Merry Christmas

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! We had a great low key two days.  I worked just a little bit on Christmas Eve, due to I lost my voice and since a good part of my job is calling people it just didn't work out ... lol.  We stopped by my parents house to exchange gifts an went to our first Christmas Eve Candle Light Service.  Santa parachuted down from the ceiling and our Pastor told a funny Christmas Eve Story he made up about our city.

Candle Light Service

We even got a Santa Picture in!

Cole wrote a note to Santa,

I whipped up some cookies for him too!

Christmas Day we opened gifts, then off to the movies we went.  We started this tradition last year and I hope we can keep doing it every year.  This year we went to see Walking with Dinosaurs, the boys enjoyed it ... me not so much lol I fell asleep.  We ended our night with a simple dinner and then we loaded up in the car for Fantasy lights!  It was a perfect way to end Christmas!

Christmas Gift Time!

Family Movie Time!

Fantasy Lights!

I hope you all had a wonderful day with friends and family!

What did you do for Christmas?

Christmas Break so Far …

It has been a very busy time around here as I’m sure it is at your house too!  This has been a pack it in Christmas Break at our house.  Here’s a little look at what we have been up to!

Santa came to Rick’s work so we stopped by to say hi!

Cole’s school put on a beautiful Christmas program!

Christmas Eve we stopped by my parents house to exchange gift since they were spending Christmas elsewhere.  The boys loved their new legos and a Telescope for Cole.

Christmas Eve night the boys opened their one present the new PJ’s.

Rick worked Christmas Eve at the Football game and came home in time to take the boys and me to Fantasay Lights.  Who knew Christmas Eve would be so crowded!  It took us a 1/2 hour to get in and then we took about a 1/2 to drive around.  The person behind us was riding our behind to go forward faster. I say if I spend this much I’m taking my time .

Christmas Morning was an explosion of paper and gifts.  You can see my feet with the coffee to prove I was there since I was picture taker … lol. 

Christmas night we bundled up the boys and hit the zoo for Zoolights!

Cole’s school bought a few rows at the Thunderbirds Hockey game so we took the boys!  Since Rick works security there his boss grabbed the boys and took them to the front to shake hands with the players.

Wowzer and we still have a few more days until peace comes back to my house.  How I can’t wait for school to begin soon .

What are your plans this weekend?

Christmas Wrap Up!

It's over and it flew by!! I have been very blessed my amazing bosses gave me an amazing bonus on Christmas Eve. I was able to go out shopping and get great things for everything! All I have to say is Fred Meyers ROCKS. I usually never shop there with the prices are too high. BUT they had the kiddie center open, so I was able to drop them off there and do all my shopping and actually they had some GREAT deals. Mom even bought a gift for herself (I knew Rick wouldn't get me much) I got a vacuum cleaner for 60% off :). YUP mom has to take care of herself.

Christmas eve my parents did a stop by with gifts! I think I may start a NEW tradition of Christmas Eve dinner we'll see if I can get everyone on board for that :). Caden accidentally broke the plastic arm on Cole's DS so my parents got him a DS lite :)

After my parents left we hit Fantasy Lights! This is a treat we do each year! The boys love it and it is the best to drive around the park and see all the lights and hard work that went into it.

Jake got a new doggy bed from my mom, "Santa's Helper Rick" built the art set for Cole, mom made cookies for Santa and finished wrapping the gifts. Christmas was just us and we had a lot of fun together!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! (click pictures to enlarge)

Traditions ... Do you do them or Not?

As many of you know I'm a nut about making traditions and making and preparing a meal to share with the family. Ever since I rented my first house I wanted to do the Holidays at my house. Me making all the treats and everyone showing up.

Christmas is the time of year I look forward to every year, a month before I start planning what I'll make and people sitting around opening presents and just being with one another.

3 years ago my parents said they were going to a 2nd cousins house of mine. I was crushed, I had the meal planned everything. I knew we had a family member who was ill they wanted to spend time with them. Now yes this person lives about 5 minutes from me and we can see them year round but I gave in. Yes with Rick pleading with me not to make a big deal. Ok just this one year! Then last year I did it to myself got all prepared and found out my parents were going to celebrate with this 2nd cousin and their family again. It took a while but I sucked it up (ok pretended to). I thought ok just one more year, but I kept my family at home and decided that I needed to make a new tradition.

So here we are again found out yet again my parents are going to the other families house instead of mine with the kids. I'm making my way to new traditions and enjoying the day with my husband and boys and of course the new boy! I can't say that I'm not bummed that my dream of this huge family get together at my house won't be happening. Along with not a big dinner since the boys are still young there sadly is no reason to make a big dinner. So even though I wish it was just a holiday party they were going to and spending the actual Christmas day with the kids I'm just going to sit back with my hot cocoa and just relax. Ok really I'm trying just let me pretend in my bubble. This year was less tears .... lol :).

Merry Christmas everyone! So now the big question: Tradition is it a big thing for you?

Weekend Wrap Wednesday ~ Christmas Day & Bloggy Friends Meet

Well Christmas was just us and the boys it turned out to be very nice. NO having to worry about comments about my weight (oh wait had those the day before). Well guess it's better coming second hand from my husband then having it said to me ... LOL. But over all really it was a lot of fun, after I got to thinking of it I was of the opinion that is was their loss and I'm not going to be down about it.

The boys of course too little just thought it was fun unwrapping gifts. As you can see I'm crazy and each person has there own theme paper .... LOL. Caden loves Dora so he got girly paper that Rick almost died over and Cole had Sponge Bob. Yes Cole is "helping" Caden open up his presents apparently he wasn't going fast enough. Who knew there was a time limit for opening and throw your presents. Cole had it down to a science ... Rip, Scream, Toss and move to next! Then when You run out of yours go for brothers!

The boys made out like bandits!

Hot Wheels the hot item at our house!

Great Pick up on Black Friday, who would have thunk it!

Wow what a mess! Guess what Cole actually picked up too!

My MIL made the boys workshop aprons ... too cute!

She Also crochet a really cool dino blanket I'll post later.

Rick was under the impression we weren't doing gifts.

Silly boy I may say this but really come on you had like 20 gifts!

I did get really cute PJ bottoms

(since working at home this is my new business casual)

And a cute pair of boots

Funny Story:

I asked for Chocolate brown ones, he found black first so picked them up and then found the brown. He made a comment about not finding brown only black. I being the silly person I am I guess made a face. So he returned the black. I was so bummed! So he went back yesterday and picked me up the black pair too! LOL

PLUS: the best part of Christmas Rick took the boys to his friends house! YES you read that correct he LEFT the house for 3 hours! Guess what I did? Yup took a nap ... LOL! OMGosh my first break in months! Thank you sweetie that almost makes up for my 3 gifts vs your 20 ... LOL just playing ;).

And Sunday I had a chance to meet a bloggy friend I'm so excited that I got to meet Robyn at An Alaskan Family she was in Portland visiting family and I live close to there. Well at least I thought it was close ... LOL Nahh really it wasn't that bad about 2 hrs and 45 min drive. Thank the lord I picked up those DVD players for the car, kept the boys from going to crazy. But Caden has learned to unbuckle himself, oh great surprise on our drive!

It was so nice to sit and talk with Robyn, Rick took the boys for an little over an hour and we had a great time sipping coffee and just enjoying adult time (that would be on my part). Thank you so much Robyn for the great time, I'm sorry we couldn't sit longer and chat. I had to get back on the road, Rick and I had a date night! YUP you heard that right Rick got his buddy to come to the house to watch the boys so we could go to dinner! More on that tomorrow! Thankfully we left when we did there was a HUGE accident that we were able to get off the highway and go a back way, no worries it only added another 45 minutes LOL. We left the house at 10am and returned at 6:15pm and I must say the boys actually did pretty well for so long in the car. The only bounced on couches and screamed a little at Robyn's friends house .. :) Oh love my boys!

Me and the Boys waiting for daddy to get in the car!

Robyn and Myself!

Ok not liking my new sweater too much, LOL

Our drive home!

Caden just chilling! And Cole intense on the movie!

Rick intent on looking forward, good job dude!

Momma tried to get daddy to crack a smile!

Anyone else coming to the Washington Area? We can make another trip ... LOL! Happy Wednesday everyone :)

Merry Christmas to All and Hope there are Little tears!

LOL Christmas usually involves me busting into tears ... I know as my parents would say stop being so sensitive. So this year will be different right? Oh come on it's family it will lead to tears even when they are not here to celebrate with you. I'm going to be calm and serene and enjoy the peace, yeah right what house do you think I'm in?

So I'm thinking it's all behind me we'll do Christmas in the morning with my parents then they will leave and we'll do our Christmas dinner. Well at least that was the plan then it was switched to them stopping by Christmas eve after Rick is off work. Well there goes going to church for Christmas Eve. And during all this Rick tells me the reason my mom thinks I don't want to got to Christmas at her cousins house is because of my weight! Merry Christmas to me queue the tears. Ok little back ground I've always struggled with my weight, I lost 80 lbs for our wedding then of course got pregnant on our honeymoon, finally lost most of the weight and guess what pregnant again. So here I am baby #2 and far from where I would love to be. No sob story just the way it goes, so fast forward to now. I still go to parties mind you I even went to this persons house last year at the same weight I am now! So no I am not avoiding the party due to weight I'm choose not to go to someone's house that is not my immediate family. I want to enjoy my Christmas with the people close to me and I'm not sorry you wont be here but I'm going to enjoy my day so please no more hits!

The Christmas Sasuage Breakfast is ready to go, we've opened up our Santa Gifts. The kids are enjoying some leapfrog gifts, all the DVD's and Dad is going back to bed before he enjoys the Wii. How come they can go back and lay down while we stay up with the kids taking care of them? Hmmm yup the hits keep on coming and I seem to be the whacking tree!

KYS I know you're locking yourself in your bathroom please make room, mine is too small and doesn't have a window for easy escape. I need to go hide, no more hits please I really want to have a nice day. I'm taking my over-sensitive fluffy arse to go sit on the couch. Yup I'll have a coffee and cookie with that and anybody that has a comment well I have a cookie you can chew on instead .... LOL just playing sorry been one of those days and it's only just begun.

P.S. Just because it would be fun mom bought the boys slinkies! Oh joy metal that you can swing around your head and throw at people link a slingshot! Oh joy my world is going to be wonderful right?

Santa Presents out ~ Check

Presents wrapped yes each person has their own theme

Come on you knew I was crazy like that!

Christmas Eve

Monnie and Bapa stopped by to exchange gifts

Cole is in love with his new DS!

Santa Cookies are out~

Thanks Rachael for the premade dough she rocks!

Santa loved his cookies and milk and his cool plate!

Opening Santa Gifts!

Big thanks to Kmart Layaway for our Wii.

And of course black Friday, Santa loves Black Friday!

And I leave you with my Christmas morning tradition

Sausage Casserole (recipe below)

Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

6 to 8 slices egg bread, crusts trimmed
2 lbs. link sausage, cooked and drained
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 lg. onion, sliced
8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
1 c. milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 c. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
5 eggs, beaten

Alexis Note: I buy a loaf of french bread and tear it up. EASY. I buy the sausage rolls, I use dried onion flakes, since there is more bread I use 10 eggs and skip the mushrooms! It's up to you experiment!

Bake:

Spray a 9 x 13-inch pan or casserole dish with Pam.

Line the bottom with bread. Arrange cooked link sausages on top.

Sauté onion in oil over medium heat until clear, about 2 minutes. Add mushroom and sauté until limp, for 4-5 minutes.

Arrange over sausages. Whisk together eggs, milk, and soup.

Ladle over the onion mixture. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Bake, uncovered, until heated through, about 40 minutes.

Serves 4.

Things I've Learned this Week

Really sometimes you need just a kick to reality, yup my life often does this for me!

A) When going to a birthday party for your husbands distant cousin. Make sure you call and ask an age. You may think they only have one kid, but surprise her man has a son from a previous relationship. Yup that bubble bath set you bought for the 2 year old not so Cool for the 8 YEAR OLD!!! {insert head slap}

B) When a friend calls turn off the Halmark Channel. Tears and unbearable talking making you friend go into a panic thinking the "he left" (the man on the TV of course) is not the he in your life. And her rushing to your house in a panic can cause for some quick explaining!

C) When you work from home or "home during the day" your the target for projects others think will be so easy for you put in the mix of your day. Also not being able to say no can cause problems too. Somehow you'll get yourself volunteered to help with the church newsletter each month. Oh no worries I can whip that out each month for you! Oh please don't make me come in with a 2 year old for 4 hours! Let me take it home, I promise I'll bring it back the next day!

D) When my husband says hun I'll drop off your car and walk to work, you take the kids to daycare. Realize that the same sarcasm that you use everyday your husband is using now on you and you're getting sucked into doing double duty of dropping the kids off coming back home to only find out that you also will be taking him to drop the car of and drop him off at work. Crap how did I get dupped by my own trick?

E) You can always ask for a discount and when you have a cold and use your sexy sick husky voice you can get $100 off your tires! Then when you walk in mind you not knowing you were taking your husband there with your semi combed hair and no make up you can shock the heck out of them. Then bust out with your $20 off an oil change also you can just see the look on there face of really this is the girl? Don't worry they get so busy and mess up and do a alignment on your car instead of the other Kia Sorento yup $185 improvement for FREE. Let's recap that would $100 of tires, $20 of Oil Change and $185 alignment for FREE. Yup you added that right $305 saved that day, take that for no hair done and make up day!

F) Stop listening the Christmas Miracles that the radio show is doing, when they come on turn the station. Sitting in your car crying at a stop light makes you look a little on the crazy side that and talking to the radio about what happened also can strike people as a nutty person in the car next to them and they then feel the need to speed up and get as far away from you as possible!

Phew I think that is enough for one Christmas Eve! I'm off to work a bit then clean the house and get the last presents wrapped and figure out what I'm missing so I can run to the store like a made woman who has watched Hallmark all day and is now crying to the Christmas Station. Oh lord be with me, the people around me are loosing it they just don't get it! :)

Merry Christmas Eve everyone, I'll be back with a post about my Christmas Sausage Casserole pictures and recipe to share! Oh yes and Santa Cookies too on Caden's new plate! XOXOX

New Traditions Here I Come!!

So last week I mentioned my mom was wanting to spending Christmas at her cousins house. Well it looks like I'll be starting some new traditions this year.

Some of you may know my dad remarried when I was around 9 to the person I know as mom. My "egg donor" mother left when I was 5 and I only saw her once after that. When my dad remarried we went from a small family to my mom's rather large extended family. Now don't get me wrong everyone is very nice and cordial but something about being a step child you just never feel like you exactly fit in. So it's not that I don't care for my mom's extended family but spending my holiday with them is like feeling like that outside all over again. Thanks but I rather enjoy my holiday and want to feel easy, I don't do well when I don't feel comfortable.

So last year after a lot of tears and some comprises (all on my end) we went to this cousins house for Christmas dinner, under the assumption that it would be this one time. Dinner was ok, talk was ok but again it was like being on the outside of the bubble. You ever go to a party where every one knows each other and you're trying to bust into the bubble! Yup, plus when you have young kids it sucks being at someone else's house that has older kids. You running around sweating and just wanting to go home, but it was such a far drive you have to stay!

So this year when I received an email from my mom that she signed us up again to go, my heart sunk! I love Christmas and putting on the dinner and having my immediate family here to enjoy and laugh together. I was so sad that my parents wouldn't be a part of these very special day, yes Rick you called it Thanksgiving day went so well it was bound to happen to Christmas! So mom told me she doesn't get to see her uncle but once a year. We won't mention he only lives 30 minutes away from her and we just saw him at the family reunion 2 months ago. Those who know me will be very proud I didn't cry when she told me (I'm a weeping willow). I just asked nicely if she could stop by on there way there.

So there it is my Christmas won't be exactly the way I wanted it but it's a new beginning and I have the people that are most important to me here. Yes I know I'm a whiner but sometimes you just need to vent ;). Thanks to everyone who sent me encouragement words last week about this. I really appreciate it bunches!