O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

How lovely are your branches! 

YEAH!!  My tree is finished and shining oh so bright even as I type this!  It was an all day project yesterday but it's up.  I did have to do it in stages since I had two sweet boys home with me but they cooperated and we got it done. 

 I love my tree!  I bought all new stuff last year because I wanted the traditional red and green tree.  I plan to buy more fun things over the years to make it even fuller but I LOVE it as it is now.  Oh and I have a red tree skirt but I plan to make one or find one that I like a bit better.

Here is my topper which I love! 

And my big helper who was more in to Home Alone 2.  We had to watch it while we put up the tree!  Bennett has done good with it so far...fingers crossed!  He only gets by it when we're around it so I think we'll be fine.  Not sure if I'll put presents out early or wait?!?  I"m not sure how that would go but I do have a lot of stuff upstairs ready to wrap. 

 

And here is the mantel.  I love our new stockings (got them from simpleaddiction.com) and the NOEL I found at TJ Maxx a few months back.  I think I might get some red candles for the holders.

Today we might do our Walmart trip as long as the boys promise to be good for me, but I don't plan on much more than that.  I was planning on taking B to school today so Landon and I could have a little time together but when I asked him about taking brother to school he told me NO.  He said he'd miss him...how to you say no to that!

 

 

Lately...

The time is just flying by and I can't believe we're on Thanksgiving break and I know this is awful to say but getting ready for Christmas.  Lance finally got our Christmas tree down this morning so that is my goal this week.  So far it is up and fluffed.  I plan to work on the lights in a bit as long as the boys cooperate!

Ok so I am going to go ahead a just catch up by going through my pictures.  A couple of weeks ago Lance took Landon with him to help a church member who just had back surgery (my hubs is pretty sweet like that) and I guess they made it down to Hudson's house after.  And Landon got to shoot a gun for the 1st time.  He was very excited about that and I love looking at this picture of my boys. 

 These two boys enjoy helping mommy (well they think they help me but it isn't always the case) so when I was cooking the other night they decided to join me.  We did some cooking and dancing to Christmas music.  I guess they were the drummers!

 Landon is getting so big!  I look at him and I just can't believe he is almost 4 years old.  He is such a good, sweet, easy boy.  I just love him and love being his mommy!  This was him the other night before church.  I know it is weird but the boy needed a bath and with church getting over at 8:00 PM it is just easier to do it before than after.

 Landon loves iPhones, iPads, computers, and now the Wii.  Here he is playing NickJr.  He is pretty smart and nows how to work these gadgets just as good as me.

 I got the boys newest school pictures last week and I was putting their new pictures up in the house.  I have always kept Landon's pictures in the frame and just add the newest to the top.  I love looking back on them and thought I'd share.  The first picture (him in a black shirt) was taken November 2010, next is March 2011, November 2012, and the bottom is March 2012, and then the newest November 2012.  I can't believe how fast it goes!

Yesterday Landon and I went shopping for our shoeboxes (nothing like waiting till the last day).  It makes me proud since he can understand that we are shopping for kiddos who may not have a lot and not for him.  He even picked a couple of his toys from his room to add to the boxes.  He's funny!  The first thing was a drum stick which was bent in half and I told him that wouldn't work.  He picked a book and a ball. 

 Here are the pictures of all the shoeboxes at church.

 After church last night Mr.Tom (or as Landon says the cop man) gave Landon a bear.  I asked him what he named it and it was "Cocoa". 

 Don't think I forgot this little guy!  He is a busy boy and pulling up on every thing.  Won't be long and he'll be walking.  See...it goes way too fast! 

Sweet boy taking a little nap last night.

At school we had our Charlie Brown Thansgiving and my class went as Indians.  They worked all week on their costumes.   

 And I had to share this.  On Friday a few of us decided to wear our cheetah print.  I had to get our picture because I thought it was too cute and so did they!   

Well I am off to work on the tree and who knows what else.  I'll post pictures of my tree and a few changes I've made to the house later (hopefully this week and not in another two weeks). 

Halloween 2012

What a fun and busy Halloween we had this year!  Landon originally wanted to be the green power ranger but I couldn't find it anywhere in his size.  So his second choice was Batman.  Momma thought it would be cute to make little guy be Robin...ha! 

 

So the boys got to do a few trick or treating activities.  Monday night the Junior High had a trick or treating for school employee kids so Lance and I loaded up Batman & Robin.  It's really nice that they do that because you don't have to worry about weather, safety, etc. 

 They even did pictures this year which was nice and I think it turned out pretty good!

 On Wednesday Landon had a party in his class so he got to wear his costume to school.  And we had our party in my class as well.  Here are some fun things we've been doing and making.

My little buddy (whose mama is a friend and gave me permission to use his stuff for my blog) wearing our spider hats.

 Our skeleton man

And their fun place mats for the party (found the idea in oriental trading and thought I could make something like that without buying the kits).

I took the boys to my parents house that evening so they could go trick or treat with their cousins. 

Here are the kiddos with my mom and dad.

Me and my super heroes 

My sweet niece and nephews 

So me, my dad, and BIL Bradford took the 4 big kids around the neighborhood.  My mom and sister stayed back to pass out candy and watch Bennett.  And this is what happens when I'm gone...ha! 

As soon as we got back I got the boys in the car and headed to church.  We were a few minutes late but made it there for our annual trunk or treat and hot dogs. 

 Apparently the flash surprised Robin...ha!

 I love all my boys.

So as you can imagine...we have tons of fun and we have way too much candy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 Months

Yesterday this little guy had his 8 month birthday.  Crazy to think that he'll be 1 year in 4 months.  It goes so much faster with your second kiddo. 

Here are a few of his 8 month pics I took.  He cracks me up!  He is still such an easy baby.  He hardly ever cries (only when he is in the car at night-not sure if it's too close to bedtime or the dark), he is crawling/worming around, he is starting to try to pull up on stuff, he is wearing size 4 diapers, he weighs 22.5 pds, he goes to sleep around 7:30-8:00 and most of the time he will sleep till 5ish, he still has the 1 tooth on the bottom, he is drinking 6-7 oz and it seems to be every 3 hours (don't keep up with time anymore), he loves Landon, he eats some sort of fruit and cereal in the morning, he'll have veggies for lunch, dinner is a hit and miss (horrible mom here but do what I can), he snacks on yogurt melts, little puffs, and graham crackers, he isn't too crazy about the sippy cup or just the apple juice/water mixture inside, and he just got moved out of the infant car seat and into the big boy/rear facing seat.  WOWZER!!!  

 

Yesterday morning Lance left for his duck camp around 5 so the boys decided they'd get up early too.  I got them to lay in bed for a little bit but it didn't last long.

We had a pretty lazy day.  Landon has had a cough/cold going on and I think Bennett has gum problems because he seems to have drainage and just chewing/slobbering on everything.  We did get out for a sonic drink.  I thought we'd drive around for a bit but of course as soon as we start Landon informs me he has to go pee...ugh!  So we made it to get drinks but then went straight home.  Maybe another time. 

 

I have to share my new sweater/cardigan.  I love it!  I got it at Freckles Chic which if you haven't checked this boutique out yet you need to.  I always find such cute things there plus I enjoy visiting with Candace.  And she is working on her website so those not close to MH can go online and see all her items.  I might be in trouble...or Lance might be. :) 

 

Well I made it through conferences so now I just have to make it 3 weeks and then we are off a full week for Thanksgiving break.  I can't wait.  It makes me think about putting up my tree!  Which yesterday I finally started my Christmas shopping.  I now have the boys Christmas Eve gift ordered, I have them one gift coming, and I got my sisters kids finished.  Not bad but still lots to go!  Can't wait to shop, wrap, and give!  Love this time of year!

 

And here is a picture of big boy!  He was a bit pouty yesterday but momma always makes him laugh eventually.

 

 Can't wait to dress the boys up for Halloween.  I'll share pics Monday since we are going to trick-or-treating at the JH and then again on Wednesday for church. 

Mommy Brain

Well it is red ribbon week at school so we've had dress up days.  Monday was wear red and today was red, white, blue day...or so I thought.  I had to hunt for a shirt but I remembered I had a plaid shirt I wore down at the beach last 4th of July so my outfit was ready.  I get to school today and notice everybody wearing Bomber shirts.  Hmmm?!?  So after I ask I find out today was Bomber day-wear blue and gold. 

So tomorrow I'll be wearing my Bomber shirt (luckily it is blue and white).  Darn mommy brain!  

 

So with this being such a busy week I decided to go back to get shellac yesterday.  I said I was going to try gray and that's what I did.  I think it's a good fall color-even though this week feels like summer again. 

 Tonight the two big boys went outside so Bennett and I watched his favorite show.  The kid likes his Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  He is so cute! 

Well it is time for me to go finish report cards.  I have parent teacher conferences this week so lots to do before then.  But two things I want to remember.  First we are doing a unit on colors.  We've read some fun books and made some really cute projects.  One project was our freight train-lots of work for me but they had fun!

And the last thing was something that happened on Monday.  One of my kiddos came to me and said they stuck a rock up their nose and it was stuck.  Yep...I could see it in his nose so to the nurse he went.  He said she got it out with tweezers and we apparently both told him not to do that again.  GEEZ!!!

 

Time is Flying

Here I am playing catch up again and this post will be very random so get ready!

A few weeks back my mom and I took a day and went to Branson to do a little shopping. The boys had picture day at school and I planned on doing our family pictures sometime in October. So I decided to do the black/red/gray colors for our outfits. My closet has a lot of black so I knew I could find something.Here is a collage of their school pictures.  This is just what Lara posted on FB so I haven't ordered them but I love them! 

We had her do our family pictures last night and this is just a few I've seen.  I'm so excited to see all of them.  And by the way...Lara is pretty awesome so you should check her out!   

 

So I took my nails off after I had Bennett.  They did really good after but I decided to try shellac the other day.  And I did red to match the pictures.  Thinking gray will be my next color.

 

Last weekend we went to Lance's cousins house for a little reunion.  Landon enjoyed playing with his cousins. 

Landon and I attended my cousins wedding on October 6. 

 

 He crashed on the way home.

Here is Bennett's new face.  He loves to wrinkle his little nose!

My sister took some pictures of B when he was at school.  So nice having her there with the boys!

And I had a girls night last week which was a much needed night.  I love getting together with these girls and catching up.  We met at Bamboo Garden and I'm not much on that food.  I'm scared of sushi and I am sure y'all think I'm crazy.  I need to just try it sometime.

I decorated my classroom door for red ribbon week.  It always looks nice after but I have to admit that it's kind of a pain doing it.

Here we are before church.  Sometimes pictures aren't the easiest but I still try.

 

The hubs and I have a meeting at church tonight and then we'll start another busy week.  It is report cards and parent teacher conferences this week so lots to do.