Disinfecting Wipes

I hate to report this, but Allie caught pink eye too!  I tried so hard to clean EVERYTHING so no one else would get it, but that stuff is just so contagious!  I started using some Lysol wipes that Kevin bought.  They had such a strong *cleaning* odor that it was giving me headaches.  I told my mom about it, and she picked up some Seventh Generation wipes that are "all natural" that I was anxious to use.  They didn't have a clean smell.  It was more of a harsh bleachy smell, and I wasn't sure if I didn't prefer the clean smelling Lysol to the Seventh Generation.  When I went to Walmart yesterday I thought I'd just see if there were any other options (since I'm still sanitizing the house multiple times a day).  I found some Green Works wipes that I thought would be worth a try.  The are THE BEST!  They have a clean smell that won't poison you!  Next time you have a sicko in the house, get some Green Works Disinfecting Wipes! :)

Pink Eye

I get pink eye yearly.  Somtimes multiple times a year.  Sunday night while giving Hayden a bath I realized his "itchy eyes" had now turned into a hot mess of nasty pink eye.  I've sanitized the house... more than once... and we've gone through about half a bottle of hand sanitizer in 18 hours.  He has been on the eye drops for 18 hours and counting so that leaves just 6 more hours of him being contagious. 

Every time I look at those little eyes mine start itching and burning.  I'm really really hoping to avoid this round of pink eye!  Say a little prayer I do! :)

Snapshot of the Week

I don't love when Harry sleeps on my counter, BUT I do love this picture of him! 

p.s. I may start sharing my favorite snapshot of the week :)  This is the winner this week!

Oh Christmas Tree

When you have small kids, sometimes you have to make sacrifices.  One sacrifice we make at Christmas is our Christmas tree.  It's only partially decorated.  I tried to put a few berries and ornaments lower on the tree this year, but after 3 broken ornaments the first day and countless squished berries, I gave up and undecorated the bottom half of the tree.

We were getting ready to watch a movie this evening when I glanced at the tree and saw this...

Guess Hayden thought the bottom needed some decorations... that's his stick horse poking out of the tree.

The Circus... *Sigh*

Maybe there was too much built up anticipation for this years circus.  With it being the first year in the new Ford Center, I just had imagined the circus being bigger and better than ever!  I was sooo let down!  Let me explain.

The performances were actually better than I was expecting.  Some of them were lame, and some scared me to watch (I didn't want to see anyone fall to their death, and I just knew that was going to happen with some of the crazy performances.)  There was a really neat "jumping" team.  They did all kinds of flips and tricks and gymnastics with jump ropes.  They were really entertaining!  I liked the hula hoop girl and the ice skaters.  All that was new and different.  Overall, the performances were enjoyable.

The part I look forward to the most is getting to hold or be next to a wild animal.  There is no where else you can go and hold a baby tiger cub, or have a monkey stand on your head.  When we arrived an hour early for animal pictures, I was so let down.  They had the same minature horse the kids got their pics with last year, and they had little pony rides.  They also had camel and elephant rides.  They replaced the cute cuddly animal this year with a yellow python.  It was cool, I guess, but it's hard to "ohh" and "awww" over a snake.  At Robert's Stadium they keep the tigers out so you can see them, but the animals don't have anywhere to stay at the Ford Center so they don't bring them out until they are needed for the show (which is a bit disappointing because I like getting to see the tigers up close).

Maybe it's just me, but I felt like the ticket prices really jumped up this year!  General admission was $19 (which is the 2nd level in the new stadium).  You could sit at the first level for $21, so that's where we bought our tickets.  Allie was free, but Hayden was $21, along with me and Kevin.  That was a bit much.... It wouldn't have been so bad if you didn't have to pay $5 per person to ride the ponies or the elephants (which cost us another $20).  Cotton candy was $4 for a little bag and of course we had to buy that too.

Like I said, maybe I just built it up too much, but I was really let down.  Enough so that we've talked about not going next year.... Maybe next year I'll wait till people post some pictures on facebook, and if there are photo ops with baby animals then maybe I will change my mind.  Or, if they moved it back to Robert's Stadium, I'd go again. 


Enough complaining, here are just a couple pictures we snapped this year.

Thanksgiving Pies

I'm SO happy to report that after about 20 flops on pie crusts, attempts #21 and #22 turned out BEAUTIFULLY!  I made a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie this year for Thanksgiving and both were a success!  (A big success in my book - picture worthy actually!) 

 After baking:

I didn't try the pumpkin, but those who did liked it.  I ate the pecan pie and it was probably one of the best pecan pies I've ever had!  So, let me share my recipes with you!

Here's the recipe I used for the pie crust

Here's the recipe I used for the pumpkin pie (I doubled the cinnamon)

Here's the recipe I used for the pecan pie

I think the 2 reasons I succeeded with pie crusts this time are #1 the new recipe and #2 my pastry cloth, which I blogged about here.  I'd absolutely recommend them to everyone who will ever make a homemade pie crust!  They are amazing!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Hope you all did too!

Thanksgiving cookies

 Cute cookies, huh?!  A super cute mom that brings her little boy to my Mother's Morning Out class brought these to us yesterday.  (She's also the one that invited me to the cookie class I blogged about here.)  I was so inspired by her adorable and VERY yummy cookies that I decided to try and make some too!

When I put the kids to bed last night, I cut out cookies, made icing, baked and sugared several dozen cookies.  For a spur of the moment idea, I was happy with how they turned out!  I'm hoping to plan my Christmas ones a little better and make a couple batches to share with friends and family :) 

Anyone else motivated to go make cookies now??  I'm thinking about possibly hosting a cookie class at my house in February.  Who all would be interested?  I think it's between $20-$30 a person.  Let me know! :)

Family Movie Night

We are trying to start some new yearly traditions.  This year we are doing Family Movie Night - Christmas Edition!  I made caramel corn and bought glass bottled Cokes and Kevin picked up Elf for our first family movie!  Hayden is little enough he didn't pick up on the few adult jokes and Allie actually sat for about half the movie.  Kevin and I were both happy with how movie night #1 turned out!  We're going to try to do this weekly until Christmas gets here :)

What are some family family traditions you all do?  I'll be posting more about ours in the next couple weeks!  Here are some pictures to recap our movie night.

Monster Cookies

I think I've tried Monster Cookies before, but I really don't remember.  I ran across this recipe from Paula Deen and thought they would be a great cookie for Hayden to make with me.  Not to mention, we had tons of leftover M&Ms from Halloween that I had no idea what to do with!  So behold, the Monster Cookie!

Still loving my parchment paper!

Look at that big delicious cookie!

They were fabulous... soft and chewy - give them a try with your kiddos!  To make them extra festive, you can you Christmas M&Ms! :)

Pictures with Santa

One of the things on our annual Holiday to-do list is get the kids picture with Santa.  I knew Hayden would be just fine and happy sitting on Santa's lap telling him all he wanted (and he said he wants a Reindeer), but I wasn't sure how Allie would do.  She is pretty outgoing, and I thought if Hayden was into it, maybe she would be too.  Well I was wrong!  As soon as we set her on Santa's lap, she lost it.  It was the kind of cry where she couldn't catch her breath.  After she got a breath, it was big tears and lots of screams with her arms stretched out reaching for mommy and daddy.  Santa put her down pretty quickly, I noticed they snapped a couple pictures and I thought we'll just take one and be on our way.  The photographer (who was taking like 10 pics of each family) took 2.  He said, "Maybe you can try again when she's more comfortable."  I thought "Ok, really?!  If you do this for a living, you should know she isn't going to warm up to him this year." I just smiled and said, "Ok". 

So about 5 minutes later we went back for round #2.  I don't think he was expecting us back so soon, but the only thing I had on my "must do list" yesterday was get the pics with Santa, and I wasn't leaving the mall empty handed!  I must say, Santa was very nice, and he suggested hiding behind the chair so Allie wouldn't see him and be upset in the pictures.  I guess that's like Santa to want the kids to be happy, but I was actually kind of wanting a picture of Allie screaming!  Am I a horrible mom or what!  So, round #2, there were no tears.  Not the picture I was thinking we'd end up with, but I'm glad we got it done!

This was my favorite

I let Kevin pick the picture we bought and this is the one he picked! 

Hayden Dancing

My kids are dancers - I didn't say amazingly gifted dancers, but they like to move!  I was cleaning up the kitchen last night when I saw Hayden shakin' it behind the Christmas tree.  I was trying really hard not to laugh - the boy knows how to move those hips!  When he's 13, he will probably kill me for posting this video of him!  Ha!  It's too cute though!

Surprise Gift

Amy told me to swing by the Epworth branch of our bank, on Friday, because she was sending something over there for me to pick up.  I was happily surprised to see these cupcake ornaments!  Unexpected gifts are so fun!  I just need to find a picture of Allie & Hayden to put in their respective cupcake.  I told Amy I would use that picture of us for the 3rd cupcake (only because it's a good picture of me back in my skinny pre-baby days!)  Ha! 

I'm going to try to send out a couple unexpected gifts during these next couple weeks.  Maybe you should too! 

Brown Noser

This is my idea of a "Brown Noser"!  (It's chocolate icing.)

Thanksgiving Menu

What is on your Thanksgiving menu?

We are having:
Turkey & Dressing
Corn
Green Beans
Seasoned Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Jello
Homemade Bread

Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie

I really wish my sis was able to give me a lesson on "How to make a perfect pie crust" before next week!  She's the queen of pie crusts!  The pumpkin and pecan pies are new recipes.  If they are good I will post the recipes next week along with pictures, as long as you promise not to hate on my pie crusts! :)  Happy Meal Planning!

Happy 28th Birthday Kevin!

Yesterday we celebrated Kevin's 28th Birthday!  He is just 20 days older than me.  :)  Here's a look into his day yesterday.

The day before Kevin's birthday, Hayden made him a card.

We went to Gattitown for lunch then came home and opened presents!

Decoration for the "man cave".

Birthday cupcakes just as he requested!  I loved the big bright sprinkles!

Buffalo Wild Wings - potato wedges with cheese and ranch for an appetizer.

His usual ... 3/4lb Shrimp

Birthday Boy

Family Picture :)

Make a wish!

Allie + Cupcakes = Serious Business!  She loves her cupcakes!

Kevin's parents

My parents

My parents + Tabi & Addison (& baby)

Okay... maybe Allie does look a little like her Daddy.

November's Mid-Month Update

Usually I spend my free time reading new blogs and catching up on my favorites.  Today I stumbled across a neat blog.  Marybeth Whalen writes for Proverbs 31 Ministries and I really enjoy her devotions.  One of her posts last week was titled "The Simple Woman's Daybook" and it just gave you a quick glance into her life... I really enjoyed reading it!  I decided to start my own, but call it a "Mid-Month Update".  Since my life is far less exiting than hers, I figured I could come up with something to write about monthly rather than weekly.

Here goes Novermber's Mid Month Update:

Outside my window . . . sunny and 50s and windy - Brrrr!

I am thinking . . . of all I should be doing around the house and what I need to prepare for our Thanksgiving festivities.

I am thankful for . . . healthy kids.  Lately it's been day by day - but today they are healthy!

From the kitchen . . . I see 2 baskets of laundry sitting on my counter that need to be put away.

I am wearing . . . Old Gap jeans that are to big, a pink Old Navy short sleeve shirt and a light blue Old Navy Fleece.

I am creating . . . Thanksgiving and Fall crafts for the kids in my MMO class.  I love having kids at home that can be my craft guinea pigs!

I am going . . . to Walmart when Kevin gets home from hunting today. *Saying a little prayer that Bambi's dad walks by Kev today so he won't have to spend anymore time in the woods!*

I am wondering . . . if I've done enough for Kevin's birthday tomorrow.  I'm usually over the top on birthdays, but his just snuck up on me this year. 

I am reading . . . my bible. I have a list of about a dozen books I want to read and I'm hoping to get into that group after Thanksgiving! (Most are Christian parenting books).

I am hoping . . . to get a pedicure in the very near future!  My poor toes need some holiday cheer!

I am looking forward to . . .Seeing some wild animals and getting my picture with them at the circus next week!

I am hearing . . . silence.  The kids and cats are napping.

Around the house . . . there are cracker crumbs, shoes, toys - all calling my name to be picked up.  But hey, all the pukey laundry is done!

One of my favorite things . . .is decorating for Christmas - and we've already started!  While I was putting up a big tree in our family room, Hayden was jumping up and down screaming, "I LOVE THIS DAY!"

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . Mothers Morning Out tomorrow, Make Kevin some birthday cupcakes, Kevin's birthday dinner in the evening (he hasn't decided where we'll go) and probably church on Saturday night.

Pondering these words . . . “The truth might hurt, but the truth also heals.”

Multitasking

My definition of multitasking today: Getting Allie's lunch ready (since she was sitting at the table screaming ready to eat) while cleaning up Hayden's puke, getting him in the bath, switching loads of pukey laundry, & trying to keep him calm. Whew! And people think it's easy being a stay-at-home mom!

Nativity

I decided this year I wanted a new nativity set.  The one I have is so little, and I really want a bigger nativity scene to be placed somewhere in our house that's seen frequently.  Here's the problem.  The selections of nativity scenes are limited- to say the least.  I walked up and down Hobby Lobby's Christmas isles (there are probably 15 isles) and I found a tiny selection of nativity sets in one of the last isles.  I mean the whole reason for Christmas is to celebrate Christs birth, so why is it so hard to find something depicting that?!  And Hobby Lobby is a more "Christian" store than most (they play church music, they are closed on Sundays, etc).  Some of my other favorite places to shop, like Pier 1 and Target had zero selection in their stores (although Target.com has several choices).  I really think it's sad that Christmas cards, and  trees, and gift wrap, and ornaments, and Christmas crafts, and stockings and tree skirts and wreaths and literally EVERYTHING else is more available than a simple nativity set.

Allie Dancing

This may be the cutest thing ever...

Overalls

I ran across an outfit in Allie's closet today that she had never worn before.  They are a little big on her, but I'm now in love with overalls on that little pig tailed doll baby!  I'm thinking maybe she needs another pair :)

New Do

I'm so excited that Allie's hair is getting longer!  We tried a new hair do... what do you think!?