Ten Today

December has been packed full of fun already with more memories still to be made!

1. Christmas parties

2.Craft making

3. Cookie eating

4. Cutting down our Christmas tree

5. Petting zoo fun

6. Trying to enjoy riding a tempermental camel

7. Family picture taking

8. Snake hunting

9. Hay ridin'

10. A weird person taking a picture of weird people taking pictures of themselves

The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season is upon us!

My office Christmas lunch was Friday (I got a Christmas bonus!) and Tyler's work Christmas party was Friday night at Soho in Santa Barbara. We met lots of new people and enjoyed the live band and food. There were at least 150 people there, many more than the companies he's worked for in the past. The people were all really great and excited for Tyler to be a part of the team. We are feeling so blessed that there are so many benefits along with the job. He gets three weeks vacation plus a week at Christmas, low cost health insurance and they'll pay for him to attend ITT Tech 100%! Anyone who reads this blog knows that we needed this so bad! I thank God every single day for this blessing!!

We're looking forward to the family Christmas party at church this afternoon. Cookies, crafts and a Charlie Brown Christmas should be fun!

I have some fabulous news! After interviewing a month ago and patiently waiting for a drug test and background check to pass, Tyler will be starting his new job on Monday!

He has a real snazzy job title to go along with it: Aerospace Engineer.

Congratulations, Tyler!

Catching Up

Thanksgiving was lots of fun. I was in charge of the Thanksgiving meal this year. Well, heating it up actually. That Marie Callendars sure does make it easy. My mom wasn't feeling too hot this year so we went with that option. It sure turned out great, though.

The pie-making consisted mostly of Tyler's efforts with the help of me, Corey and the kids. They turned out so perfectly, especially since he put the apple pie in the oven while we were eating dinner so it would be warm.

All ready to eat!

The boys

We finished off the evening by listening to a tape Joanna, Tim and I made when we were little in Scotland. We alternated using our American and Scottish accents and I have to say, we sounded pretty cute. It makes me miss Scotland. I would love to go there again with my hubby and kids one day.

The day after thanksgiving Joanna and I decided we wanted to make wreaths. We went to Jo-Anne Fabrics (after a very confused Steph ended up at Anna's Linens) and got the things we needed to make them.

Ours both look remarkably similar.

Hillary, Krista and I went to BJ's for a pizookie last Saturday night. Then we went to my house and enjoyed a couple games of Mexican Train with Tyler. Such fun times with friends and we didn't get a single picture.

I spent the rest of the four day weekend decorating the house for Christmas. Everything is all set up except for the tree, which we're going to cut down tomorrow. I love the warm fire, the candles, the stockings hung and family. I'm a happy Steph.

It was nerd day for the kids at school. I think it's more fun for us than it is for them!

Please note Cole's Alfalfa hair.

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend!

Ten On Tuesday

1. I love this Thanksgiving week. Tomorrow is a short day, then a four day weekend! I look forward to spending time with my family and seeing Hillary on Saturday.

2. After our fantastic apple pie making adventure last year we decided to make it again. We'll also be making a caramel pecan pumpkin pie. Yummers.

3. It makes me laugh when people stay up to the wee hours to see new movies, especially of the twilight variety. Just seems like a waste of time when you could wait twelve hours and go see it without having to elbow your way through the crowd. Most of the time I would rather enjoy any movie from the comfort of my own home rather than sit next to someone who talks, texts, laughs obnoxiously and gasps throughout the entire movie. They probably wipe their boogies on the armrests too.

4. When I went to Target last week, a couple of coupons fell into the cart and I didn't realize until after I made it to the car. I felt so angry for at least an hour afterward. I would have saved an extra three bucks. What is wrong with me!?

5. I've been very crafty lately. I had a $10 credit on groupon that I wanted to use on a Christmas card deal. It expired and I missed it but sometimes you can find it in other states. I couldn't find it in the US but I was able to purchase it in Canada. I didn't think it would let me because my card is linked to the US but it totally did. So I paid $5 for $50 worth of holiday greeting cards. Score! I ordered the cards on Friday making me less of a procrastinator than I've ever been at Christmas time. Word.

6. We sold the Magnum last week!

Bye, Reba.

7. Cole's kindergarten play was this morning. Such cuteness, such fun!

8. That's all I got.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

That's How Cole C's It

Me: "I need to watch it or I'll go right back to being fat."

Kayley: "Mom, you were never fat."

Cole: "You're so beautiful, mom. Even when you're naked."

Lovely.

Cole: "I have an idea for Kayley's punishment. She should pee in a cup and drink it."

Ya, that's our son. I don't condone our five year old with a potty mouth but he is so stinkin' funny sometimes!

Things I love about Cole:

He calls the dog Hartley McFartly, encourages his friends to put red vines in their water bottles to create a whole new drink and thinks that putting his gummy vitamins in his orange juice every morning makes it taste better. He's known for pulling the girls around the yard at recess in the wagon and wants "the other blonde girl" to be his girlfriend.

And he's a total goofball!

Ten Today

1. I reached my Weight Watchers goal! Now I have to maintain for six weeks and I'll become a lifetime member and no longer have to pay. I will probably weigh-in at least once a month for the rest of my life since I really need the accountability!

2. Tyler had the plate removed from his leg last Friday. I'm so happy that in a few weeks he'll be pain-free!

3. I had the worst stomach flu ever last weekend. I was literally one stomach flu away from my goal weight. Apparently it payed off. Ha.

4. Sunday we carved pumpkins with the kids. Tyler drew both pumpkins free hand. He's pretty amazing like that.

Cole: "I don't know why I didn't like to touch the inside of the pumpkin last time! I could do this all day, all year long!"

Kayley is really starting to look big to me.

The finish product: spider and Ferb.

5. Cole was Batman and Kayley was the female version of Jack Sparrow for Halloween. We had a really great time at Trunk or Treat! When we got home around 8:30 our street was literally crawling with people. Hundreds, and I'm not exaggerating. Apparently our neighborhood is a popular place. Pictures to come soon of the kids.

6. Hartles McFartles turned one on Sunday!

7. November is a lovely month. I have Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the day after off of work. Bring on the chai tea and the cozy evenings by the fire.

8. We're hoping and praying that the job Tyler interviewed for this week will be his!

9. If you have a chance or if you care, Youtube Lift Me Up by The Afters. I couldn't get the link or the video to post on here. I've felt such a peace in my life just by letting it all go and letting Him carry me. Love it.

10. Turns out my birth control could have possibly been causing my high blood pressure. Since I no longer have to take it I'm weaning myself off the blood pressure meds. I'm hoping to be medicine-free by next week.