{12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge: Day 8}

Day 8: Least Favorite Thing About the Holidays.

My least favorite thing about the holidays would be the lack of snow out here in Southern California, or lights on palm trees? huh. I just can NOT get festive without cold, winter scarves, snow and ice, a NEED to drink hot chocolate. It really sucks when you can go down to the beach on Christmas day. bah. Humbug.

oh, and Christmas wrapping. I CAN. NOT. WRAP. period. I am domestically challenged, it seriously looks like a 3rd grader wrapped all my presents.


andddd I forgot to do momarazzi Monday yesterday, so MOMARAZZI mon Tuesday
J and I
T playing up at the playground
going down the slide

S and T taking a ride in the jeep

Stacy and I on black friday sitting out at Target at 2 am!

Storie's FIRST Birthday

We just celebrated Tyler's 3rd birthday and now here it is Storie's FIRST birthday. Seriously...where has the time gone!!! I'm sure people are getting tired of me repeating myself, but I can not believe my little girl is already a year old today. This year has flown by!

My little momma, I prayed and prayed and prayed for a little girl as soon as I saw those 2 pink lines! We went in for our gender ultrasound back home in Missouri while daddy was away on deployment. It was 17 weeks exactly and on father's day. We had the ultrasound set up to where Daddy could view you at the same time Mommy was. How cool, huh! The ultrasound tech said 'okay, are you ready to find out what it is?' and my heart literally stopped beating. I was in shock when she said you were a girl, and nana was jumping up and down screaming 'hallelujah' (true story, wish we could have gotten it on tape!) Mommy cried! I was so excited. Excited to buy you dresses, hair bows, finger nail polish. On Saturday November 28th my water broke at around 7pm...in Charlotte-Russe. Mommy and Daddy were picking up dessert and decided to run to the Fashion Valley Mall to browse and work up some contractions. As soon as I picked up a pair of shoes I liked I felt a teeny tiny pop almost like a prick and my water gushed out everywhere. Really baby girl you must have been in heaven with all that water you were floating in. There was so much of it. We waddled back to the car and a sheer labor moment like you see on t.v., Daddy lost the keys...we finally found them and were on our way to the hospital. Storie Addison, you were born on your due date November 29, 2009 8lbs 12oz and 21 inches long at 9:14 am. I cried the minute you were out. You were so beautiful, you are even more beautiful today. You have my eyes and daddy's toes. You are such a loving girl, always looking up to your big brother, following him everywhere, you are a diva, 'what little momma wants, little momma gets' you are everything I could have asked for and more. I always wanted a little girl to be my best friend and daughter and now I have you. I can not wait to watch and make memories with you as you grow Storie. I love you more than life itself. Happy FIRST Birthday little girl!

{12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge: Day 7}

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY

funny you should ask, because I just made this Christmas wreath last night! I was stalking following a blog I often read when I found an awesome diy wreath here Fingerprints on the Fridge. Isn't it cute!!! So I had to make one of my own!
Here is my Ornament Wreath

I bought a pack of 70 ornaments from Home Depot and used a wire hanger. I un-hinged the hanger and made it into the best circle I could. I strung the ornaments around and voila.

I also have to show off the fantle J made this weekend! Yep, I said that right...Fantle, it's a faux mantle so we're calling it a fantle. It's AWESOME! and I've got our new stockings hanging from it! If you are looking for some super cute stockings (and personalized!) go to www.personalcreations.com super super cute ones there!

T's 3 bday/ S's 1 bday

Okay, I know I'm going a little post crazy tonight, but both kids are in bed and we've had a crazy hectic fun weekend, so I figured I'd post some pictures of the kids birthday party we had out here in San Diego. It's always fun getting together with all our friends! Thank you to everyone for coming!





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anddddd...November 20th was J & I's 4 year wedding anniversary and our presents to each other were this:

of course T and S already have cowboy boots so after getting ours I thought...hmmm what a cute little cowboy family. "Ta Da"

Just One Year Ago

Can you believe that just ONE year ago this was what was happening?

and now this is where life is....

crazy huh?! Just one year ago. I was pregnant with S celebrating T's 2nd birthday (I'm the one in the grey, insanely pregnant) and now little miss is sitting on my lap celebrating her FIRST birthday. That to me is just pure craziness! These babies go from super tiny (well not my babies) to walking, eating, growing machines all in the first 12 months! What an awesome God we have to ever be able to design us this way!

anyways I just wanted to show some pictures from last year to the day to this year. I just can not wrap my mind around it.

{12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge: Day 6}

Day 6: Gift Ideas (FOR ME!)

All I really want for Christmas this year is a positive pregnancy test with a healthy little one on the way. That's it.

please. pretty pretty please.

{12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge: Day 4 & 5}

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly Holiday Season

I have recently gotten into Dave Ramsey! (He is awesome!) We are following his baby steps 1-7 if you haven't heard of him I highly suggest you go here. We follow DR and use the envelope system after each paycheck. (We take $200 out for groceries each paycheck and put that amount in the envelope, so once the envelope is empty we're out til payday) It really helps cut down on the last minute grocery trips. We use an envelope for groceries, gas, and blow money, and eating out. We usually have some left over money that doesn't go to the credit card or truck loan so we still are able to have some family fun without going over board.

As long as I start buying little things here and there for our Christmas gift list than we are set by the time Christmas rolls around!

Day 5: Favorite Christmas Movie

oh man, I don't think I have a favorite...Christmas time is my favorite time of year so beginning in September/October I start watching all the Christmas movies.

Christmas Vacation
Elf
Jingle All The Way
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Deck The Halls
Christmas Story
Home Alone
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Christmas With The Cranks

Happy Thanksgiving.

Today especially I am reminded of all I have to be thankful for. I am so thankful for my husband sitting across the table from me right now, he is scanning the black friday ads with a look of anticipation of all that I will be up early to get for him! I am thankful for my little boy who is sitting beside me playing with his 'car puter' (car computer) He is amazing. He has brought a joy to my life that I didn't know exsisted. I am thankful for my new baby girl who will be 1 on Monday! She is currently touching the electrical outlets for the 8 bazillionth time today. I am thankful for my mom, dad, sister, brother, and sister in law back home in Missouri. I am thankful for Stacy for getting up with me in about 8 hours to go shopping with me. I am thankful for all my friends out here in San Diego. I am thankful for Nikki and John who let us come over and eat Thanksgiving lunch with them. I am thankful for this cozy comfy house we get to call ours and I am thankful that Jake is here with us this year for thanksgiving. That means the most to all of us. I am thankful for all the men and women who are serving in the military that can not be home for Thanksgiving this year.

{12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge: Day 3}

Day 3: Most Meaningful Gift/Best Gift you've received



I've been thinking about this topic today since I got up this morning....I love Christmas, but to be honest I can't really recall any gifts that I just loved or dreamed of. This is kind of cliche but the best gift I have ever been given is my children. I have been blessed with Tyler and Storie. I thank God everyday and night for giving me these precious gifts for as long as he sees fit. They are the gifts that keep on giving, everyday they bring a new smile to my face and a new laugh to my lips. They are the greatest gift I could have ever asked for.

{12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge: Day 2}

Day 2- Black Friday/General Shopping Tricks & Tips



I use to get up early with my momma and go shopping for Black Friday, but I can't remember the last time I was able to go...Lets see...2 years ago I was in labor and delivered Ty on Thanksgiving and last year I was too pregnant with Storie and delivered her 3 days after Thanksgiving. LOL. Plus I've just about got all my shopping done for Christmas, but I will tell you how I go about it.

Tyler and Storie are pretty easy to shop for right now so usually starting in August/September I will start getting them something every paycheck and stash it away in the closet. This gets a bit tricky because their birthdays are November 22 & November 29th so I'm buying birthday presents and than Christmas presents. This year I got them about 6 presents each and a combined 'Santa' present. I think next year I'm going to try the "want, need, wear, read" approach to their presents. I read it somewhere and now I can't quite remember where. But its obvious you get each child something that they want, something that they need, something to wear, and than a book or two to read. I think its a cute idea. Plus it cuts down on all the toys. We'll see....I LOVE buying presents for people, especially them so we'll take it a day at at time. ;)

This year I got Ty a firetruck, converse sneakers, Talking Woody, and a bike! Storie is getting a tea set, a fridge magnet set thing, a Jessie doll, converse sneakers, and a pair of earrings. They are each getting daddy dolls and their combined present is a kitchen set! I CAN NOT wait for the daddy dolls. It's a 12in replica of daddy in his uniform, I figured we'd get them now before deployment comes up...............soon (ugh)

anyways so this post was mainly what I got instead of how I got them, but oh well. The major point is I start early and use coupons!

12 days of Christmas

I am linking up with Aly & Molly over at analyze this to have some fun for a few days and share some Christmas spirit to jump start December with!

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday Traditions:

Well usually if we were flying home to Missouri for Christmas...Christmas eve we would head to my Grandma/pa Floyd's house around 7pm for dinner, games, and gifts. We always have so much fun over there. All my cousins come and there's just so many of us and we're all close in age with little cousins too.
Christmas morning we open presents at either my parents house or Jake's parents house and than at noon its off to my Grandma/pa Sides house for lunch with the entire other side of the family! After that we head home to unwind and relax, maybe watch 'The Christmas Story' for the rest of the night.
butttttt.....this year the Mr. and the 2 kids and I are staying right here in good ole San Diego. I am both excited about this and a bit sad. I am sad because how awesome is it going to look with decorated beach houses and lit palm trees. There won't be a white Christmas just sand. :( I am excited though too, I'm ready to start my own traditions with the kids and our little family. I just bought 'Elf On A Shelf' and I'm so excited to start reading it and in a few years be able to hide the elf where the kids can find him! I can't wait to take them to see Santa in their matching pjs! I'll have to look into some new traditions we can start just us tonight! :)


here's a list of the topics/days that will be covered:
day 1: Christmas/Holiday Traditions
day 2:Black Friday/ General shopping tricks & tips
day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received.
day 4:Tips/tricks to a budget friendly holiday season
day 5:Favorite Holiday movie/ tv show special
day 6:Gift Ideas (What do YOU want?)
day 7:Holiday craft/ DIY
day 8:Least favorite thing about the holidays
day 9:Favorite Holiday receipe
day 10:Favorite Christmas songs/caroles
day 11:New Year resolutions
day 12:Show us your decorations (indoor/out)
day 13:Favorite Cookie reciepe
day 14: Oprah's favorite things:What item(s) would you want if you were in the audience.

*Days 1-3 are November 22-24 NO BLOG CHALLENGE on Thanksgiving. Day 4 will pick up November 26*

Where does the time go...

Well my silly monkey another year has come. It is your 3rd birthday! Where does the time go? I am still wondering that very question. I do know that the time goes much too quickly. I still remember looking at that pregnancy test seeing that little faded line that wasn't really quite in the middle and telling Daddy that I think we are going to have a baby. Daddy was already in bed and said 'we'll talk tomorrow' :) silly dad. I was so excited. Words can not even explain how excited I was. Actually everyone was pretty excited! You were the first grandchild on both sides! I had always wanted a little boy. Always. and I got you.
At 40 weeks I was beyond ready to finally meet you! November 22, 2007 at 11:17am on Thanksgiving morning you were born. You were such a chunky little monkey!! 8lbs 15oz and mommy did it naturally (with an epidural of course) I didn't get turkey that year, but what I did get was more than I could have ever asked for. I have so much to be thankful for from here on out!

You are everything I could have wanted! You are so silly, you look more and more like your daddy, you say the cutest little things, you are so generous, always giving, you have the biggest heart I have ever seen, you're smile is the highlight of my days, you are so polite, you are too smart for your own good, you are so curious, you have so much energy. so much energy! You are everything God knew I needed. I thank God for you everyday little monkey. You are my whole life and I can not believe it has already been 3 years! You are growing up super fast as you would say! ;) I am so thankful to be your mommy! I can't wait for many more wonderful years and birthdays for you papi. Mommy loves you so much. Happy Birthday Ty Ty.

Happy Anniversary!!

Happy 4 Year Anniversary to my loving wonderful patient husband. I can not believe it has already been 4 years. Look how far we have come! You make me the happiest woman alive and you have given me 2 wonderful little kids and one beautiful little angel. I couldn't ask for more. I love you with everything I have and that love continues to grow everyday. I love you babe.

Look at how far we've come in such 4 short years.

2006

2010

2 Peas In A Pod

I've seen this blog survey going around so I figured since I haven't really posted, well anything since the 11th it will give me something to do and whoever reads this something to read. See...win win!

1. What are your middle names?

Erica Ann and Jacob Tyler



2. How long have you been together?

We have been together for 9 years and married for 4 of those years this coming Saturday!



3. How long did you know each other before dating?

We met in the 6th grade! He had someone write me a note: check this box if you'll be my girlfriend. :) I didn't. Sorry, babe.




4. Who asked who out?

He asked me out first and than before sophomore year of school at church camp I said 'are you gonna ask me out already or not' and he did!


5. How old are each of you?

We are both 24. Yikes. Our birthdays are 6 days apart!


6.Did you go to the same school?

yes. All the way from 6th grade to senior year.




7. Are you from the same home town?


Yes, we are. I married my High School Sweetheart. lucky me.


8. Who is the smartest?

he is.



9. Who majored in what?

Jake is in the Navy! Who-yah! I was majoring in Nursing, now I have my degree in house wife-ery.


10. Who is the most sensitive?

I am.



11. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

We have traveled from MO to VA for C School and than all the way to San Diego!


12. Who has the worst temper?

Jake has the WORST temper, however he can control his temper better than I can.



13. How many children do you want?

He is okay with the 2. If it were up to me there would be 5 little Haff's running around. We'll compromise and make 3.



14. Who does the cooking?

We both do. His are usually more edible than mine.


15. Who is more social?

He is.



16. Who is the neat freak?

Jake will say he is, however it's more of 'Honey, where are my shoes at?' His version of neat freak is taking his stuff off anywhere and me taking care of it, than later asking me where 'it' is.


17. Who is the most stubborn?

He is. without a doubt.

18. Who wakes up earlier?

He does.




19. Where was your first date?

We went paintballing. It was suppose to be a double date, but his friend bailed last minute so he took both me and my friend...and paid for us all! What a sweet guy.



20. Who has the bigger family?

I think we both do.


21. How do you spend the holidays?

Well we have been going home for Christmas and dividing it up between my house and his house, but this year we are staying put in San Diego. So we will have our own traditions to start.


22. Who is more jealous?

I will answer this seriously. We both are to an extent. There isn't an 'issue' here or any mistrust we just want to keep whats ours ours. know what I'm saying...


23. How long did it take you to get serious?

Jake will say FOREVER, he says we went through this whole together, but not "exclusively" thing, however I think we got together fairly quickly. We were camping at Branson and he was hitting on my friend and I got jealous and just realized that maybe he was more than just a 'friend'.



24. Who eats more?

He does. duh.


25. Who does the laundry?

I do.


26. What do you do for a living?

Jake is in the US Navy and I am a house wife/mother.


27. Who is better with the computer?

He is. I check my email and facebook.



28. Who drives when you're together?

He does. I hate driving. I think it is the man's job to do, just like taking out the trash.


29. What is your song?

Nickelback-Far Away