5 Months

Ok so I’m only about a week late getting this up.  Because I like to point out how scatter brained I am I have to admit that the 12th came and went without me realizing he had turned 5 months.  I had the 15th (Aidan’s birth date) in my head.  So, on the 13th it hit me so I spent that day in mourning that yet another month had passed.  Good news I think I’m “caught up” on my blogging!!

Here’s an extra shot (that didn’t turn out well…grr…not liking my camera!) but I couldn’t resist sharing those eyes and that smile!!  I’m pretty sure those eyes are SCREAMING I love my mama!

.: Stats- 18lbs 5 oz., ?? in.

.: What You’re Wearing- fitting very well into 6-9 month clothing.  12 month is right around the corner.  They only thing too big are sleeves.  They are sooo long on your little arms!

.: Firsts- Rolling everywhere & never staying on the blanket I put you on, laughing now especially if I “eat” your ribs, feet are great entertainment, first Christmas & New Years, very good at putting things in your mouth, first time getting blood drawn- hard for mama to watch!

.: From Head To Toe- not much changing except you’re just getting bigger over all and probably need your little rat tail trimmed in the back.  Has had runny nose since Thanksgiving in the middle of our 3rd antibiotic with no luck on getting it stopped- bad cough now too. They did allergy testing for foods &environmental allergens, but the testing showed no allergies.

.: Loves- Sissy, tummy time, chewing on blankets, burps & bibs, being rocked, the mobile we put on your bed that plays music and has lights,

.: Dislikes- want nothing to do with sitting- bumbo chair, swing & car seat

.: Eating- 6 oz every 4 hours.  tried cereal- did NOT like it plus you started having a never ending runny nose so I stopped & they checked you for allergies.  No allergies so tried cereal again.  Will tolerate it in the bottle, but not so sure about the spoon. I haven’t been giving it much b/c I think it makes you fussier.

.: Sleeping- up around 1 am & 4ish…but right back to sleep after you eat.

.: Misc Facts-

You’ve become a very content baby.  At our annual holiday bake day you were so happy the whole day.  You love to watch all the action around you!

I suppose you enjoyed you 1st Christmas & 1st blizzard! I know brother & sister had fun opening your presents!

On New Years mommy & daddy had a party with daddy’s work people so Katherine & Julianna came to watch all 3 of you kids.  Katherine is kinda your buddy!

You’re so happy & content at the church nursery…everyone says how cute & sweet you are! You do have this very “sweet, innocent, everyone loves me” look about you!

You light up when Emma comes near! She can jiggle you to make you laugh or sometimes do nothing at all!

It’s a Six Year Old Sleepover!

I could go on and on about the depression I went through that Emma was “over” having Princess Birthdays.  She fell in love with Cinderella a week before her 2nd birthday…to late to change her party from Elmo to Cinderella.  So, her third bday was Cinderella and it was then that she planned the rest of her birthdays.  4th Snow White, 5th Belle, 6th SUPPOSED to be Ariel, 7th Sleeping Beauty, 8th Jasmine….  The one I was most excited about was supposed to be this year I might add. 

How could she, the daughter of a planner, CHANGE her mind? Didn’t she know that I had a scrapbook page planned that would show all the different princesses she was throughout the years?  Really? Scrapbook dream killer!!!

About the time therapy helped me recover from the princess past she decided to be a cheerleader for Halloween and that meant a cheerleading birthday. (She always dressed for Halloween what she wanted her bday to be…my precious resourceful girl!)  I had come up with some decent ideas for a cheering party, but then she started speaking of  a sleep over.  I was hesitant at first, but gave in.  She was allowed to invite 3 girls and I then surprised her with bringing her cousin Madison.

There was a bit of girl drama as I expected, but fun was had painting toenails, playing games, watching movie, eating pizza and making a sleepover pillowcase craft.

We were pleased with how the craft turned out.  Here’s how we did it.

Sleep Over Pillowcase:

You need: iron on transfer paper, light colored pillow cases (NOT washed), paint pens, cardboard to put in pillow case while using paints, iron AND photo editing software.

We took the above picture of the girls in their jammies in a sea of sleeping bags.  I uploaded the picture to my fav photo editing site (www.picnik.com) where I added text and then mirror image (or horizontally flip) the photo.  Once edited print on transfer paper following the directions included in the packet of transfer paper.

Iron photo on the pillowcase following the instructions.  The instructions I followed had me dry iron the picture on the pillowcase that had NOT been washed yet. 

We then used paint pens to have the girls “autograph” the pillow case.

The resulting pillow case is machine washable, but it was recommended to not use fabric softener or allow wet pillow case to sit too long in the washer.  Time will tell the durability, but they certainly were cute!!

The sleep over was a success.  All the girls made it through the night and we made it to early service church will all of them!!! Impressive!!!!

Christmas Joy

Yes it’s the middle to end of Jan and I’m just getting to posting Christmas!  We started out with a bang starting and finishing our Christmas shopping the weekend before Thanksgiving, but time got away from us and some decorations didn’t even make it up and as of today trees are STILL up!

Our Christmas events began the weekend before Christmas with the Burnett Christmas held at my sisters.  A great time as always with my cousins, Aunts & Uncles.

 It was soo much fun with 3 kiddos this year!  Emma finally grew out of the notion that Mary brings her gifts.  She was a little leery, but a bit fond of Santa (right about the time the Santa bubble will be burst at school!).  Aidan was all about HoHoHo Merry Mismis since last year.  He also loved to say “Happy Holidays” to any one in earshot.  Isaac was oblivious to it all, but brought us great joy.  His first significant snow was a BLIZZARD!  Christmas Eve blew in A.L.O.T of blowing snow.  We still made it to Christmas Eve service, however Grandma & Papa did not.  We tucked you in that night to the sounds of the howling wind (that made Emma a bit jumpy!) reading the most important story ever!

Believe it or not everyone slept in until about 7:30! Crazy to sleep in Christmas morning, but I had assured the kids if they woke when it was still dark they might scare Santa and he’d leave in a hurry as to not get caught.  I think they were afraid he might run off with their gifts!  The kids were super excited to see what they got and Emma was convinced she heard the reindeer.  Emma was absolutely precious as she opened one gift from her stocking and then waited until everyone opened the gifts she had gotten for us.  Her school had a shop where she could purchase a small gift for each of us.  Daddy a flashlight, Mommy a beautiful Christmas bracelet, Aidan a football & Isaac a jingle ball. She also got mommy new kitchen towels (that were awesome!), Aidan a block train and Isaac a caterpillar toy thanks to Grandma Stout taking her shopping for all of us.  She was very excited to give & see our excitement as we opened what she had chose.  It was impressive she had kept them a secret!! (Kindof she slipped about the towels one day at Target.  We walked by the kitchen towels and she said “Don’t look mommy! You’ll see your gift.  Then when doing laundry she’d do little things like say “Wow mom your towels are old, you should get some new ones for Christmas!” So cute!)

Each child got a new fleece blanket from Santa and stockings filled with books, a new ornament, and small toys.  From Mommy & Daddy they each got 3 gifts (if 3 gifts were good enough for the Son of God 3 is enough for a son or daughter of mine!) They were very pleased with all their gifts.  We interrupted playing with breakfast of Bubble Bread & Breakfast Burritos. Yummo!

In the after noon we headed to Aunty Shelly’s for the Stout Christmas.

Whew! In a flash it is over!!  Makes me already excited for next year!  I do love the holidays!

Teacher Gifts for 2!

Emma has 2 Kindergarten teachers that job share so that made it a bit more interesting when coming up with a teacher Christmas gift.  I kinda had a $$ in mind to spend on a teacher gift, but x2 was a bit much.  So I tapped my creative resources.  Last year I made some of these jewelry pouches that are great for travel or sorting and organizing your jewelry.  I JUST so happened to have 2 left over from last year.  To go along with the bag I went to my local jewelry/beading gal on her open beading night and made a pair of silver earrings for each teacher to put in the bag.  No gift is complete without chocolate!!  Among my holiday baking were several different kinds of truffles.  I packaged up a few of each for the teachers.  Oreo, Cookie dough, Peanut butter & Peppermint Fudge Brownie truffles to be exact! Yum! Here are the results…

     

Hope they enjoyed them.  I remember as a teacher I receiving soooo many apple/teacher nick nacks, candles or lotion in a wide array of scents…appreciated, but over done.  I hope to continue the jewelry  theme for end of the year gifts if my plan works…

4 Months

Despite my best efforts to remove Dec. 12th from the calendar the day did come & go making my baby a whole FOUR months old! I just can NOT believe it!

And yes he really IS this sweet!

The photo shoot to get the monthly picture is proving more difficult b/c he quickly pulls out of the sitting position & dives forward like this…

.: Stats- 16 lbs 5 oz., 26 in.

.: What You’re Wearing- 3-6 month clothes fit for about 2 weeks.  In 6-9 months at 3 1/2 months

.: Firsts- rolling from tummy to back- took you a long time to do it b/c you actually like being on your tummy and didn’t desire another position, lots of smiles and even a cackle every now and then, just starting to find your feet, teenage babysitter- Katherine & Juliana watched you Emma, Aidan & the Kooser girls while we went to see the movie The Blind Side

.: From Head To Toe- hair is still red!!  eyes are brown around the pupil and then a gray/blue- beautiful if you ask me especially with the miles of eyelashes surrounding them!,

.: Loves- propping your feet on the toy bar of the bouncy seat, saucer, looking at smiling faces, tummy time or sitting up and alert in a lap.

.: Dislikes- still NOT a swing or car seat lover!! grr!, bumbo chair

.: Eating- still chowing 6 oz Sensitive formula every 3-4 hours

.: Sleeping- up at least 2 if not 3 times a night, sleeps on tummy with pacci

.: Misc Facts-

Your first Thanksgiving. Turkey day at Grandma & Papa Stouts in Atlanta and then to Melvern Friday for the weekend.

Another trip to Mimi’s for Thanksgiving to work on Uncle Adams new house and see some of the extended Brennan fam.

Starting to grab toys and pull toward your mouth.

Hello? Can You Hear Me?

Are you still there?  Have you given up on me?  Wow the Holidays just zapped right by and zapped me!  I realized today that I need to get back to my bloggin’ as yesterday was Isaac’s 5 month “bday” and I didn’t remember until this AM!!!!!

What kind of mother am I? So today I’m depressing my way through the day since I didn’t get to yesterday about how my baby is getting big (18.5 lbs to be exact)!

So, I’ll gradually catch up my life here on this lil’ blog I use to log my memories before I forget…you know.  Like forgetting that Isaac was born on the 12th and NOT THE 15th!!!

So I’ll start updating with Isaac’s never posted 4 month entry continuing on in sequential fashion because that’s how I obsess roll in my less than orderly but always striving life…

oooooooooorious in x chelsea daya

The kids had their church Christmas program on the evening of Sunday the 13th.  The older elementary kids performed a play about how BUSY we can get during the holidays.  Following that was approx. 40 of the cutest 2 – 5 year old singers making up the preschool choir.  This was Aidan’s first & Emma’s last year in the preschool choir.

This year they sang:

Dashing through the snow in a “one whore hoe-pen sleigh” or the fields we go laughing all the way. hahaha “on ba tatas ring” making spirits bright what O fun it is to ride JINGLEBELLSJINGLEBELLS JINGLE ALL THE WAY"…

AND

Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o the plains & the mountains in reply echoooooooooooooo  ooooooooooorious in x chelsea daya

All I have are some pathetic poorly lit photos.  Matt took video, but Vista hates our camcorder so no luck getting that posted yet.

Pretty sure you can tell what song she’s singing here…

Aidan getting ready to jingle some bells…

Mrs. Becky the choir director.  My kids LOVE Mrs. Becky!! There have been many a nights & wee mornings where my kids are requesting Mrs. Becky songs to go back to sleep.

Emma (my lil’ social butterfly) & her friends Avery & Becca

Bake Day 2009

Bake Day 2009 was held on Saturday, December 12th.  I attendance were 4 moms with a total of 9 kids (I’m counting April’s bun in the oven :) ) Here’s a math lesson 4 moms baking + 9 kids playing = 4 crazy moms.

My college friend Karra runs a bakery out of her home (this is were I’d insert her web page…we need to get you a blog girl!) and has all the equipment & a mighty big oven that makes baking a breeze…well maybe not a breeze, but much easier than at home.  Last year we got together to make holiday goodies and deemed it was definitely something we wanted to make an annual tradition.  So, the 2nd weekend of December I gathered up my recipes with loads of butter, sugar, chocolate & anything else bad for you  and departed for her house.  We each pick a few recipes of treats to make and then split each treat 4 ways so we each come away with an huge assortment!

Here’s a portion of my goodies.  We made: Chocolate Truffles, Jell-O Sugar Cookies, Trio Cookies, Chocolate Crinkles, Peanut Butter fudge, Chocolate fudge, gingerbread mini loaves and chocolate covered pretzels.

One of my contributions was Jell-O Sugar Cookies.  It was a treat my mom made around the holidays so it is just doesn’t seem like a holiday with out them.  I also made the Chocolate Crinkles, again it just screams holiday cookie.

This stuff right here could make me gain weight smelling it! The one and ONLY thing to make it better…dip it in chocolate.  Yes my friends.  Super rich peanut butter fudge coated in chocolate.  One bite would send one into diabetic shock.  But you’d be happy as you went! :)

Here’s her dining room table with all the treats laid out.  Wow!

Now you’re about to see the SWEETEST treat of Baking Day 2009…

This little man was such an angel the entire day!  He slept very little, but was well entertained in the bouncy seat with the coming and goings of the other 7 active kids!

Despite the truck breaking down on the way home (thankfully with in a couple miles of home) it was a great day to “kick off” the holidays.  The next day I continued the sugar rush making Oreo Balls, Nutter Butter Balls, Cookie Dough truffles, Peppermint Brownie truffles & Peppermint bark. All the baking and candy making brings fond memories of my Grandma Burnett.  That woman could make some of the best candies!  Toffee, peanut butter balls, coconut balls and hard cinnamon candy were my favorites…oh & peanut brittle…OK it was ALL good…I had one exception though…chocolate covered cherries.  They WERE good.  Before my brother and I overdosed on cherries one year helping Grandma in the kitchen and to this day neither one of us likes cherries!!

Thanks or hosting Karra!  Already looking forward to next year!

Cookie Cutter Wreath

In preparation for our annual bake day at my bakery- owner- friend’s house I made this little gift for her.  I couldn’t think of a better gift for a baker & cookie maker!

To Make You Need:

Spray paint, metal cookie cutters, metal adhesive & ribbon.

I got the cookie cutters at Hobby lobby for 1/2 price.  (I have several left over to either use to make cookies, individual ornaments OR there were several mini cookie cutters that I thought I could make a “mini” wreath with as well! I’m leaning toward “rust” treating some to make ornaments for the small tree in my kitchen.) Ok…back to the project…one can spray paint color of your choice and an adhesive that works for metal.  I wish I had a good suggestion.  I tried what you see pictured as wasn’t have the best luck.  So, I tried my E-5000 glue and it seemed to help, but I’m convinced there’s something better out there.  My husband actually recommended JB weld.

Chose your cutters and lay them out and rearrange until you get a shape you’re happy with.

Once arranged start gluing cutters together. I did a section at a time allowing 2 to bond together before attaching a 3rd.  Once glued and dried time to spray a little paint!  It only took me 2-3 coats to have a good coverage.  Once the paint was dry I make up a bow, tied it on and wha-la!  An adorable Cookie Cutter Holiday Wreath!

 

Gingerbread Houses

In a previous post I had mentioned that while home for Thanksgiving we made gingerbread houses.  Well here’s the proof in pictures!

Ahh…the sweet decorations.  (BTW we’ll be saving Valentine hearts, Easter and Halloween candy to prepare for next years!)

 

Making the frosting glue.  I used this recipe:

2 large egg whites, 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Beat the egg whites with the lemon juice. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.

I’m not sure why my niece Madison enjoys cooking with me so much NOR do I understand why my sister doesn’t like it???

Emma and I starting the building process.  This was my first gingerbread house EVER!!

  

The results…Emma’s house…nice and orderly.  Noticed the patterned roof line!

Then there’s Madison.  I think she enjoyed herself despite the hand gesture she’s showing. (she was licking her finger!!) hehehe.  She LOVED adding and adding decorations to hers.

Madison’s results…Whew…purdy…

This was Marcia’s gingerbread tailor.  Complete with a replica of her dirty white van.  I believe the cow is making messes in the yard, there’s a hole in the roof and the lean to carport is a bit cadywhompus.

     

The big girls joining in the fun! Brooke, Diane, Beth and Megan.

Brooke took the “small cottage with attached garage” I made and turned it into a beautiful looking train!!  I think the Aidan & Dallen would love to make trains next year!

Then there’s anal-retentive Beth working diligently to line up all the sweet tarts in color order…   

  

I think we all had fun!  I’d love to do them again next year and perhaps join in the fun…given enough time.  I think Beth and I could have a contest!  One lesson learned is to construct the houses maybe the night before and decorate once they’re set the next day.  AND I’ll be on the look out after Christmas to buy the $10 kits on clearance to stock up for next year!!