January 23-29, 2011

This past week came and went so quickly that looking at these pictures now it seems like a month ago rather than a week ago that all this took place. Monday morning we woke up to frost covered trees and rooftops. Even a warm weather gal like me has to appreciate that kind of a scene.



Monday afternoon a special package arrived all the way from Cyprus. It was addressed to Baby Preslee. Emersyn couldn't wait to open it. Uncle Robert, Aunt Haley, Gabe, and Owen sent this darling Activity Book for her! Emersyn spent the afternoon playing with it so she could show Preslee all the ins and outs as soon as she arrives. Thanks Robert and Haley!




On Mondays I try to prepare all of our dinners for the week. Here is the bottom shelf of our fridge stocked with yummy meals that are ready to heat and eat!


After I got done cooking, Emersyn had a special treat for me. She cleared the dining room table and used it as a stage for her ballet recital. I sure love that girl.



There is a little snow hill in our front yard and every day after Jaxson gets home from school he climbs it and then dives into the snow. Even after repeated begging from his mother to please not cover himself in snow right before he comes in the house. Oh well. Boys will be boys.



I hit the jackpot this year! Jaxson and I loooove Cadbury Creme Eggs and are always a little sad when Easter is over and the eggs are put away until next year. Well, this year Wal-Mart started selling them in January! That's right. 4 whole months of gooey goodness!



Emersyn recently opened up a small doctor's office right in her bedroom. She is both secretary and doctor. Here is where you check in and state your illness. Today Grandma Clayton needed her nose un-stuffed.



Over here on the bed is where Dr. Emersyn will cure you of anything and everything.




My poor pigs have been in serious need of a pedicure for quite some time. Due to my very large belly, this is nearly impossible to accomplish. I finally broke down and decided to go for it, so Emersyn and I soaked our feet and painted our pigs. Emersyn even does her own painting now.



All finished! Side note: my feet are not typically this fat. I have started to retain some water. Not pretty, I know.



My super cute friends Bailey, Tricia, and Kassie threw me a baby shower. This is the darling invite the girls made!


The yummy refreshments!



Bailey and Tricia.


Tricia and Kassie doing up the tasty punch.






I received so much fabulous stuff! Preslee isn't even here yet and she is already spoiled rotten.



Jaxson spent Friday evening with some friends and he came home wanting to teach Keith a game called Ninja Destruction. It was hilarious. You rub your hands together and say "Ninja Destruction." Then you jump into a ninja pose. Then something about trying to hit each others hands, but not moving your feet. It was fun to watch.



I will sure miss the day when my little E doesn't leave me notes like this anymore. It says" You Are My Only Sunshine Mom. From Emersyn"




Another picture Emersyn made me. She loves to draw, color, and write.


This week I did a dog themed date! I made some puppy chow and left it in this canister with a little invite for Keith.


We played Walk the Dog. Yep, it's a kids game, but we had fun. I won.


We had some delicious greasy hot dogs and fries from Five Guys Burgers. Did I mention I won the game?



Then we shared an ice cream sundae out of this here fancy dog dish. Don't worry. I scrubbed it good after Harley ate his dinner. Just kidding. It's brand new. We were gonna watch Marley and Me, but at the last minute I decided I just couldn't do it. Why do all the dog movies have to have sad endings? Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows, etc. Instead we watched The Office. No dying dogs.



Jaxson appears to be dying in this picture, but I assure you he is alive and well. Saturday mornings I make a list of all the household chores that need to be done and then we divide up the list and everyone pitches in to help get the cleaning done. Jaxson is a mighty fine bathroom cleaner, laundry doer, floor sweeper, average vacuumer, duster, and trash emptier. Here he is scrubbing the stupid cracks in my dining room table. NEVER buy a table with decorative cracks.


Emersyn cleaning the windows.


I have had a crazy sweet tooth lately. Late Saturday night I was craving German Chocolate Brownies like my mom makes. So, I made some. Then I ate almost the whole pan myself. Over several days, of course.

Brownies:

3 cubes butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup cocoa
2 cups flour
2 t vanilla
1 cup milk

Cream together butter, sugar, and eggs. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Bake in a greased 9x13 pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Allow to cool before frosting.

Frosting:

1 cup canned milk
1 cup sugar
3 egg yolks
1 cube butter
1 t vanilla
1 3/4 cup coconut (I only had 1 cup, but that wasn't about to stop me. They were still delicious!)
1 cup chopped nuts

Combine first 5 ingredients in saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until boiling. Continue cooking until thick, about 10-12 minutes. Add coconut and nuts; stir well. Spread over cooled brownies.

Also this week:

Tuesday I had a doctor's appointment and my c-section was scheduled for Valentine's Day at 1:00!

Emersyn also had a doctor's appointment Tuesday for her kindergarten shots. I can't believe she is old enough for kindergarten. I am so glad we are having another little one cuz I don't think I am ready to be done with this stage of my life just yet. She is in the 32% for weight and 17% for height. She may be small, but man is she cute!

Friday Keith and I turned in our license application for my in home preschool! We had our fingerprinting and background checks done and are now just waiting for the various inspections to be scheduled. I am getting pretty dang excited!

January 16-22, 2011

We had a pretty low key week. Jaxson was sick all week so on Thursday I took him to the doctor. He tested positive for Influenza Type B. Poor guy. That is why I don't have many pictures of him this week; he hung out in bed with a book for the majority of the week. I am happy to report that he is feeling much better now and will be back to school tomorrow!

Monday was Civil Rights Day so there was no school. We had a pajama day (I think I love this more than the kids do!), made snowman cupcakes, played games, watched movies, and had waffles for dinner.











This is a special cupcake that Emersyn made for Keith.



I was unable to make it to the grocery store at the beginning of the week like I typically do, so by Wednesday I was out of everything. We made an Arby's run and had a picnic on the living room floor. The kids love when we eat on the floor. I guess the food tastes better that way.



Mom and Dad Hughes got this bouncy chair for baby Preslee. Luckily, Jaxson helped me assemble it. He knows a bit more about screwdrivers and their shapes than I do and, apparently, is also better at reading and following instructions than I. Thanks Mom and Dad Hughes! Preslee will love it!



Emersyn has a severe cross bite and had to get a palatal expanding retainer. She will have to wear it for about 3-5 months. It took some getting used to, but she is doing really great with it. I have been really impressed with how responsible and careful she has been with it. Her speech is still a bit off, but the orthodontist said it would take about a week for it to return to normal. She is such a good sport.



Friday was our at home date night and Keith was in charge this week. He spends a lot of thought and I really appreciate it. We have had tons of fun with our dates so far this year. This week, he made a queso dip and got Mexican sodas that we snacked on while we tried to watch Season 7 of The Office. It took us over an hour to watch a 22 minute episode!

WARNING: PROCEED AT OWN RISK!!!!!!!

Part of our date was to create body paint tattoos on each other. This is what Keith came up with:


Grotesque, I know, but I couldn't not include it. I thought it was sweet. It says "My Two Sunshines."



I have always had mad artistic skills (which is obvious here) and this is what I did for Keith. The red devil looking blob is actually supposed to be a cinnamon bear. Told you I had mad skills.



Here is Emersyn in one of her many princess dresses. She wears them almost all of the time. Ever since she ate lunch with the Disney Princesses she believes that she is truly royalty. I hope she never stops believing that.



Everybody knows that princesses have to host tea parties on a regular basis, and Princess Emersyn is no different. Today she served me tea (milk with pink sugar crystals) and crumpets (Cheez-Its).



Emersyn didn't like the milk with sugar, so I had to drink the milk then she would eat the sugar out of the bottom of the cup with a spoon.



Pinkies up!


Saturday evening we headed over to Mom and Dad Hughes' house for a visit. The kids always want to see Aunt Cole's pet.



Grandma and Emersyn played hunt for the alien for a really long time! Grandma was a great sport!



Grandpa and Jaxson love to play games together! Tonight they played Sorry!

We have been blessed with so much, but this week I am especially grateful for our good health and for family members that live close by. I had lots of extra help this week from the moms and I love them both!

January 9-15, 2011

We enjoy playing games together as a family. Jaxson got Legos Minotaurus for Christmas this year and we spent Sunday evening playing it. Emersyn won this go round.




Monday was my lucky day!!! I went shopping Monday morning to find Keith a pair of slippers for our at home date. I didn't find any slippers, but I did find this coat from the Gap on clearance for a killer price!


I also had entered a contest from a fabulous illustrator named Tricia Rennea. Well, I WON!! She did this amazing custom illustration of me that I will use for my preschool. I look pretty dang cute as a cartoon! ;)


Emersyn has always loved the water and would bathe for hours a day if we let her. What she loves even for than a bath is a bubble bath!



We can almost always find Jaxson reading a book. In fact, we have a heck of a time finding books for him to read fast enough.



I went to bed early Monday night not feeling well. Emersyn had left this note on my pillow. The big smiley face is me, the little one is her.



Jaxson has had the opportunity of being in the Gifted and Talented class for the last two years at school. The class meets once a week and does a fun project. This week they folded these "Pup in a Cup." He is always so proud and excited to show us his special projects from this class.


Jaxson has scouts every Thursday evening. I think he looks so handsome and grown-up in his scouting uniform, but he keeps insisting that he just looks "regular."


Jaxson was chosen to Be Like Bentley at school this week. He was able to fill out this questionnaire that will be hung at school for the week. I love that he wants to be a spy when he grows up!


Emersyn had a bad dream and came upstairs to sleep on our floor for the rest of the night. It didn't take Honey long to realize she was there and joined her.


Ahhhhh! Heaven in a carton! No bowl needed.



I came home from doing some shopping Friday night and Emersyn had set up a picnic in the living room for her baby and some stuffed animals.




Emersyn and I picked up some cupcakes from the Cocoa Bean Cafe for Keith and I's Saturday night date. Here she is enjoying a cupcake. Or the frosting rather. She didn't touch the cake part.


Saturday Keith and Jaxson went snowboarding with some friends. Jaxson has been snowboarding since he was 5 and loves it. Like father, like son!


Here is the invitation I did to invite Keith to our date! I did a Baby, It's Cold Outside theme. The coat fit in perfectly with the theme!


I brought in some snow and we made indoor snowmen.


Masterpiece complete! My snowman is on the left, Keith's on the right.



A delicious cupcake sampler platter!


I made some homemade hot chocolate. So good! The recipe is:

1 can sweetened condensed milk
4 cups milk
4 T cocoa
1 t vanilla or peppermint extract

Heat all ingredients in saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly for 10 minutes or until hot. Serve immediately with whipped cream. Yum!



After we made our snowmen, we sat by the fire eating cupcakes, sipping hot chocolate, and reading Shel Silverstein poems. Shel Silverstein has been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. Now my kids love to listen to me read his poems to them! Here a few of my favorites:

My Beard

My beard grows to my toes,
I never wears no clothes,
I wraps my hair
Around my bare,
And down the road I goes

The Battle

Would you like to hear
Of the terrible night
When I bravely fought the....
No?
All right.

Listen to the Mustn'ts

Listen to the mustn'ts, child,
Listen to the don'ts
Listen to the shouldn'ts
The impossibles, the wont's
Listen to the never haves
Then listen close to me-
Anything can happen, child,
Anything can be.



Another great week! This week I'm especially thankful for a loving, hard working husband who loves me unconditionally!