Christmas

With all the Christmas craziness I had no chance to blog until now, sorry I’m a bad blogger. We had several Christmas parties to go to this month, which kept our weekends fun and sometimes intense. But I am thankful to have some much of our family and friends so close, and that we all could share the holiday season together. Aynsley was a little more excited about Christmas this year; I think she got the concept of Santa but not completely. She knew what he looked like, and would say his name whenever she saw a picture of him. By Christmas Aynsley could sing jingle bells, so cute to hear!
Christmas Eve we always eat dinner with Jeff’s side of the family. This year Diane made a yummy prime rib roast: so needless to say all the guys were very happy. After we finished stuffing ourselves with as much food as we could eat we all exchanged gifts. Of course grandma and grandpa Blanda spoiled the grandkids, they all got little cd players with a karaoke microphone. Big thanks to Grandma on that one. Grandma had them all ready to go with batteries and a Chipmunk Christmas cd. So Hunter, Fisher, Brady, Aynsley, and Lilly all sang a song for us. It was sooooo cute!!!
On Christmas morning we went to Ihop with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson and my brothers. My mom and dad have been doing this for about 5 or 6 years now. I prefer it this way, and then no one is stuck in the kitchen cooking all morning. After breakfast was over we went home to open presents. This year Jeff and I agreed to no presents for each other, our cruise that is coming up here soon was our present. Aynsley made out like a bandit though. Santa brought her a really cute pink mermaid fish tank. Then Jeff and I got her a trunk full of princess dresses and jewelry. We got her a few more princesses’ dresses (I got them at a great price the day after Halloween). We got her more but I would say the princess dresses were the big winner. For dinner we went to Grandma and Grandpa Johnson’s for dinner. For dinner my mom had a honey baked ham and the worlds best funeral potatoes! I could make myself fat off them I swear! After dinner we opened more presents. And once again Aynsley’s grandparents spoiled her, they got her matching princess shoes for her dresses and a super cute crown. Her aunt Belinda and uncle Jeremiah gave her a cute baby Cinderella, which she know sleep with. Christmas was awesome this year. I am really looking forward to what the new year will bring our family.

No mom?!?

So I found out something about myself in the last two weeks. I really hate it when my mom is out of town. She went to Ohio to visit her parents and stay with them for two weeks. I really wanted to go with her and take Aynsley to meet more of her great grandparents. So of course I think it’s a wonderful thing for her to go and see them, but I as super glad she is coming home today! While she was gone the whole house got sick. And when it was my turn and I woke up at 2am sick as a dog one of my thoughts was “I want my mommy and she’s not even in the same state, she would have something to help me feel better.” She always brings me up stuff like sprit or Gatorade, soup, and some stuff to settle the tummy. My super sweet husband stayed home from work to take care of me, and my awesome mother and father in-law brought down some soup, sprite, and Gatorade.
My mother is also my inspiration to bake and make yummy stuff during the holidays. Well last week was the kick off for Christmas baking, and guess how much I got done. None, zip, zero, notta! My inspiration was out of town! And I’m always calling her with questions about random stuff. It was weird not getting to talk to her for so long. Aynsley missed her to, last week we had the Vintage Oak company dinner. We asked my dad if he wouldn’t mind watching Aynsley for us, and of course he didn’t. As soon as she walked into the house she gave her pop pop a hug and then called for her grandma. “Grandma I’m here”. My dad said the managed ok without grandma and that scooter (Aynsley) feel asleep snuggling him. Also Sundays aren’t the same without mom’s cooking! So like I said we are all super glad she is coming home today.

Funny!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The zoo in November?

One day last week Aynsley woke up and really, really, really wanted to “ go see the monkeys, alligators, and giraffes. I thought to myself why not?? The weather was perfect for it, not a cloud in the sky and the sun was shining. I wasn’t even sure if the zoo was open this time of year so I checked online and they were!!! So I packed up the car and we went! It was PERFECT!!! I would say there was ¼ the amount of people there, which made it so much better to be able to walk right up and see the animals and stay as long as we wanted to without feeling bad about hogging the front. All of the animals were out sun bathing so we got to see them all. And the icing on the cake was that everyone in the zoo was pretty much mom’s with 1-4 year olds. We rode the carousal and it took Aynsley a good minute to decide which animal she wanted to ride on, she finally choose an elephant. Then we rode the train, Aynsley LOVES trains so she was laughing and giggling the whole time. And before we left she played in the zoo park with all the kids that where there. She had so much fun that when we got in the car to go home she was asleep before we even pulled out of the parking lot.

Thanksgiving at my house

So about two week ago, I found myself thinking that I should have the parents (His and mine) over for a little pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving (excuse the redundancy). As soon as I had the thought I called Jeff to see what he would think. I totally thought he was going to say I was crazy and why on earth would I want to do something like that?? Well I got the total opposite. He thought it was a great idea! YEAH!!! I had the green light! The date was set, the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
I have to say I was very worried about cooking a turkey. Especially a Thanksgiving turkey, THE turkey of all turkeys! I had only cooked whole chickens to this point, and was not yet successful on a carving. ). So I hit the Internet, more specific food network. Com.. And after spending hours and almost going crossed eyed, I finally found what I was looking for. A recipe that said I will make the most perfect, moist turkey and not have a million and one steps. Alton Brown’s recipe (which I totally recommend) won out above all the rest. I was a little worried, but as all the reviews said I followed the recipe to the T. And forgive me for patting my own back, it was wonderful! Quick thanks to Alton Brown, he’s the man and so funny (watch his show on food network it’s worth it.) After a hundred calls to mom and dad about what to do’s and could you bring this. I got dinner on the table! I asked my dad to carve the turkey (he’s the carving master in my opinion) I wanted to deliver a national icon, not a jigsaw puzzle.
I have to say everything went as planned and was just as yummy as I hoped. I am so thankful that I even had the opportunity to have this dinner! And of course in fashion for me I didn’t take any pictures. SHOOT!

Not so puppy anymore!

Yesterday I was taking some pictures of Aynsley playing in the snow; I also got some of the dogs having some fun with it as well. After we all came in I sat down to take a look at what I had taken. When I got to the one’s of Sadie I thought to myself, she isn’t a little puppy anymore. She’s a BIG puppy; even with her training she still does puppy things i.e. chews shoes (I have lost my favorite pair of black heels), getting up on the counter to steal food, and well you get the idea. But I still love her! She is already such a good dog; she just has her puppy moments.







I know this post isn’t about Aynsley, but I just had to put this one up of her playing in the snow. What can I say, I’m a mom and I’m crazy about my kid.

Just a quick note

I read this quote today and it made me laugh and think about my own family as I grew up. I don't think I could have put it any better.



The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck

Halloween

Fhew what a busy couple of weeks, we had LOTS of Halloween fun at the Blanda home. To start it off we had our annual Blanda costume Halloween party! It was a BLAST, one of the best years yet I think. Everyone came and had a wonderful time!!! It was so good to see all of our friends; we need to do it more often. For the life of me I will never understand why everyone insists on standing in my tiny kitchen but that was where the party was. LOL. Thanks to everyone who came and made it the best year yet!
Later that week Aynsley had her school Halloween carnival. She went dressed as Dorothy from the wizard of oz and her buddy/cousin Brady went as the crowdedly lion. It was soooo cute. They had loads of games to play and gave the out TONS of candy. She didn’t like having to wait in line for her turn to play, but she figured it out. We have to work on waiting our turn and sharing I think.
And last but not least on Halloween day we did a lot. We went to visit Grandma Johnson at her work and have some lunch! YUMMY! Then we went to Grandpa Johnson’s work to say Happy Halloween, and then it was home for a quick nap. After we woke up we went up to Grandma Blanda’s house to trick or treat with the cousins. Then it was time to pick up daddy from work and eat our pumpkin shaped pizza (so cute, you get them at papa Murphy’s) then off to trick or treat in the neighborhood with the cousin again. Aynsley was sooo cute; she would get to the door and yell trick or treat in her little voice. I loved it! Aynsely went as Dorothy and mommy was snow white, while daddy was a great big gorilla. She got TONS of candy, more than a two old could ask for. It was a wonderful Halloween season. Now bring on the turkey!

Halloween Party!

On Sunday we had the Blanda family Halloween party. It was so much fun!!! All of the kids brought a craved pumpkin to decorate the kitchen with and later we had an award ceremony, they each got a cute little certificate and a fun prize from the caldron. Aynsley’s pumpkin was the most “meow” errific. It was really cute, thanks aunt Jill for the awards. We had a killer menu for dinner, which included a spooky spider web dip, mummy wrapped cheese dogs, eyeball tortilla soup (the eye balls were made of sour cream and black olives), and for dessert I made a scary Frankenstein cake (made out of cupcakes) and a fun pumpkin cake. And to help the kids burn the sugar we had a mummy Piñata! It was a really wonderful party and the best way to spend an evening. I’m so thankful for get togethers like that.

To tired to finish.

Wow I guess she was really tired, she didn’t even finish her cookies! I don't know of any two year old that would fall asleep while eating cookies! She drank all her milk though.

I wonder what she will flush first?

So for the last two weeks Jeff and I have been potty training Aynsley. She has been doing really awesome, and has been accident free for 6 days now!!! Go Aynsley!!! Aynsley has also learned how to flush the potty. She gets a little upset if you flush the toilet for her, she wants to do it. It’s one of her new favorite things to do. Well this Monday while I was cleaning the house and I heard her flush the toilet, I waited for her to come and get me (she will come and get me so I can see that she was a big girl and went in the potty) she didn’t. So another minute goes by and I hear another flush, I wait again and no Aynsley. So I decided to check it out, well she was blowing her nose with some toilet paper and then flushing it. It was so cute, she looked up at me and said in her two-year-old talk Mama I have boogers in my nose! It made me laugh and realize that just like all other two year olds that discover the flush, she will most likely flush something that shouldn’t be flushed. So it’s not really a question of will she, but a question of when and what??

A day in Paradise!

So I finally got myself to Paradise yesterday, Paradise Bakery that is. I had a lunch date with my fabulous sister-in-laws Jill and Jamie. We needed to plan the Halloween party, and finally use the gift cards we had been given at Christmas. I thought it was pretty funny that we all ordered the same sandwich and they got the brownie I would have got if I wasn’t trying to be so good on my diet. It looked soooo yummy! Side note: I totally recommend the chicken walnut salad sandwich. And in very normal fashion for us girl’s lunch turned into the whole afternoon. What a fun way to spend the day, talking with some of my most favorite people, planning a party (for those of you who know me know that I LOVE to plan fun parties), eating some yummy food, and getting great ideas from Martha Stewart’s Halloween edition. We were able to come up with a “killer” menu and some spooky decorative ideas. I was excited about our party before, but now I’m totally pumped!!! I know it’s going to be a blasty! I hope I have more Thursday’s like that!

Campfire hotdogs and Chicago deep dish!

Jeff and I have been lucky enough to get to hang out with Jill, Stan and Brady boy these last few weeks. We went up to Tanners Flat to do a hotdogs roast and marshmallow toast. We did it last year and really liked it, so we did it again this year. It just a nice way to spend an evening together. They kids really liked sitting around the fire and getting to eat some yummy homegrown watermelon. We also got together the next week to try some Sweet home Chicago pizza and in tradition we did the deep dish! It was YUMMY! After pizza we decide to burn some of those calories playing some Mario Kart. I think Jeff and Stan would have stayed up all night playing if the kids hadn’t let us know it was time for bed.

Jeff is the BEST!!!

So Monday started off a little more ruff for me than normal. I was still recovering from the flu YUCK and my house was in super bad need of a good scrub down from top to bottom. Which if you know its not really that bad, but a dirty house REALLY bugs me. One of my OCD’s I guess. ANYWAYS. So I wake up still feeling really gross and really grumpy. I tired everything to shake the grumps and it just seemed to get worse. Jeff knew I was having a bad morning and called to see how I was. He could tell from the second I said hello that it was not good. He told me to keep my chin up and that it would all get better. When I hung up the phone I couldn’t help but think “yeah right”. Well a couple hours later he calls again with a surprise. Jeff wanted to take a Southern Caribbean cruise but when he went to book it, it was all-full. So he put us on a waiting list for it and if any spots opened up he would book the trip and then tell me. WELL… we are not on the waiting list anymore!!!!! He was going to surprise me with it a little closer to the trip, but could tell I could use the surprise today. SURPRISE TO ME!!!! My super wonderful husband is taking me on a cruise again!!!!! I am the LUCKIEST woman I know!!!! So here we come Aruba!!!


P.S. January seems sooooo far away now!!!

Yeah ME!!!

YEAH!!! WAHOO!!!! I’m finally in the 130’s with my weight. YEAH YEAH YEAH. I only have 9 pounds to my GOAL!!!!! I was starting to feel and think that I would never be able to get out of the forties. But I broke through, now I just hope I can keep going!!! The crazy thing is that I was soooo naughty with my eating yesterday, I thought for sure I was going to gain not lose. WOW I LOVE THE HCG DIET Thank you hypothalamus !!!!!!!!!!!

A weekend alone at the cabin, and an end to the HCG diet!

This last weekend Jeff and I got to spend a lovely weekend alone at the cabin. It was perfect!! The leaves were turning their fall colors and there was a nice crisp in the air. There were on and off thunder and lighting storms, but that just gave a chance to cuddle up in between storms. When it wasn’t raining we went four wheeling (one of our favorite things to do). And as if that wasn’t enough wonderfulness I was officially off the HCG diet!!!!!!!! I got to have some pancakes with my breakfast, and a brownie with my lunch!! I really couldn’t have asked for a nicer weekend. It was so relaxing and peaceful up there that we didn’t want to come back. We joked about how long it would take for my parents to send a search party up after us. It was a perfect weekend and I can’t wait to do it again.



P.S. I don’t have any pictures of the pretty leaves because my camera was on strike

Aynsley’s First Day Of School!

So Aynsley had her first day of toddler pre-school today!!! She loved it!!! I was really worried that she was going to cry or be mean maybe. But as soon as we walked into the classroom she took off towards the kitchen toy set and started playing. She waved bye, blew me some kisses and said love you in her cute two year old voice. The roles had reversed themselves, she was the cool, calm, collected one and I was the one about to cry. My sweet little baby was ok without me. I have to say at the same time it was a relief; she could be on her own and was just fine with it. The teacher said she did really well, and that she was a cute addition to their class (Aynsley did give her problems when it came to getting her picture taken and wouldn’t smile for her. Her picture is the grumpiest faced kid I have ever seen.) There are only four other students in the class with one teacher and two aids. They have story time, crafts, outside play or gym play, they learn a game to play, then it’s snack time and time to go home. The icing on the cake is that I found out about this wonderful class through my sister in law Jill. Her son Brady has been in the class for about a month now. So Aynsley had her buddy Brady to show her the ropes! I know it’s a bit silly but I’m so proud of her, what a brave big girl she is!!!

Last Camping of the summer

With the fall sneaking up on us, Jeff and I decided to get one more camping trip to Fairview before it gets to cold to go. Jeff, myself, and Aynsley went up early, we left Wednesday night. It was the first time I had driven the trailer at night; I was a little worried about it. But Jeff said I did really well, and we even made better time than normal! Jeff and I were lucky and able to talk Grandma and Pop pop Blanda into coming with us. And as a last minute surprise Jeff’s sister’s and their families as well as our cousin Suzy with her family all came up as well. It was so much fun to get together like that. The kids had so much fun playing together in the dirt, playing hide and seek, riding their bikes in the mud, they even played play-dough salon shop (thanks suz)! We did some four wheeling and even got a little muddy (go figure!) And Diane tried out Suzy’s Rhino (sad I didn’t get any pic’s of her driving it!) It was the perfect weekend, the weather was beautiful, no bugs, the kids were all happy all the time, we got to fish, four wheel, and sit around a camp fire and just talk. Very relaxing, very perfect, and very to short. All I can say is that I can’t wait until next May.

CoNgRaTuLaTiOn’S Joe and Randi!!!!!!

CoNgRaTuLaTiOn’S Joe and Randi!!!!!!

My younger brother (can’t really say little brother anymore) and his girlfriend of 4 years are now ENGAGED!!!!! He proposed to her while they were vacationing in Chicago (how cute!!!) Randi said that Joe was shaking when he asked (how cute again!!!) and of course she said YES!!!! My whole family and myself have loved Randi from the start, so of course we all jumped up and down when we heard!!! HOORAY HE ASKED HER!!!!!! Now its safe to call her my sister in law!!!
Joey and Randi we love you guys and wish you all the love and happiness in the world!!!!!

P.S. You guys are so getting a toaster!

Thanks Aynsley

Our little family is always on the go. Busy. Busy. Busy. From sun up to sun down it can be a bit of a race. The day will be wrapping up and Jeff and I will start to entertain the idea of relaxing. And then there is Aynsley. Who is so far from even thinking the word (which I’m thinking she gets from me). She is always pulling on mine or Jeff’s hand saying, walk, or hike, or bike ride. She really knows how to crake the whip on her old mom and dad. But this is no complaint. More like a reflection on how grateful I am that my daughter is so active and how active she is getting her parents to be. She would fall asleep running if it was possible. The only time she is being still is when she is asleep. When I was younger and would think about having my own family and how we would be. I always pictured that very outdoors/active/healthy type of family for myself. So in short thanks Aynsley for kicking your mom and dads butts in active/healthy gear!!!

WELCOME SADIE!

So after a few people talked to me about blogging on, I finally have caved. But you can’t just start a blog without something to blog about. Drum roll please…… Jeff and I are proud to announce the arrival of our new puppy, Sadie. Sadie is 8 weeks old and super cute. She is a pure bread German Shepard. Both of her parents come from a very long line of police and medical aid dogs. The couple that sold us Sadie owns both the dame and sire. When I went to pick up Sadie, Mr. Bailey (who is the owner/breeder/police officer/police dog trainer) demonstrated just how wonderful German Shepard’s can be if taught well. He gave commands in German and the dogs did everything without hesitation. He had them track his son around the yard and keep him from leaving the yard. They actually herded the 9 year old back into the yard. It was amazing!!! He even has them going to the bathroom in a garden box he built and filled with little pebbles. Of course she is going to need training to be the same way. But it was a very comforting feeling when I saw what excellent parents she had, and even more comforting when I saw her pedigree. I know that does not guarantee she will be the exact same but it helped in making the decision to buy her. Jeff has always wanted a German Shepard as long as he can remember. I wanted a bulldog but seeing that a fully pedigree one cost as little as 1,500.00 I lost that battle. I have to say I was a little apprehensive about getting a big dog. Now that we have her here I absolutely LOVE her. I know she is going to be the best dog for us. She is already crate trained, knows to not jump up, and mostly listen to the command sit. She does have a little chewing problem when it comes to Aynsley’s stuffed animals. But I think it’s a great lesson for Aynsley to keep her toys picked up. Aynsley LOVES Sadie, and Sadie LOVES Aynsley. They both follow each other around all day. They are even napping together. Chica on the other hand still has some warming up to do. I don’t think she like sharing her daddy with the new puppy. Jeff is completely enamored with her. He has gotten up at 7 every morning, just to play with her before work. And calls at least once during the day to check on her.