Catching up....

This little 'ole blogspot has been sorely neglected. A lot of crazyness happening lately. Momtourage consumes most of my spare computer time minutes. This month I got to do promos for University of Pittsburgh basketball, Harlem Globetrotters, & NCAA hockey tournament. It was the sports month apparently! Because I haven't had the time to go to all these events, I am able to pass extra tickets on to friends. It's so fun to see faces light up - who gets free tickets to events?! I love that part of my job!

We are going to see Harlem Globetrotters the day after Christmas. We got to go last year and Graham loved it.

My parents came for 5 days right after Thanksgiving. We had a great time with them and they helped decorate = double bonus!

I have found that a countdown calendar is non-negotiable for this stage of life. :) We turn around a number each day.  It's been awesome for Graham to know: on this date we're going on an airplane, on this date Mama & Papa come, on this date we go to your cousins and THIS date is Christmas!

We did get a brief dusting....the kids loved it!

A snowman marshmallow + hot chocolate is a perfect December tree-decorating kind of night.

Downtown to see the Christmas sights. I realized later, she couldn't hold her cracker b/c of her mittens and basically just knawed it down. I guess where there's a will, there's a way!

Andrew, Grandpa, Graham

Gingerbread spectacular

Yes, I will take that last drop of Izzy!

Best appliance ever. Happy birthday to me. Love, Mom & Dad. Love.

Many have asked where we are in our foster care process. Still in the middle of paperwork! However, we see the light at the end of the tunnel! We have one document to finalize and then have to go somewhere to be fingerprinted and have our home study....but we are close.

Parenting has been extremely challenging the past few months. I loved this post by my friend, Sue. This was also a timely reminder.

 

3 Christmas parties in 8 days? Check.

An unexpected gift arrived for travel funds, so slightly last minute, I am flying with Graham & Eden to this winter wonderland! First time flying with 2 kiddos alone. Wish me luck!

We are really enjoying this Advent calendar this year. (Recommended by Girltalk).

Love that it has a little book that comes with it and with each window to open, it has a short story & activity that is perfect for young ones.

Do not let anything steal your joy this Christmas season!

 

Gettin' crafty {a rare sighting}

 

In the spirit of all things red & pepperminty, I decided to try this little beauty I saw pass by on Pinterest. Yep, I've now officially used a glue gun for the 2nd time in my life. And only suffered very minor burns. :) Graham was very helpful in unwrapping all the peppermints and we mostly just tried to keep Eden from eating up our supplies.

If peppermint soothes an upset stomach as they say, both kiddos should be set for a while. (wink.)

 

If was surprisingly easy. And if I'm saying that, you know it was. :) Peppermints & red hots came from the Dollar Store, so in all this little project was under $10.

Go here to see the original (just no comparing now!)

 

a boy and his hero

I'm sure it's probably cliche' to say every little boy's hero is their daddy. But we have certainly seen the hero worship kick into high gear recently. Every day last week, Graham wanted to dress like daddy. His outfit of choice was: a t-shirt with a button-down shirt over it, jeans, and casual dress shoes. Sometimes he'd add a scarf draped around his neck and if he was pretending to be dad leaving for work, he'd add some head gear.

Pretty good mimic, I'd say. :)

Last night at the table G says, Dad, I just love copying you.

Before bed, Andrew says to him, Love you bro-dog.

Graham says, Love you bro-cat.

Occasionally we'd ask him what he wanted to be when he grew up just to see if he said anything funny. Up to this point he has insisted he wants to be nothing but a little boy so he can play with his toys. I hope he stays in that moment!

But recently, he has determined exactly what he wants to be: a daddy.

I hope and pray he grows up to be the man & daddy that his daddy is to him.

Aunt Katie's visit

Always so, so happy to have my sweet sister here! We had a really sad week for weather due to Sandy, it rained every day. And she specifically came during Halloween week and both our Momtourage event & other Halloween events were all post-poned till after she left. So that was sad, but we were so thankful to be warm, safe & dry when many were facing the devastation of the storm. So we can only give thanks.

Katie basically follows us around with a camera, so this is more like a sneak peak into our days. :)

know anything about that pile of dishes left behind you on the floor?

who, me?

apparently it was a red & yellow kind of day.

Eden gives the best hugs & snuggles

 

 ewwww.

 This is how our baking happens. Graham is helping roll out pizza crust and Eden is eating something out of the bowl. :)

 she loves to jump!

 

ready for bed after bathtime

 chees-ers

 using nurse Katie's fun equipment

 getting my ears checked. Thankfully, I was deemed healthy.

 still in training, obviously. :)

Any moms ever get to eat their full snack?

The vultures sweep in! I think I salvaged about 3 of my own apple slices.

 watching his first 3D movie from the library. Which was 13 minutes long.

Who makes a 13 minute movie?!

 I happened to be doing a promo for the circus the week she was here, so yay! Free circus tickets!

 Thankfully they are still good with eating an apple & banana for snack when the snow cones & cotton candy are passing by. I'm sure my days are numbered. :)

 

 The sweetest shot.

She & Graham were having a tea party and she stopped to pray over it.

Earnestly. :)

 Graham got this snack for him & daddy - milk in the mug and cheeries in the bowls. :)

  Graham helping in a demo at The Science Center.

 Graham participating....Eden staring awkwardly.

 

We miss you, Aunt Katie!