tinsel just provide additional opportunities to bring it back to Jesus? I mean yes in a sinless world we wouldn't have to 'bring it back to Jesus' it would be all about Jesus, but we don't live in that world. Shouldn't we as Christians be delighted to be able to remind people why we celebrate Christmas for that much longer? I mean we should celebrate Jesus every day with as much fanfare and excitement that people do when they celebrate Christmas, but we don't. I know I don't. But Christmas allows for an ever present reminder.
Buying presents, giving your time, giving to others, decorating with lights, putting up a tree with a star on top - just like the star that led the wisemen to Jesus (it is why I like a star on the top of my tree and not an angel) all of these things are small (albeit commercialized) ways to celebrate Jesus - and yes non-Christians utilize these same symbols to celebrate their Christmas - but if we know in our hearts why we put up these symbols that's what matters.

I think the reason that people (not businesses) enjoy breaking out Christmas music and decorations early is because of the feeling and emotion that comes with Christmas. Christmas Cheer is a real thing. While it causes stress and annoyance for some - I find everything to be a cheerful and joyous this time of year. It is a season of giving - while people can (and some do) give all year long - this season is when people give out of the goodness out of their heart. People donate can goods, toys, and their time more during this season. It makes people open their hearts more. People (except at malls) are kinder. They want to see their fellow man enjoy the same joy on Christmas day that they do. And while not everyone that gives from their heart is motivated by Jesus - it certainly is a good reminder of Jesus. A self-sacrafice for the benefit of the undeserving and/or unfortunate.

Watching a Christmas movie evokes memories of happy times and brings a warmness to my heart - which while I might be happy regardless of Christmas - it just adds a level of well... cheer and why wouldn't that be a good thing? I can't find one.

My son and I watching A Muppet Christmas Carol
So if it invokes cheer in me - why is it that for others Christmas before December 15th (the obligatory 2 week prior acceptability to decorate and celebrate) a cardinal violation of something sacred? That when they hear Christmas music before December 1st they want to punch a wall? Is it just a general humbug? Are they merely Scrooges and Grinches? Can't they see and feel the warmth of the holiday season regardless of the date on the calendar? Perhaps the two sides never will understand each other. Perhaps there are just those that embrace Christmas as a season and those that embrace it as a day.

I don't know, for me the Christmas season lifts my spirits. It's a time to celebrate Jesus in a special way, it is a time for family gatherings, it is a time to be happy and cheerful. For me it IS the most wonderful time of the year and so why wouldn't I want that time of the year to begin as soon as possible? ;-)

Aiden Grilling

We (Aiden and I) have been home now for a week and boy oh boy how happy Aiden is to have his dad around again (I'm pretty happy too!) One of Aiden's budding fascinations and excitement is cooking! Playing with dishes or actually getting to help, he loves it and to get to do it with his dad, wow all the better! Throw in grilling in the high 30s and you've got an exciting adventure.

Houston We Had a Problem

See at the end of Day Eight of the Great Bathroom Remodel our shower looked like this:

All sealed with it's red glory of waterpoofing and all set for tile. Day Nine began with tile installation. 18x18 tiles being placed on said walls.

I left for a few hours, expecting to see lots of tiling complete. I returned to see all tile removed. Hmmm turns out that the wall was bowing under the pressure of the bigger tile and in general due to the house 'settling'. I've been told it's good that they caught it now because what would inevitably have happened is that the bowing of the wall would have caused one (or more) tiles to detach and then the whole mess would have come tumbling down at any time. That would have been delightful.... or not. So what occurred was that these poor workers had to remove the tile and then take off the walls.

Yes the sealed in place walls and then put some extra support and level out the walls. So instead of tiling on Day Nine they spent redoing what had been done on Day Seven and Day Eight. They were none to happy. So on Day Ten the walls went back up and tiling began again. By the end of Day Eleven this was the status:

Saturday: Day Twelve (a day past the finish date of Friday, the new finish date is Tuesday) they will finish the last few tiles and then put the grout in and then they will begin the laying the floor tile. They are done with painting, in fact in this last picture you can see the color 'Gravity' that we went with. We like it. I'll be happy when the tile gets going for the floor. Oh let's be honest I'll be happy when it's DONE. D-O-N-E!

To see earlier remodeling progress click here.

Elf Yourself!

Yes! Tis the Season time to turn yourself into an elf and dance little jig! And while the video provides its own hilarity, the screenshots do not disappoint. Although I'm hard pressed to know what my husband will object to more the fact that he's an elf in tights or that he's dancing to country. ;-) Enjoy! Leave your elfy link in the comments!

Fixtures!

I am pretty sure that Aiden is starting to believe that Lowes and Home Depot are his second and third homes as he has been in them nearly every day for weeks now. Checking tile, toilets, cabinets, lights and vanities, oh my! Tonight was the final installment of our tour of Lowes. Yes all the items have been purchased and thanks to the Veteran's 10% discount offered at both Lowes and Home Depot we saved $150 on all of our purchases! Yipee! Tonight was picking up the toilet and ordering 'custom' cabinets - that aren't custom at all but they don't keep them in stock so um yes, our cabinets above the washer and dryer will be here around December 1st.

In our family the member dragging and screaming NOT to go into Lowes is me, not our son. In fact it's a giant playland for him. He loved running up and down the aisle and pushing the 92lb toilet!! My boy's got some muscles!

To Those That Serve

To my husband, my brother, my best friend, friends and those that have gone before us... thank you for serving our country and allowing the freedoms that we take for granted to stand firm that allow my son to live in the Land of the Free. Happy Veteran's Day!

Smells

I hate the smells and breathing factors that come with remodeling. Bleck. It all smells like something and none of it is good... It's actually a mystery to me at this point as to which smell is driving me nuts or if it's all just in my head but bleck either way. You see today they sprayed the texture on the walls and that of course comes with a smell. However today we also had air duct people come and and discover some early mold in our vents - delightful! So we had them spray a "sanitizer that they use in hospitals" into the vents. Grrrreeeeat! Just what I really need breathing chemicals - but I guess what I really don't need is to breath mold - so it's a flip of the coin as to which is going to kill me faster I suppose and we chose chemicals over mold. Hopefully it was a wise choice.

As a result of those chemicals being sprayed yesterday, I left my home at 11am after shutting off the heater and opening several windows (did I mention it was 50' outside?). I returned at 2pm in order to turn it back on - just in time to see the results of texture being sprayed all over the walls: a LOT of dust. Not exactly the time you want to turn a heater back on - especially since it lives in the very room they created all the dust in. So I left it. At 7pm I returned home after buying tile with the intention of turning it back on. The heater itself was EXTREMELY taped off - and while I'm no expert I didn't find it to be ideal to turn ON a gas heater with paper taped all over it. They also planned to paint the next day (today) so tearing it down wasn't exactly what I thought was ideal either. So at 59' my house sat and dropping... I wanted to turn the heater on and NOT be home for a few hours afterward with the windows open just to push as much of the "sanitizer" out of the house and not into our lungs as possible. Loving Husband came home and assured me all would be ok - so we turned the heater on and headed out for the evening.

All seems to be well, the overwhelming scent in the air is still paint and texture spray and the house didn't burn to the ground by turning the heater on with paper surrounding it. So we've survived to live another day.

Remodel

Yep! Tis the season (in our house) to remodel. Although I feel 'remodel' implies it was there to begin with and that was certainly not the case in our situation. You see when we purchased this house our laundry room looked like this.


We decided that while I was in California it would be a good time to turn it into a real bathroom and laundry room. Since this decision I have come to the conclusion that remodeling should be a part of pre-marital counseling. Wow! There haven't been knock out drag down fights - but sheesh we sure have had an inexplicable amount of time spent discussing tile and paint colors.


It was a challenge to plan afar and it was a tad unnerving not to be around to oversee things. I did review the contract and edit and revise it with a fine tooth comb - what kind of an attorney would I be otherwise?! :) Day One was heater removal, framing, and installing some installation and drywall. Night One my husband and the kitties slept with no heater as it was Day Two that it arrived. In case you were wondering it was about 45' during the day. That was a moment I was thankful to be afar in So Cal. They survived and our new heater went in. It's the quietest thing I've ever never heard. Seriously, I kept cranking the heater on when I came home because I didn't think it was on. Our old one (original with our 1987 home) sounded like a freight train powering through the house.

Day Four the tub went in and mudding on the drywall began and the bathroom is really starting to look like a room and not a construction zone that was unfinished... although clearly still unfinished. Day Five and Six were plumbing and the other side of the shower wall installation. Stay tuned for more pictures! The project is slated to be complete on Friday!

What a trip!

I can't believe that a month has gone by. I've just returned from my month long 'vacation' to California and I had a wonderful time. It was such a great time to be able to spend in my hometown. It was awesome to be able to catch up with friends that typically I only get to see over a weekend when we visit each other. I loved being able to grab lunch with my best friend, take our kids to the pumpkin patch. I loved that Aiden got to see his Grandma every day for a month! It was just perfect. I am so blessed to have a husband willing to let me have my adventures (and join me for a couple of them as well!)

Yes, in this past month I've been to Palm Springs, San Diego, Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, the beach, and Disneyland. We've been to a wedding, a pumpkin patch, Halloween, and several malls. I've been to and from the airport a zillion times it seems like, and Aiden has done amazingly through it all. He sleeps anywhere (albeit far later than his typical bedtime) and takes everything in stride and takes it on as if it is an adventure. He made new friends and LOVES Abby. He loves his Auntie and his Grandma and can point to both of them in pictures. It warms my heart that my son was able to be around both his Grandma and his Auntie enough to create the relationship and for the bond to form. It's has been a great month.

We have missed dad, Loving Husband very much though. Aiden on Friday when we took him to the airport to go home cried something fierce not wanting dad to leave, again! Loving Husband misses us and doesn't like being away either - and I have to say that the 'single parent' role is tough! Kudos to all you single parents. Whew! It wears me out being the only parent most of this month. It's been hard. Grandma certainly has been a tremendous help.

I certainly was sad to leave, but oh so glad to get home.

Haircut Round 3

Yes my son is not even 15 months old and he's on his 3rd haircut. I guess honestly once the first one occurred the trauma should be over - but for me it just continues to remind me of how fast time is fleeing as my little boy continues to grow up. It was the other day that I noticed he was a tad shaggy and that I should update his look. :)

So of course faced with the ever perplexing question - how do you cut a mobile squirmy boy's hair?! Well he did pretty well. I put him in his high chair with a few toys and crackers and went to work. He did very well for the most part. I don't think he consumed too much hair in his snacking ;-) and the end result was decent considering I am far from a hairdresser.

The Happiest Place on Earth!

What an exciting adventure we had in Disneyland. Aiden as expected was a joy to experience Disneyland with. He ran all over the park and had a blast looking at all sorts of new things. He went on a few rides he had been on the first time, including Nemo and the Jungle Cruise - certainly his two favorite parts of his time in the park. He also got to enjoy Toontown this time and run around in Mickey's house and even got to meet him. Although he was more excited to see him from across the room than right next to him, but that's ok. The best ride he doesn't remember goes to Dumbo. He was awake literally until we got the seatbelt on him and then he passed out. Completely out like a sack of potatoes for the next 40 minutes. Which did allow for Loving Husband and I to venture onto Thunder Mountain Railroad - which is by far my favorite ride in the park! Those pictures we'll save for another day so please be sure to come back by for those!

Aiden once again did great - his only fuss this time was simply him voicing his opinion on his mode of transportation. He didn't want to be in the stroller very often and he didn't like being held back from running full speed ahead at all costs. Other than that he did perfectly and was a trooper and we closed down the park! Yep we stayed until they closed. The final ride we went on was Dumbo so that he could enjoy it in a conscious state. He preferred to look at the flying Dumbos rather than be in it flying Dumbos. He wasn't scared, just wasn't a fan of the wind in his face.

Aiden also got to experience Disneyland with Grandma for the first time. It was so wonderful that she was able to come to Disneyland with us. She hadn't been there since the mid-90s so it was great for her to come and experience it with her first grandson. I'm sure this is just the beginning of more fun adventures with her and her grandbabies in Disneyland.

Disneyland!

Today we're off to Disneyland. Aiden gets to experience Disneyland in a whole new way this time: mobile! Yes he has been to Disneyland before, when he was 7 months old. Today though at 14+ months old and running around he gets to be adventerous and run all over Disneyland. Experience everything in a new light and this time with Grandma, his Auntie and Mom and Dad of course. :) I cannot wait for the pictures this day will yield. But please enjoy this one from his first experience!

Why Not Minot?

Yes, five years ago almost to the day I learned where Minot was. I learned that it's pretty much a sneeze away from Canada and I learned that it's one of the coldest places in our country sometimes. I learned all of this because when my brother joined the military this is where he was stationed: Minot AFB. Him and his new bride trekked to the snowy flat lands and made Minot, North Dakota their home for the last five years and this Friday my brother completes his service to our country and makes his trek back to California with his wife and new daughter.

Minot was never very fun for them. Big city folk did not transplant well into Minot. They had some extremely unfortunate weather, a few accidents, frozen pipes and whatnot occured during their lives but they survived. They are coming back to their hometown. Where two doting grandmothers (and a grandpa) await to spoil the newest addition to the families.


My brother is a great airman, just like his grandfather was. Thank you for serving our country for the last five years brother. I love you and am very proud.

Taken at my wedding just a few months after he completed his schooling.

Hidden Treasures

I've been staying at my grandmother's house this month that I've been So Cal. It's weird being here amid her things. Seeing many things just as she had left them and yet seeing piles and bare walls from things already in the process of being moved out and distributed to family members. I've sat around late at night by myself soaking up the memories that this house holds. Trying to remember all the sleep overs, swinging in the backyard, looking at me and my brother's feet prints in the front yard, knowing that this is the last time that I will be in this house as it is. It is possible that this property will remain in our family for a while. It is possible that I will be back in it. However, after this trip - when I go home - when I come back here it will no longer be 'Grandma's House.' It's bittersweet.

I've been photographing the small things that won't stick out in my memory as time fades. Things that are small and simple that were a part of 'Grandma's House' that won't be passed on in the family, but things that will go by the wayside or remain with the home. Somethings are truly the work of my grandfather, like his garage. Others are just silly. I am truly thankful that I had this time to spend soaking up the little things before I say goodbye to 'Grandma's House' forever.

Just a few of Grandma's bibles. I already have a few of them.

The 'breadbox' on the left and the working microwave on the right.

My Grandma's favorite picture of me, it's been in that frame as long as I can remember.

My feet and hand prints (although my hands have faded away)

A section of my grandfather's garage, our blocks we played with are in the box.

Eden Fantasys Bachelorette Review

Yes Ladies and Gents! It's that time again! Time to review more fabulous items from the great store: Eden Fantastys and what better occasion than a bachelorette party! Yes, as the MOH one of my privileges is to host the bachelorette party. We're pretty PG rated folks though and aren't up for body shots, nude dancers, or any 'don't ask, don't tell' moments - so don't feel you need to sensor yourself from this post. Although there are some anatomy inspired products, so might not be best for the tiny tots. There the disclaimer has been issued. Proceed at your own risk.

If you recall earlier this year I did a review of the lingerie that Eden Fantastys has. I gave it a raving review then, with the quality, price and customer service all receiving the highest marks. They were certainly the first place I went looking when it was time to acquire some things for the bride to be! I went browsing their collection and found this number to the right. You see the bride is a military gal and well I just couldn't pass it up! It's adorable. The sizing is perfect and the detail is excellent - even down to the bullets on the front - too cute! You can't go wrong with camo and the material is very soft. The bachelorette gave it 2 thumbs up. I haven't asked for a follow up on the Groom's thoughts ;-)

Now onto the party materials. Eden Fantastys has a wide variety of things to make a bachelorette party exciting and racy. In fact Eden Fantasys is a one stop shop for all your Bachelorette party needs. Yes, they have veils, sashes, games, party decorations, and the list goes on... Our party was in two phases due some invitees that were under 21 and unable to get into a club, so we started off at an Italian restaurant. I didn't want it to just be dinner and then the fun start at the club so what better to make it still bachelorette fun than some festive straws and some uniquely shaped pasta. Eden Fantasys also sells Titaroni Pasta and the straws come in flesh tones AND glow in the dark and as usual the price is great.

We spoke with the wait staff before allowing the bride to come in (and I had pre-cooked the pasta) and arranged for the drinks to come out with our festive straws and for the bride's dish to be replace with the Pecker Pasta with of course some alfrado sauce on it.



It made for an excellent good time and everyone was in agreement that it really tasted good. Sometimes with novelty items it's more the gag than actual food, but this pasta was good! The Pecker Pasta also worked well as table decor, as seen with the Bachelorette modeling her Shot Glass Wedding Ring.

Yes, the Bachelorette dawned the hot bling in style, although she never did take a shot out of it. It was a tad awkward to actually pour a shot into and she's mightily clumsy. ;-) The only negative thing I'd say for this item is that it's a really small ring, there is not expanding it so it didn't fit her finger very well. Otherwise it was good fun. The bachelorette had a great time and Eden Fantastys helped kick up the naughtiness just enough to make it good clean fun for everyone.

I have to say this, Eden Fantastys is a great place to shop whether for yourself, your friend, or your partner. There is something for everyone 18+ or older ;-) So if you're in need of a good gag gift, party favor, or lingerie then I highly recommend stopping by Eden Fantastys.

This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others. Thank you to Eden Fantasys who supplied the products for the review.

November!

November! Yes it's my favorite month and no not simply because my birthday is in it. No I love November because it is the collision of two great seasons, all my favorite fall colors blend into the Christmas season, because it's when (most) people stop scoffing at you for listening to Christmas music early, because it's the kick off of the Christmas season. It's November (the second Thanksgiving is over) that I get to decorate for Christmas. It's just a happy month. December is by far the greatest BUT November is just as exciting for me.

This November I've decided to participate in NaBloPoMo and therefore I will be posting once a day, every day, for the month of November. So there should be lots of stories of my son and his adventureS, some early holiday excitement, oh and progress pictures of our bathroom model that is kicking off tomorrow! Lots to share. So let me start you off with a picture I took at the pumpkin patch on Friday. I think fall is my favorite time of year for photography.