Root-beer Float

I found a new root-beer...and it's delicious.  I love me some root-beer, so I bought some for my family to try.  Blip had never had rooter before (obviously), so one night after dinner I made him a root-beer float. His first one ever...and I think he liked it.

Salted Caramel

This year for Mike's family I made salted caramel sauce.  It was super easy to make, but don't try to do it when friend's drop in to say hello...

THIS is NOT what it should look like.

After the first try...I got it right.  It took a lot longer to cook than I expected.  I didn't want to burn it, but it just took a long time...so I didn't end up burning any of it. Whew.

The end result:

And ready to gift:

Everett Kyle

Sydney and Neal came home for Christmas, so we were able to meet their new baby, Everett Kyle.  We were able to see him a few times while he was here...and they even blessed him before heading back to Idaho.

One of the coolest things was having five generations under one roof...Grandma Joyce, my dad, my sister, my niece, and baby Everett.  Pretty cool.  I know that won't happen for most of us, so I think it's pretty special.

It was fun to snuggle a brand new baby...it makes me excited to meet my baby girl, but also a little bit frightened.  We aren't ready for a baby.  And my back causing me issues is NOT helping.  Hopefully this won't last long and the next 10 weeks will be full of baby prep...and a 3rd birthday party.

Christmas: Take 2

We celebrated Christmas with Mike's family a couple days after Christmas this year.  It worked out well not having to juggle as much on Christmas day...and it helped keep the holidays around a little longer, too.  

Aunt Kelly hosted everyone for the holiday.  We ate a yummy meal and  the kids all played until Grandpa Santa arrived to pass out gifts.  It was fun to watch Blip and Tucker together...it always is, but on Christmas it was really fun.  Those two boys are super cute together...we're so thankful Patrick and Sarah had a baby boy at the perfect time to be besties with Blip.

We had a nice time celebrating with everyone.  My back has been bothering me, so I wasn't much fun, but it was nice to celebrate with the family all together.  My poor mother-in-law has had shingles for well over a month and spent the day prior in the ER, so we were happy she was able to be there with us too.

Day After Christmas

I took the day of Christmas off since it was a Friday.  It seemed like a great idea since Mike had the day off too...I thought it would make a long, fun, family weekend with lots of time being our little threesome.

Instead, Mike decided to go hunting all day on Friday.  I was unhappy, but he made the plans without discussing them with me, so pretty much I wish I would have saved my 8 hours of vacation time and sent Blip to his already paid for day care/school.  Oh well.  Live and learn.  Luckily the day turned out to be not all bad...and a little chilly.

When Mike finally got home from hunting and Blip had napped...we decided to head up to ride the train in Anthem.  It was fun and the equipment was new since we had been there.  Blip LOVED the train and he LOVED the new play equipment.  I'm pretty sure he would bring a tent and live at the park if we let him.  

Christmas 2014

This year we followed some of our "old" traditions, but I'm excited for a time when our family actually has traditions of our own to follow...and everyone is able and old enough to participate.  I'm not wishing the years away...just excited for the next few years as Blip seems to be growing up even when I beg him not to.

For our Christmas Eve tradition that's now a few years in the making...we had dinner with my parents and Raelynn.  We met up at Olive Garden again this year.  Not a bad place to have Christmas Eve dinner.  It's not pizza (like we had growing up), but I don't have to cook it, so it's a win in my book. (Not that I seem to cook much of anything these days...not really a win for me. Oh well.)

This year my folks were out of town until the 23rd...and had been gone for about two weeks-ish helping with a cousin's wedding in Iowa.  I was excited to see them home safe...and Blip just missed his Papa.  And Nana, too, of course.

After dinner we headed home to get ready for bed.  This year was not our best with me being so exhausted (re: pregnant), so Blip opened his two gifts (Ninja Turtle jammies & shark slippers) and off to bed we all went.  Oh wait...we didn't get to go to bed quite that early.  For the first time in my life I hadn't even started to wrap gifts yet.  I hope this never happens again.  I also hope I never forget to take a picture of my kid(s) in their jammies on Christmas Eve again.  I'm so not getting the Mother of the Year award for the holidays this year...oh well. :)

By the time everything was wrapped and done...Blip was long asleep and we never even left cookies for Santa.  The plate was out, but we didn't get around to it.  I felt awful, but he'll never remember, right?  There's always next Christmas to make up for this one...I hope!

Mike & I headed for bed around 1am (about 5 hours later than I needed to be in bed).  Luckily we were blessed with the best child ever.  He didn't make a sound until 8:30am.  He came and giggled with us in bed for a short time before we headed downstairs to see if Santa came while we were sleeping.

This was the first Christmas that Blip "got it"...and it did not disappoint.  He learned Christmas songs at school, so he sang Christmas music daily. We sang together...or I'd hear him in the other room singing to himself.  They made fun crafts, had a cute program, learned about Baby Jesus, etc.  He was REALLY excited for Santa this year. He talked about getting a scooter non-stop after our Polar Express trip at the beginning of December.

Santa delivered Blip a red scooter...just like he asked for.  He was thrilled.  If it had been the only gift under the tree Blip would have been happy. But we also got him our traditional five gifts (something to read, wear, play, need, and want) and Santa also filled his stocking. 

This year I didn't stick to the exact gift tag, but pretty close.  Read- Blip got 4-5 new books. Wear- Blip got a baseball glove and some balls to catch. Play- Blip got a train table complete with a train. Need- since he truly needs nothing...Blip got a teepee.  Want- there is nothing I can think of that Blip wants, so he got a fishing counting/colors game.

Mike and I agreed to skip the gift giving this year, but he didn't listen.  Mike bought be some new lotions and a blender thingy I asked for a few months ago...plus Santa filled our stockings too.

After we had breakfast, we all took a nap.  Well...Blip sat in between us in our bed and watched a show while we slept.  I am NOT a napper...that should tell you how exhausted I was.  I felt pretty guilty that we spent Christmas morning sleeping, but I knew I'd never make it without some more sleep.  After about 1.5 hours we got  up, got ready, and headed to Robyn's for our family celebration.

Sydney and Neal were here with Everett, so we finally got to meet the newest addition to our family.  He was so tiny and sweet...makes me want to meet my little girl even more.  We ate a yummy meal and then did our white elephant gift exchange.  It was fun again this year...even Blip brought a gift to participate.  There was a lot of gift stealing which always makes the game more fun.

We brought a little tricycle to give to Blip while we were at Robyn's.  It was one more thing we wanted him to have before he was too big for it.  It is so cute and was given to us when Blip was a brand new baby by a family friend.  It looks brand new and Blip just learned how to pedal, so it was the perfect time...even though he was at his limit for gifts from us.  Richelle and Robyn always spoil him rotten and this year was no different. Richelle gave Blip has FAVORITE toy this year (other than his scooter)...a car tower as tall as he is.  He plays with it all. the. time.  By far the winner.

As much as this year sucked with my energy level down and my ability to be able to do much myself (and after having more than $1k stolen from our checking account...long, fraudulent story)...it really was the best Christmas so far.  Seeing the holidays through the eyes of a child makes it truly magical.

27 Weeks 3 Days

Christmas Program

Ms. Barbie had a little Christmas program at school.  All the kiddos participated...Blip was a sheep.  He had never been in a program before.  And I was a little excited to see how he did...he did not disappoint.  My little guy was the cutest little sheep there ever was.  He wasn't shy at all...he crawled across the "stage" making his "baa baa" loud enough for all to hear.  It was dang cute.

My parents were in Iowa, so they weren't able to attend.  Mike's mom has been suffering with shingles, so she was not able to attend either.  Blip was lucky enough to have Grandpa there to support him...and he loves him some Grandpa!  Who doesn't?

It was a short program, but it was fun to see all the kids and to hear them sing all the cute Christmas songs they had been learning.

We absolutely LOVE Ms. Barbie.  She is an angel...Mike calls her the "Child Whisperer".  We could not have found a better woman to care for, love, and teach Blip.  We are blessed to have her in our lives.

These are a few of the things Blip brought home as he made them for Christmas this year.