Hayden's Teddy Bear Parade

A couple of weeks ago, Hayden's kindergarten classes had a Teddy Bear Parade.  They had to create a float for their stuffed animal.  Hayden decided to make his a Spiderman car.  We taped it to his skateboard so it would roll.  Livee and I came to watch the big parade and it was so cute.  I am so thankful to be at home and able to do things like this.

Christmas Catch Up

It's February - I know.  But here is the inevitable Christmas post.  We spread ours out over 3 weekends this year.  The weekend before Christmas, we traveled to Birmingham to spend quality time with Dave's family.  We got to see everyone and the kids got lots of fun things.  Hayden now has FOUR remote control cars.  Livee has lots of Minnie Mouse toys, including a costume.

The weekend of Christmas, we stayed at home.  We decided to start our tradition this year of the kids waking up at home on Christmas morning AND we stay here.  We let them each open a gift on Christmas Eve and then we read "The Night Before Christmas."  They woke us up before daylight the next morning and it was all I could do to keep them upstairs while Dave turned on the video camera.  Santa was good to them this year and they loved their video games, princesses, and dinosaurs.  We stayed in our PJ's all day and enjoyed every minute of it.  (I especially enjoyed it since I was as sick as a dog.)  I fixed our traditional big breakfast and then fixed a prime rib for dinner.  Yum!

The weekend after Christmas, we traveled to Muscle Shoals to have Christmas with my family.  Hayden and Livee made out like bandits once again and really enjoyed playing with their cousins.  It's like a mad house usually but I can pretty well tune it out...for the most part.

So there's the wrap up.  I know it's not detailed, but you can look at the pictures!

She Works Hard For The ?

e·volve/iˈvälv/

Verb:

Develop gradually, esp. from a simple to a more complex form: "the Gothic style evolved steadily and naturally from the Romanesque". (with reference to an organism or biological feature) Develop over successive generations, esp. as a result of natural selection.

This is the word I'm using to describe myself.  When we moved to Georgia 4 years ago, I became a stay-at-home mom.  I thought I knew what that meant.  HA!  I am working harder now than I ever did before and I really do love it.  I have bad days and good days, but I wouldn't trade it for a workplace situation (even if there would be less poop to deal with).

I have found some helpful tricks to get me through the day that I would like to share with you other mommies out there:

1.  Exercise

2.  Read

3.  Set up a cleaning schedule and stick with it

4.  Plan your week

When I exercise I relieve stress.  

                                       Happy Mommy = Happy EVERYONE  

When I read, I relieve stress.

                                       Happy Mommy = Happy EVERYONE

When I stick to my cleaning schedule I have time to do fun things like paint or decorate which helps me to relieve stress.

                                       Happy Mommy = Happy EVERYONE

When I plan my week, everything runs more smoothly and I am less stressed.

                                       Do you detect a pattern?

For a long time I floundered.  I was lost.  I was lonely.  Now I feel like I'm doing pretty well.  I have friends to hang out with. I have activities. I have evolved.  

Craftiness

I'm loving Pinterest! I have found so many cute ideas for the kids. Last Wednesday I made a felt Christmas tree Advent calendar. I put lots of fun little activities for us to do. It helps to have the little extra push for making family time. Here's my list of activities:

Hope you are enjoying old family traditions and making new ones this year as well!

Thanksgiving

We had a quick month of November and a fabulous Thanksgiving.  Dave had a few days off, so we spent the first part of the week at my parent's house.  He worked Thanksgiving day, but was off on Friday.  I enjoyed watching the parade with the kids and we got our tree up over those 2 days.  On Saturday, Dave's family came to watch the Iron Bowl with us and to celebrate Dave and Pops' birthdays.  We had a ton of food and enjoyed spending time with each other...especially since Alabama won!

I'm still working on straightening the house back up and Christmas decorating.  Trying to do several handmade gifts this year, so I'm looking forward to that!  This Saturday we will go to the Christmas tree lighting downtown (per our felt Christmas tree advent calender that I am throwing together today...such a procrastinator).

I am finished with the kids' gifts.  Shhhh!   I shopped on Black Friday for the first time ever this year.  Before you gasp in astonishment I'll just let you know that it was ONLINE shopping.  I got all of the same deals without getting a black eye.  Ta-da!

For now, I'll leave you drooling.  I made this yummy Peanut Butter Cup cake.  I found the recipe on, of course, Pinterest.  It was so very delicious, even if I did over bake it a smidge.  ;)  It was still unbelievably moist!

~ Chocolate cake with peanut butter cups baked inside,
peanut butter buttercream frosting, and peanut butter cups on top ~

HaPpY HaLLoWeen!

The Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood

We had a fun night trick or treating with our friends across the street.  Livee walked the entire circle and was such a cutie pie being a "big girl".  She said Happy Halloween a million times and said "I trick-or-treatin."  We also have a new addition to our family, Pip.  We rescued him from the pound on Sunday and think he's going to be lots of fun!

Just had to put a better picture of my goofy Frankenstein door.  Got the idea from Pinterest!

Pip and Little Red :)

She had to be a big girl and hold our neighbor Alicia's hand for most of the time.