Snow!

Snow!!  The day we got our new van {yes!!!  I still have to blog about the van!!} we got some snow, too.  It was a fantastic day!  We didn't get home until 4ish that day and Gavin was begging to go out into the snow.  I was afraid it would be our only snow of the season, so we bundled up in the best snow gear I could find (no one has snow boots that fit this year!) and attempted to play.

I say 'attempted' because even though she looks like she's having fun, this little girl wanted nothing to do with the snow.  She lasted less than 10 minutes outside and wouldn't even touch the snow.  I'm hoping next time, if we get more snow this winter, she'll enjoy it more so we can all play outside together for a little longer.

30 Things

Less than 1 month to go and still so much...oops!

1. Learn to use my new sewing machine and make something special for both kids - This is a work in progress...I'm really enjoying learning my new sewing machine  (I'm crossing this off, even though I still have to finish Gavin's cape.  Both kids are getting mommy-made capes for Christmas!
2. Crochet Riley a hat
3. Complete C25K - Couch 2 5K   Complete!  (Though I hurt my shin in the process and can't run now...but I'm the ice and stretches will eventually help)
4. Plant an herb garden (or at least one herb!) - I attempted one the Jackie bought for me, but it never did take off.  Now, I've planted just cilantro in a mason jar...we'll see if it grows.  {Yeah, it didn't.  I suck at growing things!}
5. Create a collage in Photoshop Elements
6. Make from scratch - a pie, a cake, and brownies
7. Have a Mommy-Son date
8. Cook a turkey
9. Collect letters to spell PATE for our kitchen - Have the A and the E!
10. Get a facial (Not technically....but I got a Clarisonic for Christmas and now I feel like I'm getting a facial everyday!
11. Take the kids to the beach - Trip scheduled for September 30!)
12. Write a letter to myself to open when I'm 40 {cute idea...but I'm scared I'll forget to open it when I'm 40...still going to try!} - In the process of completing this.
13. Figure out how to make a DVD of my Flip videos
14. Go to a drive-in movie
15. Send at least two 'snail mail' letters/cards each month {thanks for the inspiration, Lauren!} Complete for Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July....slacked in Aug and Sept. 
16.  Pay for a stranger's meal in the drive-thru lane
17. Give up pop for a whole month {Much easier than I expected!}
18. Go on a family picnic
19. Create a survival kit- Not to the extent I wanted, but I do feel better about having some supplies in the closet for when we're hunkered down during a tornado warning
20. Attend a baseball game - Daddy and Gavin did this, but we haven't done one as a family yet
21. Organize all our photos - huge task!
22. Read a 'classic' book - I have a feeling I'll fail this one; I'm just not a classics lover!  I tried twice and gave up.  I'll attempt it again.
23. Publish another blog book - Done!  And I love it!  If any bloggers want a link to the website, I'd love you to use my referral link.                                                                                     
    
24.  Play in the rain with Gavin {and Riley if she's old enough when this occurs} I'm counting the 'sprinkle' we played in...we didn't have much rain this summer!
25. Start Skyping with friends- This is an easy one!  I just need friends that Skype! :)
26. Go 'camping' in the backyard
27. Repurpose something...anything
28. Send someone flowers
29. Learn to make bows for Riley
30. Watch our wedding DVD with Gavin

Happy New Year!

It's crazy to think that it's 2013!  Jarrod and I were watching an HGTV show recently and the house was built in '96 and was so so so outdated.  He made a comment about '96 not being that long ago, and I had to remind him that it was almost 20 years ago!  1996 was when we started dating....that was a loooong time ago. :)

We celebrated the New Year in style....and by style I mean in our pajamas and by ordering pizza.  It was perfect.  We were planning to go out to dinner with friends, or maybe to a friend's house, but it was a nasty, cold rainy day and we opted to skip taking the kids out and just stay home.  We let Gavin stay up 'late' (9pm!) and we had a little 'toast' at 9 before he went to bed....us with our wine glasses, him with water in a small fancy shot glass!  Haha...  We watched last year's Times Square countdown on YouTube and toasted the year.  It was adorable.

Jarrod and I talked about resolutions.  He actually wanted to make one, which I don't recall him doing before.  He decided he wants to spend more time outdoors, exploring our area with Gavin and as a family.  I loved that!  Over the past year, I've enjoyed crossing things off my '30 Things' list, so I decided to make mine more of a weekly list.  Each week, I want to make sure I spend a little time focusing on photography and sewing {two things I want to become better at}, our budget/finances {a big long term goal for our family}, and doing something with Jarrod that doesn't involve watching TV after the kids are in bed or during naps {playing cards, cooking together, playing Wii, etc.}  I added those things to my weekly checklist so I can try to stay on top of them.  I'm also starting the Biggest Loser again to keep myself accountable.  I did well before and came in 2nd place, but I've gained back about half of what I lost last year since Megan's wedding because I slacked off on my calorie counting and exercising.  Time to get back on track!  

I have a huge training this weekend for my team that I'm spending all my time right now working on, but next week will be catch-up week on the blog! More December pictures and videos coming soon.  :)

Christmas Memories

I really wish I had done this post sooner to capture all the memories I wanted to....I'm sure I'll forget something now.  But, boy has life been busy this past week!  I believe I still have other things to catch up on, too, but for now, here's our Christmas recap.  

Jarrod had to work Christmas Eve, so our morning wasn't out of the ordinary; playing, cleaning, baths...  The kids then helped me get the tripod all ready for our annual self-timer family pic in front of the Christmas tree.  They crack me up.  Notice Gavin's 'scared' face below; it's his new favorite face to make.

 When Daddy walked in, we got the picture taken right away before the kids burst.  They couldn't wait to call Ohio on Skype and start opening pictures.  These always turn out good, but not great.  Still a little out of focus, but you can only get everyone to sit still for self-timer pictures for so long!

Then it was time for Skyping!  We love that we celebrate Christmas via Skype.  The kids love seeing everyone, everyone there loves watching them open presents, and this year, Riley was just fascinated with the computer!

We took a break and cooked our Christmas dinner and it wasn't long until Riley snapped.  Meltdowns galore!  She desperately wanted another bath, so I finally gave in and let her get in.  Then came another tantrum when it was time to get out.  Followed by more....so ultimately, Gavin got to quickly open her pajamas that she was getting for Christmas from Daddy and me for her, I put them on her and she went to bed.  Before 6:30.  She didn't get to open her other presents from Daddy and me; we saved them for the next day.  She was a terror.

So then came bedtime, and Gavin was out like a light.  Too bad it didn't stay that way.  He woke up around 1 or so to pee, and never went back to sleep.  I kept telling him on the monitor to lay back down, I went into his room several times to rub his back and tell him he had to go to sleep so Santa would come, then we found him in the living room trying to sneak a peek... Finally around 3 I went in and went to sleep in his bed with him.  At 5:40 or so, he was shaking me away because 'It's Christmas Eve, mom!'  I explained that it was actually Christmas and that it was too early to go out, but that didn't work.  So, he came into the kitchen with me and we got the monkey bread started, coffee brewing, then woke Daddy and Riley up.

 

After a nice nap for all, we finished off Christmas day with the Faminis.  The kids played, we ate, we played a little Rummy....fun times!  I'm going to miss them *tons* when California gets them back.  :(

Christmas time always reminds me just how lucky we are.  Our children are so incredibly lucky to be loved by so many people.  We all were quite spoiled this year.  Gavin even said that it was the best Christmas ever and he got everything he ever dreamed of.  It was awesome!  I'm not sure if our toy room can handle anymore Little People or Angry Bird things.  Jarrod and I got equally spoiled with things that we've wanted but haven't bought for ourselves.  To say we have a lot to be thankful for would be an understatement.  We love you all!

Preschool Christmas Program/Party

I haven't uploaded photos yet from the past couple of weeks, but I do have videos!  Gavin was excited about his Christmas program at school.  I think he was most excited about the cake... :)  He played Joseph in the Christmas story part and then they sang lots of songs.  Gavin, as I expected, didn't participate much.  He gets shy when he's up there.  But, he had a speaking part in one of the songs and he did great!  You can watch the videos on You Tube.  There are 5 total (and on my screen they're showing up in reverse order).  Look for '4 Year Old Preschool Party', 'Song with Gavin's speaking part,' 'More singing,' 'Finale,' and 'Pinata Time.' 

You Tube Channel