Meeting the nephew

After what seemed to be forever, my wicked cold finally went away sometime on Monday. That meant, I get to go meet Eli, my nephew. It was KILLING me that it seemed like everyone and their cousin's friend was getting to meet him first, but I was NOT going to go give him a cold. Last night, after a horrible day, I got to go see him. Trying to not bombard my brother and Caroline, it was me, Jess, Mom, and Mimi. He is so stinking cute!!! And little. I know in my brain that Landon got ALOT smaller than that, guess it's just been a while holding something so small. Lord knows Isaac was never that tiny. Chunky butt. I got to hold him, and Mommy let me feed him too :) I'm just trying to wait patiently until they take him out of the house so maybe I can babysit! Hoping that schedules align just right, someone can come babysit my own heathens so I can take Uncle Dennis over there Sunday sometime so he can meet Eli. I looked like totally poo, but here are some of the pictures...

Mommy told me he wanted wipes for Christmas, so he'll get those...but I think a special shopping trip is in order for my nephew. I hate malls, but for him, I'll make the trip into the building of ugh for him!

New Nephew

As most of you probably know by now, I have a nephew. Brand spanking new! My first nephew! His name is Eli and was born on December the 6th. Caroline and Fred finally broke the news on "social media" so now I can express how excited I am!!!! I can't wait to see my beautiful nephew in person. My brother and Caroline have been sending me pics since his birth and with every new picture I can't help but smile bigger and bigger! Welcome to the family little Eli, and we love you! Now that they are home and hopefully getting somewhat settled back in I will be able to go see him tomorrow night, hopefully. They are going to be such great parents!! And for his birthday Aunt Sara, Uncle Dennis and the cousins made him some diaper cakes...

Happy Birthday sweet baby Eli and welcome home!!

Cards and possible wasted time.

So, I finally, FINALLY, got around to ordering picture Christmas cards today. Fun times. Is this pic good enough? Good grief, can we not all be still for 2 seconds to take a picture?! It is what it is...hilarious. Landon starting to cry, Isaac wiggling to get down, Brandon trying to hold Isaac and it took us 3 or 4 tries to even get that! I posted on fb earlier that I needed addresses...so lucky me! No one has sent me any...guess no one is going to be getting these wonderful cards except Ann. She's the one that made me feel bad for not sending some out! And guess she's getting all 74 of them too!! I have been excited to plan this New Years party though...with Dennis's help (cause he's the good cook in the house) we are going to try to make stuff that we don't normally do, but I was getting tired of doing the same old stuff. The only thing we're missing is a drink. I know some people will be bringing what they want, but I was going to try to have something...just not sure what. Turns out that the big kids are going to be at their dad's. And that totally sucks. But it's his time, cause I get Christmas eve and day. I'm so excited for Christmas! I am almost done with shopping. Only got 3 people to go and THAT is something to be excited about!! And 2 of them cash. Sweet deal. One more present to actually shop for. Anyway, as my mom thoroughly knows I have been in the worst mood the past 2 days, and am praying for a better day tomorrow. Maybe after planning a little bit more of the party I will be in a better mood. Hopefully.

Holiday Cooking Ideas

As Christmas gets closer, Dennis and I decided that we are going to go ahead and have another New Year's party! I am getting more excited by the minute about it too! Normally the only times we have people over is for one of the kid's birthday parties...so to just have a party to just be able to hang out is really something special for me! And even the big kids help clean then too! One thing that has got me thinking is that I didn't really want to do my normal chips/dips type food for this party. I am wanting to cook. Maybe not a 5 courser or something, but actually use my ovens. And I have no idea where to start. I have tried many many times to do stuff with crescent rolls...that's totally out! It never looks like any pictures anywhere, so I think I might have to crawl around food.com or food network or something! Few different appetizers, few sandwich/slider/ mini main course type thing, and desserts is what I'm thinking. I am a total coupon freak (so no last minute shopping for me!), so I would like to start planning this out pretty soon. Wish me luck for some good ideas or if anyone has any... PLEASE let me know!!!

Christmas Happy Hour!

Thanks to my wonderful mother, last night I was able to go to Jack and Carol's Christmas Happy Hour! We had so much fun!!! From the food,music, singing, drinks, and wonderful company I was sad to see the night end! As some of my friends know, I have to eat all at one time. No grazing for this chick, I do not want to be sick. So after taking my medicine, I put 3 things on my dessert sized plate. Little sandwich, crab quiche, and few crackers. OMG. This crab quiche Meredith made was freaking amazing. I was telling her that, and how I wanted another one, but being the sometimes nice chick I am went for something else. There were only 2 left. This lady overheard me saying how bad I wanted another cause they were so good, preceded to tell me there were healthier options on the other side of the table. Y'all, I am not anywhere near skinny. Haven't been since I was 10. And my momma raised me better than that. I would NOT have taken another. But really?! No she didn't point me in the direction of the dessert table, the sausage balls, the other 2 platters of sandwiches, the giant tuna dip ball, or the huge sausage and cheese platter in the kitchen. I got directed to the veggies. Nice. It was either laugh or cry, so I went with laugh. Meredith ended up giving me the last crab cake anyway, she hadn't heard what the lady said. She was just being nice to me cause think she knew how much I liked them. I really hope she emails me the recipe for Dennis to try out. They are freaking fabulous. I'll post it on here as soon as I get it!! After half a drink I was finally able to start really enjoying the party and forgot about the "healthier option" lady! Different people started singing. I love hearing Dennis and Courtney sing! Maybe for our New Year's Party we can talk Mary into bringing her machine over...pretty sure she has one! Might have to go get some new music though ;) Was sad Mary didn't make it, but loved hanging out with Courtney, Justin, Meredith, Adam and always my favorite strawberry blond Ann! All too soon it was time to go home and start preparing for everything else Christmas. Let the wrapping of presents begin!

~On a side note, I tried to upload the videos of Dennis singing, but haven't quite figured out how to get them off my crappy phone!! Hopefully a visit to Tmobile is in my future!~

My Christmas Hissy

As Christmas is hurling at me at speeds I don't even want to think about, I found myself having a total hissy fit last night. Not only am I completely over budget on what I "thought" I was going to spend, I still have a ton of stuff I still need to get. The stress is about to make me cry. I don't think it helps that we have to keep the presents in the dining room on the table so the little ones don't try to open or play with them. When I can manage to get past the stress of presents and gifts I don't yet have, I then am having to focus on what on earth to wear to Jack and Carol's Happy Hour this Friday night. Babysitter..check. Alcohol for Dennis...just another thing to buy today or tomorrow. What to wear...ugh. Maybe it's a fat girl thing. After  having Landon I ballooned a bit, so sleeveless is out. (Which is what most of my cute clothes are) After that I have a few I guess what would be best for job interviews. And then are my everyday, we've been covered in a variety of baby food clothes. So...I don't want to go. What's the point of going somewhere, wearing something you hate, feeling totally uncomfortable, and spending the whole time wondering when you can leave. So I told Dennis that. I honestly think that I am going to make him go to this by himself. One, I won't be horribly uncomfortable. Two, I can save the babysitter (mom) some energy. Three, I won't be up way past my normal bedtime and then try to recover while dealing with kids who don't realize it's Saturday and we should be lazy today. Dennis said that I would look good no matter what, awesome hubby that he is...but sometimes that doesn't change the way I feel about it. And shopping for something to wear...no way in Hell. Like I have the money anyway, and the last thing I need is more discouraging things to do in an already stressed out joyous holiday season. Whoo hoo. Here's to hoping that I get my Christmas spirit back.

Isaac's First Steps

Dennis and I are so excited that Isaac is now starting to take his first steps! One, two, then six! He takes a few here and there and is so proud of himself!! I can't express how excited I am that he is starting to walk! Most people think that now he will be getting in to more stuff, but he was already doing that before his first steps. I am ready for him to be full walking so I can just hold his hand and not have to constantly be picking his chunky butt up!! We just took him to the dr and he is 27lbs 15oz and only 14 months old! Heavy heavy baby! Well..guess I can almost call him toddler! The fight to get him to eat "people" food is still underway, and hopefully he will catch on to that just as fast as the walking!

My 15 year high school reunion!

Last Saturday, our high school class had a reunion at Amy's house. First off, she has an amazing house! After I picked my jaw up off the floor...I was super excited to see everyone who came! Those who truly know me, know that I normally say the first things that come to my mind. And sometimes my brain doesn't even sensor that...so when Christine asked me at one point what my favorite memory from high school was...I was speechless. Completely speechless. This does not happen to me. And after I got home I was still wondering how such a simple question could not bring any words. Then it hit me. I don't have one. My favorite part of high school was the whole ride. The everyday jokes, the making fun of the teachers, the praying not to have to sit in front of one class so you wouldn't get spit on, the retreats, the trips, the embarrassments, the traditions, not having to worry about what you were wearing to school, Spirit weeks, the small classes. I could go on and on. I realized that I could not just pick one. I really don't think I could go back and relive high school again. Once was enough for sure, but I love getting the chance to see all the lovely ladies that I got to spend 4 years of my life with. A few I am even blessed to still be friends with today. I do wish more of us would have come, but it is what it is I guess. We talked about for our 20th doing a trip/weekend...oh yes. As I get older I normally do not look forward to reminders of just how old I am, but for this...I am so excited to count down to my next reunion!!