Pity City

I heard this expression today from a colleague and I like it. Some days it's just true. I have discussed having a pity party, but on some of those days you truly are living in pity city.

My day was a hectic Monday where the morning was bad and the afternoon was not as bad. When I walked into daycare to get Ella today her teacher looked horrible. Multiple kids crying and with a sad look on her face she said, "well, she would not go down for a nap until 2:40 and then it was only for 50 minutes". She was in Pity City!!! I know how tired I am because Ella was up about every hour or so last night and then up for good at 5:15.......so she had my sympathy!

I don't know how to make Ella nap at daycare and I sure wish she would because it would make everyone happier!!!! She takes 2 naps like clockwork at home --- I guess she is a little like her mama and doesn't want to miss a thing!!!

Lullaby...

I sing to Ella before naps and at bedtime. I think she likes it and it's just part of our routine. Lately she joins in and kind of hums along. I think it is so cute, but this morning when we were trying to get her to sleep during church, she started singing.....I thought it was hilarious!

Just like the Griswald's

For the first time in my life I have Christmas lights on my house!!!
Joe made me nervous, but he was determined and I think they look great. He was on the roof with snow and ice --- my job was to hold the ladder! Great job, honey!

Cute Weekend Pics

Photo shoot with Santa --- She can be a ham!

She wouldn't sit still for a princess dress picture, but she was so cute for church!!!

Family Pics for Christmas Card

Here are some that didn't make the card.....we had fun and found the perfect place on the most perfect day! Thanks to Grandma Dorothy for helping us take our pictures! Next project -- design the card with Storybook Creator! I will post it after they are mailed out!

We've got drama....

Slowly I am learning why Ella's daycare teacher told me long ago she was a drama queen. Lately if she finds that a drawer she used to get into is child-proof or her toy won't function quite as she wants, or we close her off from a room. The crying begins.....but not before she makes sure someone is watching.

The ignore technique is working and keeps her fits to a minimum!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Ella meets Santa

Bargains, Bargains....

I don't know how we did it, but we found a few items on our list at Target late last night --- door busters found after 7PM. That was great. My co-worker was able to get one thing on my list at 5AM and I found the other 2 things myself -- crazy!

I sent Joe on a search for some cute boots for Ella and he found them after great searching and since toys and clothes were all on sale he brought home a huge bag of gifts!!! I think Ella's shopping is DONE!

We also utilized bestbuy online for some great deals Thursday and Ann Taylor had 40% off their store yesterday.

Even though I worked all day, we did very well. There was no one at Target last night and I was able to get my groceries as well and the mall parking lot was crowded, but the stores weren't bad although we were only there for about 30 minutes.

I am a fan of Black Friday!

Happy Birthday Nicky!!!

Nicky is adopted and when we got him in May of 2005 we were told he was about 1.5 years old. We don't know his birthday, so we celebrate every Thanksgiving as his birthday. He loves it because he always has his own bowl of turkey!!!

Ella got him so new toys that they can play with together.

We love you Nicky! Happy 6th Birthday!

Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for this year. It's been quite a year! I am most thankful for our healthy little girl. She has changed the lives of so many in such a positive way. We love you Miss Ella!
It is hard to be away from extended family today, but we had a nice day with the 3 of us. We made stuffing, stuffed and put the turkey in the oven. Then we dressed Ella up and went to pick up lunch for Joe's employees. We delivered turkey and all the fixin's and headed home to enjoy our lunch. We enjoyed turkey, stuffing, mashed potoatoes, gravy and asparagus. It was nice to not go overboard (rare for me). Ella absolutely loved her lunch and is still napping on a full belly.

The Cowboys are on and Joe and I brought up all the Christmas boxes and just put together the tree. This is our first year putting up a tree in this house and we are going artificial this year with a beautiful tree that Dorothy gave us. I think it will be good to not have Ella eat pine needles this year!

Life List

I always talk about the things I want to do in my life someday as my "life list". I think I'll post them here and apply a label so I can go back to them anytime!

Thanksgiving Themed Life List:

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
Black Friday with my Mom and Sis -- I think it would be fun to hit the store at 4AM with coffee in hand and then go for a fabulous breakfast!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Black Friday -- this is over the line!

Photo taken Wednesday night at 7:40 PM outside Bestbuy --- that's two tents and several people. My first thought.....I guess it would be like camping, then I thought, there's no bathroom!!! Mostly just INSANE!! There is no deal that great!

We had to make an emergency trip to bestbuy for a cord for my laptop -- after moving my computer around tonight while skyping with family, it just broke off. I can't make it over 24 hours without my computer!!!!!

This was an email forward I needed today --- thanks for the laugh Stacy!

Sad Day

I really like my job (I LOVE what I do -- I don't love my management). This week it has just been sad. Too many kiddos in sad situations. This morning I found myself fighting off tears about 10 different times. With Thanksgiving this week I just couldn't stop reminding myself how very thankful I am for the many blessings in my life!!!

I picked up Ella from daycare and hugged and hugged her. I am so blessed to have a healthy and rather smart little girl! Joe's job has been even more stressful than usual and I think we all needed a good laugh tonight.

Ella was done with her dinner much earlier than we were (timing can be hard when we eat different things). She was fussy, so I took off her tray and pulled her chair up to the table. I started with some puffs to keep her busy and then offered her some yogurt. I'm not sure how or why but we let her have the spoon and the yogurt cotainer and just laughed and laughed together as we let her eat the yogurt with both hands!!! Joe got some video as well.

Ella went from dinner to bath and then her high chair had a bath as well!!! VERY MESSY, but life is too short to not have some fun at dinner after a sad day!

All by myself...

Life is going to change for us even more --- she can climb!!! When will she learn fear and caution? I guess it comes after ER visits, stitches and pain!

Bring on the snow!

She doesn't LOVE to wear the hat and mittens, but they are cute. I'm not ready to shovel or drive thru snow, but I'm defnitely ready for ski season and to take Ella sledding!

Baby Bargains

I also stopped by Nordstrom Rack and found this adorable hat/mitten set for Miss Ella. I would never pay $25, but for $8, I couldn't pass it up!!! I also hit the dollar section at Target earlier today.

Bargain Shopper

After Ella was in bed tonight I ran out to do some errands. Joe laughed at me when I said I was going to use the $10 coupon at Kohl's to buy some new socks. I was shocked myself when I was able to walk out with 6 pairs of thin, khaki colored socks for FREE!!!

Kohl's just opened minutes from our house and I've been there 3 times now -- all because they sent me a coupon. The first 2 were $10 off $20 purchase, but the last one was just $10. I have bought clothes for Ella and towels.

I hope the coupons keep coming! I've never had one close enough to me to be a regular shopper. Is it worth getting the store credit card for coupons/deals?

The only time to shop this time of year is after 8PM on a Saturday night!!!

Scrapbook Night?

I've been to Stampin Up and Creative Memories parties, but last night was my first scrapbook night. I showed up to the demonstrators home and I had never met anyone. It really wasn't my kind of crowd and I didn't feel like I really fit in....but I learned a lot.

I found some cute stuff to add to Ella's baby book and upgraded my Storybook Creator to 3.0. One lady is quite savvy with the digital program and spent time teaching me.

One lady has 6 boys age 3-16.......wow! She was working on her album from their last trip to Disneyland. She was very jealous of the girly paper and embellishments I bought!

I'm addicted....

My darn co-workers were talkng about this tetris-like game last week. They told me how I could download it from our Wii for $5. Well....it was $10, but easily downloaded and now will be the reason I don't get things done!

It's fun Joe and I play eachother and it's a nice outlet! AND --- sometimes I WIN!

This is cool!

Happy Friday!

I believe in Angels!

Please refer to this post on my Mom's blog. I KNOW this family. The Dad was in my parents wedding. I still have goosebumps and some tears.

http://americahometown.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-story.html

Great Purchase!

We replaced our coffee table with these storage ottomans and they are perfect! I keep her toys in them and she recently learned to open and close them which is a new toy itself! The only issue now is trying to get her to understand that it only opens from ONE direction.....we have had some meltdowns over it already.

Winner: Best socks!

I love smartwool socks! I used to just wear them for skiing and hiking. Well....Nordstrom Rack now carries them and I bought several black pairs last summer and I am living in them this winter! They have socks for every possible need and if you can find them on sale --- worth every penny!

Barenaked Ladies!!!!

Joe found out through a co-worker that BNL will be in town on Dec 14th. They are playing The Depot which is a super-small venue (max of 1200 people and no smoking). Awww...it takes me back to my college days kind of venue (minus the smoke)! This is "our" band and I am so excited to see them again!

FYI -- They are doing a free concert in Vail for Snow Daze if anyone will be up there on Dec 12th. I'd sure think about it if I didn't have to work that weekend!

Found!

Last weekend Joe and I were shopping at Nordstrom Rack for baby gifts and we stumbled upon the Christmas Dresses. This one is it! If she hates the fur, the jacket easily comes off.

** Thanks Nicole for reminding me to post this!

Are you kidding me?

Joe and I are nerds sitting in the living room with our laptops and he IM's me a link. I pull it up and see cute hockey skates for Ella. THEN, my jaw hits the floor. $80 for pink hockey skates? Can't we just get white?

Joe says, "pink is only $2 more".

Laurie replies, "if we have more kids, and it's a boy - they could wear them".

Joe, "all of these are double runners and boys can't wear double runners, I'm only willing to get double runners because she's a girl".

Laurie, "can't we find them cheaper?"

Joe, "hockey skates cost over $600 even for kids when she starts playing, this is a deal".

OH MY!!!!!!!!!

I think I'll go back to planning Andrea's baby shower, it's much less stressful!!!