Cookie Class

I was invited to a holiday cookie class this afternoon.  I was really looking forward to going because I haven't had much cookie decorating experience.  We had so much fun!  The class was taught by Cathy Webb, owner of Cathy's Designer Cookies.  She also teaches classes at Kitchen Affairs.

Today we decorated 4 traditional gingerbread cookies with royal icing.  She had already made the cookies and icing, so it was really nice to go and do the fun part!  Let's get to it - here are the results:

My 1st favorite is Santa, then the snowman, then the snowflake, then Rudolph. 

I'll have to admit, I'm not a big fan of this kind of icing on cookies, BUT I really enjoyed this gingerbread dough with royal icing (verses sugar cookies dough)!  I'm already thinking of ideas for Christmas cookies this year.

Bows Bows & More Bows!

Jacque made all 3 of these fancy flower ones.  Love them!

Jacque so kindly offered to teach me how to make bows for Allie :)  Since I'm slightly obsessed with Allie wearing bows, I thought it would be a smart thing to learn how to do!  Here's some pics from our fun girl night last night!

The first bow I made!

Jacque showing me how to seal the ends.  This was really fun!

Jacque made all the bows on the left along with that cute sheer green/pink one at the top right.  I made the other 4 bows on the right.  The 2 flowers were headbands that Jacque cut apart.  She attached them to a clip so Allie could keep wearing them!

Jacque's cute dog Munchie - she almost got stepped on by me like 3 times!  She was so sweet though!

Jacque's parents cute dog who entertained us also.

 I had Allie do a little bow modeling today.... I think I should have waited till she was more awake because she wasn't really feeling the photo shoot first thing this morning.  I was SO excited to try them on her though!

Wish You Were Here!

My mom and I met with Jacque (my sisters BFF) tonight for a fun little how-to class on bows :)  Tomorrow I will give you a close up view of what we made, but tonight I'm tired and I want to give a special shout out to my sis so she knows she was missed!

Neti Pot

Our family has had a cold for close to 2 weeks.  Kevin and I have had it worse than our kids.  I'm not a fan of taking lots of meds.  I'd rather let it run it's course and use a humidifier and some Vicks Vapor Rub.  (If I'm absolutely miserable and can't function I will take medicine.)  Susanne, the girl that teaches at Mother's Morning Out with me, was telling me today about Neti Pot.  It sounded incredibly weird, but I thought it may work.  It was $14.12 at Walmart. 

How it works:  You will need to buy distilled water (or boil your own water at home and let it cool).  You mix 8oz water with 1 packet (which is filled with some type of salt).  Gently shake the pot.  You put the spout into one of your nostrils, lean your head forward and slightly tilted, and start pouring the water in your nose.  It will run out the other nostril.  It's a bit messy, but it really does help open your nose up!  I used it about an hour ago and my nose is still really clear. 

I have never used a nose spray, so I don't know how this compares to that.  It was a weird sensation having water run from one side of your nose out the other.  *Note* If you tilt your head up while doing a treatment, all that salty snot water runs into your mouth.... not that I would know....

I should have taken some pictures of me using it because I'm sure it looks hilarious.  Maybe Kevin can be my Neti model!  There's a lot of information about this on the internet.  Look into it if you have sinus or allergy problems or just have a congested nose like I do :)

White Fudge covered Oreos

One of my favorite store bought holiday treats are the White Fudge covered Oreos!  They are more rich than the plain Oreo, so I usually can stop myself after 1 or 2.  :)  I let Hayden try one when we got home (Allie was ready for a nap when we got home from the store and I was pretty happy I didn't have to share two! Ha!) They only sell them during the Christmas season so go get a box!

Hayden's first bite of deliciousness

He had fun licking his fingers

The Circus Is Coming To Town

It's an annual Devine tradition to go to the Shine Circus over Thanksgiving weekend!  We even took Allie last year when she was just 3 months old!  Kevin and I both are really looking forward to taking the kids this year.  We're hoping Hayden has gotten past his fear of clowns, and we really want him to enjoy an elephant ride and get his picture taken with the animals!  (Sidenote:  Last year we got some VIP treatment <Kevin has a cousin that's a clown> and he was going to let Hayden sit on one of the big white horses, but Hayden couldn't get past the clown gig to enjoy that opportunity.)  We know Allie will love it.  I'm sure we'll hear her say "puppy dog" more times than we can count, because, you know, e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g is a puppy dog! 

If you have never been, you should make plans to go!  If you have kids, go to Walmart ahead of time and buy some glow sticks because your child will make you feel like they HAVE to have one for the light show.  They are like $5 a pop at the circus for the cheap ones!  Plan on buying some cotton candy and having a good time!  I know we will :)

This was 2 years ago.  I was 3 weeks pregnant with Allie!

Allie 1 Year Ago

I ran across these pictures of Allie this week.  They are her 3 month pictures.  She just turned 15 months a few days ago.  M,y oh my, how time flies when you're having fun!

Her black hair is now blonde and those blue eyes are still that blue :)  She's one happy girl!

#20

Ever since doing "Am I Messing Up My Kids" by Lysa TerKeurst, and meeting some wonderful women in my DOK class, I've had my eyes opened.  It's easy to take something that was so easy for me and Kevin, like having our 2 kids, for granted.  We had 2 very easy pregnancies and deliveries with the only "complication" being Hayden was 10lbs 6oz.

With that being said, I just saw on facebook this afternoon that the Duggars were expecting their 20th child.  I have so much admiration for that family.  Hayden and I use to watch their show after I put Allie to bed.  He loved it and I did too!  I felt like I got several really good parenting tips from Michelle.  I am amazed at her level of patience - and Jim Bobs too for that matter.  They really have their priorities straight - and I am genuinely happy for them.  They are doing what the Lord has called them to do.  They are being a witness to anyone who watches their show.  They are painting a wonderful picture of what a family that lives for the Lord looks like.  They whole heartedly trust in what the Lord says about providing for their needs.  They believe every child is a blessing.  It's so easy to get caught up in what the world things about kids, but I can't find any fault in their ways.

I read this article several months ago and just really appreciated the truth to its content.  Everyone should read it!  It talks about the worlds view of children.  It really was eye opening.

Here's a link to Michlle and Jim Bob talking about baby #20.

tHaNkFuL

Last night was a typical Monday night for us.  We had our Refuge group at church (Financial Peace University).  The kids night was very normal.  They were themselves all evening and we had no idea the night was going to get as messy as it did! 

We put Hayden to bed right at 9.  He complained his ear hurt and I told him if it was still bothering him in the morning we'd go see the doctor.  About 10pm Hayden woke up screaming and crying.  My first thought was, "He must have an ear infection."  I took some Tylenol into his room along with the thermometer.  He wouldn't drink the medicine, so I went to take his temp.  It said 97.4.  I was shocked it was reading so low.  I did it again, and got the same #.  I came in the kitchen and took mine and Kevin's temp and the thermometer seemed to be working right.  About 30 minutes later, Hayden woke up again crying saying he wanted someone to hold him.  In the 30 mins he was quiet, I was googling why your temp would drop.  I just kept thinking of this conversation I had with my SNL when she told me my niece's temp dropped, and they found out her organs were on the way to shutting down because of a bad infection she had.  I went back in and took his temp.  96.4.  Kevin offered to hold him under several blankets to see if we could get him warmed back up.  After about an hour it was back at 97.0.  We laid Hayden back in bed with a total of 6 blankets and called the after hours # for the peditrician.  At 1am, after waking Hayden up to get a rectal temp (not fun), the nurse said she thought we'd be ok for the night but to watch his temp and make sure it didn't get below 96.8 rectally. 

As Kevin and I were preparing for bed and discussing all that just happened with Hayden, we heard a horrible cough/gag/growl/I don't know what come out of Allie's room.  I looked at Kevin and said, "She just puked - I know it."  We took one step into her room and was knocked down by the smell.  We turned on her light and realized this was the 3rd time she had thrown up.  She was covered!  Kevin gave her a bath while I stripped all the bedding.  After her bath, she proceeded to throw up another 4 times - mostly on Kevin.  At 2:30am, we set up a bed made of lots of big blankets on our bedroom floor.  Kevin slept next to Allie and told me he would stay awake with her and he wanted me to get some sleep.  I was physically exhausted but mentally wide awake.  After about an hour of tossing and turning I fell asleep.  I woke up just before 6am and Kevin was in bed with me, so I went and laid next to Allie.  She woke up @ 7:30 this morning and seemed 100% healthy, just a little tired.  Hayden woke up right after Allie and he seemed just fine too.  I was half out of it thinking "How are they acting so normal?!" 

Kevin slept till 10am, I slept from 10-12 today, now Kevin is sleeping 1-4.  I've never had a night like that with both kids - ever.  I am SO thankful Kevin was off work last night.  I really don't know how I would have handled all that by myself.  I don't know how all that sickness came and went so fast.  I'm thankful that they are both feeling better and hopeful they catch up on their sleep today.  I just felt really fortunate to have a husband that is so willing to take care of our kids, get puked on, and then tell me to get some sleep!  What a guy :)

Painted Bowl

Kevin let me do a little shopping yesterday with out the kids - HALLELUJAH! Ok, maybe I was a little too excited about shopping kid-free, but it's SO nice to be able to take my sweet time in a store!  Usually my shopping consist of getting exactly what I need and walking right back out.  I went to Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, Pier 1, & Target.  I didn't buy a lot, but it was nice to just get out and look.  I did find this beautiful bowl on clearance at Pier 1!  It was originally $20 and I bought it for $4.98.  It matches my Fiesta Ware so beautifully I couldn't pass it up.  I see it sitting in the middle of my dining room table full of bright fruit!