Tagged Again by Brandy

Brandy tagged me for a Christmas quiz, so here goes:
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like wrapping because I prefer to UNWRAP things rather than look in a bag. More fun that way.
2. Real trees or artificial? We have an artificial tree. I am allergic to real ones.~me too!
3. When do you put up your Christmas tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take your tree down? I leave it up as long as possible because I LOVE our tree and decorations and the l ights at night.
5. Do you like eggnog? I've never had eggnog, but I don't think it sounds like something I want to try. I'm okay with my hot cider punch.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? hmm..I love gifts, so I'm easy. My brother and I got these awesome bears when we were young, mine was a beautiful ballerina bear and his was a football bear. They were super soft pillow-types, and we kept those around for YEARS. Also, the ones that my parents did a scavenger hunt for--they'd leave clues on the tree that took us around the house to more clues until we finally found our present, like a bike or a basketball goal. I did that last year for Carson with picture clues and I'll try it this year too.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? We used to have a creche, but I think it was lost in one of our many moves.
8. Hardest person to buy for? This year, they were both pretty easy. They asked for very specific things and that was that.
9. Easiest person to buy for? This year I had more fun buying for Trevor, because this is the first year he's asked for anything, and his interests are a bit more diverse than Carsons "Transformers" List
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever got? huh. I don't know that any gifts are bad, except for the ones that are more about getting you a gift than YOU. You can usually tell.
11. Christmas cards or e-mail Christmas Cards? I mail. I love to get them, so do unto others...
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Elf with Will Ferrell
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Hoo boy. This year it was...this week. Usually I'm all done by December.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can think of.
15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? turkey. I really want turkey this year. sausage and egg casserole is for breakfast--it's tradition. my mawmaw's biscuits.
16. Clear light or colored light? CLEAR! I like them clear.
17. Angel on top or Star? We have a cute red star on top.--us too! from Target
Now who am I going to tag??
Renee, Alisa, and Marie--you can do yours on myspace. :)

Trevor learned a new song this year

I never really notice his lisp unless I've taped him. He reminds me of that little girl from Mrs. Doubtfire, it's all the same letters she lisped.
He loves this song and asks me to sing it every night before bed.
Enjoy!

In a cookie mood

Last year, I went to my pal Kala's treat swap and even though I've never been a huge cookie fan, I had some there that were to die for.

I'm in the holiday mood, so I think the boys and I are going to make some sugar cookies to share with friends and family, but since I can't give YOU cookies, I thought I'd give you some great recipes.

These were a big hit last year, and I'm sorry to say I can't remember who made them. This may not be her recipe, I found it online, but it seems similar enough. YUM.

Chocolate Cherry Cookies
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
48 maraschino cherries (about one 10-ounce jar), undrained
1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl combine flour and cocoa powder. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Press down center of each ball with your thumb. Drain cherries, reserving juice. Halve any large cherries. Place a cherry or cherry half in the center of each cookie.
For frosting, in a small saucepan combine chocolate pieces and the sweetened condensed milk. Heat until chocolate melts. Stir in 4 teaspoons of the reserved cherry juice.
Spoon about 1 teaspoon frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover cherry. (If necessary, thin frosting with additional cherry juice). Bake in preheated oven about 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minutes. Transfer to wire racks, cool. Makes 48.
To store: Place in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container, cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

I'll post some pics of our creations a bit later. Till then, Enjoy the countdown! 17 more days till Christmas!

Two Years Ago Today

I started this little blog because my friend Brandy had one and I thought it looked like a great way to 1. share your pictures and life's tidbits with family and friends and 2. talk without being interrupted.
I was right on both counts, and I've come to really love this little blog o'mine, whether I have 1 reader or 100. I know many people go on to blogebrity with their writing, and I'm not sure how that happens. Perhaps their lives are a bit more interesting than mine, perhaps they talk about more than just their own two kids. Maybe they're just better writers, period, or pay people to read. LOL But regardless of who reads this, it's a fun little journal for me to go back and look at my babies through this span and see what we were doing, how they looked and it's a heck of a lot easier than keeping a journal or doing the time-consuming scrapbooks (which I swear I will get back to someday). My boys have grown up immensely in this time, as have Reed and I, and it's nice to see where we came from and how far we've come.

I hope any visitor to this blog feels free to leave me their link so I can check out the stories they choose to share, and thanks to all of you for clicking here and checking out ours.

What the big people do

I know this is a single-minded mommy blog, but sometimes the adults in the house want a place to brag, too. So I may expand just a bit, and if that gets approval I'll keep going. Thanks for the compliments and emails you're sending, by the way. Even though I may act like I don't need praise, I secretly crave as much as I can get. Not so secret now, huh? Or was that just a semi-veiled plea for more comments? I'll never tell.
Anyway, What We're Digging en la casa de Smith:
Man vs. Wild Have you SEEN Bear Grylls? The man is like Rambo, Chuck Norris and a CIA dude rolled into one. And maybe Grizzly Adams. He would, like, totally win the million on Survivor.
And speaking of that, Survivor: China I know Survivor is no new discovery, but we're die hard fans. We were sad to see James get das boot, but it sure made for an interesting show last week.
To prove we don't just watch tv, Wii Tennis has become a bedtime ritual in our house lately. Reed and I were sitting on the back porch at night after the kids went to bed, talking and playing Aggravation, but we started to feel old so we broke out the old Wii and got busy. We both have perpetual shoulder and arm pains, because the force of your swing on tv does correlate somewhat to the force of your swing in real life. I'm much more dramatic of a player than Reed is, but I'm also much worse, so it evens out. I'm sweating by the end of the night, every night, and I can only occasionally get him to sweat. But I dance and twirl as I hit backhands and supersonic serves and it's great entertainment...if you were ever allowed to watch, which you never will be, by the way. Unless I get to watch you playing it in person first.

My Brthr

Carson had to do this assignment in class about what he is thankful for. We were pleasantly surprised to see him bring this paper home. He also was quite proud to tell us that he sounded out "brother" on his own. There is constantly toothpaste smeared on the bathroom sink, walking the floors of his room is a mine field since you never know when you will step on an Extra! Tiny! Toy! (Sharp Edition) tm, and he never brings his drinking cups back to the kitchen sink when he's finished. But loving pieces like this make all that worth it, and then some.

I especially love Trevor's neck and string hair. That must be some serious gel this stick figure uses...

Dear Santa Part II

They didn't scan well, but they're really cute in person.

Dear Santa

This is also Trevor's first attempt at writing his full name by himself...pretty special! :)

Mamaw

I meant to post this last week but it was crazy busy around here all week. Along with Thanksgiving, this year we missed Reed's grandmother's 90th Birthday gathering. We were truly sad to miss such an event that included cards from all over. I think the aim was at least 90, one for each year but they received well over 100 for her, which is a great testament to the number of people who care for her.
Happy Birthday Mamaw!

Ball Fan

This little guy has been really great through t-ball season for big brother. He doesn't understand why he can't play (a tad too young) but he's been a trooper sitting on the sidelines while Carson has all the fun. He usually brings a toy or drawing pad but does pay attention when Carson is at bat and will yell encouragement and advice from the sidelines.
"Go Shash! Try to catch dat ball with yous glub!! Go Shash! Run big! Go Shash!!"

Subsequently, Carson always runs to home plate with a big grin and a thumbs up for his biggest (little) fan.

Untraditional

This year was our very first Thanksgiving without our family. I lost my grandmother earlier this year and we moved all the way across the country and for the first time, Reed and I were without family on this big holiday. We were pretty sad thinking of our families back east getting together, having 90th birthday parties for grandmothers without us (!) and good-naturedly bickering over who gets the last biscuit. Some friends invited us to their home to celebrate with them, and although we were apprehensive about intruding on someone else's family for the day, it turned out very well. They were gracious and friendly, their home beautiful and the food delicious. I made my fruit salsa and homemade cinnamon chips because, with temps in the 90's here, it just didn't seem like hot apple cider weather. The boys fell in love with the youngest daughter of the house and haven't stopped talking about her today. We came home and played board games and made some new traditions that we will hopefully continue even if we are back home with family next year. We hope you had as good a time as we did!

Speaks for itself

Brothers

I have a brother, so I know a few things about them. I know they will share secrets and bad smells and questionable treats with you. I know sometimes they are your only friend, your best friend and sometimes you don't even realise how lucky you are to have a sibling because even though you may have best friends, bestest BEST friends, nobody really knows you like the person who sat next to you through lectures about cleaning your room, whom you gave all your childhood diseases to, who understands your pathos as an adult might have something to do with a bully in 3rd grade or not getting chosen for that part in the school play in 10th. Things you don't really tell anyone else, that they just already know. It's part of your package as a family, the knowing-too-much-but-loving-them-anyway package, that you don't really get to choose but usually works out for the best. So far, it seems to be working out for the very best for these two.

The Future

Ahh, to be carefree like this again. When he's older and complaining of responsibilties and bills and girlfriend woes, I am going to pull this picture out as a reminder for him to do something that puts the sun on his face, the wind in his hair and that look in his eyes. And maybe it will make him feel more at peace. I know it's working for me. click pic to make it larger--it's worth it

Moo and Pups

 

My boys are not nurturers by nature (Say that three times fast) but the other day for some reason they decided to play parents to these critters. If you know us, you know who claimed which varmint by the blankies, right? They insisted they come with us to T-ball and declared they needed to be buckled too. Carson did the safety checks and we were off. Thank goodness we travel safe, ya know?

Just like Childhood

 

I know it's a bit out of focus, but I couldn't resist this picture of Trevor. He's so camera shy it's hard to get a good picture of what my baby REALLY looks like from day to day--that big open grin, eyes full of light and excitement. Those wispy curls that fly out all over the place. And shouldn't all childhood memories look like this--supremely happy and slightly fuzzy? Real life with this 3 year old means not sitting still. And we wouldn't have it any other way.

With an average sized head

There's this commercial that comes on the kids station now that has Dora and George Lopez on it. At the end of the commercial, George goes, "And I thought I had a big head." Trevor, being the little sponge in the house, thinks this is hysterical.

Yesterday, someone came to the door trying to sell magazines. I let her do her spiel because I really feel awful turning someone down cold, but I also feel bad making people do all that work when I know I'm going to say no. Anyone got a happy medium for this?? Anyway, she does her routine and I'm telling her "Thanks, but we really don't need any magazines, but good luck" yadda yadda and just then Trevor peers through the doorway, looks at her and exclaims: "Man! I thought I had a big head!"

I thought she was going to crack up trying to keep a straight face. And yeah, maybe we didn't buy any magazines for her, and maybe she won't be able to go to Europe now on her summer vacation ("I get 500 points if you'd just get something from THIS page!!"), but I'm fairly certain she at least had fun at our house. Which may or may not be a deterrent for her friends. Be Warned: We are stingy with the pocketbook but free flowing with the witty banter. Even our young.

A Few more pics...

 

Sedona Part Two

Montezuma's Castle in Tuzigoot National Forest:

People lived in these holes...high up the mountain face:




Oak Creek Canyon Stream...





This time I got to see Sedona a bit more in depth and took some pretty pictures to share with you! It sure is beautiful!

Sweet!

Last night was super fun! Our whole neighborhood seemed to be outside...the weather here is very nice this time of year so many people just sat in their driveways handing out candy so they could watch the parade of kids going by.
We got started at 6, right at dark and all the kids were super cute. Carson-pirate, Trevor-Peter Pan, Dallas-Han Solo and Dylan-Yoda.

Just last year we were TOT'ing with the whole gang in Brandy's neighborhood out in Fletcher. Funny how much can change in a year.