Elf Preview

Thanks to Auntie A and Uncle Trip we have an arrival tomorrow. Our Elf on the Shelf!!! Ah so all night I have been prepping, baking, wrapping etc. So here is just a little preview...the big reveal is tomorrow.

Break

Taking a bit of a break from blogging because this month is even more hectic than October. Seems like there is something to do and get everyday. Brain overload. But I promise if to tell all about it. :-)

On that note. Thanksgiving was great! Probably the last time we will spend a holiday in Birmingham, so bittersweet. All I know is after having a week off dealing with a baby who got his 1st stomach bug I need another vacation!! Already missing everyone.

Yesterday we got our 1st snow of the season. YAH! But bad because I'm trying to finish being Clark Griswold as Wes says. Let me just say there are more lights this year. More extension cords. More MERRRY!!! haha Every year I plan to add just a little more. And this snow is also slowing down us...we have yet to get our tree! (Live tree folks here).  It's suppose to be pretty on Friday (my day off) so I MUST get it then before our Tacky Sweater party on Saturday! Can't have a party without a tree.

Soooooo much to do!!!! Still have to get my menu together for the multiple parties over the month. This Thursday-work ladies lunch/ornament swap. Sat-Tacky Sweater Party, etc etc. All mixed in with several other parties and trying to get our Christmas cards sent off and the little man's Santa picture! Already tired.

So many projects

I don't know how I am keeping all of this straight but I am. Working on so many projects! And I'm doing a pretty good job completely them too even at a point of exhaustion.

If anyone knows me I love to plan. MONTHS in advance! haha The reasoning is so I can find deals and have some time to get some great ideas!

So I think it was this summer when I thought of Aiden's birthday party theme and Ah I can't wait! So many great ideas!! My mother-in-law saw where someone thought of pop cakes to make the caterpillar I was like ohhh I've already got that one down. haha She commented back oh you are already thinking about that. Yup pretty much everything down to the food is planned. :-) I already found some great deals. Got red and green plates for .30 on clearance a few months back. After the summer I found some bug catchers for under $2 to give as party favors. etc. So what can I mark off my list?! Invitations for my fam down in Florida! Just got done designing it. Gotta love Photoshop! Whatca think?! Blurred out my address.

Next project. Aiden's Grinch tree. I saw the idea on Pinterest. My go-to for inspiration. Best website EVER!! I finished the tree skirt last night. You can't tell from my cellphone pic but all the ornaments on it are Grinch ones! So I think each year we will try to collect the newest Hallmark Grinch ornament they carry.

Next project. Grinch Advent Calendar. Again. another Pinterest idea. People are soooo darn creative! This one is 98% finished still need to laminate the cards. I saw where someone said you can use wax paper...so I might have to try that out rather than paying for it at Kinkos. But each card is a different page of the story and each day you move the Grinch character along. This year I only have 1 surprise in the pockets on the 17th, but in the future I will probably put 1-3 (Like: Go bake cookies, Go see christmas lights, Go to Zoo Lights, etc). This years surprise is my next project. If you want details on how I made it in a previous post I share the link.

Next project. Aiden's advent calendar surprise. A "Polar Express" party!!! I'm inviting over my family members little kids to watch the movie. Enjoy some popcorn, cookies, and a hot chocolate/chocolate milk bar while in their pjs. I think I want to start this as our little tradition. We will see how it goes this year. Again this was another Pinterest idea. See how much this site is awesome!

So I went to work to making the invitations and tickets. Silly me misspelled every Express. Was like why do I have so many leftover P's UGH! I put Exress. Geez so I just said heck I'll use paint writers. I think next year I will redo them. Then I got a small popcorn box and covered it so the kids can drop off their tickets. Found some bells at the dollar store to give away as parting gifts.

Next came the hard part. What can I serve the drinks in?! I got cute Christmas plates from the dollar store but I needed 4 drink holders with lids. But I didn't want to pay a fortune for them...I found some cute ones at Target like the one Aiden has but they are $2.50. Pricey in my book. (I got Aiden's Santa one on clearance last year) So I checked Walmart. Found some and they are perfect and fun. The straw is the handle and the top is a screw on. Best part they were only .98 cents!! Jackpot! And since they are red/green I can reuse them for Aiden's birthday party. Double Jackpot!

That's all my project updates for now. I hung all our exterior lights yesterday! Now just looking for a large wreath. Even have the interior decorated besides the tree. Remind me not to throw a Christmas party again the 1st weekend of December when I'm going out of town the weekend before.

Goal this week. Order our Christmas Cards. A must! I part with some moments of Aiden. Also, RIP to the paci! YAH!!! It is officially gone! My little boy is growing up!

Weather

This post is probably more of a rant than anything else.
Memphis has the WEIRDEST weather! For the past 2 weeks we had turned our heater on bc it was down in the 30-40s. Now what is it?! mid 70s! WHAT?! And over the this week it's going up and down up and down due to rain bringing in cold weather to only jack it back up to 70.

So frustrating to get dressed in the morning. Not to mention everyone around me is getting sick bc of the fluctuation. I even think the little man is getting sick again. NOOOOOO! He was starting to get a runny nose Sunday and he sounds really stopped up. No fever yet, so I'm in full force to hopefully prevent anything. So we have jacked up the number of breathing treatments and making sure he takes his vitamins everyday.

Another frustration occurred last night when we turned off our heat to switch to AC because we were getting hot only to find out.....wait it's blowing air just not cold air! UUUUUGH! Thankfully it's only 70 outside and not 100, and thankfully we have ceiling fans in every room so it's liveable. So we are getting our friend to check out what's going on and HOPEFULLY it won't require a new AC unit. I REALLY don't want to dip into our new roof savings for that.

And if that does occur it's going to be extremely hard for me to move. I say that bc our house then will be practically brand new and any other house won't do. New furnace, new kitchen (cabinets, tile, appliances, countertops), new master bath (tile, toliet, sink, tub, cabinet), new water water, and eventually new roof and fence this summer.

I love my house, but whenever #2 comes along we will need one more room at least. So our options move or add. Both are scary. lol But with the whole merger of Shelby County (Millington, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, etc) and Memphis City (Inner city) schools who knows! 2013-2014 will be an interesting year...Not sure how it's going to turn out...

Halloween

Very Very late I know.

This halloween we packed up the car got on our Star Wars gear and headed up to the Zoo for Zoo Boo! A few friends joined us and the real fun began. The night was cold but not too cold perfect for the little munchkins.

There were a few meltdowns when we had to leave the Farm area, but as soon as they realized we were going to the ride area it was game over. This was Aiden's first time on the merry-go-round and he was making the funniest faces.

Aiden met his future gf too this night and these two were beyond adorable together. They were holding hands by the end of the night. Oh young love! I can see many play dates in the future. Ryleigh is just a month older than Aiden. Cougar and the cutest little girl!

Can't wait for next year!

Grinch

The holidays are fast approaching and my weekends are getting packed! So many parties, activities, events, etc. Let's hope I can keep it all straight.

So I've been working on a few Christmas DIY projects this year...and few more to go. We are one Grinch loving family here!

I saw a pin on pinterest and it went from there. Aiden's tree is officially a Grinch tree. I found some non-breakable Grinch ornaments the other day and now I just need to find some Grinch fabric to make the tree skirt.

But here's how I made the Grinch. I picked up a pair of green fleece kid pants at Goodwill, 99 cents. I already had the red fleece from a previous project along with the stuffing. I sewed the shoes and hot glued them onto the pair of pants. It probably would have been better to sew them, but oh well. I purchased the white fabric for 1.50 and hot glued that on too.

I'm currently working on my next project, our Advent Calendar. I ordered a mini Santa Grinch. Got the book cards printed, picked out the ribbon. Found some cute xmas paper for the back. Just need to put it all together. I can't wait. This is my fav!!

GRINCH CALENDAR

I won't be putting presents in every pocket, but that's a cute idea. I saw where other people used different Christmas books too. People are so darn creative!

My next project is trees for the buffet. Keep you posted. But before I go here are some pictures of Aiden from the weekend. Look at that WILD naptime bed hair. hahaha Little Ace Ventura!

Daycare

Daycare and Kids. It offers advantages and disadvantages.

Today I learned where and who Aiden learned one of those disadvantages from. For the past 2 weeks Aiden has been in this hitting mode. I know he is being playful with me, but he needs to know hitting is not okay. Especially when you are sitting on the ground with him and out of nowhere a slap to the face. Ouch! So yes, I've been getting onto him hardcore about that because I don't want him to be "that" kid.

Well as I'm dropping him off I found the source to this issue. We got there a little bit later (normally he's the 3rd kid there) so all the kids were there and he was being really timid and not his normal self. I was practically pushing him.

Some of the girls approached him and gave big hugs, which perked him up. Aww so sweet......but soon after that a little boy approached us. I thought he was going to give Aiden a hug too, but I was wrong. He instead hit Aiden. So I tell the little boy, "No we don't hit." Then he looks up at me and takes another swing at Aiden luckily missing. So of course I went into full mommy mode, because I could see that Aiden was scared. Snatched that little boy by his hand and told him "No we do not hit people." and lightly spanked his booty. Which of course caused him to cry, but I didn't care.

Yes, I did become that over protective Mom and told the director to keep an eye out on that boy and to inform his parents. I also told his teachers that obviously words don't work for that boy and actions need to occur to make him stop (place in a corner, spank, whatever your method of choice is).

I'm just looking out for my little man. The most important one.

It just bothers me, because that boy looked at me after I spanked him like he's never felt that before and obviously no one has ever told him "No"so......I can't stand parents that won't disciple their children, and the sad thing is I know a handful that are that way. You clearly see your kid is misbehaving, so stop it. Yes, they might pout and get mad at you, but eventually they will learn. I mean Aiden's meltdowns from me saying "No" last what 5 seconds?! lol And typically end with him running into my arms because he know he was wrong. So in the end we hug it out and life is great, soooooo why won't you do it?!?!

Big Boy Room Reveal

So the room is finished for the most part. I'm thinking of removing the crates and placing them in his closet (Holds his overflow of books) and still debating the curtains, but it's done enough to reveal. I did move the chest mid picture taking, since Aiden doesn't roll to the end of the bed anymore I don't have to put a makeshift barrier up. :-) I love how it turned out and the most important thing is Aiden loves it.

After looking at these pics I def need to clean my camera lens. Geez the spots! But back to the post. This kid doing what he does best. Reading and "Colo". He just loves it! The big books he always takes them to his table and the smaller ones he can hold he reads in his chair. Then in mist of reading at the table he takes a time out to "colo". Love him, bed head in all! :-)

Yes he did wake up at 5:30AM. He didn't get the memo to sleep in an extra hour! GOODNESS!

20 months plus extra

Bad blogger. This is a long and random post.

The above picture is Aiden's first preschool photo. He looks adorable! I was surprised how well he did. Doesn't look like hes been crying and screaming at all. Nice!

Stats:
Height: 33.75 in
Weight: 33 lbs
2T-3T clothes
Size 5 diapers

Likes:
*He is OBSESSED with the movie Open Season 2. We watch bits of it every night during our nightly breathing treatment session. It is the only thing I've found that keeps him completely calm and still during the entire treatment. HALLELUJAH!
*Balloons. If he sees one he will let me know always. "BAAAA-OOON" as he says. Crazy boy!
*He has started to really enjoy reading. If I'm running around the house cleaning or cooking, aka not paying full attention to him, he will quietly go in his room grab a book sit in his chair and read.
*Loves to "walk" Murph. What I mean by that is he will let Murph grab one of his toys then he will tug Murph up and down the hallway and they "walk".

Dislikes:
*Hats. We have a 5 minute battle each time we put a hat on him that kinda goes like this. "No. Don't touch it. Don't you do it. Eh. Stop. It keeps you warm. Eh. Eh. Noooo." Eventually he will forget about it and wear it but he doesn't like them.
*When you don't let him push the shopping cart, even when its full and you know its too heavy for him. This strong little guy will still try. I don't mind bc he takes the BEST naps afterwards, but it just makes trips longer.
*We have started having the meltdowns. Not long or really bad ones, but if you tell him not to do something he will look at you so hurt. Fall to his butt. Let out 1 fake cry. Maybe a tear or two will come out. And if we are lucky he might sprawl out on the floor belly down, those are the good meltdowns. But luckily I am learning what triggers those moments so I avoid encouraging them.

Every morning I send Daddy a picture of us before heading off to school. Sometimes he is all smiles eating it up. Some times he pretends to be shy but a smiling monster. So silly. Crazy how dark it is now at 6:30. The other pic is his pumpkin he decorated for Halloween.

Milestones:
*We are saying new words everyday. Still decrypting some, but work in progress. He definitely can recognize what I'm saying, which amazes me.
*He loves being a helper. He will make the kitchen and living room look like a bomb went off. Blocks, magnets, toys everywhere! But he knows before bedtime we must pick everything up. We use his Halloween basket to get the small items aka the fridge magnets. And if I forget to pick up his pjs after changing him he will come running to me with them in hand. Aww thanks little man.
*He found himself a new girl friend. lol Shocker right?! I think this is #4 for him. And shes a month older than him, going after the cougars. They were so cute at Zoo Boo, holding hands and riding all the rides together.
*Also, I think the little man is growing because he has been sleeping more and not being picky with his food. Each day it is CRAZY to watch him turn into a little boy. 3 months before he is 2! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?!?!

Other news: I cut my hair. Ah! I had been saying I was going to do this for a LONG time, and that time had officially come. This morning it was so weird washing my hair and I definitely poured out to much shampoo. It was really easy to style this AM, and the other thing I love is I can still wear it half up. No more ponytails. Sad.

Projects: I just finished painting Aiden's letters so I will be revealing his room this weekend. Get excited! I am!

I am also working on a Christmas DIY project that I hope to finish up tonight or tomorrow, so I'll be posting about that soon too.

Saturday will be jammed pack for us. Wes' softball end of the season tournament starts at 10am and is all day, so me and Aiden will be there of course sporting our Bama gear. Then afterwards back to the house where we will all watch the big game. SOOO EXCITED! Roll Tide!