Christmas Recap (Photo Edition)

Christmas is over and I'm about ready to pack up the tree and return the decorations to their bins and move everything back to the attic.

But at the same time, I'm a bit sad.  I really love Christmas - I always have, but having kids make it even more magical (although, it also goes by a WHOLE LOT QUICKER once you add kids to the mix).

This year, it seemed like the kids were *extra* fun.  Claire, at 17 months, and Jack at 4 years, were involved and interested and excited about everything the holidays had to offer.

What's not to love about that?

I uploaded some pictures this evening and thought I would share a few of my favorites.

I asked him if I could take some pictures, and he put his hand on his hip and stuck his little foot out and totally struck a pose!

It's not easy getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time!

I told them to stand in front of the tree for a picture and they actually did.  WIN.

This just melts my heart.

Jack teaches Claire how to jump (she can't get both feet off the ground at the same time, but she sure tries!)

Boots!

We get a WHITE CHRISTMAS!!  With snow!  On Christmas!  Which is awesome!  Until the next day, when it's just...cold.

Some sort of snow dinosaur action going on here.

And just like that - Christmas is over and I'm scoping out candy hearts at the grocery store.  Because the best thing about Christmas ending is candy hearts.

Farm Animal Friday #4

When I took this picture, Mo was enjoying one of his favorite things in life - a good roll.

I always loved watching him roll.  He did it with such fervor!

I would clean his stall and pile up the shavings in the middle, knowing that the first thing he'd do to show his appreciation for my maid services would be to drop to the ground and roll in his shavings (and then, pee in them...because that's a horse for you).

On this particular day, my red barn was brand new and the soft sand around it more than any horse could resist.  I knew Mo would be all over it and had my camera ready when I turned the horses out to "play" in the new dirt.

Oh, Momo...may you have all the sand/fluffy clean shavings/mud you could ever want in your pasture in the sky!

35 and...Happy

You guys...I'm 35.

35 FREAKING YEARS OLD.

Wow.

But you know what the really crazy part is?  I am totally cool with it...excited about it, even.

I'm not resisting, not pining for my younger days (okay, maybe just a little...), not thinking about all the things I haven't done with my life.

For once, I'm in a place that I love.

35 is awesome.  Even Claire thinks so.

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Snow is Fun and All, But...

This month has been amazing, weather-wise.

Most of the days have fallen between 60 and 75 degrees, with one day creeping up around 80.  Shorts and t-shirts weather.

I felt myself long for boots and sweaters every now and then, but then I remembered how cold boot and sweater weather is and I went back to appreciating the sunshine.

But, as we closed in on Christmas, I did wish - just a teeny, tiny, little bit - that we'd maybe have some chilly weather for the big day.  Something that might merit a fire in the fireplace and lots of cuddling on the couch.

A few days ago the weatherman said that there was a chance we might have snow on Christmas.  Snow!    A white Christmas!

I live in Texas, so I know better than to hold my breath or make any serious plans based on the weather report.  But still...snow!

And then, on Christmas Eve, I lay in bed and listened to the house take a real lashing from the first serious storm we've had in months.  Lightning, thunder, hail pelting the windows...it sounded pretty serious.  I checked the weather app on my phone and saw that the temperature was dropping.

It rained all morning.

But around 1 PM, we saw our first sprinkling of...snow.

As the afternoon wore on, the rain faded away and the snow took over, blowing around our house and blanketing the lawn.  The kids were getting excited.  Jack kept saying, "I can't believe it's snowing on Christmas!" while Claire just pointed outside and said, "NO! NO! NO!" over and over again.

Watching their excitement escalate, my heart grew warm as the day grew cold.

For a bit, it was great fun, and we ventured outside to take part in this winter weather.  Jack, with socks on his hands because we don't own any mittens (we live in Texas...we don't need mittens!), made snowballs and threw them at Charles.  Claire, bundled up and cozy in my arms, squealed with delight.

Snow!  Well, the start of it, anyway!

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I Wish You a Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, to you and yours, from me and mine (and if you don't celebrate, have a wonderful December 25th!).

Grinchy Booty

I am ready to start potty-training Claire.  Or, at least to start offering her a chance to use the potty several times a day.  She appears ready - and, according to my mom, I was potty trained at 18 months (I wore cloth diapers, too!).  So I don't see any reason to wait much longer.

But truth be told, I'll kind of miss these cute cloth diapers.

And really, I can't say I prefer the whole potty training process to cloth diapers.  Potty training is a real bitch.  At least with diapers, I know where the poop and pee is going to end up, you know?  And it's easier to clean a diaper than it is to scrub out a potty.

Jack wasn't potty trained until he was three.  So I guess technically I could still have another year and a half of dealing with diapers.

But let's hope that's not the case!

Cooking with Grammie: Corn Salad (the perfect side dish)

When I moved to Texas, I learned something very important:

You do not need lettuce to have a salad.

Nope.  A salad can basically be anything you want - including jello - thrown together and chilled.

This is my favorite non-lettuce salad EVER.  Seriously...I could eat it all day long.

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Meet Grammie (and, get ready for some great recipes)

I want you all to meet Grammie.

Grammie and the grumpy garden gnome.

Grammie is awesome.

Technically, her name is Dennie, and she's my mother-in-law (of twelve years, now!).

But once Jack was born, she pretty much became Grammie.  

Grammie ran off and got married when she was 17 years old (and just celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary).  She is a sixth generation Texan (which is a big deal if you live in Texas). She loves Elvis. She was a Home Economics teacher and a school counselor.  She has a book of recipes that is older than I am (35, in case you're wondering).  

And I want you to know her because she is going to be sharing some easy and delicious recipes with me...and I'm going to share them with you!

Yes, you read that correctly.  I'll be cooking...and sharing recipes...on my blog.  

Cooking!!  That's crazy talk!  I don't cook.

But I decided that I do, indeed, want to do a little cooking...and so I'm tapping into my greatest cooking resource and getting a little crazy and going to share this journey with the world (world = 20 loyal blog readers, 11 of which are related to me).  

I know you'll love Grammie's cooking as much as I do.

And if you aren't into the recipes, or cooking, you can at least sit back and watch the fun unfold as I find my way in the kitchen.

Farm Animal Friday #3

Did you read about the time I showed the donkeys in a donkey show?

Well, here is one of those two donkeys.  This is Roxy.  I miss this dear face (she's alive and very well, in case you're wondering).

Hee-haw, and Happy Friday.

Mickey Mail

These last few days have been something else.

I don't have much to say today.  In the wake of the tragedy that happened last week, I don't know that I even *should* say anything.

I don't want to tap into the emotions that have settled just beneath my skin.  I want them to go away.  And so, I'm not going to write about them today.  

But I will say this.  I'm doing my best to keep my kids as innocent as possible. 

And in the spirit of childhood innocence, I'm going to share this sweet picture I took of the kids a couple of nights ago.

We received this Santa Mickey from Disneyland Resorts PR.  It was just what the doctor ordered.  A happy surprise that has done nothing but bring joy to these two kids.

A Mickey Mouse doll seems so frivolous and silly in light of the horror so many families experienced just a few short days ago.  But this is the reality of my children, today.  

And for that I am so, so grateful.

Cherish everyone you love.

10 Stocking Stuffers for Babies

Last year, Claire was just five months old at Christmas.

I had so much fun with her stocking...even though she didn't "need" much, I found plenty of things she absolutely had to have.  I'll share with you some of my favorites!

Here is a list of 10 of my favorite stocking stuffers for babies:

1. Sippy cup or bottle
2. Baby Leg Warmers (I bought Claire a couple pairs of BabyLegs to match the cloth diapers I bought her...but you don't need to cloth diaper to buy these - and they are so handy, and so cute!)
3. Rattle
4. Teething toy (I bought a Sophie the Giraffe and had her peeking out the top of the stocking)
5. Diaper Bag Essentials (a little package of wipes, an extra pacifier if baby takes a paci, or for those of you who cloth diaper, a few cloth wipes just for the diaper bag and some butt spray)
6. Baby shampoo and body wash
7. Lotion (I like to buy lavender calming lotion, even though I have absolutely no evidence that it makes even the tiniest of a difference...a girl can dream, right?)
8. Bows and headbands
9. Ball (babies love balls, and they are perfect for the toe of the stocking)
10. Baby food (puffs or finger foods are perfect for an older baby, and a canister of puffs fits nicely in a stocking)

What are your favorite stocking stuffers for babies?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

10 Stocking Stuffers for Pre-Schoolers

I *love* stuffing the kids' stockings.

I am pretty sure I inherited this from my mom - she's pretty much the Best Stocking Stuffer, ever.  She still does stockings for us each year, and it's one of my favorite parts of the holidays!

I know it can be tough to come up with things for little kid stockings, so I've made a little list of some of my go-to stocking stuffers.

Here are 10 of my Favorite Stocking Stuffers for Pre-Schoolers:

1. Crayons (I also think it's super cute to have a coloring book peeking out of the top of the stocking)
2. Bubble Bath (actually, any bath supplies are great - including bath crayons, bath fizzies that turn the water a different color, and those little bath sponges that start out as capsules and turn into animals)
3. Bubbles
4. A toothbrush and toothpaste
5. Favorite snack (like dried fruit)
6. Candy treat (I like M&Ms because it's easy to monitor their intake)
7. Character socks (fun socks are available in the $1 bins at Target and Michael's)
8. Ball (these are perfect for the toe of the stocking)
9. Stuffed animal (a small one, peeking out over the top)
10. Sippy Cup (last year I got Jack a metal water bottle, and it was awesome!)

What are your go-to stocking stuffers for pre-schoolers?  I'd love your ideas!

Farm Animal Friday #2

It's not snowing in Texas.  Not today, anyway (but you know what they say about Texas weather...).

In fact, it's been downright warm (and AWESOME) these last few months.  I haven't been able to complain about the weather once (and that's saying a lot, since I usually complain about the Texas weather daily for about 10 out of every 12 months).

But since it is Christmas time and all, I've been a little wistful for chilly weather (kind of...more in theory than in reality).

And so, I bring you Seamus in the snow, maybe five years ago.  As much as it sucked hauling water out to the barn because the water buckets froze (along with the pipes to the barn), it sure was pretty.

Happy Friday!  And if it's snowing where you are, enjoy it for me (because that's the way I like snow - in other people's states).

This Kid is Four

Jack just turned four.

FOUR!

That seems so...old.  So grown up, so...big.

And yet, so little.

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Hot Chocolate Mix (Perfect Gift for Teachers and Neighbors!)

Pay attention to this, everyone: It's Almost Christmas!

Last year, I had this crazy notion that I'd be making homemade gifts left and right for everyone I knew.  And I did make a few (homemade sugar scrub, HOLLA).  But, it wasn't quite like I imagined, where I'd pass out cute little mason jars of soup mixes to the neighbors on Christmas Eve and all that.

But this year will be different.

As long as I've been married (12 years!), Charles has been telling me about the awesome hot chocolate mix his mom used to make when he was a kid.

So this year, I hit her up for the recipe and actually MADE it.  And I even packaged it in cute jars.

The neighbors (and Jack's teachers) are going to love it.  Because it is delicious.

Here's what you need to make it:


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Farm Animal Friday

Maybe you already know this, but not so long ago, Charles and I lived in the country.

That's right. We lived on 15 acres and had as many animals.  Cats, dogs, horses, donkeys...scorpions, snakes.

Once we decided to move, we had the (not so very) small problem of 15 or so animals to deal with.  It's not like you can just load up a couple of donkeys and keep them in your backyard in Suburbia, you know?  But they were our pets, our loved ones, our friends.  We couldn't just dump them off somewhere, either.

The amazing thing is, the animals all found homes (with the exception of a dog and a horse and my cat, who all stayed in the family) easily and organically (or, sadly, they died).

Cricket the dog moved into the neighbor's house a couple of years before we even decided to move (she liked it there better, I guess - probably due to the warm couch she was invited to share).  Rocket the cat and Mo the horse crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  Norman the Very Big Horse (that I didn't have time for, at all) found a wonderful family in Colorado.  Twinkie the cat went to live with Jack's babysitter (who, let's be honest here, loved her way more than we did).  Donkey and Harry, the donkeys, and Lando, the barn cat, were invited by the new homeowners to stay.  Dinah the cat moved in with my mom (she's actually spent several years living with my mom before and doesn't really like kids, so it's a WIN for her).  Janga the dog came with us (maybe someday I will share her story), and Seamus the horse moved down the street into my mom's pasture, where he awaits the day I actually ride him again.

You know what?

I miss my critters.

I don't miss cleaning up all their shit, I don't miss trudging out to the barn in the wee hours of the morning with buckets of hot water because the pipes froze and the horses have nothing to drink, and I don't miss them barking and meowing and hee-hawing at the top of their lungs as soon as the kid went down for a nap...but I do miss them.  I miss them dearly.

And guess what?  It's FRIDAY!

So, how are farm animals and Friday related?

Well, I wish I could hand you all a glass of wine (or your beverage of choice) through this computer screen to celebrate Friday, but I can't.  So instead, I'll bring you a farm animal.  Because although I'm lacking in wine, I am SO NOT LACKING in pictures of cute animals.  And cute animals are funny and make things better.  Right?

This is Twinkie, a very naughty cat, indeed.

Happy Friday, everyone (and yes, a cat is totally a farm animal)!

A Horse

Last week, I did something I've been wanting to do for months.

I got back on a horse.

I intended on just spending an hour or so out at the barn, picking through the tangles in Seamus' tail and maybe currying a few green spots out of his coat.

But he had other ideas.  He wouldn't even let me catch him.  In fact, he wouldn't get within a hundred feet of me.

So, a change in plans was in order.  Rather than waste my valuable horse time traipsing through the weeds in pursuit of a wily pony that really didn't want to be caught, I instead turned to faithful old Titan (who was plenty happy to join me).

Titan's a good, kind soul.  He's mostly an "easy" horse - just the kind of horse you want if you haven't ridden in months.  And as soon as I had him haltered, I decided I would, indeed, like to ride.

With just a halter and a bareback pad, I hopped onto Titan's familiar back and cruised around the pasture for the better part of thirty minutes (Seamus watching from the safety of the trees).  After only thirty minutes - just walking, at that - I was sore.

With sore muscles and a song in my heart, I gave Titan a handful of oats before sending him on his way.

It felt good to be back on a horse.  Really, really good.

NOW.  If I could only catch my *own* horse.

O' Christmas Tree

When I was a kid, we decorated the Christmas tree every year around my birthday (December 16th).

We would drive to the tree farm and pick one out.  My Dad would cut it down (although I am pretty sure my mom actually cut it down one year when my Dad couldn't make it) and we'd drive home with it strapped to the top of our Buick station wagon, giddy with excitement.  And then we'd get home and my Dad would bring it inside and get it all set up in the tree stand and my mom would break out the boxes of ornaments and pass them out to us, one at a time, to carefully place on the tree.

It was quite an event.  In fact, just the kind of event I hope I can recreate for my own kids.

A couple of days ago, we decorated our tree.

Here's where I need to make a confession about what seems to be a very hotly contested debate this time of year.

Real tree?  Or fake tree?

This year, our tree is fake.  We made a big deal out of getting it and setting it up, and it was very exciting for the kids.  They don't realize that they're missing out on the experience of picking their own tree, watching Daddy cut it down, and then getting to smell it's fresh pine scent every day.  I do - I realize this - but I'm totally onboard with "the fakie," as we like to call it.

Last year, we had a real tree and it shed pine needles like crazy, all day long and every single day for the entire month it lived (died a slow death?) under our roof.  Then it was time to take it out for the neighborhood tree pick-up service our trash service offers, so we (Charles) dragged it outside (leaving about two billion pine needles on the floor in its wake) and left it at the curb (amongst the other neighborhood trees) to be removed.

The next day, all of the trees on our street were gone, leaving little patches of green pine needles next to the mailboxes.  All of the trees were gone, that is, except ours.

Apparently ours (at about 7' tall) was too big to be picked up - it needed to be cut in half first.  :::SIGH:::  So, Charles had to cut it in half and then schedule another pick-up.

It did, eventually, get picked up...leaving the biggest pine needle puddle on the block in front of our house.

In one word, our real Christmas tree was a big fat PAIN.

So, I didn't fight too hard when Charles said he wanted a fake tree.  In fact, I even agreed.  And willingly sent him to Home Depot, where he chose the *perfect* tree.

I do miss the smell of fresh pine needles in our home.  But I don't miss cleaning them up.

The beauty to our fake tree (aside from the actual beauty of the tree - there are no bare spots or funny looking branches on this thing) is that we will have it for a long time to come.  If we choose to take the kids out the tree farm next year to cut down our own tree, we can do that...and then if we hate it, we can go back to our fake tree the year after that.

There was a time when I was an Extreme Tree Snob and thought it was really, really lame to have a fake tree in the house.  I still get why people feel that way.  But I also get why there is a fake Christmas tree industry in the first place.

It's because they're AWESOME.

Real or fake, I hope you enjoy your tree this year (if you have a tree and celebrate Christmas, that is - if  you don't celebrate Christmas this might be a good time to be thankful for that because these darn trees are a lot of work!).

So tell me...are you a die-hard Real Tree person, or do you swear by your fakie?