New Years Resolutions

So, I have a few new years resolutions.

1) Work out more!
2) Go back to blonde
3) Not to be so messy
4) Be more healthy!

1) So, today I went and bought my first ipod. I got the small ipod Shuffle, super cute, super small and easy to clip on to my sweatshirt or pants. We have a gym at our apt. complex and I never use it. I plan to start using it tomorrow to get a little headstart. I also went and bought some new work out clothes. Now I just need to buy good shoes to run in and I'll be set. I won't have any more excuses!


2) So, I'm already tired of being a brunette. My hairdresser is going to kill me when I tell her I want to go back to blonde. I'm sure it will take a few times to get it back to where it was. I'm sure she will try and change my mind. Chris loves it brown, but I just feel better as a blonde. What do you guys think?





3) So I admit, I'm a bit of a slob at times, and I don't pick up after myself. Our bedroom always has piles of clothes, usually clean ones that I just havn't gotten around to hanging up. I'm always leaving my shoes various places around the house, which usually results in me not being able to find them in the morning. I can never find where I put my keys, I feel like I'm a mess at times. Would love to get a handle on this asap!

4) Need to start eating healthier and getting the kids to try and eat healthier. We usually get takeout on nights work late (late for me is 5), it just seems easier to drive through the drive through (especially since Chris isn't into cooking) and would love to get Maddie out of her cheese addiction, oh, and jelly and butter sandwiches. Any suggestions please send them my way!!

What are your resolutions?

Christmas

We all had a wonderful Christmas this year! Christmas Eve was spent at my mom's house, which is a tradition every year to celebrate with family on Christmas Eve. We use to have such a big group of us, but now that family has moved far away, and my grandparents are no longer with us, it's a small gathering.



We decided two years ago to just buy for the kids, which seems like a good idea because they are the ones who are always so excited for gifts, and it's so much fun watching them open the gifts and to see the excitement in their little faces.

Chad was really into his first present, he carefully unwrapped it, and before it was out of the wrapping started to play with his gift. It was so cute.




Maddie ripped into every gift and screamed in excitement over everything. She was so greatful even with her new clothes. She's such a girlie girl and was very excited over all her new dresses and skinnies (that's what she calls her tights).



Jacob was thrilled with his Tony Hawk skateboard that we got him, and super excited over his guitar hero world tour bundle his dad and Lisa got him.



We finished off the night with Derek's homemade texas cake (our grandmothers recipe) and starbucks coffee.

And it wouldn't be complete without a picture of the kids in their comfy flannel jammies their grandma got them!


It was a perfect night!

After coming home and finally getting the kids to sleep, we went straight to work playing santa. After wrapping most of the gifts I realized I left the kitchen set in my mom's garage. So at 11:30 I jumped in my car and drove over and picked it up. Maddie has been wanting a drum set. She goes to Guitar Center with Chris frequently, that's one of their favorite field trip destinations. Maddie has been talking about how she wants a real drum set. I big one with a kick drum. Oh my! I was very hesitant about getting this for her since we live in an 800 sq. foot tiny apt. Chris insisted that we HAD to get one for her. We compromised and got her a junior drum set. Looked smalll in the store, but when we put it together it took up the entire middle of our living room.


Christmas morning Maddie woke up first and was very excited to run out to see if Santa came. Chris had a plan to put the drumset in the kids room so she didn't see it right off the bat. So, while Maddie was going potty, Chris moved the drumset into the bedroom.

Maddie was super excited to see that santa brought her lots of gifts, and Chad was mostly into the candy canes that were freshly hung on the tree. Once he saw those he could care less about his gifts. Chris had to open Chad's gifts while he sucked on his candy cane. It was so funny.






After they were all done opening gifts, Chris went into the kids room and hollered for Maddie. Maddie ran in and couldn't believe there was a drumset in her room!!!! (For those of you who are wondering why she didn't see the drumset when she woke up, it's because she still sleeps with me and Chris, a habit we will have to soon break!). Maddie couldn't wait to play her drumset. Since Christmas though it has spent most of it's stay in our corner by the TV. At least it stack's up!!


As for our gifts we got from each other, Chris got a laptop for his music so he can do his recording on the computer, and I got a diamond ring, I am in LOVE! It's beautiful. It has three diamonds, for past, present and future. I will have to take a picture of it once it comes back from being sized. I don't get it back until Jan. 3rd! I miss it already!

I hope everyone had as wonderful of Christmas as we did!

Santa Baby!

Tonight we took the kids to see Santa! Maddie's been talking all week about Santa, and every time Chad see's a picture of Santa he screams SANTA and squeezes his fists and gets so excited. The last 2 years Maddie has been terrified of Santa and we havn't been able to get a picure of her. This year she assured me she would not cry. We got in line and Chad was beside himself! He was seeing Santa in real life. He must of thought he was dreaming or something because when I sat him on Santa's lap he just looked at him in aw. And Maddie was so proud that she was sitting on Santa's lap and not crying. She started to tell Santa how she wasn't afraid of him anymore and that she's a big girl because she is 3! If only I had it on video, it was so cute. Maddie then told Santa that she wanted a drum set for christmas. Santa said OK, which means we now have to get her a drum set! Lovely!

Allergy or Eczema...???

Chad has had a rash on his elbows for about 2 weeks now. I didn't want to take him into the Dr. because of all the sickness going around and the Dr's office is full of sickies. So, this morning he was messing with his ears and he had a rash on his cheeks. I couldn't take it anymore, I had to take him in just for some sort of explanation of what this could be. I took him to Urgent Care, and the Dr. said it could either be an allergy to soap or possibly eczema. I have to make a follow up with his pediatrition sometime this week.

Awesome tutu's!!

My friend Amy (whom I met through myspace about 2 years ago) makes these darling tutu's! Check them out here...http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5408130

A christmas tree shopping we will go!

Last night we ventured off to find the perfect Christmas Tree! We pulled up to the lot, and saw a bunch of flocked christmas tree's. I was in love! I've never had a flocked tree, not sure why, just never have. So I said to Chris... "honey, can we get a flocked tree this year?" "heck ya" he said. So, we got out, walked into the lot, and saw the price tag, and I was like.... hmmmmm... this is probably why we have never purchased a flocked tree, nor did my parents ever buy one when I was little.... because they are SO DAMN EXPENSIVE! I couldn't believe it, for a tree less then 6", flocked.... $79.99! WHAT?


So, Chris said "don't worry Bren, we'll get a flocked tree, I'm sure they will come down on the price". Chris asked if there was any way they could come down on the price and they said no such luck! So, after looking around a bit, we left and went to another lot to see if we could have better luck. The tree's where the same prices. I asked Maddie if she wanted a tree with snow on it or a regular one, and to my surprise she said a regular one. Phew! So, we got a nice tree for only $36.99! That I could live with!

When we got home, we brought the tree in, and got to work.


So, of course, as Maddie hung the ornaments, Chad took them down.



This really upset Maddie, and she cried and threw a big fit. Of course the mother that I am, tried to explain to Maddie that Chad just doesn't understand that the ornaments need to stay on the tree, I told her to him, they are toys, and they look like little balls, so all he wants to do is grab them and throw them. Maddie didn't really want to hear my reasoning, she just wanted to decorate the tree without Chad touching the ornaments. No such luck. Chad continued to take them down as she hung them, but Maddie finally realized it was a no win situation and would pick them up after Chad threw them and would re-hang them. It was a long night, but definitely a memorable one! Here are a few pic's...








Unfortunately even after decorated our tree looks a little bare. I wasn't able to find my christmas decorations from 4 years ago when we had our other place, so we had to go to BIG LOTS and buy some cheapy ornaments. Hopefully when my mom goes through the garage and gets her christmas boxes out mine will appear.

Thanksgiving

A little late on this post, but better late then never. Thanksgiving this year was great! A little less stressful this since we didn't have to clean clean clean. Just hopped in the car and off to Grandma's (my mom's) house we went. My job was to make the stuffing (which is my favorite, and has to be done just right!), cream corn (which consists of lots of butter, cream cheese and sugar!) and spinach dip (Chris's favorite!) So, I made the dip the night before and chopped up the vege's for the stuffing the night before also. So, it was almost all ready to go when we got to my mom's house. Maddie was excited to help make the vege casserole with grandma and Uncle Derek,
while Chad was off playing with his toys.
Jacob was in charge of the music, and things just fell into place from there.

I love Thanksgiving, not just because of the food, but it's always nice to spend time with family over great food and yummy wine. Here are some pic's from our day.