Christmas 2008 Art Project

So you may have seen the "bead trees" in the pictures of my Mom's house. I've also posted my version of them as well. Mom got the idea out of the "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine, and they are super cute! Total cost for my three trees was approximately $30. Here's how to do them...

Step 1: Purchase 3 styrofoam cones from a craft store, and approx. 5, 18 foot strands of beads (you know, the kind you would put on a tree. Walmart sells them for $2) You will also need a low temp hot glue gun ($2.99) and glue (another $2.99) Finally, you will need spray paint and an optional metallic color to sponge paint over the spray paint (like I did.) Also optional... glitter. You'll notice my mom's trees have them (look by the nativity seen, for example) but my trees don't. See my previous "glitter" post. Step 2: Find a comfortable spot to sit down, you're going to be their for a good 20 minutes per tree/cone. Starting from the bottom, run a bead of glue for 3-4 inches, and then place the beads on it. Continue on in this fashion until you reach the top, then kind of continue winding to finish it off nicely. Cut the strand. Complete all three trees.

Step 3: Find a good open space, and spray paint! Once that's dry, you can take a foam brush and dip it lightly in your metallic paint and brush it over the beads. This was THE MOST FUN part of the project, although I enjoyed each step thoroughly. You can then place them on candlesticks or some other type of lift and display them. You can also cut out small pieces of wood, and attach a dowel to look like the trunk of the tree (again, see my Mom's nativity.)

Happy project doing, if you do it, I want to see pictures of yours!

Holiday Decorating 101

We had lunch at Mom's following Madelyn's baptism today, and as I was taking pictures, I thought I'd photograph all of her BEAUTIFUL holiday decorations. She makes a lot of them herself, so if you want instructions on anything, let me know. Her house is just gorgeous (she's going to shoot me for posting this!)

The front door

Entry way table.
A votive cup with sugar and a pinecone.. it looks like a snowdrift!

Love these glass containers, and the balance between texture and sparkle.

Wayne adores this nativity set

Again, handmade trees!

Above the computer...

Above the TV

Fireplace mantle

Did I "save" money?

Rather than post how much money I "saved" over the Black Friday festivities, I will post the "added value" I received. Because lets face it.... I didn't save any money at all, I only spent it! I actually added up and calculated who owed me what last night, and it was more than $500! I shopped for quite a few other people, which I totally enjoy doing. The one thing better than getting your own killer deal is getting one for someone else! By my estimation, those kiddo's are getting twice as much for Christmas, since most of what I bought was half off. Go me! I received $210 in additional VALUE at Kmart alone, let alone Kohl's, Walmart, Michael's and Target. I am now almost done Christmas shopping. I have Tyler, Todd, and a gift exchange gift to purchase for yet. Woo-hoo! The only thing left to decorate here at home are two trees and the outdoor lights. Otherwise, it's time to play the Christmas music and enjoy the season! Oh yeah, and make my own Christmas list. Tyler says I can't shop for myself. I tell him I don't need anything, he tells me tough, think of something. Today we have my niece's baptism and lunch following, it should be great fun, and I'm so excited to photograph her, she's a doll!

Glitter

I hate glitter, I really do. It's on decorations, wrapping paper and ornaments. It's on couches, carpet, cards and kids. I even found some in Weston's diaper. I am declaring our a house a NO GLITTER ZONE! Later this afternoon, I am going to declare war and dust vacuum and power mop all the surfaces in order to eradicate it. Ugh. It permeates every nook and cranny. I hate glitter, I really do.

Readers are leaders.

We had company tonight, and of course Wayne roped them both into reading to him... book after book after book after book after... You get the picture!

I'm baaack!

My sanity has returned folks, and I am alive and unscathed from this mornings madness. Truly, I was up and at 'em soooo early, and stood outside in the drizzling rain for 25 minutes before walking through the doors of Kohl's. I was person #500 or so I was told by their manager, and when I got to the toy department, I just grabbed and got in line. I had to set the toys down to situate them in order to walk to the line (for those not familiar with Black Friday - a cart is a rare find in these stores!) and I actually had someone CLIMB OVER ME! And she was no feather if you know what I mean. Oy vae! I buzzed through, and then went straight to Walmart and met Tanya and Trisha to stand in line for another 2o minutes in the drizzle. By my own estimation, there were approx. 1500 - 2000 people waiting outside those doors (based upon the Kohl's line, multiplied by the Walmart line!) We were sooo worried that we wouldn't get everything (or anything!) on our lists, but we should not have fretted... Wally World always comes through! They had TONS of their sale items, and two full carts and a 50 inch flat screen later (no, it was not for us, and yes it was HEAVY!) we were on to our next target. I cruised through Michael's, then met up again with Tanya and Trisha at..... Target! (Get my lame joke?) That place was nuts. There were two lines, starting at the front registers then wrapping around the sides of the store to the back, where the toys were. I swear, at one point the people at the end of each line could shake hands! But, being the smart and savvy shoppers that we are, we went to check out at the pharmacy counter (Steve, who I used to work with, is the pharmacist and runs the register for the madness!) We cruised on out of there, then went to grab breakfast and coffees. One final pitstop back at Kohl's (what can I say? I am a glutton for punishment!) and I was DONE. I thought I was going strong until we hit the line at Kohl's, and I realized that just like that, I needed to go home.

I spent the rest of the day helping Tyler, watching the boys, sorting gifts, decorating, delivering gifts and cleaning up. Whew! And no, I did not have a nap. I am PRAYING that I sleep tonight!

I SOOOOO owe you all pictures. I am hoping to take some of the decor and boys tomorrow and get them up. Until then.... Hasta la vista!

Black Friday plan of attack.

Oh yes folks, I'm giving away my plan. Sorry, but due to the nature of my readers, I cannot post my list, but here's where I'll be...

4am - Kohl's

5am - Walmart (if you're up, say a prayer for me here, I am scared of this store!)

6am - Target

remainder of the morning will be spent at Michael's, Sears, Costco, and possibly a few other stops.

I am wearing red, and Christmas socks. I have been up since 2am! (Seriously, tonight I am finding the Tylenol PM!) Sorry for the blurry photo, but I had to turn my flash off!

Check back later when I've recovered from this temporary lapse in good judgement, and I will post the retail value and paid amount of my shopping.... I already saved $210 on my Kmart purchases!

My best Black Friday memory is

the year when I was pregnant with Wayne. Tyler woke up at 4am to make me bacon, eggs and hashbrowns before I went shopping. He said he knew I wouldn't make anything for myself, and he had to be a good dad and look out for his baby... *Sigh* He's amazing. Hmm.. wonder how I could convince him to do it this year?!?

Let the madness..... begin!

I'm not sure if blogger is going to post the time correctly, but yes folks, it's 5:40am on Thanksgiving morning. That darn Kmart is having a Thanksgiving sale today, and it's actually pretty good. I have about 10 things on my list to get, so I am going to meet my "sista' from anotha' mista'" (as we like to say around the DeGroot clan) at 6:30 to drive in and SHOP! In my defense for all of you who think I need to be committed... everything on my list is half off, or buy one get one free. And, I am not only shopping for myself, but for my mom and grandma too. On to the next thing. Why do I have time to blog? I haven't been sleeping all that well lately. I wake up by 3 or 4am, and that's it. There's no going back to sleep at that point. I tried for two hours today, and finally said forget it, I might as well shower and get ready! Tyler thinks I've been so excited about going shopping. Who knows, maybe he's right! :-)

I should be home by 8 or 8:30. The boys will just be waking up, and I'll make them pancakes for breakfast. Then I'll get them ready, and see if Wayne wants to watch the parade on TV. I have a few things to make foodwise for the festivities today, but otherwise we'll be pretty low key until we leave for Groen's at 12:15. I'll post some pics tomorrow, as well as fill you in on my shopping conquests!

And finally, what I'm thankful for. I am definitely thankful for all of the usual things... family, health, faith, kids, etc. But this year, I want to be specific, and be thankful for the little things. Here they are, in no particular order:

• I am thankful for lips covered in peanut butter and jelly that want to give me a kiss and say "thanks Mommy" for the lunch that I made.
• I am thankful for little boys who don't know how to express their love, so they just attack you with their hands, pull on your hair, and jump up and down laughing while you grit you teeth and bare it because it is so precious.
• I am thankful for having a normal Thanksgiving this year, because last year I was in the hospital, scared to death.
• I am thankful that God knows all, and I don't (don't tell Tyler that, it's our secret!) My heart and head are not strong enough to know all that is in our future, both good and bad, but God does. And he works everything together for good, because He loves ME!
• I am thankful for a Mom who prays for me, and my family, specifically. She has prayed for Tyler since I was little, and I pray for the wives of my boys too.
• I am thankful for cold weather that makes you want to slow down and snuggle up with 1 of the three boys around here! :0) I have a few options....(for you freaks who may try to read between the lines... that would be WESTON, WAYNE, and TYLER!)
• I am thankful for my sister. I have really been blessed to know her again over the past year while she was pregnant with Madelyn, and after that precious child was born. I don't think she could ever comprehend how much she was prayed for, and how loved she is (both Tara and Maddie!) My relationship with my sister is an answer to prayer. I do love to tease her that she has a doll, not a baby though... babies cry, and Maddie doesn't!
• I am thankful for my husband who is getting old. He turned 29 yesterday, and I am humbled and blessed to have had him for another year. He is the last piece of my puzzle, the one that brings the whole picture in focus, and the best piece of them all!
• I am thankful for the many talents that God gave me. I hope that I am using them, every one, to glorify Him and turn people towards Christ. I hope that in me, they see something different, something that sets me apart from all the rest. I hope they see that it has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with my Heavenly Father. He's amazing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The countdown is REALLY on!

Okay, with 3 days left until shopping (alright, for you literal folks, it's 2 days + some hours) I can't believe how fast the weeks have gone. There were approx. 22 days on the counter when I first posted it to the blog, and now it's almost here! Our days have been pretty jam packed lately, and the boys are growing WAAAAYYYY too fast right now. Weston continues to blossom as he is feeling so much better these days. He still can't really take any solids without getting a stomach ache and spitting them up, but he is eating his bottles and getting his ounces in most days. Wayne is talking like crazy. I overheard him saying to Weston, "No, no Wesson! I no share. It MY TURN!" the other day and cracked up. He is also in to "Big Crash"es.... I think there was a Thomas episode where the trains crashed, and now of course Wayne's GeoTrax trains have to crash. He sets them up quite a ways apart, knowing they are on a collision course with each other, then sits back and watches, eyes huge and jumping up and down. When they finally hit each other, he screams, "BIG CRASH!" Boys. I hear girls play dolls and "house." Those activities sound so quiet, and it is DEFINITELY not quiet around here too often!

I've been getting all the Christmas decorations out, my Mom is coming here today to help me finish (she has such a flair for that!) We are also taking the boys' Christmas pictures, and trying for Madelyn's too. Hopefully they turn out! I just feel like I have a dozen or so half finished projects around here. I can't vacuum until all the decorations are up, I can't finish my craft project until the decorations are off of the table. I can't put up the tree in the front room until I move all the wrapped presents, and I can't move the wrapped presents until pictures are done! So... I'm blogging! What's a girl to do?

Speaking of blogging... you all need to be leaving more comments these days! :-) It's starting to feel like I'm writing to a screen. Just kidding, but I do love to hear back from all of you, and if you have a blog, I will try and leave more comments myself. I check them almost daily you know. I love the new "followers" feature in blogger, it really helps.

Okay, I better try and accomplish something while both boys are napping. I better prepare for their photo shoot!

Someone's pregnant....

....and it's not me! I was THRILLED to find out today that my cousin Amy is pregnant, and due in June. She is three months along, and besides being sick, all is going well. Woo-hoo! The Scheenstra family Christmas gatherings are going to get even more wild. Can't wait!

Black Friday Ads Released!

Go to http://black-friday.net to preview all the ads. More stores are releasing their ads daily, so keep checking back!

Frick'n cold!

Where do I begin? Okay, we'll start with Wayne stories....

Story #1: The other day the boys and I were in the Jeep when Tyler called. He asked how the weather was, and since I had just been running around outside in it, I replied, "It's frick'n cold!" Of course for the next 15 minutes I had to hear Wayne repeat that phrase over, and over, and over. While it's not the greatest thing for a two year old to repeat, I guess it could have been worse. I will definitely be minding my words from now on!

Story #2: Wayne got his first Christmas tree! Grandma brought over a bag for him today, and inside was a miniature tree, with miniature ornaments for Wayne to put in his room. This was a big tradition for us kids when we were little, and I had TOTALLY forgotten what a big deal it was. I was so touched that my mom remembered, and wanted Wayne to have those special memories too. He was THRILLED!

Story #3: Well, not really a story, but our Wayne is an addict. A train addict. More specifically, a GeoTrax train (and track) addict. He plays with them for HOURS and HOURS each day. It' so weird that he is upstairs playing while I'm downstairs getting things done. Tyler and I both head up and play with him sometimes, but we are usually kicked out for not doing something the "right" way. He just uses us to build track layouts, then pushes us out the door!


All else is going well! We have had a wonderful day today, doing laundry, setting up the Dicken's Christmas village, cleaning, finishing projects, painting garage trim, and sorting Pampered Chef orders (they are in! I'll be delivering them in the next few days!) Tuesday is the big Christmas decorating day around here... I can't wait! We are having 2 trees this year, one fake, one real. The fake one will be in the coffee room, so you can see it through the front window. How cute! After shopping on Friday (oh yeah baby folks... less than one week away!) Tyler will do his manly thing and put up the Christmas lights and reindeer (hopefully they keep all four on the floor this year!) I am so excited to put everything up, since we missed out last year (well, Mom and Trisha helped with the inside decorating last year. Without them it would have been pretty sparse!) The shipments have been rolling in 2 and 3 a day, so I've got to get caught up on my wrapping. I'll have to take a picture of the gift pile in the office one of these days for you all. Later!

Holiday Shopping on Overdrive!

I have been doing a bunch of sh0pping online for Christmas, getting good deals here and there, free shipping, discounts, and using Ebates! However, when I look in my email inbox, I have around 15 different emails relating to order confirmations, shipping notices, etc. and I now think it's time to stop and let the shipments roll in! Seriously... Ridiculous! I also can't believe that 7 days and 14 hours from now is BLACK FRIDAY! Why am I so looking forward to getting up early and fighting the masses you ask? I have a well thought out philosophy I'd like to share.

1. I actually like waking up early. It's a day to accomplish a lot.
2. Shopping without the boys is fun.
3. Getting coffee, and getting more coffee is always a reason to leave the house! :-)
4. I love wrapping all the gifts when we get home.
5. I love the jump start on the Holiday shopping!
6. I love pouring over the ads on Thanksgiving, strategizing and making my list. I love to get other people to go too, when they had no intentions of it!
7. I can't wait to go this year, because I missed last year because I was in the hospital with pregnancy issues with Weston. Nothing stunk more then missing out because I was in a hospital bed, high on medication!
8. I love helping other people by picking up things for them too at a great price, within reason!
9. Finally, it's a great time of fellowship with other women. Honestly, If I didn't buy one thing, or didn't get the item on the top of my list, I would be thrilled to go just to open doors for women with their arms full, hand my cart of to someone who needs it, and just sit and chat with these women in line. It's amazing the things people tell you while you are waiting in line at Kohl's at 6am. If just one person looks at me and thinks, "Hmm.. she's different. It's not about the shopping for her" then I feel that my true mission is accomplished. At church we are always talking about "being Christ" to others, and I feel that joining the chaos on this day is one unique way I can show it. You may think this is a stretch, and that's fine. It's just how I feel.

Is it Wednesday already?

This has been one of those weeks you know is coming, and yet there is nothing you can do to prepare for it.... BUSY! :-) I worked a LONG day on Monday, while Tyler watched the boys. It's a great day for me to accomplish a lot at the office, and Tyler really enjoys being home with the boys. I try and make sure there are always either leftovers for dinner, or a crockpot meal going. Tuesday... we didn't really do anything productive, just ran errands in town (fun errands, no Walmart or Costco involved!) and played trains with Wayne. And protected Weston (I let him out of solitary confinement, but still keep a close eye on him! He thinks he can stand without holding on to anything now... What next?) I worked this morning again, am home this afternoon for naps, and have one more meeting to head back to the office for. Yikes! :-) Tomorrow is my Mom's birthday, with a few things planned, and then Friday is our shopping day. Fun, fun! There's your Silves update... Now on to bigger and better things...

10 Best Ever Inventions for Moms:

1. Binkies. Love em or hate em... they sure make kids happy.

2. Video Cameras - They will capture memories I will otherwise forget in the stupor of having young children who don't sleep

3. Chordless phones - How did my mom and grandma ever get anything done while connected to a wall?

4. Car seats - There is just something comforting in knowing that you can get in the car and drive, and the kids can't go anywhere.

5. Formula divider thingy's - who wants to take the Costco formula can with you wherever you go? Works great for mixing bottles upstairs in the middle of the night too.

6. Online shopping - This I could not live without... Who has time to go to town all the time and SHOP AROUND for prices? Not I. I let me fingers do the walking...

7. Google. Come on now folks. I google rashes, head bonks, toys, safety issues, contagious time frames, medicine to take while pregnant (I'M NOT FOR ALL YOU FREAKS WHO KEEP ASKING! :0) while nursing (I'm not that anymore either.) Google.

8. Black out curtains. I know they've had these since WWII, but the at home application is simply brilliant.

9. Robeez. They are the only things that keep Weston's socks on.

10. BLOGGING! How else am I supposed to keep up with all my friends? And how else does my Aunt in Iowa know that Weston bonked his head?

Skydiver in training

Hello everyone! Weston here. I am going to be a skydiver when I grow up, so to practice, I dove off the first step of the stairs... twice in one day. Where was my mom you ask? She was watching me, but I move faster then she does. And one time wasn't enough practice, I had to try it again! I cried pretty good after the second time, but I let Mom put ice on it while she bribed me with a bottle. I was smiling a few minutes later, I didn't let it get me down. One day later, the bump is almost gone, and the bruise is still left for me to show off to everyone who sees me (I'm not below playing the sympathy card for extra kisses.)

Today, I have dove over the ride-on Pooh toy, and gotten stuck in the toy basket (head first, of course.) I pull myself up on the couch, baskets, toys, chairs, tables, and whatever else I can get my hands on. I am soooooooo ALL BOY! Now that I have my new medicine, I've got a new lease on life. I am sleeping so much more, that I have more energy to do all this wild and crazy stuff, and Grandpa even thinks I'll be walking by Christmas. Mom thought he was crazy at first, but I heard her say today that he might actually be right. That means I'd be walking at 11 months, 7 months sooner then Wayne! Yikes! Watch out Mom and Dad... here I come!

P.S. Does anyone have a helmet I can borrow? :-)

Mom didn't trust me not to bonk my head again on a toy, so she made me stay in the Pack N Play the rest of the day. Solitary confinement in a padded room at 10 months old, who knew?!?Here I am a day later... No worse for the wear. Where's the nearest airplane?

A Madelyn post to appease the masses!

By popular demand... here are your Madelyn pictures folks! Enough of you have requested, and I figure I can't hog my own blog too much, filling it ONLY with pictures of my adorable children... so here's another DARLING baby.
This is Madelyn's new outfit from Jennie... seriously, Jennie knows how to shop, and Maddie knows how to pull off a big girl outfit.

Do you see her shoes? SOOOOO Cute!
My sister... I am so proud of her, she is the BEST mom, and is completely, wholly, madly, crazy in love with her daughter. Seriously folks, it's the stuff gushy cards are made of.

The happy family... an impromptu photo shoot across the street from our on a Friday when Ryan and Tara were on their way into Bellingham to run errands. I told them they needed a family photo for their wall at home, and they showed up 10 minutes later! That's my kind of "client."

*L*O*V*E the hat Maddie-girl!

Quote of the Day

I have Alyssa and Ethan today and tomorrow, while Tanya and Jason are at a marriage conference. This morning was a little crazy, but all the boys went down for naps and things quieted down. I told Alyssa that we should wake the boys up (it was about 4pm, they'd been asleep for 3 hours.) And here is what she said....

"I'd let them sleep until dinner, feed them, then put them back in bed." Gotta love that girl! :-)

Can I go to bed yet?

I am tired. Seriously, most days around here are fairly laid back, and then there are some where my to-do list goes on caffeine overload... Today. What was I thinking? Each and every thing was good and necessary in and of themselves, and yet when it is all done ON THE SAME DAY, again, what was I thinking? Here's the rundown, and the fleeting thoughts associated with the activity as needed....

7am - Weston's up, screaming, I get up and give him a 'nack, he bites me, I let him play on the floor while I get ready, then get him ready.
8am - Get Wayne ready, load the kids in the car. Make sure to grab purse, juice, diapers, checks to cash, Weston's blankie, Wayne's blankie, list for town and IPOD.
8:30 - Get coffee. Realize I didn't grab coats and hats for the boys, because the garage was warm and I didn't realize how cold it was outside. Run back home for coats and hats.
8:35 - Pull out of driveway, realize I forgot to eat. Run back to coffee shop and grab a pumpkin cream cheese muffin. It's going to be one of those days. Go to Beld's to pickup Taylor to come to town with us.
8:45-9:15 - Drive to Bellingham, on the phone with the office most of the way.
9:15-11:15 - Accomplish shopping with two boys at Walmart and Costco, then get gas. Weston is beyond exhausted because he missed his morning nap. Wayne is zoning out in the back seat because he too is exhausted. Head to Lynden
11:45 Stop at McDonald's to grab lunch. Desparate times call for desparate measures. Stop at work, stop at Tanya's to turn in Pampered Chef orders, drive home.
12:45 - Change Wayne's diaper and put him to bed. Change Weston's diaper and feed him a bottle. Unload Jeep and put everything away. Taylor makes cookies (Bless that child!)
2:30 - My dear friend is actually EARLY for coffee, we sit, chat, visit, drink coffee and eat Taylor's amazing cookies, and chase after the kiddos.
5:00 - Pack up Taylor and the kids. Cash checks at bank, pick up meds for Weston at the drugstore, stop at church and unload clean toys for the nursery. Run stuff for my sister up to her house. Come home. (Wayne fell asleep in the car, he is out cold.)
5:45 - Home now, Wayne woke up and is NOT HAPPY about it. After 1 hour of him crying and me doing everything I can to please him to no avail, I give him his binky. He throws it in anger, realizes what he's done, then stuffs it in his mouth and snuggles on my lap. Taylor gives Weston a bath and puts on his jammies.
6:45 - Tyler comes home and Wayne is happy. Whatever.
7:00 - Weston has a bottle and goes down. I pull out leftovers (salad, steak, meatloaf, lasagna, stuffings, green been casserole, and garlic dip.)
7:30 - Grant and Shelly pick up Taylor, Shelly and I play on the computer, chat. They leave.
8:15 - I am writing to you all. I am tired, and ready for bed. First I need to go rock Wayne for awhile, he needs his mama, and his mama needs her baby boy. Yes, he's still a baby. I need to find his binky too, I think Tyler hid it. Night.

An update on Weston-peston

Baby Weston-peston is now 10 months old. He has blossomed from a colic-ridden, fussy baby to a very, very happy, joyful little boy. In his defense, he has really struggled with acid-reflux, and it took us 10 months to really up his medication to a pretty potent level (the pharmacist wouldn't fill the RX at first because the dose was so high, he checked with our doctor to make sure.) BUT, the new drug and the change in how we mix formula for the little guy have worked wonders. The turn-around has been so remarkable, I HAD OUR CARPET CLEANED! That is how much less he is spitting up these days. In addition to his nightly dose of medication, we add 8 tbs. of rice cereal to his 8 oz. bottle. Wondering if that's pretty thick? Uh, YEAH! That's the point. It helps weigh down the formula so that it doesn't come up as easy. In other events... Weston can pull himself up on furniture, and is starting to try and cruise a bit. He is extremely difficult to change diapers on (a moving target!) He thinks everything Wayne does is hilarious, and LOVES his Dad. He weighs 18 lbs. 14 oz. and is 30 inches long. He is in the 10th percentile for his weight, and the 85th for his height. While the doctor was pretty concerned about the sharp decline in his weight percentiles, he was very pleased that over the last month that decline has stopped and he is now at least maintaining percentile growth. We love him so much, and are so enjoying all of these baby stages again. I was so sad when Wayne went through them, because I thought I'd experience them once and never again. But, with Weston, we get to go through all those fun stages again, and see how much he is like Wayne, and how much they are different. He is so much fun, and while I can remember what life was like before him, I much prefer our family of four!

Oh yes I am!

Oh yeah people... I am listening to Christmas music and wrapping Christmas presents today. Wayne is playing with his "Little People" nativity set, running around with the angel yelling, "Hark, Jesus coming!" at the top of his lungs. Weston... Weston is just giggling at Wayne. :-) Life is good!

Last Call for Pampered Chef Orders!

Okay, last call, all! :-) If you need anything, send me an email to tanyasilves@hotmail.com or call me 966-7775!

goodbye lazy days

Tyler has had the last four days off, and they are now, sadly, coming to an end. On Thursday I worked most of the day, but we had a lovely night at home. Friday was shopping for my sister's birthday, and the evening was spent setting up bunk beds. Saturday Tyler went duck hunting in the morning and afternoon, while I watched the boys, did 7 loads of laundry, and cleaned the house top to bottom. He came home, then went to Papa's to plane down oak for the mantle that he's working on for the front room fireplace. That night the Scheiber's (our Scheib nieces and nephew) came for a few hours, which were PACKED with playing, bathing, book reading and game playing. Today we had church, lunch at my mom dad's, and now Christ Group tonight. Yikes! It's been four days of playing, "Stop and Go."

For those wondering how Wayne is doing, he is fine now. It was really rough at first, but today he seems to be doing better with it all. It's like his best friend (the binkie) moved away and left him all alone. We have gotten a TON of snuggling and lovin's in. He even saw Maddie today and still liked her, so it appears no permanent damage was done! We continue to relish in every new moment with him. He is learning so much every day, it astounds me. I was just reading Amanda's blog, and remembering back to how much I thought he changed at those young ages, and while it's true, I think as they get older they just change in different ways. I am soaking up Weston as much as I can, I know he too will be chasing after Wayne sooner than I can imagine!

So... on tap for this week is work, a doctor appointment for Weston, close my Pampered Chef show, and hmm.. the list could go on, but I won't bore you.

Today, Wayne became a BIG boy.

Oh, my precious baby Wayne is really no longer a baby. Today, officially, he became a big boy. First, he gave away his binkies. We told him that baby Maddie had cried all night because she didn't have a binkie, and Wayne felt so bad for her. We asked if he could give his binkies to Maddie, and he said yes. So... we gathered them all up, putting them in a cute girlie gift bag as we went. We looked high and low, and in all the usual spots... the drawer, the jar, in the toy bin... and we gathered them all up. He was so excited, he sat in the front room watching out the window, waiting for her to come. He gave them all to her (putting each in her mouth, which I know just KILLED my sister (I had not boiled them) and he happily said "bye bye." Now, I 'm not saying that the rest of nap time and bed time went smoothly, but we don't have any binkies anyway now, so there is no going back!On to the next "BIG BOY" change of the day... BUNK BEDS! I went shopping with Tara and my mom most of the day for Tara's birthday. We went to The Auction House in Bellingham, and I found an AMAZING deal on this bunk bed, with a trundle! How cool is that? Here's a few of the pictures I took while we were setting it up...


Wayne LOVED his bed, he just kept running around saying, "My bed!" and climbing on it. We still need to pick up new mattresses, but it will do for now. In about a year, Weston will be ready to move to a bed, and Wayne will move to the top bunk. For now... it just seems so strange that they are both getting so big. I love every stage they are in, and all the pictures that help to remind me of where they've been and how much they've grown. I don't take a minute of any of it for granted, not even when they are both crying and it's been a long day.
It was Tara's 30th birthday this year, and when I called her to say, "Happy Birthday!" I asked if Madelyn had ribbon wrapped under her armpits and a bow on her belly. She always said she wanted to have a baby by the time she was 30, and I am so grateful to God for answering her prayers with the precious Madelyn. She was with us all day today, and I actually forgot, multiple times, that she was with us. I can't wait to see her grow up too, with the boys. Christmas will be so fun!

{I'm looking forward to}

Sometimes I wish that time didn't go so fast. The boys are growing too fast, I miss when they were babies... The days just go by too quickly sometimes. I am trying very hard to live in the present, but then I am looking forward to so many things too, it's hard. What are you looking forward to? Am I nuts?

Here they are, in no particular order:

pumpkin pie
having lunch with my sister for her birthday
the weekend
my brother Todd is coming home!
Wayne being potty trained (note that I'm not looking forward to the actual training)
Thanksgiving
shopping after Thanksgiving!
Christmas music
Christmas decorations
getting our tree
teaching Wayne the meaning of Christmas
watching the boys open gifts for Christmas
giving away all my gifts that I have done SO MUCH thinking for!
reading my new book
scrapbooking again
cold, winter weather
the power going out (I have to do something to stop the generator from working! My boys need memories of me making breakfast on the wood fire place, like my mom did when I was little... wait, we don't have a wood fire place!)
watching the election coverage tonight
shopping after Thanksgiving
online deal shopping
baking
cooking dinner (marinara with pasta... my favorite!)
sleeping through the night, every night
playing "go fish" with Wayne later (we gang up on Tyler and beat him!)
writing my next blog post!

Have a great day everyone... enjoy the blustery Northwest weather (or the 80 degree Oklahoma weather Dana!)

Pampered Chef Catalog Show!

Okay, now this is my kind of show! Who knew you could just have a catalog show? Certainly not I. It's the closest thing I can get to a blog show! :-) I know it's getting to be a busy time of year, so rather than invite you all to a traditional party and use up one of your precious week nights (and besides, I don't typically attend or give those shows anyway!) I decided to do a catalog show because I've been asked by many of you for Pampered Chef info/products.that we can all order what we want/need (is there a difference? :-) ) for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please feel ZERO pressure to buy anything... I mostly just want to help you all (hint-hint to my cousins reading this... your mom wants stoneware for Christmas!) do some of your shopping or just get what you've been wanting to order. You can order any time before 10pm on Wednesday November 12, and our orders will be here before Thanksgiving. You can order by going to http://www.pamperedchef.biz/tanyascheibskitchen and clicking on the "Our Products" icon, or by emailing me what you would like, or by getting a paper catalog from me and filling out an order form (you know, the old fashioned way!) Oh the fun!

On to the goodies... what are the must haves? Well, first off, STONEWARE! If you bake or cook anything in an oven, it will be twice as good if done on stoneware. I'm not kidding. My mom thought I was nuts until she tried it, and she's been HOOKED ever since. And, better yet, the unglazed stoneware is 20% OFF IN NOVEMBER! Woo-hoo! You know how I love a good deal... Here are a few of my other favorite tools:

Can opener (I'll teach you how to use it the first time, after that you'll love it!)
Garlic press
Food Chopper
Can Strainer
Cheese Knife
TwixIt! Clips for chip bags
Medium Scoop
Classic Scraper
Cookie Press (using this was a family tradition growing up!)
Pie Crust Shield

Feel free to leave comments with your favorite products and recommendations. Happy shopping everyone!

Looking out for the folks

Here is a link to the Whatcom County Auditor that you can use to see if they received your absentee ballot. It takes about 30 seconds... make sure your vote is being counted!

http://www.whatcomcounty.us/auditor/election_division/ballot_status/index.jsp

and just 'cause it's funny...

Scary to think I could have a little brother, huh? What do you think, does he look like Tara, Tanya, Todd or Tyson?

Too much time on my hands...

I really shouldn't be left alone with the boys on a wet, raining weekend, with the internet in the toy room! This is the result. I stumbled upon this site that allows you to upload two pictures, a "mom" and a "dad" and it will combine them together and show you what their baby would look like! I was laughing so hard, Wayne thought I was crying! Of course, the only people I thought of to do it with were... hmm... maybe I won't say, but here's the picture! (P.S. If you're smart you can figure out who it is on your own!) :0)

The Great, Big, Full of Pictures... Halloween Post!

Seriously, I know I put a lot of pictures up, but I took 200, so consider this a sample! We had a great night. We actually only made 4 stops, which was perfect because we didn't over-do-it for the boys. They were a delight the entire night... Tyler and I just couldn't believe how easy they were. We are so looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas! Wayne especially loved the apples from Grandma Groen. He ate one on the spot, and is having the other for breakfast!



Here's the cutest pumpkin in the patch!

Wayne, opening his gifts from us (any holiday is an excuse for books and educational games if you ask me!)

Our little "reader."

This was Wayne's lunch yesterday... see how the grilled cheese sandwich looks like a pumpkin?

Wayne's "loot." He kept it in his tackle box, organized of course!