Shoe Shopping (Project 365/2010)

I had a great coupon from Famous Footwear that was set to expire today, so we loaded up the van and went shoe shopping for the kiddos and Hubby. There is a reason why I do not take all 3 kids with me shopping, because they act like idiots and the end result is me looking like a terrible mother in public. I sat the 2 little one's on one of the couches and told them not to even breath in my direction. On the plus side, we walked out with new school shoes for Cameron & Dylan, plus a pair of tennis shoes for Peyton as well as slippers for both her & Dylan, spending under $100. I told you it was a great coupon. Unfortunately Hubby didn't find anything.

Street Signs (Project 365/2010)

We are on day five of a serious rain pounding. Today the skies opened up, briefly, letting the sun shine through. I took the opportunity to run around Apple Valley taking various pictures of flooding, including Lake Navajo, street signs, and the sky. When the rain hit again, about 90 minutes later, it came back with a vegence.

Optometrist (Project 365/2010)

Cameron had his annual optometry appointment this morning. I always worry about him because of his diabetes (and subsequent lack of control). He was antsy about having his eyes dilated, but Doc Yochem said his blood vessels were normal. We picked out different frames, as Cameron is a creature of habit and have picked the same frames for the last few years. He fought me on them at first, but when the ladies said how handsome he looked...well, he is a guy. hehehe We should get them right after the New Year. Here's a pic of Cameron wearing his super cool shades to protect his eyes after dilation.

Total Lunar Eclipse (Project 365/2010)

As much as I ADORE the weather and rain we're having right now, and you know I do, I'm bumming over missing the lunar eclipse tonight. Hubby & I are staying up and watching it online, but let's face it...so NOT the same.

Anniversary Ornament (Project 365/2010)

I had been scouring eBay for an ornament to commemorate our 10 year wedding anniversary. I found this beauty at Hallmark this afternoon.

Polar Express Day (Project 365/2010)

Dylan's Kindergarten class is having a Polar Express Day today, complete with cookies, cocoa, and pizza. Ordinarily Dylan is apprehensive about participating in things like crazy hair day, pajama day, but today he was excited to put his pajamas on. He posed for me in front of our Christmas tree before we left.

Peyton then wanted to shoot some pics of Dylan. She grabbed her Minnie Mouse camera and took this picture. :)

Peyton was pleased that Dylan allowed her to take some pictures.

Now the kids are out of school for 3 weeks during Christmas break. Woo-Hoo!

LOVE (Project 365/2010)

I am head over heels in love with this girl!

Christmas Cookie & Ornament Exchange (Project 365/2010)

God blessed me with the most beautiful, Godly women in the form of my TLBS group. I remember my first day and Misty telling me that their group had been together for a long time. My initial thought was, "OH CRAP!" Yet they opened their arms (literally) and welcomed me. Words will never express the love and joy I feel when I am in their presence. We joined together for a Christmas cookie and ornament exchange.

I thank God every day for my Sisters in Christ.

Christmas Cookies (Project 365/2010)

I set out this morning on a mission...bake Christmas cookies. Easy enough, right? I had wanted to do this for some time, as a friend of mine pointed out last year that the cookies we left for Santa were suppose to be homemade and not Oreos. UGH! Plus, tomorrow I'm doing a cookie exchange with my TLBS group, so I figured today I was going to master the art of baking Christmas cookies. I plugged in my glee Christmas album and got to work.

I'm not totally insane to try the mixing on my first time out, so I took some help from Betty Crocker. Foolproof, right? I just add a stick of butter, a tablespoon of water, and an egg and stir. Viola! Roll out the dough, cut them into cute little Gingerbread Boy shapes, bake, cool and decorate. NOT! I ruined the first bag, it was so sticky I couldn't spread it out, I floured, floured, floured, and put it in the fridge. The second bag I mixed and went straight to fridge. When it came time to roll it out, I floured my counter top and ... How in the heck do you transfer these stupid things from counter top to cookie sheet without it looking like zombies attacked and Gingy is missing body parts? FORGET IT! I rolled them into balls to make gingerbread snaps and ... BURNED THEM! I even took them out of the oven 2 minutes before the package suggested. DOH!

After another post to Facebook, where I made fun of my lack of baking skills, my cell phone rang and Hubby said, "Put the cookie cutters down and step away from the kitchen." He had me rolling with laughter, but I did as he instructed. Needless to say, I am not cut out for Christmas cookie baking. PUN INTENDED! ;)

Exhausted (Project 365/2010)

I think Kindergarten is catching up to Dylan. He didn't make it home today without napping in the car.

Christmas at Church

Today I dressed Peyton up super pretty for our Christmas program at TLBS. Peyton joined her class is a little song and dance for us, and her robot dance is the cutest! Afterwards she ran off a little of the cupcake energy and then we were off for our weekly lunch date.

Ears (Project 365/2010)

When Peyton was born she had this crazy ear that stuck out. It was terribly cute, and I would joke about super gluing it to her head. She has since grown into her ears, and they are both perfect. However, today she insisted on sticking them out under her hat. It made me giggle.

Ladybug in My Guacamole (Project 365/2010)

I got a surprise tonight when I added the cilantro to my guacamole. Right before I stirred in the cilantro, a ladybug crawled out of my guacamole! Crazy, right? Cameron was ecstatic to get a little hello from Mandelyn tonight.

Anniversary (Project 365/2010)

Hubby & I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversay this evening. I can't imagine going through life with anybody else by my side. I am truly blessed to have married my best friend.

I surpsied Hubby with dinner at Mama Carpino's. The food was DELICIOUS. Hubby had his first fried green bean (OMG) and fried green tomato. He said, "What are you doing to me?"  I could eat just the appetizers there and forgo the food, but the lasagna was the best darn lasagna I've ever had.

Hubby surprised me with a Kitchen Aid mixer in Tangerine Orange and glee Season 1 on DVD (He must really love me to put up with my glee addiction...hehehe)!

December 1st (Project 365/2010)

Dylan came home from school today with a paper chain attached to a cute little poem. How appropriate for December 1st.

December

Christmas day will soon be here,
And I can hardly wait.
I've made this little Christmas chain
To help me celebrate.

Each day I'll snip one loop from it
To help me to remember
That Christmas day
Is the 25th of December

Please help me hang my chain up high
And cut one loop each day.
And when I reach the yellow loop,
It will be Christmas Day!

Robots in Disguise (Project 365/2010)

I am forever saying how I wish I had my camera with me while driving around town. I've started carrying it nonstop. I shot this one while on my way to pick Cameron up for school. Somebody takes his transformers VERY seriously. YES, it is painted like Bumblebee. Hubby just shook his head. hehehe

I am thankful for...

...a loving heavenly Father
...an amazing husband who loves his family more than himself
...the friendships and bonds my children share with each other
...God's grace & peace
...a Grandmother who raised me to be the woman I am today
...the memories our family is making
...my Canon SD950IS
...the Carpenter's
...God's promise
...friends who complete our family
...the ability to see, hear, feel, taste & smell
...the internet and the many friends I have made
...the cold
...my iPhone
...encouragement, love & kindness that flows from so many of your hearts
...God who opened my womb & knit 3 amazing children within it




I was expecting company for Thanksgiving dinner today. Grandma had a better offer. Instead I honored her in the best way I could. Hubby and I pulled down her China from the cupboard, I washed them (just as I have done since I was a little girl) and set our Thanksgiving table for dinner. When I called the children to the table Dylan ran up to me and said, "Mama who did that?" I asked what and he explained the table. I told him that I set it and he exclaimed, "It's BEAUTIFUL!" I was so very happy and proud. I told the kids that they needed to be careful, but enjoy Grandma's china. I told them stories about Thanksgiving's past. And then...we played with the olives.



I tried my hand at baking today. I can cook you a feast, but dessert is another story. I found a recipe for Pumpkin Cheesecake by Paula Deen and said to myself, "Self, this looks pretty darn idiot proof!" I was super nervous because I made it to take to my Aunt's for dessert. (Sorry I didn't get an after it was chilled pic.) Everyone raved about my first cheesecake. Woot! Now I have to attempt to bake cookies for my TLBS ladies. Eeeeek!


Finally, we spent the evening at my Aunt and Uncle's home. I needed it, so badly. The Carpenter's are so very important to me, and this year was rough not having Grandma with me. I was surrounded by loved ones, ate delicious desserts, and fell in love with my dad all over again as he played with his grandchildren.

Tangled (Project 365/2010)

We took the kids to see Tangled tonight. OMGosh! LOVED it! We talked about it forever after the movie. Peyton sure does love her popcorn.

Mater (Project 365/2010)

A few weeks ago I came home and told everybody how I saw Tow Mater in Victorville. Of course I was without my camera. After Hubby took Peyton and I to lunch today, we were leaving the parking lot when out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something. I almost piston my cup. hehehe

The big black blob in the pic may be a crack in my iPhone camera. :O

Disneyland (Project 365/2010)

I can not express how grateful I am that Hubby worked his bereavement out for a total of 2 1/2 weeks off. This morning we dropped the boys off to school and took an impromptu trip down to Disneyland (perks of having annual passes). Peyton had a wonderful time and it was nice to see part of the Christmas season invading. The ride home, however, was dreadful. We got a flat tire on the freeway, which made us EXTREMELY late picking up both the boys from school.