Christmas--Noel Style

Well, Christmas definitely found us! Ian has been begging for superhero costumes all year long--I thought I would hit the jackpot after Halloween, but all I could find were Hannah Montana costumes...so I decided I would sew him some costumes. Save a little money, and hopefully come up with some better looking more durable alternatives. I also decided that the boys needed blankets for their beds so why not sew them some blankets?! Well, I'll tell you why not--I don't sew, it is not fast, I dislike using a pattern, I refuse to unpick anything, and I barely have a working knowledge of my sewing machine. Everything turned out cute and I only broke 2 needles, but I haven't gone to bed before midnight in awhile, the Primary in our ward has been neglected, dinner is always last minute, my children have memorized the schedule of programs on PBS...you get the idea. Anyway we did have a fabulous Christmas and I apologize for no neighbor gifts, no Christmas cards, no blogging, no e-mailing, no facebook updates...next year I am not sewing anything!

Thanks to Miss Nora we made some cute candy houses before Christmas.

Here is Ian with his creation. He has now declared that Christmas is over we may eat the house!

PJ's thanks to Grandma & Grandpa Noel--slippers thanks to Santa. Aren't they the cutest? Miles wants to wear them everywhere--today I made his wear his shoes because we were going to be outside, but he carried the slippers around in a Walmart sack.

Ian & Miles tearing into another gift. They both were so cute and excited about everything. Miles kept thinking every present was a "choo-choo" or a "car".

Santa brought Ian this mask to go with his homemade Hulk costume. Very cool for a 5 year old boy--kind of freaky for his mother.

Here is macho Miles with his cars jammies, slippers, and his macho pink bink. (It is the only one he hasn't lost)

Ian with one of my sewing projects. Santa brought matching gloves and he already has a Batman mask.

Yea! Finally a "choo-choo."

The costumes and trains have kept them busy for the last week--I'm hoping the novelty doesn't wear off too soon.

We spent Christmas Eve and the Noel's complete with great food, bell ringing, a nativity production, and lots of fun. On Christmas day I cooked my first turkey and thanks to the snow we were able to eat it with the snowed in Mair family. Nora whipped up some potatoes and a yummy pumpkin roll--it was a meal to remember. (Ian kept saying he hoped the neighbors dog would eat our turkey so we could have a Christmas like Ralphie in "A Christmas Story")

The sweetest moment of the day came when Ian come to me crying because he was sad that Grandma Lee was missing out on Christmas. After a talk we decided she was having the best Christmas because she see her whole family having their Christmas'. And she must be smiling because she is still passing out presents--before she passed away she decided to collect all of the U.S. State Quarters for all of her grandchildren. Well, when she passed away they were almost done--Grandpa finished them and this year I opened a present from Grandma Lee.

Read 'em all please!!

Or at least leave comments on all. I just tried to post on about everything we have been up to the last couple of weeks so keep on reading when you get to the end of this post. The order is random and due to my head feeling like it is underwater the writing might be a little sub-par, but read away---please.

Birthday Day Two

We kind of celebrated Dave's birthday on the official day and because we went out to dinner we didn't really want to leave Miles' celebration up to the babysitter--so here are some pics from Miles birthday one day later.

We got him this fish aquarium that you just plug in and turn on (my idea of a great pet). Ian had one when he was about two and loved it. It was a hit--here are Paige and Miles enjoying the pretend fish.

Here he is with his Tow Mater pillowcase. I saw this fabric at the store and showed it to him. He would not let go of it so we turned it into a pillowcase. He loves getting in his crib every night and has us name all the cars before he goes to sleep.

Miles is always so easy going and happy. What a great kid.

Blowing out the candles...yes he did blow out both of them by himself.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE ONE!

Birthday Buddies

It was Dave and Miles birthday a few day's ago.

We went to visit Dave at work and took him some presents and his favorite--pumpkin cheesecake.

Down vest from my parents--I might have to borrow it it looks so warm.

Wait who's birthday is it anyway! I guess Ian decided if it was Dave & Miles' day he had better get in on the fun. They had a fun day and I think every year I will wonder how Miles managed to show up as Dave's birthday present 2 years ago.

LOTOJA long plan--first step 5K

Back in September I started training for a 5K as part of my long term LOTOJA plan. I don't know if anyone is interested, but here is a quick update of my progress. I started with a training plan called "From the couch to the Finish Line." This was perfect for me, because although I don't sit on the couch all day I have always hated running. I am more of a weight lifting, rock climbing, yoga kind of girl. Anything non-cardio was my thing. Well, the training has gone well and I am know running about 25 minutes at a pop 3 times a week. (Minus the episodes of sinusitis) I am still incredibly slow I think I might run a 12 minute mile, but that could be on the fast side of things. I could probably walk faster, but my heart wouldn't get going as much. Anyway, my knees seem to be holding up (they have issues) and I've only tweaked my back once and that was during the first week. When I get a little faster and can go a little longer I'll be needing some ideas for a great fun race to run in and any volunteers who want to run very slowly with me or cheer from the sidelines.

Just in case you were wondering what else you could do with your baby booger sucker---

Ever since I had Ian I have suffered from a few sinus infections every year. And now it seems to be getting worse...I have had two in the last month. Antibiotics are usually the answer, but when the second one came on just a week after I finished the first round of pills I decided to try to wait this one out. After some googling I've discovered that you can/should shoot saline water up your nose to help get rid of an infection. It sounds completely crazy and uncomfortable, but after doing this two times a day for the last week...we have drainage!!! Dave says I should just go over to the gym and jump off the diving board without plugging my nose--that is about what it feels like. Anyway it seems to help, but I'm still sick and extremely exhausted so if you have any miracle cures please send them my way.

Oh, I have decided that due to this reoccurring annoyance I should lay off of the sugar---cake is no longer one of the food groups in our house. (I did have a small sliver on Miles' Birthday)

My First Digital Scrapbook Pages

Here are a few of my first pages to go along with the last post.

This is my first page--I think I lifted the idea from the DSM gallery. I didn't know how to resize the photo's quickly and I did it all by typing in random sizes into the image size until I got the desired size! It took me forever!!!

I learned to cut out circles on this page.


This page was my first page with extraction work.

This was one of my first attempts with drop shadows and outer glow.