Babyshower for a beautiful friend

I threw a babyshower for a friend last Saturday and it was so much fun!  I loved decorating for a girl babyshower!  I had lots of help from friends with the games and food, which always makes things easier.

One game was to take baby magazines and get into groups of three.  Their challenge was to put together, with baby pictures out of the magazines, a picture of what Zoila's baby girl would look like.  Zoila choose the winner.

  I took a few maternity pictures of Zoila a couple weeks before the shower but didn't show them to her.  I surprised her with a few in frames I decorated at the shower.  She loved them and was happy to see that they turned out great.  She seemed to think they didn't turn out good since I hadn't sent them to her.  :)

We all had a lot of fun and the food was great!

Her baby girl is due the first week of March.  Can't wait to meet her!

Good News!

:: Joe had his final surgery consult this morning. 

:: A surgery date set for March 2nd!  Victory!  (It's also my mother in-law's B-day) 

:: He will be having cervical spinal fusion surgery.

US Army All American Bowl

2009

2010

Did you see us on TV? 

Michael cheeks were a little flushed because we were sitting right under the heaters, plus he was just getting a cold.  We had fun at the Alamodome again this year.  Since it's an Army sponsored game we were able to get free tickets for us and we even snagged some for some friends. 

I have to explain how we got our seats...

Our tickets were apparently for general admission, meaning the 5th floor and top of the dome.  I was surprised at this since last year we had free tickets and they were assigned.  We arrived at kick off since parking was crazy and we didn't leave as early as we should have in the first place.  We found seats up top but Joe's nose was being bothered by a smell in the air so I decided we should find other seats.  Looking down I could see several empty seats. I became determined to get us closer.  We headed back down, thankfully taking the elevator and avoiding the three massive flight of stairs.  Arriving at the second floor we made our way out of the elevators.  Spotting an entrance where it looked like there were several empty seats, I tried to get us in there.  But we were stopped by an employee with a special blue jacket and told we were to go up to general admission- on the 5th floor.  I was bummed.  No one was sitting where she was guarding.  Joe was more than frustrated since we waisted time from the game and still didn't have a seat.  I was still determined to find us good seats.  We went a little closer towards the center of the dome, about the 10 yard line.  No one was guarding the entrance.  Joe and I discussed going in for a min.  He wasn't so sure about it.  I didn't care.  I knew Joe wanted to watch this game in a decent seat and not have a discusting smell bothering him.  So we walked in & up and sat down.  Joe asked the people around us if they walked in and sat down too.  They had.  This doesn't make it right but the seats were not being used so might as well make the best of what we could.  Plus I could argue that Joe would have been straining his neck to look down at the game instead of at eye level. 

Before & After

I first painted our half bath a while back, which I first mentioned here.  I also improved the light fixture too.    I hated the color pretty much once I finished it.  I knew it wasn't the look I was going for.  It was way too much color.  Here it is with it's previous color and some primer.  Ahh the miracles of primer.  I love being able to start all over from a clean slate.

I think I actually finished repainting the half bath sometime before Easter.  I just never posted my finished project.  I actually added a few accessories this past weekend to give it more of a complete look.  We used to have cans of bathroom spray on the shelf, not so attractive.  Here it is in all it's glory.  The color actually looks a bit duller than in real life so you'll just have to believe me when I say it looks good.

Sunday baking

I've been wanting to practice decorating onesie shaped cookies since I bought my cookie cutter several months back.  I'll be throwing a babyshower for a friend soon, so now was the perfect time to get in some practice.  Plus I love baking on Sunday's.  I think it's because it reminds me of home.  I'd usually be the one in the kitchen at night making treats for everyone since they wanted some and I'd give in easily to make them.

Michael loves to help me in the kitchen whenever he can.  I showed him how to flood the frosting on the cookie and he took right to it. Want to see how to do it?  Or how cute these onesie cookies can be?

 Look at that concentration.

 I think he enjoyed decorating them as much as I did. It really is quite fun and relaxing.

The only incident we encountered

Two I completed, ignore the flower.  I need more practice.

I set the timer to take this pic since Joe was busy watching football(can't wait for the season to end!).  Michel loves to take pictures using the timer.  As soon as it goes off he wants to take another.  This was our 5th try at a good pic.  I think he got more excited in each picture the more we took.

Christmas 2009 continued...

I do have a few more Christmas photos to post since I had forgotten that halfway through opening presents that I needed to replace my memory card.  I forgot about the first pictures I had taken.  So here are the best of those...

My first time making cinnamon rolls.  They turned out great!

The dog was growling, this is how Michael laughs now.  He holds his mouth open and a sqawk of a laugh comes out.  It's quite entertaining but it confuses other people.

I told you he loves trains

Christmas 2009

  On Christmas Eve we drove around nearby to see some amazing Christmas lights.  Michael hadn't taken a nap that day so he was pretty tired and fell asleep before we were done.  He did get to see the most impressive houses we saw though.  When we were done we went back home to put Michael to bed.  He ended up waking up so we had him open his Christmas pj's and shortly after he went to bed. 

Christmas morning we took Michael downstairs and he immediately noticed a few things that Santa had brought him.  He enjoyed all the presents he received.  His favorite thing was of course a few more Thomas & Friends Trains.  He was really excited when he opened one of them and didn't realize there were two more in the box.  I didn't take many pictures since I video taped most of it.   Here are a few of the pictures I did take.

I'm pretty sure Michael played all morning with his trains.  He is so obsessed with them!

In our pj's Christmas morning after presents

Later that afternoon we drove to Austin to visit some friends and share Christmas dinner with them.  We had a good time although our trip was cut short.  I hope you all had a wonderful time with friends and family this Christmas season. 

Michael's wish list & funny sayings

 

For those of you that will be asking me what Michael wants for Christmas I've made a simple wish list on Amazon with a few things I know that Michael would enjoy.  Family- please do not feel obligated to buy gifts for Michael.  This is just so I don't have to think on my feet when you call.  :)

A few funny things Michael has been saying latley...

One phrase Michael learned from Joe while watching football is "Gotta be kiddin' me!"  So now when football is on it's Michael's go to phrase. 

Michael will also call himself out when he does something wrong.  I'll hear him in the other room saying, "Michael why you do that?" I know that there is probably a mess or something broken to be found. 

When Michael saw the Christmas tree after I put up the Christmas lights during his nap he said, "Wow, beauful lights."  This was the first time he'd used the word beautiful so it totally cracked me up.

Michael likes to squeal when he does something he's not supposed to be doing, like getting a hold of the remote or our cell phones.  It's definetly a warning sign to see what he's up to when I hear him squeal with excitement. 

Michael has also entered the "No, that's MINE!" stage.  It caught me off guard when I first heard him say it.  I had to laugh the first time.  Now it's not as funny.  He is actually pretty good about sharing, I just have to remind him. 

I discovered the other day that Michael will do anything Elmo tells him ( I hold a stuffed Elmo and talk for him). It has worked to get him to lay down so I could change his diaper, go to the potty and to take a nap.  I put Elmo in underwear hoping he'll want to wear them too, we'll see if this one works.  Joe was blown away when I showed this to him.  I couldn't help but laugh while talking like Elmo.  Joe thinks my Elmo impersonation stinks but I think mine is better than his. 

Baby girl gifts

I recently finished a baby gift for a friend that moved earlier this year.  She's due in January (with a GIRL!) so I wanted to finish & mail her gift by Thanksgiving.  I made my deadline by getting into my crafty sewing groove a week before.  Since she's received her package (thanks for the sweet call yesterday Laura) I can now share with you all the cute things I made especially for her baby girl, Ginny. Although I did buy a few things like a dress that called me by name (not pictured).  It was completly Laura's style and I couldn't resist.  I also included a cute onsie cookie cutter(also not pictured).  Yes, I completely spoiled her but I loved doing it!  It's her first girl plus she spoiled me when Michael was born.

 I do have to give credit where credit is due.  I had help from online tutorials.  I have to say that I absolutely love online tutorials!  I can try to make just about anything since it's like someone is right there showing me exactly what to do.  Please don't think you can't do it because you can!   

Here are the tutorials I used to complete my gifts: Tutu, Made Market Skirt, Ribbon Blanket.

For the applique onsies I used Wonder Under Transfer Web (I found at Hobby Lobby) and Aleene's Stop Fraying (found at JoAnn's).

Lets inspire each other to try new things.

Blessings in second opinions

We have tried many options for one of  Joe's herniated discs and the pain he experiences from it but none have been successful for more than 4 months. Joe recently had a second opinion given by not one but two surgeons (in the same appointment)!  One said he would not consider surgery until trying out more options and the other said he would!  Joe will first need a spinal block (near the herniated disc in his neck) to prove that the surgery would be a success in stoping the nerve pain.  This will take place next week.  If the spinal block is successful then he should be given a surgery date. I'm trying not to set myself up for dissapointment but I have hope & faith that it will work.   Please pray for us.  Thank you in advance for your prayers and concern. 

I am grateful for the beauty in my backyard...

Joe's birthday morning in pictures

Michael holding a "Happy 31st Birthday Daddy" sign. 

{waiting for daddy to see}

{Daddy saw, now it's time to be bashful}

Happy Birthday Joe!

We love you so much and can't imagine life without you! 

You bring so much joy to our lives and you do so much for us!

Today I'm taking little cherry cheesecakes to work for Joe to share with co workers.  

Tonight we'll dine on flank steak, jazzed up mashed potatoes and broccoli. 

Meet Pugsley

This is Pugsley.  He is Michael's favorite stuffed animal.  His name came from a Ty beanie baby Pug.  We wanted to name him Rufus but Michael liked Pugsley better so it became his name.  He takes him just about everywhere.  He's come with us to visit family and sometimes friends.  Other times he's not allowed to leave the house, feared that he may get lost.  He's getting a little frumpy looking since he's been around for almost a year now but Michael loves him dearly.  The best part about him (in my opinion) is that he cost less than $3 new, on clearance.  Michael loves giving him kisses and talks with him daily.  He's even ended up in timeout for doing something bad, in Michael's opinion(I was sad I was not fast enough to catch this on video).  Michael cuddles him in the chair before bedtime while reading books and takes him to bed.  Puglsey even motivates Michael to do things like getting ready for bed or helping clean up toys. 

We all need a buddy in life and Pugsley is Michaels'

Getting Older

On Saturday Joe took Michael and I to Red Robin to use my free birthday burger certificate.  I turned 27!  I had the California Chicken sandwich and it was delicious!  We had a great time and Michael even got to see Red.  He wasn't even scared but refused to give Red a high five.  He would wave and say "Hi Red" and "Bye bye Red".  He couldn't take his eyes off him.  It was cute.

Of course the only picture where Michael is looking I close my eyes! 

He is pointing to Red in the second picture.

Later that evening Joe put Michael to bed while I went out with a few girlfriends to Disney's A Christmas Carol. I highly recommend the movie but it's not for young children.  We watched it in 3D and I loved it!  The last time I remember seeing a movie in 3D was Terminator 2 at Univeral Studios Hollywood about 7 1/2 years ago. 

I thought about posting a picture of me in the glasses but after putting them on Michael I knew I wouldn't look as cute.