Help?

Natalie got a HUGE beyond HUGE rug burn on her face the other day. Of course she didn't notice it happening, and later that night I saw something funky on her face and touched it and it stung. I didn't really think anything of it and we headed to nap. When we woke up from naps Natalie's whole cheek was red. There was the center that was red and raw, and then the rest of her cheek was just RED. Cue me freaking out because there was something strange and raw and red and sticky seeming on her face! We couldn't figure out what it was, if it was a bite or something got on her skin and was burning her. I kept saying it looks like she got burned, and FINALLY we put together that Keith and the kids had been wrestling and dragging each other all over the house earlier that day. So it was a rug burn! Yikes!

Anywho, it has scabbed now, and she has a scab the size of a wonky quarter on her cheek, and I am so so so scared that it is going to leave a huge scar! How do I keep it from scarring? Any ideas? Will a rug burn even scar? I have never seen one this bad before. If it was her elbow I wouldn't care, but it is her precious little face! So far we are putting neosporin on it, and when it heals if is leaves a mark I will get some mederma for kids, but are there any other good ideas?

Making Handmade

Would anyone care for a (felt) cookie? I am going to be making many more of these, but I will embroider the sprinkles next time, the beads are a choking hazard and are a bit unstable. I am just loving felt food!
Making these really helped me practice my blanket stitch. I like the look of it much better than the simple way I did the eggs. It is much more fancy and appropriate for pretty pink cookies!

Getting Handmade!

When Grandma Lorraine came she brought her handmade gift for Christmas. Last year we thought she had topped all when she made all of us kids game quilts, something like 15 game quilts I think. This year she out shone herself and made 13 of these super fantabulous Puppet Theaters!! I was speechless (but couldn't post about it until all family received theirs!) and in complete awe of her talent when we opened it up. The kids love it, and so do Keith and I!

It has a curtain rod so you can put it up in a doorway. The little blue curtains slide back so you can't see the puppeteer (Nat hasn't mastered that yet) and put on a show!

The Princess puppet.
Handmade just for us with love!
The monkey and the princess...playing with the monkey and the princess!
All the puppets, minus the monkey and the princess. Lorraine made 13 SETS people. That is a whole lot of crazy sewing! And she even included a bunch of plays and jokes to go with.
Thanks again Grandma Lorraine for such a wonderful special gift! It is something our family will cherish forever!

Other catching up

Christmas Eve was a very slow and nice day. The kids and I spent the morning making various Christmas presents for family members. We actually completed a ton of presents, now I just need to mail them out! Keith was able to come home early from work so the afternoon was spent playing Guitar Hero World Tour and lazing about. I had to work at 5, so we planned on having a family dinner in my office, which is also my bedroom! We pulled in the little table, turned on The Santa Clause, and had quite a nice Christmas picnic of sorts.

The day after Christmas Keith had to work so the kids and I ventured out to Target to hit up the Christmas clearance. I actually saved some money aside specifically for this purpose and I am so glad I did! I got a bunch of pretty silver ornaments I had been eyeing, but wasn't going to pay full price for. I also got all of our wrapping paper for next year, and some other cute bits and bobs. I L-O-V-E getting things 50% off! I love 75% off even better, but I have to wait a few days for the prices to go that low!

Then Saturday was our last free Saturday before Keith starts the BAR BRI class (he has class 6 days a week starting the 2nd) so we headed out to Braum's for lunch. We have been wanting to try it for a long time, and it was so good! We went to the new one in Pantego and it was very nice. The burgers are delicious! The ice cream was fantastic too! After that we headed out to our favorite park for some exercise to burn off that lunch!

Now the weekend is over and class and work are looming in the near future. The next 2 months are going to be hard, but SO worth it!

The last of the Pecan Caramel Fudge sundae from Braum's. Soooooo good!Natalie now hates to have her picture taken. I have no idea where she gets it from... Brady on the other hand is always up for a photo shoot!

Potty Training, for realsies

The other half of Christmas day was spent in front of the potty. Brady is really getting the hang of it. Today has been very successful also, lots of M&Ms being consumed in our house! Here is Brady grinning cheesy for us while camping out on his potty seat!

Christmas Day

I've been called out on my blog slacking ways. I never forget all you family that read this, and I am sorry I just haven't been able to force myself to sit here and blog about it all. I will start with Christmas day, but I have many other posts in the works. So if you're interested check back often in the next few days while I get it all down!

I was able to get one picture of the Christmas morning tree before my memory card filled up and I set my camera aside and forgot to unload the card until later in the morning. So no pictures of the unwrapping of the presents, video, but no pictures. Looks like Santa delivered! I see a Cinderella computer and a Thomas train under there!

Yep! Natalie got her Cinderella computer and even the gray pony that she asked Santa for. I don't think I need to tell you how excited she was! And she loves it, it isn't TOO hard or TOO easy, and she picked up how to do all the games on her own. Yay for learning!
You can also see some of Mom and Dads presents. I didn't take a loot shot of the goodies that Keith and I got, darn it! I like to have those for posterity sake, lol! But Keith had a very Cowboys Christmas. He got the History of the Cowboys DVD, Cowboys golf stuff, Cowboys nightlight, Cowboys lunchbox, and some other fun movies and candy and things. Oh! And the paver for the new stadium that says "The Bowers Fans Forever" on it. Coolest. Present. Ever! And a sweet set of 25th anniversary Phase 10 cards in a cool metallic case.

Mom got some movies, gift cards, kitchen things (tiny ramekins to make pot pies or molten lava cake), some great storage containers for my scrapbook stuff, and the best gift? An MP3 player! Yay! We can't afford anything too fancy, but Keith found this great Phillips one that is TINY, it fits in the palm of my hand and I love it! It has video capacity and can store pictures, and is probably the most high tech thing we own, other than the wii! He totally surprised me with that one.

Brady got lots and lots of Cars Megabloks. I like them because they are Cars and he has to create with them! Lots of building going on over here!

I forgot to take a picture of all the paper and fun chaos, but here is our living room for most of Christmas day! Nat loves that fairy woodland house!
Brady's loot. Books, Lego's, school bus from Natalie, Cars stuff, movies, etc. Fun stuff!
Natalie's loot (and Mommies scrap storage, minus the pony and the computer). Groovy girls, books, fairies and house, puzzle, dolly from Brady, coloring calendar, etc. Funny one of the most played with things is probably the little tic tac toe from the dollar section at Target. And one of my favorite things they got was from Aunt Danielle (& Co.), she sent each a nice book with a coordinating pillow case to match. I am totally stealing that idea!
It was a fun day, a little lonely without all the hustle and bustle of extended family, but nice in that it was just us, with no where to go, and nothing to do but play all day. I want to thank all the family that sent gifts, those were some of the best things under the tree because they were surprises to all of us!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

May you all have a wonderful, fun and love filled day tomorrow.

Seven Years

This is one of my favorite pictures. Before kids, before baby weight, before hereditary baldness, before, before, before....


But after all that, even though we look so different, and ARE so different. We love each other still. I am happy to have been through so many fun and trying times with Keith. I couldn't have picked a better partner in crime than Keith. Happy anniversary honey, here's to 70 x 7 more wild and crazy years. I love you!

Giving Handmade

For some reason I really have been on a kick to have more handmade made in America things in the house. One gift I knew I really wanted to get Brady was a bunch of wooden acorns, first seen here, for him to play with. He is in love with squirrels and they are always on the hunt for real acorns, and I really thought some wooden ones would be fun. So today I finally made a drawstring pouch to keep them in, and I am very happy with how it turned out! I did a double drawstring so he can pull both sides, and it is easier for him to close. I can't wait for him to open it on Christmas! At least he will have one handmade gift under the tree! It will balance out all the Cars Mega bloks he is getting.

Letters to Santa

*side note* I had to turn on comment moderation because I am not getting comment notification emails. So, sorry about that!

Here are the kids letters as dictated to Keith. He wrote them down and they illustrated them too. The letters are priceless treasures! Love them!

Dear Santa,
Can you please get me a Cinderella computer? I will like a pony that's grey. I will like a Barbie, please. Will you also bring a car for Brady, and a blue slinky for Brady? That's it. Oh, and a mystery for Mommy.
Love,
Natalie

Dear Santa,
Um, I want a garbage truck. I want a big giant truck. A Thomas train. A Thomas coloring book. A Percy toy.
Love,
Brady

Luckily I am on the ball, and the kids are actually going to get what they asked for (mostly)! I think that is the best, too bad Santa gets all the credit for the really cool gifts! I am most excited for the Cinderella laptop, Natalie has been asking for one for the last 2 years, and this is finally the year. She is going to be THRILLED! Oh, and the grey pony she asked for is a stuffed one we saw at the holiday toy section in Target, I got that too. :D

Tonights nick names

Natalie: Princess Stinky Toots

Brady: Super Stinky Pants

Daddy: King Tootin-kamen

I love when my family wrestles in the living room. Those sounds of laughter are probably one of the best sounds in the whole world.

Things...

...I did do:

1. Got a haircut.

2. Gathered supplies for gifts for local friends.

3. Made burp rags for and attended a baby shower.

4. Finished wrapping all wrapable gifts.

5. Cleaned my sun room. Smells MUCH better.

6. Kissed Keith for cleaning the kitchen and putting new weather stripping on the front door and cleaning the kitchen and vacuuming the whole dang house and cleaning the kitchen and well, just being great! (Cheesy, I know, but he deserves some cheese for his feats this week!)

...I need to do before Christmas:

1. Go grocery shopping. Ugg. I got so excited about having only 4 mouths to feed again, that I forgot to buy more food for those mouths. So unless we want ramen for Christmas I need to brave the grocery stores.

2. Put together and deliver presents for local friends.

3. Find something CHEAP for Keith and my stockings so the kids don't think Santa forgot us! Whoops, kinda missed the ball on that one.

4. Make cookies to set out for Santa and figure out how Santa is going to get in our house. Natalie asked me about both of those things today, and since we have the fireplace all blocked off it wasn't an easy answer. I could take down the sheet, but I really really don't want to know what is back there. Anyone have any ideas on what to say that doesn't involve the uncovering of one years worth of dust and grime in our fireplace?

5. Work every night until after Christmas day. Kinda sucks, but the pay is good. :)

...I am not even trying to do before Christmas:

1. Mail faraway friends and family gifts before Christmas.

2. Mail Christmas cards. Ain't gonna happen.

3. Plan a huge, messy Christmas Eve dinner. We are thinking tortellini, zucchini, and french bread. Something yummy and easy to eat so we can all eat together in my bedroom while I work!

4. Scrub down the second bathroom. I just don't want too, and any mess will still be there after Christmas.

Oh how I love Christmastime! I really miss all my family, but the tension is starting to mount, and we are all getting so excited! Merry almost Christmas everyone!

Ouch!

The family just got back from the ward Christmas party, but before they could even get inside to tell me all about it, I heard a wail from outside. Brady had fallen and smashed his nose on the concrete! He insisted on a band aid, and after lots of kisses and hugs, he is all better, and full of stories and details from the party. I hate missing things like that, but I am glad Keith took them on his own. Sounds like they had a blast! I love this little guy! He cracks me up!

Christmas things that make me happy...

I've got lots and lots of lists in drafts, not sure if I want to publish all of them, but I do enjoy a good list. And I do enjoy happy things. So this one gets posted.

1. Singing along to Christmas songs in the car anytime we go anywhere, and more specifically having the kids ask me to turn it up when "Feliz Navidad" comes on the radio, and then having both of them continue to sing along. I am pretty sure Brady singing "Fleece Nadidad" is pretty much one of the cutest things ever.

2. Drinking lots and lots of hot cocoa. Yummy.

3. Taking one night to bundle up in jammies and drive around to see Christmas lights. We went to Interlochen (drive west on Randol Mill and you run right into it) on Wednesday night and it was way better than last year. The kids love love LOVED it and it's free! Woot!

4. Lots of fun mail, from Christmas cards to packages.

5. Pretty packages all wrapped up under the tree.

6. Watching the kids pick out presents for each other. They did so good this year, I can't wait for them to give them on Christmas morning. I hope they can keep them a secret that long!

7. Christmas crafting. I have so many pictures and things that the kids and I have made or Natalie has come home with from school. It's fun and we haven't even done anything really elaborate, just lots of foam sticker art and drawing, but they love it so much, and it really makes me happy!

8. Sleeping in. Not really a Christmas thing, but DANG! The kids have been sleeping in till at least 8 every morning, and it is really, really nice!

I am sure I will think of many more once I post this, too many good things right now! Not the worst thing in the world, that is for sure. Here's to wishing you all some happy, fun Christmas activities!

What the heck?

I started making Christmas presents MONTHS ago. I started making plans for Christmas presents MONTHS ago. I started writing down ideas for Christmas presents MONTHS ago. I started gathering materials for Christmas presents MONTHS ago. Then why are NONE of my presents for people outside this house done? Why? Because I am a procrastinator of the WORST kind (apparently I am also in the mood for caps lock). I really, really wanted this to be the year for sending presents to far off family that always sends us nice things. The year for stopping by friends houses with pretty packages of handmade, heartfelt gifts. Frack! It just ain't gonna happen. I am still working on those things, but I am thinking most of them will be Happy New Year gifts! LOL!

I am just not sure how December slipped through my grasp. Maybe it has something to do with all the boarders and visitors we have had. Yeah, I think I will take the easy way out and blame those boys, lol, since they can't defend themselves. It WAS pretty crowded/uninhabitable out in my craft room what with all the boxes and laundry and stinky socks (yet we still miss them, I have no idea why!). So anywho. Needless to say I am NOT ready for Christmas to be in less than a week. I have some serious work to do, but I gotta say there are worse things to be doing than making presents for people. I do so love Christmastime!

Score!

I have been searching high and low for a new coat. Not too heavy, but not too light. And I finally found one! I am so excited and can't wait to wear it out! I got it at Kohl's and it was on major sale. They have lots of cute ones available so if you are looking try there!

Breakfast for 2

One of my favorite inspiration blogs is Craft Addictions. She hand makes the most wonderful things, and it always makes me want to try and create more too. I finally gave in and followed her lead in trying my hand at some felt food (see hers here, here and here). The eggs were my very first items so they are a bit wonky, but the kids love them! And so do I! I kind of wasted the day making these, but I did do all the laundry so that balances it out!
My favorite are the pancakes with butter and syrup. Yummy!
Next up, orange slices and sugar cookies. And once the stores get some more green and red felt in stock I will make some more fruits and veggies. These are very addicting, and they go along with my new kick of having more handmade and natural toys in the house. There are tons and tons of pictures for inspirations here on flickr.

Catching up: part 2

The next stop on our Saturday adventure was a trip downtown to see some historical sites. We walked all around Dealey Plaza and the surrounding area. While Jason and his friend headed upstairs to check out the 6th floor museum (too pricey for all of us this time) we walked back over to the Monument for some running around and snacks, and to wait for the others.
It was a nice outing, and interesting to see and read all about such an historical event. One of these days Keith and I will go back so we can check out the museum too.

Catching up: part 1

The Saturday after graduation was a very busy day. We started the day off right playing blocks with Grandpa Wayne. A neat fact about Keith's dad is that he builds houses, from scratch, with HIS hands. He built the house Keith grew up in, and he did a major overhaul/remodel/build on the house he lives in in South Dakota. Very, very cool. So of course I want some of that to rub off on my kids, hehe! Anyways, they built and rebuilt lots of restaurants Saturday morning.

In other news

Brady is ready to begin potty training! He keeps asking to go potty on the "big boy potty" and he has been doing this with some regularity. So after Christmas we are going to buckle down and get this kid into some "big boy underwears" for once and for all!

Date night

One of the things I like to take advantage of when family visits is built in babysitting. Keith and my wedding anniversary is next week, and since I will be working he set up a surprise night out last night. It has been a long time since our last date, so I was pretty dang excited. He took me to Studio Movie Grill so we could kill two birds with one stone and have time for some finishing touches to our Christmas shopping.

We saw Twilight, and I have to say I really liked it. It was nice to go with someone who hasn't read the books because he was totally unbiased on the movie. Keith agreed with me that it was semi-cheesy, but he liked it. And I have to say that even after watching the movie, I am still not a fan of Edward, I am more of a Jacob girl! Even though he was only in the movie for a few minutes, I like him better! And we also got a kick out of all the crazy eyes people kept giving to each other. And MAN were Jacob's teeth white or what? And WOW Jessica was annoying!

After that we were going to walk around Arlington Highlands and window shop, but um...it was FREEZING! So we headed over to Target and we are now officially done with the Christmas shopping. How nice to have that finished!

I love date nights because after such a hectic and crazy 2 weeks it was so nice to have time to reconnect, even if we thought we were going to die driving home on the ice with all the inexperienced we-think-we-can-still-drive-fast drivers braving the icy roads!

Gingerbread Houses!

Saturday was too much to write about right now so I am skipping ahead to Sunday evening. Hey, it's my blog I can do what I want to!

One of Keith's childhood Christmas memories was making real gingerbread houses every single year. Lorraine makes the gingerbread and everything! I have never (at least to my knowledge) made a real gingerbread house. Ours always consisted of graham crackers and frosting, and were just as fun, just not authentic. Needless to say I was pretty dang excited to make my very own this year! Lorraine brought all the pieces and candy with her stored safely in her bag and every single bit made it here in one piece! We had a lot of fun, and they turned out so cute. The kids loved the candy part of course, and sneaking the treats was a big hit.

Getting set up and eying the candy.

Super sweet, when she wants to be. She is my Sassy Pants these last few days, but she is still our lovey girl!

Man, I love this little monkey man.

The Gingerbread Queen!

You don't even want to know how awesome Lorraine's house was. It doesn't hurt that she has been making them every year for the last 30+ years! I don't have a picture of hers though because our apartment was too hot, it was melting!

Brady and Daddy's house.

Natalie went to town with the candy! Keith said that is what he did as a child because you got to eat your house, so whatever you could fit on it was all yours!

Mine! My very first! I like my Golden Graham roof.

Such a fun time, and I hope we can start doing it every year, as long as Grandma Lorraine comes out and brings the supplies! LOL! But it was very nice, and I loved seeing Keith do something that he has been doing for years. He is a pro!