Maddie's Birthday

The day after Christmas, Maddie turned 2!!! For lunch, we made our own pizzas and had yummy Brobee cupcakes for dessert! We stayed to watch her open her gifts before we had to head back home. I think next year, Maddie is going to celebrate her half birthday to lesson the craziness of having a birthday the day after Christmas!

Christmas

Christmas day was very busy for us. In the morning, we headed over to my Uncle Ray's house to meet up with my dad's side of the family to exchange gifts. It was the first year we didn't go to my Nana's, but we all had a great time anyway. I got to see everyone that I haven't seen since my cousin Clint's wedding. That's the thing about living away from your hometown, you don't get to visit with family as often as you'd like. Anyway, after Uncle Ray's house, we went to my big brother's house to meet up with my sister, her family, and mom. Caitlin got an adorable zebra striped jacket with a matching umbrella! The wind was blowing like crazy so we didn't stay long because we needed to drive down to J, K, B, and M's house. We almost turned around because it was snowing so hard. Then the snow turned to rain....and lots of it! Dennis hydroplaned half a dozen times....and we were only going 40mph! There was literally a river running down the freeway! We finally arrived safety and had a wonderful turkey dinner. In fact, it was the best turkey I had EVER eaten. Kelly brined it and it was so moist and tasty!!! I ended up making a turkey dinner a week later. Anyway, the kids had cupcakes and then we opened presents. There were toys and wrapping everywhere!....just the way it should be with kids. Bedtime that evening was a different story. Caitlin didn't want to sleep....at all. She finally went to sleep when we did, around 11ish.

We had a wonderful Christmas day filled with lots of family. I only wished it would have lasted longer. They day just seems to go so quickly and there's never enough time to visit with everyone like you would like.

Second cousin Kate

Caitlin and Kate

My dad and brother Bill

Grandma Chi-Sai and Colton

Caitlin and Cousin Tyler

Caitlin and Mickey Mouse Potato Head

Aunt Brenda and Caitlin in her new coat and umbrella!

Aunt Brenda and Colton

Caitlin and Cousin Hunter

Brady, Caitlin, and Maddie

Christmas cupcake.

Night, night baby.

Sleepy Cousins

Christmas Eve

On our way!

Dennis had to work Christmas Eve, but he got off early and we were headed over as soon as possible. It was a pretty uneventful trip over and the kids did really well....as usual. We had a wonderful ham dinner when we got there and opened presents soon after, followed by Boston Creme Pie! Mmmmmm! Colton and Caitlin each got a recorded storybook from my dad and Chi-Sai.....I love them!!! The kids went to sleep really easily considering they had slept quite some time in the car ride over. Thankfully, as soon as we arrived, there were plenty of people ready and willing to chase and play with Caitlin. This was a contributing factor for her exhaustion that night I think.

Krista's crazy hair....courtesy of Kristopher.

Christmas Eve Eve

On December 23rd, Santa visited our house since we would be in Y-town on the 25th. Dennis took Caitlin out to look at the lights in the neighborhood and when they came back Santa had delivered presents!....such a shocker, I know. It was a wonderful evening. Caitlin LOVES opening presents so she was all too willing to open all of Colton's gifts. Dennis surprised me with a mini video camera, so I had lots of fun recording little videos over the holidays. I will try and post one as soon as I can figure the whole thing out.

First Staple

Okay, so this wasn't the first post of the new year that I thought I'd be writing. I will definitely post about Christmas and such soon, but first....

Yes, Caitlin can officially add staples to her list of medical records. While I was at Colton's 4 month check-up, she ended up getting a cut on her head from a falling block. She didn't cry at all
and the cut didn't seem like it was that bad. But Dennis decided to go pick her up and then called me while I was just finishing at the doctor's office to let me know it was still bleeding a bit. So, with some info from the doctor, Dennis brought her in. When she walked into the office she was super happy and bubbly! You'd never even would have known she got hurt. The doctor took a look at her and said she needed a staple because the glue wouldn't work very well since it was in her hair. The doc didn't even have to numb her up because it was only one staple and it was just like getting a shot. She was such a champ! She barely cried! So when she got home, it was plenty of fries and Umi Zoomi for her!

The boy on the other hand was also a champ. He weighs 17lbs 9oz and is 25.5 inches long. He got three shots and only cried for a brief moment. And the rest of the time we were there with Caitlin, he was very happy and really smiley. He's such a good boy!

I will post more soon.

Sweet Sugar

Here are all NINE creations from left to right:
Sugar Spice Coffee, Snickerdoodle, German Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Lebkuchen

Sugar

Coconut Candy, Caramel, Cake Pop

All I can say is....I AM DONE!!!! And I really couldn't have done it without Dennis's help. He watched the kids all weekend while I baked in the kitchen all day. At one point on Saturday when Caitlin didn't nap, she calmly watched me mixing and rolling and slicing, while she was perched on the bar stool. That would be the only time she was calm around the cookies because once she realized they WERE cookies, her paws were all over them. So Dennis decided to occupy her by making a gingerbread house together. They had a great (and sticky) time to say the least. Colton also got to pitch in a bit too!

Sugar cookie madness!

So pretty

Let the decorating begin!

It needs a bit more icing.

And time for a taste test.

And now for the demolition!

I think I finally got all the stickiness off the table!

Cookie Land

I'm up to my eyeballs in cookies!  I've been working on them since Friday night.  It started off pretty bad with all my new recipes not working out.  But then I started in on the tried and true and that has helped a lot.  I made 8 doz cookies this morning and I have another 8 doz to go.  I also have to frost 8 doz within the next 24 hours.  Then I will proceed to assemble platters.  That is to say if I don't add in another cookie in the meantime.  This is what I have so far:

1.  Chocolate Chip

2.  German Chocolate

3.  Cake Pops

4.  Lebkuchen

5.  Snickerdoodle

6.  Coconut Candy

7.  Caramels

8.  Sugar

9.  Sugar and Spice Coffee

Giddy

Is it crazy that I get so giddy at the idea of Dennis coming home from work?  Or that I look forward to the weekend because he won't be working?  Even yesterday when he stayed home sick and was in bed most of the day, I was just so happy he was there.  Yes, I didn't see him very much, but his presence was greatly felt.  He just has a calming effect on me. When I'm having a bad day or super stressed, Dennis comes home and it all just melts away.  He is my Prozac for sure....and I'm completely addicted!

Grama Visit

Last week my mom came over for a visit!  It was so nice and Caitlin (Colton too) had a great time.  Caitlin LOVED my mom's border collie....Peggy.  As soon as she would wake up in the morning, Caitlin would be asking about Peggy and looking out the window for her.  On Tuesday, Caitlin and I went for a walk while my mom and Colton took a nap.  We took Peggy with us and Caitlin held the leash the whole time!  It was really nice to see her interacting with a dog without being super nervous and unsure.  Plus, my mom's dog is very nice and really calm.  It was really wonderful to have my mom around....especially during the week when I'm usually by myself with the kids!

This week Caitlin has been making real progress on the potty training front.  For quite some time now, she has been peeing on the potty.  She usually doesn't tell us when she has to go, but when we put her on, she always pees. Well, for the last two mornings when I have put her on she has pooped on the potty!!!!!  SO EXCITING!!!!!  I know...it's weird, a post about poop.  But if you have ever potty trained before, you know my excitement!!!!

I have been searching through all of my cookies recipes lately.  I think I will be starting on my Christmas cookies sometime next week.  I have no idea how many I will make this year. It will probably be scaled down a bit.  But knowing me, I'll end up getting carried away! :)

Stolen Mail

Yup, you read correctly. Our (and our neighbors to the right of us) outgoing mail was stolen on Saturday morning between the hours of 9-11am. Who would do such a thing!.....and broad daylight too!!!! Thankfully, it was only a NetFlix movie. I called them to let them know what happened and they were completely awesome about it. I also called the sheriff's department and they could care less. The dispatch lady wasn't even sympathetic and made me feel like it was my fault. Lovely. Unfortunately, for the past several weeks, we have noticed open mailboxes in our neighborhood. Some still had mail in them, but most were empty. We thought it was probably kids playing around. Well, apparently, they are doing a little more than fooling around! So this morning Dennis installed a locking mailbox instead of our regular one. He also talked with one of our other neighbors who said that in the past 20 years of living on this street, this is the first time mail has ever been stolen.....and I hope it's the last!

On a brighter note, I replaced our regular LED Christmas lights in the kitchen with the color changing ones instead.....and it's like I'm at a disco party every waking minute!!!! WOO HOO!!!!! Then tonight, I installed the regular lights down the hallway and tomorrow I'll install some in Caitlin's room. Caitlin absolutely loves the lights! She grabbed Dennis's hand once they were done in the hallway, and took him down the hall to sit on the floor and look at the lights. She's such a sweetheart!

And I leave you with a few pics!

We now have two thumb suckers in the house!

Enjoying some cereal with daddy.

Going for Walks

That is what I call it instead of "exercise." Dancing with Caitlin also falls under that category. I figure if I just try to go for a walk when ever I can and dance with Caitlin on the days it rains, I will actually be exercising without thinking I'm actually exercising. Okay, I know it sounds crazy, but it's the only way I can trick myself into sticking with it. I am not an exercise person, nor a walker, jogger, and definitely not a runner. I need to do what ever I can (trick my mind, yes) to get moving (i.e. exercise) so I can get rid of my baby weight and all the extra desserts I've been consuming since I have this horrible addiction to baking. So far this whole mind game seems to be working. I've actually been going for walks for the past month and a half (or so) for 30 minutes 2-4 times a week! And since I'm carrying around an extra 17 pounds on me with Colton in the front pack, it's quite a work out! I've had to add the dancing with Caitlin since it has started to rain. I imagine it would be quite hilarious to watch us with our little dance routine. Caitlin certainly seems to like it though as she tries to imitate all the moves with me.

So here's hoping I can stick with Going for Walks and Dancing with Caitlin for a while!

Colton 3 Months

The day after Thanksgiving, Colton turned 3 months old! I think he weighs about 17 pounds now and has slept through the night 9 out of the last 10 nights! Completely shocking on all fronts! He is still really mellow, extremely happy, and an absolute morning boy. He has a beautiful voice and his favorite word right now is between "goooo" and "oooooo." And for the past few days, I've been trying to get him to sleep in his crib during his naps. He seems to do well, which is good since I think we may have him sleep there at night after Christmas.

Oh, my wonderful friend Nancy surprised me by stopping by this afternoon. We chatted for a bit and she read to Caitlin too. She also brought over an adorable outfit for Caitlin for her birthday and a scrapbooked framed photo of Colton....which is absolutely adorable!!!! Thank you again Nancy!!! You made my day!!

Don't you just LOVE it!!!!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at our house....just the four of us. I made all the usual holiday fixing with some minor tweaks. We had turkey breast instead of a whole turkey, dried cranberries and pecans in my stuffing (Dennis gets oysters in his), and a new recipe for pumpkin cheesecake. It was a very yummy and I'm sorry that we've eaten all the leftovers already. Caitlin really liked the turkey and didn't mind eating it for the next few days.


We didn't go out for Black Friday this year for the first time in I can't remember how long. Dennis had to work, and bringing two kids to a packed mall probably wouldn't have been a great idea. So on Saturday I took Colton shopping. Since most of the deals we were interested in were 2 day sales, we scored without having to wait longer than 3 minutes in a line! Woo hoo!!!