Christmas 2009

So, our Christmas was a great one! We got over 20 inches of snow so all of my side of the family's get-togethers/ Christmas celebrations were canceled. I was pretty bummed because I hadn't seen quite a few of them for at least 2 years!

However, it was kind of nice to be snowed in at home, just the four of us with nowhere to go!

For Christmas Eve dinner I made some YUMMY potato soup! The power cut out while we were eating it and we quickly lit as many candles as we could find. After they got over being freaked out at the sudden pitch black in the house the kiddo's really enjoyed the candle-lit dinner! In fact, Elijah is now under the impression that every meal needs to be eaten by candle light!

After Sam went to bed on Christmas Eve we let Elijah open two presents: Thomas the Tank Engine PJ's and a Mr. Potato Head kit!
Elijah played with Mr. Potato Head for awhile, then we enjoyed the power bring back on (for a few minutes!) and played around the Christmas tree. Then Elijah helped set out cookies and milk for Santa and then he went to bed.







Christmas morning came way too soon because Elijah woke up at 4:30, ready to open presents and I had been up to 2:30 wrapping them by candle light.


That is our tree and the presents. It wasn't much but it was all paid for with cold, hard earned cash! And its not like the kids are old enough to notice anyway- we better take advantage that while we can!!

Hey, and look! I was able to afford stockings for the first time ever! They are tiny but they sure were enjoyed!

Here's the boys ready to open their presents!

That's it! Honestly, I was going to put pictures of them opening their presents but I'm beat and it has taken me over 5 hours to write this now because as soon as I get two words down Elijah runs in "Mama! Come here! COME HERE!" or Sam starts whining to be held, or Elijah kicks Sam in the stomach. . . Ugh! This is my life and I'm just the referee!

I'm BAAAAAACK!

For a short time at least!

I finished up my online classes a little over a week ago. Got an A and an A- in them!
I have my final exams in my at-school-classes on Tuesday which I really should be studying for rather than blogging but I figured you guys need some lovin' too and the kiddlets went to bed early (look! its only 7:45 and they are both sound asleep!) so I figured I should do something productive, like blog, after a 4 month break from it.

Anyway, I'm hoping to make blogging more of a habit from now on out (or until I start clinicals on January 25th).

Before I attempt pry myself from the computer to get to work on things that really NEED to be done we all wanted to personally wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

and here's another 'cause I just couldn't help myself! DARN! Never mind for now- I can't get it to work :( I'll post it if I ever get it fixed.

I'm still around!

Hi!
Sorry for the lack of updates. I have just been so caught up with trying to make it through the necessities each day that everything else has been shoved to the side. . . Sorry! I won't promise it won't happen again though because I don't see anything changing in the near future.

School has been crazy busy. Its hard to get everything done between the kids bedtime and before I become too exhausted to function properly let alone read 3 chapters of Cultural Anthropology and 4 chapters of US History! Elijah hasn't been falling asleep until nearly 10 pm and I usually try to get myself into bed by 2 am since he normally wakes up for the day around 5:30-6 am!!!! Ughh! So, that doesn't give me much time to do anything but the most pressing homework. The poor house is looking worse and worse! Its so hard not to let it bother me but school is more important!

Not much else is going on. . .

Guess who snuck out of his room in the wee hours of the morning:

Yes, thats all my flax seed, wheat germ, almond flavoring, and various other ingredients all dumped and ruined! Whatever is all was must have been a bad combination because it stunk!

Eli chasing me with grass!

"What do you want?"

Its nearly impossible to get a good pic of the boys together!

Here Elijah is looking, Sam is not.

Sammy is looking AND smiling but Eli is not (he was actually trying to get the chap stick back from Sammy).

Here they are both looking at the camera but do they look happy? NO!
(Eli got his chap stick back and resumes sucking it out and eating it)

Eli finally has enough and books it outta there!

OMG!!!!!
They are both looking AND smiling!!!!! (Sort of. . .)

Too Fast!

I had the awesome opportunity of seeing my parents for the first time since January! If you are not aware, they are missionaries to Kosova. Dad had to come home for some meetings in Chicago and Mom was able to join him! Mom got into town last Thursday and Dad went to his meetings then joined us on Saturday. Sadly, they were only able to visit through Tuesday! It was a whirlwind of a visit but it was SOOOOOOOOOO nice to see them and visit with them again! They got to get to know the kiddo's a little better (Sammy was only a newborn last time they saw him) and the kiddo's got to know their amazing grandparents a little better!
I am sad they had to leave so soon but so thankful I was able to see, hear, and touch them all at the same time again! I adore my parents! They are completely amazing (now if we could only convince them to be missionaries here. . . )!

Awww! I'm going to get this one printed off to hang by Eli's bed! :)

Mom and Sammy (yes, Sammy likes being upside down!)

Mom playing with Elijah and Sam!

Dad was working on a project most of the time he was here but we still enjoyed having him around!

Mom getting packed up to leave Tuesday

Hey!

The Cloth Diaper Report is hosting its own giveaway when they reach 250
followers!
Details:

Giveaway:

6 NB prefolds & 2 size 1 Snappi
These are PERFECT as doublers for any age if you don't have a newborn. I add newborn PFs to my DD's nighttime diaper in addition to the two inserts!

I am absolutely in love with my prefolds and Snappi's!!! I never
thought I would be because they are so "old fashioned" but they are so
easy and basic and you can get the cutest covers for your prefolds ever!!!!!!

--OR--
Mommy's Touch regular zippered wetbag in olive green
Fits
4-5 diapers, but can also be used for wet swimsuits, dirty shoes or for
other baby and kids gear for non-cloth diapering families!

I have one small zippered wet bag for my diaper bag and I adore it! There is such a huge variety of colors and patterns it is so hard to choose a favorite!
I would LOVE to win this because it would be perfect for when the boys spend the night away from home!

Come on over to The Cloth Diaper Report, become a follower and have a chance to win! I am falling in love with this blog!!! They have such helpful posts and reviews and have I mentioned GIVEAWAYS?!?! Who doesn't like winning Fluff Stuff?!!?! :)

ALSO, they are having a whole bunch of other giveaways right now too!!! :)

1. Thirsties Duo Wrap (9/3)

2. Wahmies Diaper Pail Liner (9/8)

3. Wahmies One Size Diaper 2 Winners (9/9)

4. Drybees AIO Hybrid (9/7)

Good luck!!!!

Summer is offically OVER :(

My online classes started today and my classes at school start tomorrow. I'm taking 12 credits this semester! =0 I'm not at all sure how I'm going to do all that I have to do but I will do it (I guess. . . I HOPE!!!).

I went to the Vanity and spent $60 on two new pairs of jeans (I only have one that fits ok on my poor post pregnancy/nursing savaged body). After getting them home I realize I am not very happy with either of them. I think I may have had better luck if Elijah and Sam were not with me acting like wild jungle children. Elijah thought it was great fun climbing under the door into the dressing room then unlocking it and opening the door as far as it would open exposing my stretch mark scarred body to the whole mall countless times. . . Ugh!
Wow, its hard to find a pair of jeans that fit my body well and my style. . . I want to look cute and trendy like all the other 24 year olds out there but my poor 24 year old self has the shape of a 36 year old now. . . Ugh UGH! I don't want to look like a "mother" but I want pants that FIT!!!
Oh well, some day I will be old enough to wear whatever is comfy, no matter how it looks and no one will care 'cause I will be in my 50's.

On the bright side:

Goofy Eli eating cottage cheese with peanut butter on his forehead! Cleaning off the counters (attempting to stall bedtime!):

Mr. Sam reading books and playing with a monster truck!

It's Official!!

SAMMY IS CRAWLING!!!!!!!!!!!


Monday he would take one or two knee inches forward then drop his knees and stretch, drag his legs and/or shove off with his toes to move. But when he woke up Tuesday morning he started CRAWLING and hasn't stopped!!! It's like it just clicked! Awww. . . my baby is growing up *sob* but he does look so darn cute crawling! I will have to post a video sometime soon!