Lately...

Santa Tree Topper

Growing up, we had a Santa on top of our tree.  We each took turns getting to put him up.  The last two years, Karson has helped Nana put our very old Santa on top of the tree.

Doh, Mommy, doh!

Don't buy playdoh again.  Google a recipe, and make it.  So easy, it takes 2 minutes.  If it wasn't for the fact that I am comfortable in the rocking chair right now, I would post mine.  But it is in the kitchen, and it is a rare case in the evenings that I can actually get comfortable.  

 

Karson asks for his doh all the time!

This face usually follows the 'oh wow oh wow oh wow.'

December/Spring Weather

I would like to send Mother Nature a letter, and remind her that it is DECEMBER in MICHIGAN.

And while Karson has a had and gloves on in these pictures, it was in the 50s this weekend. 

It is December....we need snow!!

have i ever mentioned how much i love his blue eyes?!

Daddy cut down my parent's neighbor's tree the day after Thanksgiving.  If everything goes well with our fireplace inspection tomorrow...we will have a fire tomorrow evening!! Not completely random...Karson is staring at the cut up tree on the side of the house, and signing his version of 'tree.'

 Karson and I took Nana and Grandpa to the airport last week.  Karson LOVES airplanes, we were all excited to see his reaction when he saw them.  He totally didn't get it.  The planes weren't in the sky like they were supposed to be...

this picture cracks me up...Nana & Grandpa pointing out the plane...Karson looking at them like they are crazy

Jesse Advent

 I have said this many times, but I am a huge believer in incorporating both the magic and miracle into Christmas.  I love all the magic that Santa brings, but I want Karson to understand the true meaning of Christmas as well.  We started doing the Jesse Advent Tree this year.  Except we didn't do a tree, because I have ocd and wanted them in chronological order.   I bought this book last Christmas and we have been following the devotionals for kids.  It is way over Karson's head.  He understands where we put them each day, and loves to show Daddy his ornaments he makes when he gets home.  That is about all he understands.  For the most part we have just been asking him, "Who made the Earth?" and "Whose Birthday is it on Christmas?"

 

He colors an ornament I make each day, and we hanging it on a ribbon in the living room.

The first day, I printed off a picture of the Earth.  He insisted on only coloring the back, so I have a blank circle with Karson's artistic work hanging up, with the Earth side glued to the card stock.

Our Jesse Advent Tree so far.  I have to come up with a new way to hang them soon, because I only have a few clothes pins left.   I love that the book goes through the Bible from the beginning, to Jesus's birth.  It is a fun tradition and a great reminder about the true meaning of Christmas.

Before Nap Snuggles

Depending on how early Karson wokes up, I will sometimes let him watch a few minutes of a movie before nap.  He and Molly usually snuggle up on the couch together while I pick up lunch. 

Tripod

It came with my Camera, I have had it for over a year, I have never take it out of the box.  We took it out a few days ago, to get some family pictures, and this was my first attempt and figuring out the self timer.  Karson thought counting to 3 and running was hilarious! 

Bedroom Play Time

I love it.  

Tired Munchkin

We do NOT mess with Karson's nap.  Ever.  Bad things happen when Karson's nap gets messed up.  He went down relatively late for nap after church yesterday, because he fell asleep on the way too church, and was wired when we got home.   Poor Munchkin had such a rough evening yesterday.  Every little thing made him completely melt down.  He handles lack of sleep like his Mama. :)  He was still tired today, and even asked to get in his crib at 10:30...nap is at 12.  We settled for The Grinch and a comfy spot on the floor by the tree instead.

St. Nick Night

It is St. Nick Night.  Karson put his shoes by the door before bed, so St. Nick could fill them while he is sleeping.    St. Nick has already visited our house...he must be running a little early this year...

I can't wait to get Karson out of bed in the morning and see his reaction when he sees his shoes by the door.  Click HERE to see more on our St. Nick Night tradition.

Thanksgiving 2011

I love holidays.  I love them even more now that I am a Mommy.  I love making little things extra special for my Munchkin.  Growing up, we didn't have family in Michigan.  Which meant holidays were just us.  Which meant we never left the house on holidays, and my Mom was in charge of the entire holiday meal.  I loved helping my Mom make Thanksgiving Dinner.  We have always prepared a lot of the side dishes and pies the night before.  Wednesday night, Karson and I headed over..around the corner...to help Nana.  I figured Karson would just play in the living room while we baked.  I was wrong.  He spent the entire night sitting on the counter helping us.

 What started out as just a night of preparing food for Thanksgiving, turned into a night my Mom and I will likely never forget.  He had so much fun.  He mixed, and stirred, and helped Nana  flute the pie crust.

Of course, I didn't have my video camera or my slr with me.  Because, after all, we were just baking.  Karson has this shy grin and laugh when he is really excited about something.  He loved helping Nana with the pie crusts!

It may have taken us twice as long to make the pies, and the cake, and the corn, but oh my word he had so much fun!

And our pumpkin pies had the cutest Karson finger prints in them!!

Karson didn't sleep thought the night, and after tossing and turning for a few hours after DJ got K back to sleep, I finally got out of bed at 5am.  EARLY!  I had planned on getting up early to make cinnamon rolls.  I just didn't plan on getting out of bed at 5am, after being awake since 3.  But...I wanted my baby to wake up to my Mom's homemade cinnamon rolls on Thanksgiving morning.

 

Someday, I will post the recipe, they are relitively easy, and after growing up with them, even a Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll doesn't taste good!

Nana and Grandpa came over for coffee and a cinnamon roll  in the morning.  It was the perfect Thanksgiving morning.  Have I mentioned I LOVE living around the corner from my parents?!

We watched the parade for a while with my parents, and headed to DJ's parents for lunch.  We ate, Karson played with his cousins, and we headed back to my parent's for Karson to take a nap.  Holidays are hard on little ones, and we are sticklers about Karson's nap! When he woke up, Uncle Steve & Aunt Jenni were over, and we ate Turkey Dinner.  The best part about being pregnant on Thanksgiving...I don't feel full.  I ate a lot...a lot a lot.  Plus, maternity pants =  elastic waste.  Fabulous!  

Our Thanksgiving was wonderful.  I was having so much fun (and was absolutely exhausted :)), I totally forgot to take any pictures after breakfast. We have so much to be thankful for this year!!  I can't wait until next Thanksgiving...when a sweet baby girl will be joining us at our Thanksgiving Table!

DJ and I went to a meeting last night, without Karson.  The meeting started a little after 7, and when asked if anyone of us were in a hurry, or if we wanted her to drag it out, I just mentioned I wanted to be home in time to put my baby to bed.

The reaction from every Mom?

"We don't want to get home until our babies are in bed"

"Ug...I hope my kids are in bed by the time I get home."

And then there was a comment I won't even repeat.

I went to an ortho appointment, without Karson, last week.  I never walk into my dentist without Karson.  We don't have a whole lot of babysitting options, and it is easy enough to bring him with me.  The front desk's reaction...

"Milk it, & go sneak in a pedicure before you get home, for more time away."

"I was running out the door this morning to get away from my kids.  They were driving me crazy."

"Run while you can!."

Am I the only one who cringes when I hear these comments?

Especially when Karson is with me.

My baby is not a bother...he is not an obligation...he is not someone to run from.

Karson is a blessing.

I don't usually use this word, but I HATE being away from him.

Why is it ok for Mommies to talk about our kids this way?

Why is it ok for Mommies to say these things, behind their child's back?

So maybe, I'm just odd. I would rather be with Karson every second, than leave him with a babysitter.  I can't relax when I am not with him. Not because I don't think he is being cared well from his Aunts or my Mom, but because I miss him.  I hate being away from him.  

I blame my Mama...

Who was the exact same way with my brothers and I.  

Who raised me to know that children are a blessing NOT an obligation.

She spent Sunday morning raking a huge leaf pile.

A leaf pile for my little boy to play in.

A leaf pile Karson had so much fun in!

As did Mommy, and Daddy, and Nana, and Grandpa, and Molly, and Maggie.

The full belly giggle came out.  He had a blast!

He had a blast, because instead having DJ and my Dad pick up the leaves with the rider, Nana spent the morning raking them into a pile.  For her grand baby to play in.

Because the extra time for our babies is worth it.

Because my Mom knows full well, that babies are a blessing.

And our time with our babies, while they are babies, should be cherished, not ran from.

Our Town Fair

Every year, the end of summer is marked by our Town Fair.

We live in a small town.

Which isn't really that small.

But we claim it to be.

We also pretend it to be a country town.

Which it really isn't anymore.

But regardless, the fair is a big deal around here.

Animal Barns

Karson absolutely loved the animals.

He spent the whole time in the Cow Barn trying to convince me they were 'goggies.'

Karson: "Goggies, Mom!"

Me: "Munchkin, those are cows."

Karson: "No, Mom.  No.  Goggies"

He saw chickens, bunnies, pigs, cows (aka: goggies), goats,  and horses.

The cows were his favorite.

I love this picture.

Because, Karson is his Mother's Son.

I hate, hate, hate crowds of people.

I always grabbed onto my Mom's purse or shopping cart whenever there were a lot of people around.

To this day, if I am in a crowd of people, especially in an airport, I grab onto her purse.

Karson did this on his own, when we were walking through a crowd of people...

Rides

Be impressed.

I let my germaphobic ness go for the evening, and let DJ take Karson on the Carousal.

I do not do rides that go in circles.

Roller coasters...up and down...fine.

Circles...absolutely NOT!

I thought Karson would love it.

He looked a bit nervous though.

We had to wait a while before the ride started, so we tried to entertain him.

how big is Karson?

SOOOO BIG

It started moving, and he grabbed on.

...see the sliver of a smile?

Oh wait, this thing goes up and down too???

And this is what I saw when he came back around...

My kid is not going to be a fan of amusement parks...

I know the picture is blurry, but it makes me laugh.

Elephant Ears

We went for elephant ears twice.

Once with Nana.

And once with Daddy.

He may not share my love of french fries...

But he agrees.

Fried dough, with cinnamon and sugar is to die for!