We All Scream for FREE Ice Cream!

Just wanted to let all the peeps around here know that I contacted the Bruster's by the Capital City Mall (thanks for the tip Thrills) and they ARE participating in PJ Day tomorrow. They are open from 12-9pm, BUT you HAVE to mention that you are participating in PJ Day, or they will charge you regular price.

Update - the ice cream is delicious and the waffle cone is huge - definitely worth going!

What I Heard Over the Monitor

After putting the boys to bed, Dawson and I heard Brady talking/singing over the monitor. What was on his mind?...

"Bob (the) Builder, (can we) fix it...Scoop, Muck...Lorry too...Bob (the) Builder, (can we) fix it..."

It brought a smile to my face and a little chuckle too.

I'm a Mandarin

And finally, the last test for the moment...these tests somewhat have some truth in them, and they were a nice brain break for the moment.

I'm a Mandarin!

You're an intellectual, and you've worked hard to get where you are now. You're a strong believer in education, and you think many of the world's problems could be solved if people were more informed and more rational. You have no tolerance for sloppy or lazy thinking. It frustrates you when people who are ignorant or dishonest rise to positions of power. You believe that people can make a difference in the world, and you're determined to try.

Talent: 44%
Lifer: 46%
Mandarin: 54%

Take the Talent, Lifer, or Mandarin quiz.

I'm a Porche 911

A few of my friends did this test, so I am still taking a break and decided to take this too...

I'm a Porsche 911!

You have a classic style, but you're up-to-date with the latest technology. You're ambitious, competitive, and you love to win. Performance, precision, and prestige - you're one of the elite,and you know it.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

I am Clogs

This morning has been a little "rough", our lil' guy has had a hard time falling asleep for his naps and I am not sure why (he did have an 8 hour stretch between feedings last night - woo hoo!) and then there was the corn starch incident...let's just say that it "snowed" corn starch in our bedroom today (we use corn starch instead of baby powder).

Anyway, I decided to do one of those fun quizzes - I got this idea from my friend over at Livin' Life...I do have to say that some of the descriptions do fit me, and I do love my clogs!

You Are Clogs

You are a solid and down to earth person. You seek – and almost always achieve – a really sound balance in your life. You are stylish yet comfortable. Mellow but driven. Excited yet calm. You are the perfect mesh of contradictions. No matter what happens, you have the ability to stay well grounded in your life. People know that they can truly depend on you. You should live: In Europe You should work: At a company dedicated to helping the world

What Kind of Shoe Are You?

Great Photo Deal

I have been reading a few blogs that tell you all about deals that are going on - coupons, free items, sales, etc. I have been enjoying receiving some of these deals (some I ignore) and definitely wanted to share this one that I read about on Money Saving Mom.

CVS is offering 65 free 4x6 prints! I think that is amazing and I am planning on taking part in this great deal - I have many, many photos to print, thanks to my digital camera - why take one photo, when you can take ten just as easily! :) Anyway, read more about it here and take advantage of this great deal.

Happy Birthday Brady!

This past Saturday, we celebrated Brady's 2nd birthday - which was January 2nd, but we were a little preoccupied at the time to celebrate then! :)

The theme of the party was wild animals because Brady LOVES animals. He loves to identify the animal and then say the noise that it makes - it is so cute! Dawson decorated the place with streamers and balloons, and the kids had a great time. I read the book From Head to Toe by Eric Carle. It is such a cute book where you read what an animal does and then ask the kids if they can do it - so, there are a lot of actions to it. Other activities included havinge the kids make animal noises and then I printed out some coloring pages for them on cardstock - they had four pictures to choose from: a lion, giraffe (Brady LOVES giraffes), elephant and monkey. The kids LOVED the coloring pages! They had a great time doing that, and while they were coloring, the adults were able to get the food on the plates for lunch.

I could not have done this party without the help of Dawson, my mom - who made really cute animal cookies - they were the size of animal crackers - and my sister who made the awesome lion cake. My mom and my sister are SO talented and are so helpful too! Thank you guys so much for your help!

The party was great, the kids had fun, the food was yummy and dessert was great! Birthdays are so much fun to celebrate with my family. As adults, we get a yummy ice cream cake, and for the kids, we have fun throwing them a party - that has a theme. Some people might say we are crazy...but I say that we just love to do it!

My "Surprise" Special Delivery

Yesterday, I received an email from Dawson letting me that there was going to be a special delivery that was going to be made somewhere between 9-5! He told me that he wanted it to be a complete surprise, but he decided to give me a heads up, so that I would answer the door (even if I was a little busy at the moment with one of the boys).

I was so excited! I had a feeling that it would be flowers, but I was not sure! He has never sent flowers to me since we have been married, so who knows! (he has given me flowers, but has hand delivered them)

Yesterday, at about 4:50pm, I saw the delivery truck drive up, and I went to the door to receive a box. Inside the box were the beautiful bouquet of one dozen red roses and a little box of chocolates. They are such beautiful roses and they smell so good! I will have to post another photo of them (if I think about it) as they begin to bloom. Dawson walked into the house about 5 minutes later and he got a big kiss and hug! :) It was so thoughtful of him to do this! He told me that he has been wanting to do this for a while, and so, he finally did. He is the best...even if he did not send me flowers, he is still the best!

Thank you Dawson for my beautiful flowers. You really made me feel special, appreciated and loved! You will always be my #1 Valentine! I love you!

One Down...Three More To Go!

Today, we found out that one of Brady's two year molars has pushed through!!! We are SO excited about that! However, the other three are not visible yet! :(

We prayed a lot before and while Brady was teething - that he would not have any pain and that they would come in easily and quickly. He really did not have any problems with any of his teeth coming in. I have heard many "horror" stories from other parents, and we were very thankful that his sleep was never interrupted by the teeth coming in...until now.

Yes, we still are praying and yes, God is still God, but we are out of the Garden and pain does exist. Brady had a span of a few days in which he woke up during the night with a fever, and that was the only symptom - I had a feeling that it was the teething, but you really do not know until a tooth suddenly pops through. So, now, I know that the fever was related to this tooth coming in. He would also wake up crying midway through his naps (on and off) recently.

So, I am happy that this tooth has come in - we cheered! And I am looking forward to these other three coming in...hopefully soon...just in time for the baby to start teething! I am praying that he has a similar experience as Brady did!

How Do You Like Your Oatmeal - Burnt or Spewed?

This morning was a little interesting, to say the least! There were times that I just "lost my head" - I just would get distracted and forget what I was doing!

This was one of the first mornings that our Lil' Baby did not wake up around 5:30am - just because he had gas (or something!) - it was usually after about an hour after I had fed him, and I guess it really has been during the last week. So, that was a cool thing, but when he woke up at 7:15am, we realized that we overslept! (or at least Dawson had - I usually like to be up and ready for the day by then, but I do not have to leave the house for work!)

So, I fed the baby, Dawson got some clothes on to go shovel - I think that he was out there for over an hour, because of all of the ice. I made some oatmeal for Brady and myself - that is what I am used to doing - Dawson usually makes his own breakfast. However, when he came in from outside, I offered him some. I did not make enough for him too, but knew he had to get to work, so I gave him what I made, and started to make some more. This is where I started to get forgetful...

So, I started the oatmeal on high, to get it boiling (and then I turn it to low for 5 minutes). Dawson had said that he wanted to check the weather, so I went over to the computer and got it going, and got distracted by an email from a friend...

Suddenly, I heard Dawson walking into the kitchen and said, "I thought I smelled something burning!" Yes, the oatmeal was still on high! AND it was burning on the bottom!

Oh well - start over again. I got some more going, and thankfully, Dawson was still in the kitchen with me, because I got distracted making coffee, and almost forgot about it again!!!

I told Dawson that it was "his fault" that I burnt the oatmeal, because I am not used to him being around still and he was distracting me - you know, because I turned the computer on for him and made coffee for him. (which he forgot on the counter - he was bummed about that!). I said all of that with a smile and laugh of course! :)

Moving on...while Dawson was still here, Brady pooped in his diaper - I went to go and get the diaper bag from the other room, but got distracted and totally forgot, until Dawson walked into the room where Brady was and I heard him say, "Buddy, you stink!" Oops! That would have been changed already, but I got distracted! Can't blame that one on Dawson! I cannot remember what distracted me, but I got the diaper bag and changed our little boy. (Yes, Dawson could have done it, but he was eating breakfast and getting ready for work).

Moving on with our morning. We waved "bye, bye" to Daddy, and then I had to feed the baby. After he was put back down for another nap, we had time to eat our now cold oatmeal. I have eaten cold oatmeal many times, so I really did not mind - neither did Brady. Brady and I were eating at the table and then Brady said that he was "all done" and then "watch TV" - he had a few more spoonfuls left, so I told him that he had to eat some more oatmeal and then he could watch a show...

I really should have believed that he was all done. He is a good eater and I really have no problems with the amount that he eats. So, I decided that he would be done after two more bites. The first bite was no problem...

The second bite went like this (all at once)

I gave him the last spoonful of oatmeal (which I thought was swallowed)

He went to put his paci in his mouth

Suddenly, oatmeal is spewed from his mouth - on his cute snowboarder sweatshirt, on his hands, the chair and the carpet!

I was like - "WHAT JUST HAPPENED!!!" and "GROSS!!!"

So, I cleaned him up and then he told/showed me that he had sneezed...ok, that makes sense, but it was still so gross...why had I "forced" one more bite!!! :)

So, it is all cleaned up and I have to say that I did not get upset by anything that happened. I figured that as long as I take care of my kids today and they are fine, it is ok if something gets burned or spewed across the room...that can be cleaned up!

So, I have about an hour left before the Lil' Baby wakes up, so I need to make good use of this time...and go clean a bathroom! Sounds like fun! :)

Kindness in Action

I just have to say that we have the best neighbors! This afternoon, I heard snowblowers being used outside, and suddenly, I felt as though the noise was VERY LOUD, like right in our driveway LOUD! I looked out the window, and there is my neighbor, blowing out our driveway!

She is the kindest neighbor! A tear even came into my eye because of her kindness. I don't know if we will live in this house forever, but I am so thankful for the neighbors that God has given to us.

Signed, Sealed, and Being Delivered!

I have finally finished filling in the info. on the birth announcements, printing out the photos to include and finishing writing and printing out the Christmas/New Years/Birth Announcement newsletter! I am very excited that I have been able to get all of that accomplished and it was sent out today (thanks to my mom and dad picking them up today and dropping them off at the post office!).

It was a lot of fun to make the announcements, but I am not sure that I would make them for the next baby...if there is another one! :) It is way too early to tell if we are "done" or not with having children. I am very happy with two, but I also want however many that the Lord has planned for our family and if it is two, that is fine with me! :)

So, now I will be focusing on the rest of the planning for Brady's two year old birthday party. This house needs to be cleaned up and I need to do some shopping - that might not happen until Thursday though!

Happy Birthday Dawson

Yesterday was Dawson's birthday! Happy Birthday to the man that I love! Since you were born on the 10th, here are 10 things that I love about you!

1. Your heart is after the Lord. Even when you feel like you are "slowing down" - I still know where your heart is (and so does the Lord)

2. You love me unconditionally - even when my hormones are a little out of whack! :)

3. You love our two boys and play with them every day!

4. You gives Brady his baths (and will eventually give the baby his baths too!)

5. Your laugh - I love when I hear you laugh hard, especially when you have had a rough day

6. Your smile - it is so cute and warming!

7. You will make breakfast, lunch or dinner when you know that I am not able to do it - I don't even have to ask!

8. You change diapers - and lots of them! :)

9. You make me happy when skies are gray

10. We have fun together and try to make each other not take things too seriously all of the time

I love you, Hunny. I definitely could make a longer list - but the baby is crying! (So that is why I did 10 things and not 32!) I pray that the Lord blesses you in new ways in this coming year of your life.

Love, your Sweetums

A Contest I Would LOVE to Win!

There is a contest over at 5 Minutes For Moms involving an Oreck XL vacuum. So, head on over there and enter to win! I would love to win it! It is only 9 pounds! That is less than what my baby boy (probably) weighs!

Ahhh...

Yesterday was a hard day for my little guy - he still was dealing with the gas problem, but today...Today is a much better day! He has been sleeping throughout his whole nap!

I really needed that...he REALLY needed that!

So, now, I need to get some dinner ready for tonight and maybe tackle something else, or maybe just rest...I am a little tired from the past two days.

Gurgle, Gurgle, Gurgle

That is the noise that we heard from our little four week old's stomach yesterday. Yesterday was a very draining day for me...

I could not really understand why our baby would not take his naps like he normally does. He would have such a hard time falling asleep, then he would not sleep for long and wake up crying. That repeated throughout the day. I could hear gurgling in his stomach and I tried to help him get the air out - either end would have been fine! However, I just could not seem to help him get all of it out.

It was a long day - feeding him, wake time, he yawns, time to put him down to sleep. He cries - but not the cry of "I will fall asleep soon, I just need to cry a little bit." This was a cry in which you know that their is gas trapped inside him. So, I would go back up, burp him (and he did burp - but not all of the gas would come out), I would do the backwards "C" on the left side of his stomach - some gas came out the other end, but not all of it, I would change his diaper, swaddle him and pray with him (petitioning to the Lord to please help!), put him down for his nap again, and hope that this would be the time that he would fall asleep. He would sometimes fall asleep, but not for too long.

By the time that Dawson came home, I was wiped out. Then we figured out that it was probably the cooked onions in the quesadillas that I ate and/or the spinach lasagna. Something that I ate gave the little guy gas...

Anyway, he slept well last night and this morning went well, but this afternoon has not gone too well...Hopefully, this gaseous milk will be out of my system soon so that I can have a little break throughout the day again!

Thanks to my mom who came over last night to put Brady to bed while I was putting the baby to bed and Dawson was at a doctor's appointment - she is the best! :)

Super Bowl Sadness

I have to say that I was very surprised that I was so disappointed that the Patriots did not win the Superbowl - I mean, the Giants were my #1 team growing up! However, I guess I am a true Patriots fan now - Dawson has converted me!

I suppose that I also wanted to see the Patriots go undefeated for the whole season - that is not an easy task to do.

However, I do have to give props to the Giants defense - they were amazing! I do not think that Tom Brady had been sacked or knocked down that many times in the whole season - let alone one game. I think that the defense should have all received the MVP award. No other team had shut down Brady the way that they did.

So, congrats to the Giants and to my sister TCC - you know that she was a happer camper!

I do have to say that I am SO disappointed in the commercials this year! There really were not any good ones, except for the baby spitting up on the computer. They were not really funny at all...unless I missed those during the first 45 minutes of the game when I was feeding/putting the baby to bed. Maybe they will have some better ones next year!

Bloggy Giveaway Winner

I was so glad that the winner of the "My Husband Rocks" Tee shirt was chosen randomly! I really enjoyed reading all of the comments about why the writer's husband rocks.

So, without further ado...the winner of the tee shirt is...

Comment #58 Amanda, from who wrote
I really love these tees and the thought behind them! My husband rocks because he always works hard, both helping me around the house and outside the home providing for us. He is always supportive of me!

Congratulations Amanda!

If you did not win a tee shirt and would like to purchase one, then head on over to From*me Tees and choose the one that you would like to proudly wear!