Baking Machine

I've been in a baking mood lately. I bought stuff last week at the Commissary for some cookies I found in my new Paula Deen magazine, but never got around to it. I had a sudden burst of energy this after noon, totally weird I know, so I cleaned the fridge while making dinner, then ate dinner and started making some cookies! YUM! My house smells so good, and my stomach, as well as Landon's, are full of warm cookies. 

Let's rewind a little to earlier in the day. Landon is required to have a flu shot to go to the CDC. Well, leave it to me to wait till the last minute to get it. He had to have it by 01 Dec. Yes, that's tomorrow. Landon's pediatrician only does flu shots on certain days, and wasn't able to get us in till today. When we  pulled up Landon said, "Is Grammie here? I want to show Grammie my mountain dragon." He's heard me talking about my mom, and how she's been sick, we sent her cards and pictures and stuff. So I guess he assumed when we pulled up to the clinic next to the hospital Grammie was there. It was so cute. As I was getting him out he said it again, "I want to show Grammie my mountain dragon." 

We walked in and I checked in, Landon was already in tears and telling me he was scared. He continued to whine and cry. When the nurse walked in, he lost it. I mean lost it! I held down his upper body, which wasn't too easy, and then she gave him the shot. It was a quick one, but Landon was devastated telling me she hurt him, and it was hurting very bad! I always feel like such a bad mom when he acts like that, I know he is scared, but I still feel terrible.

So we came home and had a relaxing afternoon. I was supposed to go to the Commissary since we didn't make it Sunday due to a power outage. So we scrounged for some stuff to make for dinner, Landon had a pizza, blueberries, curly fries and carrots. I had a grilled cheese sandwich with tomatoes!

Landon is the official person to turn the lights on in our Fire Houses and other things throughout the house. He loves it!

Can you believe tomorrow is already December 1st? I can't, but I am excited to start our Advent Calendar.

I made mint chocolate chip cookies from the Betty Crocker website and I made Paula Deen's Peanut Butterscotch Cookies (minus the peanuts, didn't have any.)

They were really good. They have butterscotch chips, oats, whole wheat flour...and the other basic ingredients. They were really really good! 

Other great news is that Greg found out he got Fire Fighter of the year for his shift! Very awesome, I am so proud of you Greg, you work your butt off and deserve it! 

Tomorrow is picture day, I hope my stubborn boy smiles and allows me to do his hair. Let me know if you want any of the recipes I've posted about, that is if anyone reads this thing ever! 

Movie Date

So I went on a movie date with my boys this afternoon. We went and saw Tangled, finally! We were the only people in the theater, so Landon could talk as loud as he wanted, laugh as much and loud as he wanted, and scream and cry as loud as he wanted, yes, he screamed and cried.

It was a very cute movie, funny and yes, scary. Landon screamed and actually cried for a second at the end of the movie when Rapunzel's mom was turning in to the old lady and being mean. I don't want to spoil the movie, so if you've seen it, you know what I am talking about. I definitely recommend Tangled! (for adults and kids!)

Home again, Home again

If my title didn't give it away, we are home again! We had a great weekend, it was a quick one, but so worth it! Landon was so tired he fell asleep around 7, about an hour from the house. He woke up UPSET when we were getting off the highway, and we weren't sure how the rest of the evening was going to be. He wanted to lay on the couch and watch a cartoon, so I got him comfy on the couch and Greg and I hauled all of our (wonderful Christmas shopping deals) stuff out of the car. I came around to the living room to put some stuff away, he was already zonked back out. I didn't dare move him at that moment. We finished getting stuff put away then took him to his room. We tried to put him in his jammies and he said, "NO, leave my pants on Mommy. I just want to sleep." So, we laid him in bed and let him sleep! We took him potty when we were going to bed and slipped some jammies on him, he never knew! He woke up this morning about 650am. 12 hours of sleep, I NEVER get him to sleep that long, sweet!

Yesterday was spent kinda relaxing. Landon and Ava played, we went to lunch at a local Mexican food place, then came home and relaxed some more while the kids played. 

I think Landon and Ava love the freedom of going out back to play. We tell them to stay right in the back where we can see them, most of the time we hear them chatting away, or laughing or screaming! 

Greg relaxed in the hot tub while I packed and got the car loaded.

Then it was time to say goodbye. We didn't want to go, but we didn't want to drive home in the dark. We knew we would have to drive in some dark, but didn't want the whole drive to be like that. The wildlife and animals are INSANE and we didn't want to risk hitting a deer or some other creature. (Greg's parents hit one driving home from Landon's party, so we wanted to be extra careful!)

Gosh those two are so cute, and I can't believe how big they are getting. We were talking about how when we first moved back from Germany, Landon was about 10 months and Ava was 3, she would get so angry that he wouldn't talk to her or answer her. It was always so funny. Now the two of them talk so much you can't get a word in other wise! 

Our drive home was nice. Landon chilled in the back with a movie, Greg and I chit chatted most of the way. It was crazy all the traffic, and each little town we drove through was 'boomin' as we say. Most of the time we drive and don't see anyone out, and hardly any one on the road. It was kinda nice. All the little towns were decorated for Christmas and had a ton of people walking around. I would have loved to stop and look around in all the stores, but, we had to get home. There were a few deer out, I was the deer look-er-outer. Greg kept making fun of me the way I was sitting, but I was focused! 

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving weekend! It's time to buckle down and get the rest of this Christmas stuff out and finish my shopping! Are you almost done shopping? It seems everyone is done but me! 

Black Friday

Black Friday is one of my favorite days. I don't know why, but I always love to go shopping and check out all the deals and watch all the crazy people. Last year where we live I had a terrible shopping experience and quickly just went back home. I was pretty bummed, and stated I would 'never ever go shopping on Black Friday here again!' This year I had the chance to go shopping in Austin! 

So yesterday on our drive here, and when we were waiting for Thanksgiving dinner to be ready we scanned and studied all the ads and made a plan of attack. I wanted to get to Target at 4am when they opened the doors. Then we would go down the road to Wal Mart, then Kohl's, Home Depot, the Mall then breakfast and any other stores. 

We left the house about 320am. It was cold and rainy, and no one on the road out here where we are at. NICE! We got to Target and there was a line, I didn't realize how long the line was, but we just kept walking and walking and walking. It was insane! What time do these people get here? I wonder what time the first person showed up? I am glad I didn't want the TV or any of the other big ticket items.

We got in and got what we were looking for. I got the Leapster games I wanted the flannel sheet set and a flannel shirt. Tina got some good stuff too, and then we were off to Walmart. Walmart had already been open so there was no line and we walked right in. We went back to toys to find the Leapster game thing for Landon, all gone, sold out at midnight. Darn. Then we went to look for the TVs. They weren't out till 5am, it was only 430. Come to find out the lines for all the different TV's were crazy and wrapped and weaved all around the aisles. Never mind, don't need a TV that bad. Off we went. 

We continued on our route and made it to all the stores, it was all smooth sailing, and we didn't have any drama, see any crazy people or have to get into any hair pulling fights, very nice! Breakfast at IHOP refueled us, and it was now only 830am. We continued shopping and met up with the rest of the family and did some more shopping and looking around. By the time we got home, I had been gone from the house for 12 hours! CRAZY!

We got fresh wreaths at Home Depot for $5 and poinsettias for 99 cents! Bargain! We also got a TV at Best Buy this afternoon. 

We got home before Oma and Opa, and so Greg went down to the fence and wanted so scare them. So he  hid behind the tree...

and jumped out and screamed, he got Oma good!!!

Today was a pretty successful shopping day. I had lots of fun with Oma and really enjoyed being out and about, especially in Austin, yay for Black Friday's and shopping in Austin!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are all having a wonderful day with friends and family and hopefully lots of good food! I know I am beyond stuffed and shouldn't have eaten as much as I did! Hopefully with all my shopping I have planned for tomorrow I can burn some calories! 

We started our drive after Greg got home from work this morning. It was freezing cold when we left our house, the closer we got to our destination, the warmer it got! Landon took a little cat nap in the car, about 10min before we got here. 

The drive was beautiful, I love fall.

I love the smell of the turkey cooking in the oven, and that's the smell that over came us when we walked in the door! I think our stomachs were instantly growling and our mouths were watering. Oma and Ava decorated the table this morning, it looked so nice. 

We started our feast right as the game was starting.

We had Turkey, green bean casserole (my favorite) sweet potatoes, peas, rolls, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, apple cake and pumpkin pie! Oh my, I am SO full.

Of course while the girls were in the kitchen cleaning and getting dessert ready, the boys were snoozing and watching football!

The kids are running around being silly, burning off all the sweets they've eaten. The cold front has finally reached this area, now it feels like Thanksgiving!

Time to make our plan of attack for tomorrow. I LOVE shopping on Black Friday, and this year I am dragging Tina and Jen with me! I think we will leave the house at 330am! Yikes, it keeps getting earlier and earlier every year!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thankful

I have so many things to be thankful for in my life. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful life and to be where I am today. 

Right at this moment I am thankful my headache that has been off and on for the past two days has finally passed!!! ha!

I am thankful for my wonderful, patient, amazing husband Greg. I am thankful for my handsome, sweet, curious son Landon. I am thankful for my job, and for having a stable job. I am thankful for Greg's job and the Air Force. I am thankful for all of our family, both sides. I am thankful that  even though I am far from my family, I know I can always count on them. I am thankful that my mom is out of the hospital and on the road to recovery. 

I am thankful for all the friends I've made over the years, and I am thankful for the internet and Facebook for helping us keep in touch. 

I am thankful Greg made it home from his deployment safe. I am thankful for all the men and women who serve our country. I am thankful for all the families who support their loved ones while they are away at war. 

I have so many things I am thankful for, the list could go on and on. 

What are you thankful for?

4 Year old decorator

I finally pulled the rest of the totes in the house and slowly have gotten the decorations put out. I've realized that a lot of our stuff is getting old, and with all the moves we've done, a lot of stuff isn't in the best shape and is breaking. Some of the stuff we have is from when we were young, and just starting out, and isn't really very, er, pretty? That sounds terrible...

As I've been dusting and putting things out, Landon is talking a mile a minute asking me questions, and asking me what each thing does. He is really in love with our little fire houses, and my angels. He was carrying around a small pink one that I got from a secret Santa last year, he took it to the dinner table, to the bathroom, every where he's been. He started doing spinning circles in the kitchen and the poor little pink angel went flying and shattered in to a million little pieces. It was instantly, "It'sa accident mommmmmy. I sorry." I assured him it was OK and that he needed to stay off the tile till I could clean it. 

He inspected each angel and asked a million questions about each one. It melts my heart hearing his little voice repeat what I tell him, and then listening to him ask more questions. I am so lucky to have such a sweet little boy. (He's not a baby any more, I'm so sad..)

I put some of our little fire houses around, and Landon asked me what each one of those were. He asked me where he could find them, then asked if I could take him there! So silly. When I walked back over to the houses Landon added some finishing touches.

Batman and Drago need to protect that fire house. I told him that was the fire station near the beach. (oh come on, I couldn't come up with anything else, one of the other ones was the North Pole Fire Department and the other one was a fire department in the mountains. haha!) He asks so many questions, sometimes I run out of answers!

Any way, if you need any assistance in decorating for the holidays, I have a cute little 4 year old who would love to help you and add his little finishing touches. Just be prepared, he make ask a million questions in the process and talk your ear off! 

Tree Topper and Cookies

The Christmas tree is now finished, Landon and Greg put the topper on, Greg held Landon up, and Landon was able to get it up there. It was a tad crooked, but he did it! I am surprised our tree didn't fall over, that thing is seriously on it's last leg! Luke (our cat) isn't around anymore to climb up the middle of the tree and knock all the ornaments off, he always waited till we were in bed, and then we would here the rustling of the branches and the ornaments clacking around. Dang cat. It would make me SO mad, now we look back and laugh. We sure do miss that crazy cat. 

I bought the new Paula Deen magazine yesterday and there are a bunch of recipes in there I want to try. I also found a  recipe for mint chocolate chip cookies. I got this recipe from Betty Crocker website. (Paula Deen recommended using the Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie bag mix, so I went to the website to look, just in case you were wondering.)

You use the bag sugar cookie mix, add butter, an egg, mint extract, green food coloring mint chips and chocolate chips. It was SO easy, and the cookies are fantastic! So while watching the Cowboys game I was in and out of the kitchen making cookies! I can't wait to make more, and try those Paula Deen ones I found! 

It's beginning to look a lot like..

....Christmas at our house! Except it's 80 degrees in Texas today, and supposed to be the same tomorrow. But, the tree has been decorated, and the decorations are slowly being pulled out of red and green Christmas totes. Christmas lists have been made, gift lists have been written out, some gifts have been purchased, and there's even some presents under the tree. 

Last night we watched Aubree and Jaxson so their mommy and daddy could have a date night. Landon was excited to have Aubree come play, and I was looking forward to getting my baby fix. Jaxson is such a cuddly little guy, and so sweet!

I forgot what it's like to have a baby around the house, I was a nervous wreck and I am way out of practice! yikes. 

The kids were so good and had a lot of fun.

This morning we broke out the decorations for the tree, and Landon was the best helper ever, it was even cuter because he was in his boxers...

I love that he hangs the ornaments in clumps on the tree, all in the same area. It's so cute. 

Since Landon was obsessed with fish last year, we had a ton of fish ornaments. I decided to buy him a little tree for his room. 

You can't really see it, but it's cute. We also bought a cute night light at Kohl's today for Landon's room. I told him it's Santa's house and that Santa is watching him from there. 

Can't wait to get the rest of the Christmas stuff out around the house. I love this time of year!

Letters

My dad and Alma left while I was at work. I was thinking to myself on the way home, "I wonder if my dad left me a note?" You know I love notes and my dad is always good at writing notes. So when I got home I walked through the kitchen, no note. Darn. Oh well. I went about my business and after being home about 30 minutes I went to the spare bedroom and I saw a note with a present! Awe, I was so happy! 

We've been talking about when to put up the Christmas tree and we were also trying to decide if we should buy a new one or not. So we pulled the tree down out of the attic, I stood at the bottom of the stairs of course, and Greg passed it down to me. Our tree has been through the ringer, lots of moves, and lots of Christmas's. After putting it together we decided we could get one more out of it, even though a strand of lights is out. We will try to get one after Christmas when they go on clearance, the same way we bought this one.  

I'd better go get some decorations on that tree!

Also my mom should be getting discharged from the hospital today. Poor thing has been through the ringer, and is SO ready to be home already!

Enjoying Family

I am extremely tired tonight, and I hope this post makes sense. Last night I wasn't feeling well, then I got to the point where I felt really sick. I decided to test my blood sugar, good thing I did, I took it and it was 50. Way too low, scary low. I called Greg because I was scared and ate some fruit snacks to bring it back up. I got it back up but was still scared and nervous, Greg was at work of course. I didn't sleep well at all, tossing and turning and having weird dreams. Needless to say, I was dragging this morning. My ears have been bothering me all week, just lots of pressure so I figured I'd better make an appointment. Turns out I have a double ear infection, yikes! So now I am on some weird and strong antibiotics that are turning my stomach. Ick!

My Dad and Alma arrived last Thursday. It was so nice to have them here. We really enjoyed visiting and catching up. They took Landon to watch Mega-mind 3d on Friday while I was at work. Then we did all the party shopping Friday afternoon and got stuff ready and the house decorated. They were such great helps. My dad made all the dog bone cookies! (And they took a while!) 

Landon had fun showing off on the swing set and showing them all his tricks. He also enjoyed being pushed by grandpa and grandma. 

Landon LOVED playing on Alma's iPad. He mastered that thing pretty quick. And I am sure he will now be asking for an iPad for Christmas! Ha!

Sunday we went to lunch and did some shopping, then just enjoyed each other's company and playing with all of Landon's new toys.

Monday we took Landon to the zoo for his birthday. He pretty much ran through the zoo and said he was hungry the entire time! We did have fun though. I love this picture, he was 'scaring' us. 

It was a great day at the zoo, we were the only people there, and that's unusual. All the animals were out too, so that was fun.

After our quick 'run' of the zoo, we went to lunch at a place called Lytle Land and Cattle. It was really really good!

We then came home and let Landon open his gifts.

Then we had to put the monster down for a much needed nap. We were playing a Scooby Doo matching game and he got so angry with us. His little attitude came out. He did wake up in a much better mood!

Then it was time to play outside again, and we went for a walk around the neighborhood. 

Landon loved having them here, as did I. They kept us company while Greg worked all his silly hours for the exercise. It's always nice to have family around, I hate being so far away from everyone, but that's a part of the military life right?