Bring on Christmas...

Now as most of you know as soon as Thanksgiving dinner is over I rush to get down every last Christmas decoration we own so that the house can be lit up that night!! Well obviously being preggo with Garrison has been a bit restricting on what I get accomplished in a days time. So I had to wait on Marc for the whole decorating for Christmas to happen. Surprisingly enough he was very into the spirit and got everything from the garage down on Saturday evening. So up went the Christmas tree and of course with 3 kids hanging ornaments, it took all but 20 minutes to be completed. Marc decided since it was late, the outside of the house would have to wait 1 more day. Fine with me as long as he did most of the outside!! Most of our decorations need anchoring and the ground out here in the lovely desert is super duper hard making it not an easy task what so ever!!

So this brings me to today, Marc and the kids started on the outside of the house. I of course ended up helping in the later part of the afternoon. I am happy to say the exterior along with the interior is 100% done and decorated. This includes the newly added decorations. (Every year we always add something to the front yard along with something for inside the house). This year we added a sleigh and presents display that lights up on the outside and a Christmas tree for the loft on the inside (for the kids). The tree in the loft is for the kids to decorate with ornaments they make themselves over the next 24 days. I usually do at least 1 craft a week with them but this year I told them we could do an ornament or two a week! They are really excited about making all their own ornaments!

Hand Sanitizer Makes Great Perfume...

I didn't grab the camera for this moment but a story will do just fine!!

Tonight we had a "mini' Thanksgiving with just Marc's parents over. After we finished dinner and cleaning up Marc put some old family videos in for the kids to watch. These were videos of Marc and his younger brother and sister. The kids LOVE to watch old videos of themselves and family members. They were most fascinated with their Uncle Jarrod and his comical antics. While watching the oodles and oddles of videos the kids (Liliana and Dillon) ended up falling asleep downstairs! Not the normal routine but being a Saturday evening Marc and I didn't care all that much! Ava for some strange reason did NOT fall asleep! Marc finished recording the video currently playing and then carried the older two up to their rooms. Ava was told to go up to her room and we would come up and kiss her goodnight! I was cleaning up so I delayed going upstairs by about 10 minutes, Marc at this point had come back downstairs to start recording another video before heading up to kiss Ava. While that 10 minutes passed by Ava was NOT in her room but in our room...
She came downstairs saying she wanted us and as she approached me I could smell this really strong perfume smell coming from her clothing. I immediately asked her what she touched and of course she just put her head down and made a sad face! I double checked to make sure whatever it was, she didn't get it on her face, in her eyes, or in her mouth. Thankfully she didn't. So up the stairs I climbed. I asked her about 5 times what she put on her nighties. She would not say a word! I first searched the older two kids' rooms for their perfume bottles and those were still way up high and full. So I went into my bedroom. On our desk was a travel size container of hand sanitizer that was Liliana's. I know it was Liliana's because earlier that day I asked Liliana to put it away or I would throw it away and she freaked out and promised to put it away (guess she never did ... big shocker these days)! Ava had dumped the entire bottle into her hands and must have rubbed alot of it all over her nighties. She smelled nice but really strong!! So after explaining to her that she is not to use that much sanitizer at one time we went to change nighties and then to bed! I tried not to scold her seeing it was partly Liliana's fault for leaving the sanitizer out instead of putting it away and Marc and I's fault for not going upstairs with Ava before starting our tasks downstairs! I am just happy that she didn't try to eat any of it! Although she has never been one to put much in her mouth other than her hair and clothes (horrible habits of hers but I will take um over tasting actual liquids)! So the moral of the story is if you run out of perfume and would like to smell fresh and clean... whip out the hand sanitizer!!

Shopping At 5AM...

Yes thats right... very pregnant and all, I got up at 3:50AM to head out shopping.

Its sorta funny... when I first moved to AZ, both Marc and I worked EVERY SINGLE GREEN FRIDAY. Then when we had Dillon in 2004 it was the first time I wouldn't HAVE to wake up at 3AM to go and work an 18 plus hour day of madness! But I guess my body was trained to still want to be in the stores that early in the morning because 2004 was the first year I got up early and headed out to SHOP.

Now those of you that know me fairly well, know that I have 95% of my shopping COMPLETE by mid September. So most of the items I am looking to purchase are just those super slammin deals that a good bargain shopper (like myself) just can't pass up! 2005 until today I have continued going out and hitting just those few stores for the items of interest.

Are wondering where all I HAD to go so early in the morning?? I first went to Walmart (they price match other ads so I was hoping to get most of everything I wanted there and head home)! Well surprisingly enough I got ALL BUT 1 ITEM on my list!! My list consisted of 7 things! All were door busters and early bird items! So I didn't do too bad. Now since we live in AZ there is a Walmart every 10 miles, so I decided since it was still super early (5Am I started my shopping spree and I was done shopping and checked out by 5:37AM) I would head over the other Walmart. Sure enough they had a couple extra items that I wanted to snag if I saw them but were once again out of that 1 other item on my list. Since Best Buy had a similar sale on the 1 item I was looking for I headed over there (across the street). They of course didn't have it so...

Instead of going home at this point, the crafter in me HAD to go check out Joann's which was in the same plaza! I saw their ad and was super excited when I noticed they had their flannel prints for $1.49/yrd! Normally these fabrics are $4.99-$5.99! Lets just say it was beyond PACKED inside. I, for some reason, was feeling up to waiting and getting some fabric! So as I headed to grab a ticket, I looked at my phone, the time was 6:15AM!! After checking the time I looked up at the number they were serving... they were currently on #96!! I looked down at my ticket... the number was 49!!! Yeahup thats how many people were at that moment in time waiting for fabric to be cut!! I once again decided to stay and wait!! They seemed to be moving pretty quickly through everyone but then again there were so many nice people around me chatting it up, time didn't seem to be going by as slowly as you would think!! Finally they called my number and I was on my way up to pay! I hopped into the checkout line (which was also long and moving fairly slowly). I glanced down at my phone and the time said 9:10AM!! Yeahup thats right, I was at Joann's for 3 hours!! 3 times as long as 2 Walmarts and a Best Buy!!

Needless to say I made my 3 hours in Joann's worth while with the amount of fabric I purchased! I will definately be in no short supply anytime in the near future!

After being at Joann's for such a long time I headed home to shower, eat, and wrap like a crazy woman before my inlaws brought the kiddos home! Yes my wonderful inlaws let the kids sleepover so that I could go out shopping!

All in all I would say I was pretty successful on getting all I wanted but it was definately a way more interesting Green Friday than in years previous!!

Thankful...

My 6 Top Things to be Thankful for...

1. The ability to wake up every morning and live each day to the fullest

2. A wonderful and caring husband who has always been there for me and always will be

3. 3 Beautiful, healthy children and 1 more on the way

4. An awesome extended family (yes that includes all the inlaws (I LOVE ALL YOU GUYS))

5. A lovely house that we have been able to make a home

6. My group of friends that read these posts and leave comments (good or bad)!!

I think these days so many people are so negative about the things they don't have and never take the time to acknowledge the things they HAVE! This is one of those holidays where you can't help but think about all those positives in your life.

I can't even begin to explain how thankful I am for all that I have!! I hope you all can be just as thankful for what you have in your life!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

NOW BRING ON THE TURKEY AND LETS GET THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS UP!!

Garrison_________??

What sounds better??

Garrison Michael OR Garrison Roman??

Ok so let me start at the beginning... when we found out we were having Dillon it was around the same time we found out my grandfather was very ill. My grandfather passed away right around the same time (with the time difference) as when we confirmed Dillon was in fact a boy!! In his honor I wanted Dillon's middle name to be Anthony. Marc AT THE TIME NEVER said a word and agreed! A few months after Dillon was born someone asked him what we named the baby and he said "Dillon Anthony... but it was gonna be Dillon Michael" I turned my head in shock! I later asked him why he said that. He explained that he wanted Dillon to have his middle name. I seriously had NO CLUE he felt like this. I sorta felt bad because if he wanted that so badly I would have had no problem naming him Dillon Michael!
So this brings me to our soon to be second born son. Once again we have had a first name picked since month 3 of the pregnancy! However the middle name was not really talked about all that much (similar to Dillon's)! So last night as we are eating dinner Ava is telling us everyones FULL name. (She has been on a full name kick lately) We had her say Marc's which is Marc Michael. Then Marc asked her about the baby in my belly. She replied Garrison Michael. Marc immediately said "No its Garrison Roman" I once again found myself stunned and shocked! I began to explain how I thought we agreed on Michael being the baby's middle name since Dillon didn't get that name. He then started talking about his grandfather (his mother's father who passed away a couple years ago). I didn't realize he liked the name so much since back when we were deciding on a first name I brought up Roman and he SMASHED THAT DOWN INSTANTLY! So there we were having a nice family dinner and Marc once again playing the "Name Game".
The funny thing about this whole situation is that he has been present EVERY SINGLE TIME someone asks me what we will name the baby. Never once a peep. Now all of a sudden there is a problem.
To be completely honest either name sounds fine to me and has meaning.
So which name do you like better? I told Marc I was gonna blog and see what everyone's reaction would be??!!
In the end we will most likely be going with Garrison Roman since Marc is so stuck on this name even though for the last 4 years he wanted a boy with his middle name!!

Preggo 8 1/2 Months...

So here we are...almost Thanksgiving and only 5 weeks away from Garrison's arrival! As you can see he has been growing at a nice healthy rate! This pregnancy just like all the others has been anything but enjoyable. However knowing a healthy happy baby will be here in such a short amount of time makes it all totally worth it!

A Baby Blanket and Burp Rags...

Baby Blanket

2 pieces of 1 yard fabric

thread
sewing machine

Pin the 2 pieces of fabric together inside out. Sew around 3 edges. (I like to iron a hem on that 4th side you don't sew, so that when you turn it inside out you have nice crisp even edges all the way around). Inside out (pattern side of fabric should now be showing), pin again except this time ALL 4 sides. Sew a decorative stitch around the edge and wahlah instant baby blanket. On the blanket in this picture, I sewed a car stitch all the way around. Its sorta hard to see but it looks really neat close up!

The bonus of making your own baby blanket is that it is a nice size compared to those cheesy ones they sell at the stores!!

Burp Rags

1/4 yard of 2 fabrics OR 1/2 yard of 1 fabric

thread

sewing machine

Cut into rectangles (size depends on preference). Pin and serge ends together!

Super simple, super budget friendly, and its a nice feeling to know all these items I will be using on Garrison I MADE!

Still Nesting...

I really enjoy sewing. I have started so many projects after buying a new machine a few weeks ago that I find myself sewing something EVERYDAY! With my new machine, I was able to take 3 courses to learn how to properly use the machine! I took the first 2 classes when I first bought the machine and did a "mini" course for the 3rd. Luckily yesterday they had a normal length course 3 class right by my house so I went, only to discover that some of my 183 stitches are not functioning properly! In other words, I need to send in my machine to get it fixed. Its completely under warranty but that means I will be withOUT my sewing machine for 2 whole weeks. Normally that wouldn't be a big deal but considering all the projects I have been doing its gonna be hard to be without it for so long! So of course I came home yesterday from class to sew like a mad woman. Hoping to finish all I can before this weekend, when I will take it in and send it to get fixed. So far I was able to finish Liliana's curtains for her room, burp rags for Garrison, hooded bath towels for the kids, and experiment more with diapers for Ava and Garrison. I am hoping to start on the trainers that I promised to make for Dillon but with Ava and Dillon now sick I am not sure what exactly I will get finished before the weekend! Here are some pictures of the hooded bath towels I made for the kids! They came out super cute!

Whats New or Not...

Ok so here we are... just under 6 weeks away from Garrison's arrival and Christmas! The kids are all super excited for the holiday but just as excited about a new little brother! They have nightly conversations about who is going to hold him, change him, feed him, and play with him! Its quite entertaining at times! Lately the days have been going by as normal as can be. Liliana and Dillon in school during the day and then afternoon playing outside in the backyard! Weekends, Marc and I have tried to keep them somewhat entertaining but sort of low key with me being so far along in the pregnancy! This weekend Marc took the younger two back to the zoo. I had a nice afternoon with just Liliana! The last couple nights the kids really enjoyed the backyard and their bubbles! I managed to grab the camera to document some of the fun they had!

Phoenix Zoo...

We finally made it to the zoo!! The last time I went to the zoo was last year with Liliana's class on her 1st grade field trip. The time before that was back when Dillon was first born (yes back in 2004)! So yes this was Ava's first time going to the Phoenix Zoo. Its not far from our house and its not all that big either! About 3 miles worth of trails with a large variety of animals! Considering its November you would think the weather would be perfect for a zoo day... well think again! It was quite warm (94 degrees). The weather definately took its toll on us the last hour we were there. Despite the warm weather, the kids of course had a blast! We were there a total of 4 hours, saw pretty much all there is to see, had a nice picnic lunch (another reason I LOVE this zoo, you can bring in as much of your own food and drinks as you want), and overall had a nice family afternoon at the local zoo!

The kids liked the petting zoo area the best as you can see! Most of the pictures I was able to get of them were taken in this area!

Our Scarecrow Family...

Ok so I wanted this to be a yearly family tradition... I figured every year we could make our own scarecrows with our old clothes and set them up as a family on a hay bale in the front yard. The scarecrow family will be up from now until Thanksgiving. As you can see we are all present and if Liliana wasn't positioned in front of me you would see I stuffed extra stuffing on the belly of my scarecrow so Garrison would not be left out! Happy Fall Everyone!!

No I Didn't Forget About Marc...

Ok so it dawned on me late last night, that I didn't take any photos of Marc all dressed up! He wore this costume (a Blues Brother) to a work function a couple years ago and I still have pictures from back then so I am thinking thats why I didn't take any last night!

But I am sure some of you are wondering how hip and cool he looked so here is a picture of him all dressed up...