Pay It Forward Exchange

I found this idea here and thought it was too cool so I thought I would get in on the fun. I will send a homemade gift to the first 3 people who comment on my blog requesting to join the PIF (Pay It Forward) exchange. You may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it!!! The only thing you have to do in return is "pay it forward" by making the same promise on your blog. (If you don't have a blog, just promise somehow). I can't wait to see who I will be giving to. To join, just cut and paste this to your blog, and comment away! So get posting!

Brayden Funny

Just got a call from Mom's house. Brayden just had to tell me what happened. This is how the conversation went:

Him: "Mommy, I caught a lizard (pronounced 'wiz-ard')"
Me: "You did?"
Him: "He bite me on my lip (again pronounced 'wip')"
Me: "On your lip????? What were you doing with him?"
Him: "I try to give him a kiss an' he bite me on my wip"
Me: (laughing uncontrollably) "Well, let's not kiss anymore lizards, okay?"
Him: "No, they only kiss uh-ver lizards!"

Oh, the magic of a child. lol

Short Week

Well, this is a short week due to the holidays. Skylar is out of school tomorrow. She was too excited this morning because they were having a holiday program at school. I got a huge, unsolicited, excited hug as soon as I got out of the shower. Gotta love those unscripted moments of pure bliss.

Of course, two minutes later it was the battle over what to wear and all love for me was forgotten about when she couldn't wear her shorts and tank top out in the 50 degree weather!

Her: "But Mommy, pilgrims didn't wear jeans!"

Me: "Well honey, I don't think they wore polyester cotton blend shorts with flowers on

them either!"

Her: Something along the lines of "UNNNNGGGHHHH"

(Anyone with kids under 6 will know exactly the noise I am talking about. Admit it, you are hearing it in your head right now! lol)

We are gearing up for Christmas already. I think this is the first year that I am actually almost done with my shopping before December. I have the kids pretty well done which is a huge relief. I have the Christmas music playing in the background and a Christmas bear on top of my computer monitor. Friday will be the tree picking ordeal. Matt dreads that day every year because I have been known to travel to 6 or more places just to find that "perfect tree" only to go back to square one and purchase the first tree we looked at. lol Hey, it's Christmas!

I took some pics the other night for our christmas cards. I think that I have enough good ones of all three to piece together something workable. Thank goodness for Photoshop! lol Out of about 50 pics, Skylar is only really smiling in about two. The rest are all goofy looks and expressions. It was comical to fast forward through my slide show and see the progression of the faces. That's my girl! I will have to share pics later so I don't spoil my Christmas cards.

PS - Okay had to share one of the funnier ones. lol

Some crafty-ness

I actually got crafty today!!! I have been reading all of these creative blogs and have really been inspired but just have not found the time or the energy to sit down and do anything. Well, I took a vacation day from work today and actually sat down in my craft room. I have been working really hard to organize and clean it out. Pictures to follow on that later. lol But these are the two projects that I created today. The first is a button tree that I made for Mom for her birthday. Turned out really cute. Think I will have to make myself one! lol The inspiration came from Ali Edwards' blog who is an editor for Creating Keepsakes. You can find the details here

I have also been wanting to do some more cards ever since my Saturday with the Split Coast Stamping girls and this is what I made today to send to an online friend who lost her mother this week. I thought it came out really cute and I hope that she receives some measure of comfort from it. I cannot imagine what she is going through right now. My thoughts and prayers are with you, Valerie.

Anyway, that is what I have been up to today. I made Mom a chocolate fudge cake and lasagna for supper and surprised her. She was shocked. She thought that Daddy was taking her to Jersey Mikes (a sub place). Couldn't let her not celebrate her birthday. Here is a picture of the cake. It was a recipe from Paula Deen's magazine and was absolutely wonderful. Brayden kept saying, "Momma, it is de-wishus" I added pecans to the top after I took this and it was just perfect!

Halloween Pics

Finally figuring out how to post multiple pics to this durn thing. Anyway, here are the kids Halloween pics. As you can see, Matt got in the spirit as well. They had a great time and got loads of candy.

Quick Update

Just wanted to write a quick little update this morning. A couple people have asked how my weight loss journey is going. I have to say that I was so excited today. As you may know, we are doing a "Biggest Loser" challenge at work and that has really helped to keep it in the front of our minds and try to make better choices. All of the ladies in the office are having a friendly competition. Although I have not lost the most, I am proud to say that since Oct. 1st, I have lost a total of 10.2 pounds. I am thrilled. I have reached my first goal and now am moving on. My next goal is to lose another 10 pounds by Dec 1st. Pretty aggressive but I think I can do it. I just have to be really good during Thanksgiving and start working out again. Since we have been sick the last two weeks, I have kind of been slack with that. My ultimate goal is to be 160 by the end of the year. I don't know if I will make it but that is what I am shooting for. It is good to have high expectations. No beating myself up if I don't make it, but I need to challenge myself to work the hardest that I can work.