Decorating the Christmas Tree

Yes...I'm one of "those" who put our tree up BEFORE thanksgiving. I felt that Thanksgiving was too late this year - and since we travel over the holidays - if we would have waited - we would have only been able to enjoy it for about 20 days. Not worth the work if you ask me.... :) Jon is awesome too...he loves that kind of stuff - and gets totally into it with me. We are a perfect fit. We both love that we just "get" each other - and we think alike on most things. It's fun to have someone who is as much into it as I am! He loves the Christmas music on and the candles and the lights of the tree. I got a great man!!
Here are a few pictures of us "decking the halls"!

Thanksgiving

As most of you know - I cooked my very first Thanksgiving dinner this year. It was great fun! I actually think I'm learning to love to cook...wow - never thought I'd be saying that! I think it's fun to experiment with new recipes and make them my own. :)
The prep work went well...I didn't think it was as much work as everyone warned me...but I was only cooking for 7....so that could be why! :) Everyone was nervous with me handling the Turkey...as I can't even touch raw chicken...but I did good! It wasn't as "floppy" as chicken...so I did better! Thankfully my Grandma told me that there were 2 bags in the turkey of nasties! I think I would have only seen the first one...yikes! My dinner consisted of Turkey, Stuffing (made from scratch), Mashed potatoes (10lbs.), Creamed corn, steamed corn, deviled eggs, green beans, rolls, cranberry sauce, cheese cubes and crackers, veggie/pickle tray, pumpkin pie, and Tina made a peanut butter pie that was to die for!

We had our friends the Leggs from West Virginia come down to eat with us. It was a great time of laughing, eating and laughing some more. We even put TJ to work while he was here. He ran us some electrical work, installed a new hot water heater and a new dishwasher! If you've noticed a pattern...when you come stay with us...we put you to work! ha! Sydney was amazing with Jaxen..such a big help! Kelsey entertained Kennedy the whole time - and Tina helped me out with everything else!

Switched at the playground?

Is this the same child?? Did I mention that Kennedy calls him "Nanux"?

Locked Out!

Well - as most of you know...I feel like I have triplets most days! A 1 year old, a puppy and a 5 month old. WHEW! Yesterday, as I was taking the puppy out to "potty"...I heard the door behind me slam shut..and then click. Kennedy had locked the door with me outside!!! This was Right before Jaxen's bottle time, and he was fussing...I was trying to take the dog out before the bottle so we wouldn't have an accident. The next few minutes were spent coaching Kennedy how to unlock the door....BUT...it didn't work. I was trying to tell a 1 year old to "turn the knob" -turn the "clicky thing". UGH. I think after a few minutes of that - she realized what she had done. She started WAILING...sooo upset. I could hear Jaxen crying as well. NICE. I had no cellphone or anything! I ran across the street to our neighbor, ROM's, house. He wasn't answering the door - despite my vigourous knocks and rings of the doorbell. After what seemed like an eternity - he came to the door...obviously I had woken him up. :) When I started telling him the story - the tears for me came. I couldnt help it when I started to think of my 2 children stuck in the house crying....
Rom said he was going to run upstairs to get his shoes - and help me out. I think he must have taken a shower - b/c his hair was wet, he had changed his clothes, and put his contacts in...geez!!! We went over to our house -and he cut the screen and got the window open and I crawled right inside. (It was a little disheartening that it was so easy...) :)
Needless to say - we are going to make a spare key - TODAY! :) Ooo...and let me just say for the record...that I called my mother crying - and she gave me wonderful sympathy...and then she proceeded to tell me that I had done the VERY SAME THING to her right before I turned 2 in Arizona!! haha... Emily...this reminds me of the similar "powder story".... :)

Terrible Two's??

With the "terrible two's" just 2 weeks away - I am a little anxious about how this is all going to go. Yesterday - I was sitting on the couch feeding Jaxen...and I heard the toilet flush followed by yelping...
I rush in there to find Vegas in the toilet (put there by Kennedy) - and she had flushed! Talk about a full-body swirlie!! haha!
Now please tell me - HOW are you supposed to dicipline after this? I can't control my laughter!! I don't necessarily think the two's will be terrible...but FUN FILLED FOR SURE!! :)

Like Mother ... like son?!

Jaxen started sucking his thumb today! He had it in all night...not sure if this is a new thing that will stick or just a fluke!? He usually has his hand in his mouth - and it's all raw and red...poor guy! He's teething sooo bad lately...so maybe his thumb just felt the least painful in his mouth?! Either way - it was pretty cute! :)

Santa "swung" by early at our house

So...we knew we wanted to get the kids a swingset for Christmas...but the weather has been GREAT at home and the thought of spending 5 hours in the freezing cold to put this together wasn't exactly on Jon's top 10 list!!! He worked his tail off most of Saturday - and the finished product was a great swing set and one VERY happy little girl!!!