Advent Calendar Activity Day 2 - Attend a Holiday Party

I didn't just attend a holiday party a few days ago, but also co-planned the party. The party was fantastic. Ashley and I had been planning our "Ugly Sweater Christmas Party" for about 6 weeks and it finally came to an end December 2nd. We had a photo booth to capture all of the ugly sweaterness, great food, a white elephant gift exchange and fun company. I hope this tradition continues for years to come.



Merry Christmas!!



"Happy Birthday" to me and a peak at my ugly sweater

Happy Birthday To Me :)

A few days ago I had the pleasure of celebrating my 30th Birthday!!!! I woke up to Liam's smiling face and than had lunch with some terrific friends at the Olive Garden. After lunch, I came home and Willie made me dinner. All I wanted was a child before 30, and I got one 6 months early. I know my 30's will be filled with fun, greatness, family and more children. Cheers to what's ahead in life.


Me and my baby on my 30th birthday!!!!!

Blowing out the candle

Ashley, Me, Liam, Tatum and Danee all attended the festivities

Advent Calendar Activity Day 2 - Shop for a gift for children less fortunate

The other day, Willie came home from work with an "angel" from a tree at work. The "angel" was a boy, age 6, looking for some clothes, an RC car and Lego's for Christmas. So Willie, Liam and I went shopping and had a blast. This type of thing really warmed my heart and brought the true holiday spirit to me. For the past few years I have thought about doing the "angel" gift buying, but have just been too busy with work and myself. Finally I get to give to someone else. this holiday season. This activity will defiantly be a yearly addition to our family holiday season.  

Liam and I looking at Lego's

I found some



Liam got a hold of the wish list and slobbered all over it



We got him shoes, a jacket, a shirt with hat and jeans. He will be stylin'

SURPRISE!!!! For Jenny

Holy Moly they got me. Willie, Erin and Amanda have been planing since July to surprise me for my 30th birthday. Amanda and Erin flew into Phoenix on December 2nd and drove the 2 1/2 hours to Yuma to attend my Ugly Sweater party all decked out in their finest.

I am not good at surprises and usually figure them out waaayyy before they happen, but this time I had no idea. I knew something was happening because Willie was all about cleaning the house and spare bedroom, but I didn't know 2 of my best friends were coming to hang out for the weekend. We did the usual things: coffee, a movie, ate food, had a BBQ and played games. I am still looking back at the last few days and can't believe they were actually here...in Yuma...visiting me. THANKS GUYS! See you soon.

Excited to see Erin, but not too excited for the "Dirty 30" birthday.

Liam sleeping in the car on our way to breakfast

SURPRISE!!!!! "Oh, Shit! What the heck are you guys doing here"?



Erin, Amanda and I having fun in the photo booth



Beginning of the Season and New Traditions

Tis' the season to be jolly, right? Well, jolly I am . During past holiday seasons, I have been busy working, working, working and never put in the effort to really enjoy the season. I would just be rushing around and waiting til the last minute to do anything. A tree and some decorations would go up, but nothing to grand. Time would be spend with family, but not really taking in the true meaning of Christmas.

This season it's all about new traditions and spending time with family. I'm aware my lil' one is only 6 months old and has no idea what is going on...but I will start engraving new family traditions into his mind early. Our first new tradition is participating in advent calendar activities. I bought an advent calendar kit from the craft store and hot glued it together right away. It called for hand sewing, but that would have taken me at least another 6 months to complete. Now, I have completed the first activity. Let the count down to Christmas begin.

The first activity was to bake Christmas cookies. I decided Liam and I would bake and decorate gingerbread cookies. The cookies will be used for an ugly sweater Christmas party that my friend and I are hosting this month, which works out because than I do not have to eat them all.  Success!!

The cookies after they had been baked

Frosting some sweaters on them

Liam and Tatum enjoy the show in their bumbos

Decorating the cookies

Their DONE!

A peak at Liam through the first 5 months


Today Liam turns 5 months old. Everyone says time flies by and I sure do believe them. He has reached so many milestones thus far and I can't wait for more to come. Soon he will be sitting up on his own, eating lots of food, and chasing Molly around the house.

1 day old



1 month old





2 months old



3 months old



 

4 months old





5 months old



A Giraffe, Popeye and Pumpkins

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and I was SOOO excited to have a little one to dress up this year. Liam went as a very adorable Giraffe. We did a few things to get our holiday spirit on this year. We went to the library play group all dressed up. We also went to the local pumpkin patch with our friends Ashley and Tatum. And than on Halloween, we participated in our first "trunk'r treating".

We were not the hit of the night.....Tatum was as "Popeye". My friend Ashley did a great costume for her little one. She did the whole works....arms, sailor hat, can of spinach and a pipe. Every few feet we had someone stopping us to get a picture with Popeye and mom. It was awesome!!!

Come next year, mom and son will be part of a good themed Halloween bash. Below are some pictures of the Halloween holiday adventures.

      Our library play group all dressed up

                                            

          Liam as a Giraffe and Tatum as Popeye



Liam's classic pose, with his tongue out.



         

                                                   


Liam sitting with the pumpkins




Arrr...being a pirate with Mommy




Mommy and Liam posing with the pumpkins



A Parent of Two

Before the baby came along, my first baby was Molly. Molly is our 4 1/2 year old black and white cocker spaniel. I LOVE her to death.

I bought Molly about a week after my roommate and best friend Erin got a dog. I thought her dog would love me to pieces, but that was not the case. Her dog did not like me at all. He would run away from me and bark at me on all occasions. I tried to become friends with him through cuddling and treats, but it did not work. To solve the problem of not being loved, I went to the pet store and found my own dog.

While looking through all the pet cages, I came upon 2 cocker spaniel. Molly caught my eye immediately! It was love at first sight. And after doing some research from the breed book beside the cages, I decided to buy her. In addition to love at first sight, there were two signs I knew she was the one. The first sign: the store was having 20% off all purchases that day, so I would be saving $$. Always a plus. The second sign: Molly's fathers was named Starbuck.

Throughout the years, many neighbors have heard me screaming for Molly to heal or come back when she roams into the neighbors yard. I tried to train Molly appropriately, by going to the classes and practicing every night, but it didn't work. She only listens to my husbands commands. I don't know why, but that's how it goes. She loves to walk me, instead of the other way around.

While I was pregnant, I introduced Molly to the baby right away to avoid any jealousy. Molly is so protective of the baby. She thinks it's her baby. Anywhere the baby and I go, Molly is right there behind or in front of me. It can be annoying at times, but I know Molly will tolerate the baby pulling on her hair and chasing her around the house in the future. I'm proud to be a parent of 2.

Angry Snow Birds

About 2 years ago, I moved to the snowbird capital of the world, YUMA. Every year between October and February, people over the age of 55 move to this area and take up the roads, parking spots at grocery stores and spots in the Walmart shopping line. They are ANNOYING! I could move, but that would take hubby getting a new job. So instead, I will do the following to cure my annoyance:
1. Go grocery shopping at 8:00 pm at night since they are all sleeping at that time
2. Drive really really fast past or around them
3. Cut in line at Walmart while they are ohhing and ahhing over my baby.

I can't wait until February!!!!

Happy Sunday

Every Sunday for many years now, I have called my parents to say "Happy Sunday". During this call I see how they are doing, see how the rest of the family is doing and tell them how I am doing. Don't get me wrong, I call them about 3 times a week, but Sunday is the one day I always call. Some Sundays the phone call lasts only a few minutes...others the call could last an hour. It just all depends on what is happening in my life and theirs. I hope to pass this practice on to my children someday when they are older and not living with us. If you are not calling your parents on a particular day, start now. They will throughly enjoy it. I know mine do!



The Happy Sunday Couple







An Amazing Halloween Costume Idea

As I was taking my nightly walk, I came up with this AMAZING Halloween costume idea. I'm totally into reality TV competition shows, so I thought dressing my family up as an Amazing Race team with Liam dressed up as the Travelocity gnome. My hubby and I would be wearing matching blue t-shirts (with a picture of our dog on the front). We would have matching travel backpacks and be carrying Liam around as a gnome. I would have the famous fanny pack around my waist and a yellow clue in my hand. In my mind this idea is SOOO cute. Maybe I also like the idea because I am obsessed with the show. I have applied on paper 3 times, but never sent in a video or the actual application. And many sleepless nights are spent dreaming about racing around the world and doing crazy challenges. If the show is still around in 10 years, I might actually send in the application and video.

My First Time

Ahh...my first time. This title could mean many things, but at this moment in time it's all about being a first time mom and first time blogger.  To get started, I will post 25 things you don't know about me...

1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE being a mom.
2. I was a chickatarian in high school as my only rebellious effort. (One who only eats chicken).
3. I am a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
4. I refuse to call my son Will, because I once dated a Will. Instead I call him Liam (Wil"LIAM").
5. My cooking usually has no flavor.
6. I went to an all girls high school.
7. My TV is always on.
8. I LOVE reality TV shows, i.e: Survivor, Big Brother, ANTM, Top Chef, RR/RW Challenge, etc.
9. I'm not a fan of shorts.
10. I love my dog Molly, even though she has taken a backseat to Liam the last few months.
11. My shoe collection tripled in size when I worked as a shoe sales women.
12. Ice cream is my kryptonite.
13. Oh, Starbucks...I love me an iced skinny vanilla latte.
14. I am not phased by 114 degree weather anymore.
15. After I watch Glee, I download every song available from I-Tunes.
16. I know NOTHING about politics because I find the topic way to confusing.
17. I can't watch a movie more than once or I get bored.
18. I enjoy marathoning TV series on DVD.
19. I hate commercials and usually mute them or fast forward through them.
20. Fall is my favorite season in Washington State.
21. Where I live now there are no seasons.
22. I was a girl scout for 11 years and attended summer girl scout camp for 11 years.
23. I have been thinking of creating a blog for 3 years now.
24. My spelling is horrible. (I had 10 misspelled words before I spell checked this entry).
25. I LOVE being a wife and mother :)