Weekend of celebrations!

Things are CRAZY around here, with Christmas just around the corner! We had a busy weekend full of family and celebrations! On Friday night, my brother Brian and his family got into town. They left South Carolina Thursday afternoon, spent the night in Memphis, then drove all day Friday to get here. I hadn't seen them since July and I couldn't believe how big Emma and Lauren were! We all went out to dinner and got caught up.

Saturday was Justin's 28th Birthday!! We took Barrett to see Santa that morning at a local restaurant. He's a pretty easy-going baby, so I didn't figure there would be any tears. There were only a few people in line when we got there, so Barrett was able to watch Santa from across the room for a little while. When it was our turn, I took him up closer and Santa told me "take it slow, Mommy." He's obviously been doing this awhile and knows how to handle little ones! I sat down beside him and Barrett just looked him over. He's into pointing these days, so he pointed at his {real} white beard and even felt it real quick. Then I put him on Santa's knee and let him tell what he wanted for Christmas. I'm pretty sure he said "me want a pony, Santa."




This was a pretty special Santa trip for me too. This Santa happens to have been a Pastor a few years ago, and he married Justin and I. He is a very sweet man, and he enjoyed meeting Barrett.

We spotted Santa's "sleigh" as we were leaving the restaurant!

*****

Saturday afternoon we took Barrett over to a Norah Kate's house to play while we went out for a quick Birthday lunch. Megan said he looked a little worried when I first left, but he warmed up after awhile. We'd planned to see a movie for Justin's birthday, but there wasn't anything good at the theatre. We ended up having dinner and cake out at Justin's parents that evening.

We were just hanging out on the couch and around 10pm, I heard my cell phone ringing. As soon as I saw "Jenn" on the ID, I knew what she was calling for! Jenn is my little brother'[s girlfriend. She is a super sweet and beautiful girl. She is an Interior Design graduate from K-State, just like me. So obviously she's got great taste! She and Brandon have been dating for two years and we've gotten to know Jenn pretty well. We have a lot in common and get along great. Sunday, the 21st was her birthday and Brandon proposed to her Saturday night!! She was calling to tell me she was engaged! They had met in Denver for the weekend to celebrate her birthday. Brandon took her to dinner and then proposed after a horse and carriage ride. I am so excited to be getting another great sister. I am so lucky!

CONGRATS Brandon & Jenn!!
I love you both and am so excited for a wedding!

Justin and I had a similar engagement experience in December 2001...He celebrated his birthday on the 20th and then the following evening we had dinner and a horse and carriage ride at the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri. He proposed to me while we were riding through streets.

It was perfect, as I'm sure my little brother's proposal was too! Justin and Brandon have a lot in common and get along (tease each other) great too. I remember the story of a nervous Justin going out to my parent's house to ask them if he could marry me. I was so proud that he had done that. My little brother made me proud too. He asked Jenn's parent's a couple weeks ago.

*****

On Sunday, we went to Derby for Christmas with my mom's side of the family. We always get together for a Mexican dinner and gift exchange. My Aunt Deb's house is always amazing at Christmas. She has the best decorations...even holiday bedspreads on all the beds and trees in every room. It was so warm and cozy.

Barrett & Gigi

Sarah & Lauren

Aunt Deb's beautiful tree and a room full of presents

We had chicken tortilla soup, enchiladas, Mexican meatballs, dips, chips and margaritas. And of course there were holiday treats everywhere.. White chocolate popcorn, cookies, toffee and more!

Barrett opened his first gifts ever! He seemed to like it.


He got some fun things and looks like he is going to love Christmas morning!!

Garrett, Tanner and Gannon all got marshmallow guns made by Brian!
We had mallows everywhere...my poor Aunt Clara!

It was a wonderful weekend!

11 months

Happy 11 MONTHS, Little Bear!!

Yesterday, December 18th, you celebrated your 11 month milestone!

Oh my, oh my...I can hardly believe it's already December and my baby boy is nearing the one-year mark! It seems like just yesterday we were getting ready for the holidays, I was HUGE, and everyone was asking me (non-stop) "when you gonna have that baby"?


This past month has probably been one of the most fun! You started walking just before your 10 month milestone, but I would say you became and "official" walker at the beginning of this month. I always told people I wasn't really encouraging it, because I knew once you started you'd be into everything. But you're such a good baby, it's been no trouble at all. You just hop up and get to were you want to go. I hardly ever see you crawl anymore. Even if you just want to go a few feet to get a toy...you squat, stand, walk over and then sit down by it. You love to carry things around with you while you walk too. It's usually toys and books. Just this week you've decided to give yourself more of a workout, and you've started carrying things bigger than you! The couch pillows and your plastic cookie jar toy.


You've still got a book in your hands 90% of the time. Just this week you've started to point at things in your books. Your Curious George Halloween book from Gigi & Papa is your favorite. You love to flip though the pages and point at George on each one. As long as you've got a book in church, you're such a good boy. We don't even take you to the nursery, because you just sit on our laps and read. After the service, someone always says "what a good baby, I didn't even hear a peep out of him."


You're perfect at going down for naps and bedtime. Although lately you've been getting up in the night for some reason, and Mommy is getting very tired! When it's time for bed we say "want to go night-night"? You just smile and wave both of your hands at Daddy. I hope you'll always be that happy to go to bed!


We are so excited for your first Christmas. You are going to love seeing all of your family and tearing into all of your gifts. We are so blessed to have such a happy, healthy baby boy. You seem to go with the flow no matter what the situation. Just the other day, Daddy said to me "we sure have a sweet baby boy." Sweet you are!

You have brought so much joy to our lives and
WE LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH!

handmade holiday

I was determined to save a little money and make some fun little gifts this year. So, I searched the internet high and low for ideas that I could pull off. I found tons of adorable ideas, but most involved sewing. I have no idea how to sew on a sewing machine! I learned in middle school, and unfortunately forgot everything I knew. My talent in that department stops at sewing on a button, or fixing a tiny hole in my niece Emma's stuffed bunny! In her eyes, Aunt Lala is a master seamstress! She's never forgotten that I "healed" bunny a few years ago. Her mom says every time they have something that needs patched, she says "oh, we should take this to Aunt Lala." Thank you Emma Jean for being my biggest fan!

Back to the gifts...I fell in love with a few ideas, so I had to call in a professional. My sister-in-law Kim, came to the rescue again. Her talents are never-ending, and she was happy to help me out! She probably wouldn't call herself a professional, but she has her own sewing machine and she knows how to use it...so like Emma, I am her biggest fan!!

The last two mornings, we've been at my dining room table working away like little elves! Me doing all the measuring and cutting, Kim doing all the sewing. I really should have jumped in at some point and attempted to learn. But, hey! She was doing great! Barrett must have known Mommy was busy, because both mornings he took great two hour naps! After he did get up, he had fun playing with Aunt Kim's thread tin, so we were able to keep working.

So, are you ready to find out WHAT fun little pretties we made?!?! I am so excited to give them to my sweet little nieces Emma and Lauren. I don't think they read my blog, so hopefully the surprise won't be ruined! As you know, they moved to South Carolina in July and I MISS THEM so very much!

"I Spy" Bags

I'm sure you've seen these. They're all over Etsy. They sell for around $18.00. I knew I could make my own for way less than that and I wasn't crazy about any of the materials I'd seen on Etsy. I had so much fun at Hobby Lobby picking out fabric! That could get addictive very easily. After walking circles in the fabric department for close to 30 minutes, I finally picked some out.

I used plastic name badges to attach my "can you find it" lists to the bags with ribbon. One side of the badge has their name, and the other has their list of trinkets. These will be so much fun for them in the car. They will have a long trip back to South Carolina after Christmas.

Here's Kim, sewing away. My hero!

Crayon Rolls or Crayon Caddies

These are all over Etsy too! These were super easy and inexpensive to make. I love the way they turned out, and they are such a great idea! Mommies can keep them in their purse for quick and easy entertainment at the doctor or a restaurant!


Ours have 12 slots for crayons, and a little pocket on the end for paper!


We also tried our hand at making an applique. I found a plain brown shirt at Toys 'R' Us, then used some of that cute fabric and drew a little birdie design. Kim stitched it on with some pink thread, then I ironed on some other little flowers. It gave us a few challenges, but we made it work and it turned out pretty cute for our first attempt.


THANKS a million for all your help, Kim! It was so much fun! One of these days I'll get a sewing machine and learn how to work it!