I think I found it.

Wow. I'm having way too much fun today. The kids are taking awesome naps. I cleaned the kitchen (even the floors!) and I'm searching for a fun hairstyle. I really want to do something drastic.

So much so, that I don't even care if I don't like it in a way. I'm just wanting to take a risk.

Man, DO NOT take me gambling tonight.

So, I think this is it:

Oh, and our oven is totally on the kaputs right now. It was here when we moved in and you can tell it's farily old-ish. Recently, when the oven lights, it makes a loud noise and jumps a bit. Kind of scary! So no baking for me this week and then of course alls I want to do is bake. We've found one we like at Sears and they are having a nice sale right now. I would love stainless steel, but after much debate we are going with "bisque". Our fridge is bisque (and you know I'm totally the type to make sure all my appliances match.........or not). My cupboards are bisque. I really, really, like light colored, bisque-y kitchens. So that's that. Some big purchases are really annoying, like car problems, or termite problems (hello, annoying!), but this one is kind of fun. I guess the year 2009 was a BIG year for us.

A baby.

(Awesome, but let's face it....EXPENSIVE)

A new car.

A big trip.

Stupid termites.

A new oven.

Now I guess my $5 limit on pretty much everything else in my life makes much more sense, huh? Because really, we aren't big spenders, we just had some BIG things to do this year and hopefully no BIG things to do in 2010.

Our Christmas

We ended up staying home for our Christmas. It was fun, but we are so excited to get out the next 2 weekend to see our families to celebrate Christmas with them. We did get to spend some fun time with friends and went to a Christmas Eve service at a nearby church. It was all really nice...just not quite the same.

We let Henry open his present on Christmas Eve. He had actually seen this before I got it put away and I had to try and convince him that I had no idea what the "giant airplane" was that he was speaking of.

So when he realized what it was that he was opening he started clapping. A natural response to a toy of your dreams, I suppose.

Harper got a new little drum set, but her favorite toy right now is a set of multi-colored prep bowls I got at one of our Christmas parties. Seriously, she loves bowls!

And seriously, I'll proudly admit that I got Harper's presents at Goodwill. They were in good condition, I cleaned them well, and she has no idea.

 

RJ and I had decided not to get presents for each other this year. But naturally, RJ bent the rules and got me 2 magazine subscriptions and a tub of my favorite peppermint candies. I warned him though....getting me a house magazine is going to make me want to change my house every month!

 

So the rest of the weekend Henry played and played and played with his airplane and airport set. I absolutely love listening to the conversations all the people are having. It's just precious!

 

The people even took naps on the remote control and on the rug.

 

 But seriously, I've seen documentaries on Jim Jones 1 too many times.

The photo below totally creeps me out.

Completely off subject, but Sam's started carrying my favorite kind of peanut butter. Ah! I get excited over really small things and this was one of those really small things. I love peanut butter. I still can't believe some people have never heard of putting peanut butter on pancakes. Or on your caramel rolls. Or on basically everything. And can you believe I have a son who HATES peanut butter? It's sad. It really is. He's missing out on so much joy!

 

So we had a beautiful Christmas.

It was beautiful snow. (though it kept us inside)

It was Harper's 1st Christmas. (and that makes me sad.)

We got to celebrate Christ's birth.  (and reflect on all of the blessings of the past year)

And we have 2 more Christmas celebrations to come! (and that makes me happy)

Hope you all have a great Tuesday!

 

A New Do

I only have about 1 1/2 precious, precious months left of being in my 20's.

That's right.

I'm going to be 30.

 I don't feel 30. I certainly don't act 30. And I really certainly don't want to be 30.

But what's a girl to do?

Get all my hairs chopped off.

Idea:

 Thoughts?

Suggestions?? Preferably via picture....thanks!!

A post-Christmas post coming soon....

Christmas Week

We went to see Santa today for the first time this year. Henry ran right up to him and gave him a hug. He didn't say much to the man, but he was pretty excited.Then we took another ride on the train. At $1 a ride, we just can't pass it up! He's been on a mall train 4 times this year. He loves trains. I like to shop.

It's a good combination.

Our plans to go up to Minnesota have been canceled. I was pretty bummed, but now we've got a few things planned that I'm really excited for. We had gotten a present for Henry's birthday and decided not to get him anything for Christmas since we'd be traveling and he'd gets lots of presents elsewhere. Now that we're staying home, the birthday present has stepped up to the plate and will become the Christmas present and I'm so excited about it! Henry and I also picked out a couple of little things for Harper yesterday and I've got some stuff for the stockings. We're planning on opening presents tomorrow morning so they can be thoroughly enjoyed while we are home all weekend.

Henry is going to flip when he opens his airplane/airport set.I can't wait to see his reaction.

But before presents can be opened I've got to go through the rest of our toys. For the most part I try to limit the amount of toys to what fits in the toy box...other than the toys that are in their rooms. This has been pretty easy with just one child, but now with a boy and a girl this is going to be hard. First of all, I think I need a bigger toy chest! I like putting some toys away for a while and then bringing them back out when he gets bored with the other ones.

And this little thing is completely content to play with magnets and bowls.

Such simple taste.

I like that.

 

I finished up my last painting order of the season. I only had 4 paintings to do this month and they were all for good friends so it was really fun.

 

I've also enjoyed some baking time this season and came across a new favorite cookie. I take my cookie baking pretty seriously, so that's a pretty serious statement.

Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

Except I didn't have lemon so used orange zest and juice instead. And drizzled a powdered sugar glaze over top. And used blueberry jam instead. Seriously. If you like a shortbread-type of cookie, this is the one to make!

And lastly, one of my favorite decorations. My mom got this nativity set for Henry and I just love it. It even came with 3 Superheroes! Aka: wise men. 

 

I hope you all have a blessed Christmas day celebrating Christ and being with family and friends!

Merry Christmas!

We went to an Ugly Christmas Sweater party last night. Can you believe this piece of ugly I found at my favorite GoodWill? I look forward to many, many years of wearing this sweet, glitter-fied blazer.

thanks for the photo, Jessica!:)

MOPS

If you are in the mood for...

*really good fellowship
*encouragement
*GOOD food
*the chance to win a lot of super cool prizes from a certain "celebrity" sharing her favorite things

then...

come to our MOPS group tomorrow!

(email me at a.charliebloomer@gmail.com if you want more details)

Seriously, you will not regret it.

In fact, it may be the best decision you've made all week!

Thursday already?

Man, this week has gone too quickly.

Henry participated in his very first Christmas program on Sunday. He did a great job! He just stood there for Jesus Love Me, but he actually did the actions to Away in a Manger. It was a really fun night.

Doesn't he look handsome?

He's developed some chubby cheeks these days. He eats non-stop!

In no time, Harper will be up front singing too.

They just grow up so fast, huh.

 

 I was pretty pleased with Harper's Christmas-y dress. It's a hand-me-down summer dress that I put a red shirt over and then tied the strap around.

Total cost? $0. Gotta love that.

 

One of my favorite clients ordered a couple of paintings that I finished up earlier this week.

A girly girl painting.

 

 And a boyish boy painting.

 

I am feeling back to normal today. It was such a bummer. I didn't really have time to take a day completely off from doing anything, but so goes. I had perked up a bit by afternoon, but still felt yucky until finally last night before I went to bed. I didn't actually get sick, but felt severely nauseous starting Tuesday evening, then all night and til noon. I basicially had to lay very, very still.  

(NO. I'm not pregnant.)

I did enjoy hearing all the pitter patter of Henry's little feet running around and playing with RJ all morning. Sounds like they had a blast.

The next few days should be pretty crazy, busy, and fun.  It's a good kind of stress that I'm feeling. The kind that keeps me motivated to keep going. Really, I'm excited for all of it!

9 years ago today....

I waited for you.

You drove all the way from Des Moines to Pella to pick me up in a snowstorm. Drove us both back to Des Moines to eat at Mondo's and go to The Nutcracker at the Civic Center. Then drove us back to Pella to drop me off and then you back to Des Moines in a snowstorm.

You totally won me over.

Without even trying.

I could barely sleep that night because I was just so excited. I knew. I just knew. Well, I also knew that the thought of you possibly not being the *one for me* made me really sad.

Exactly one month after that beautiful night, I left to study in the Netherlands for 4 months. We spent hours on the phone, hours writing each other letters and emails, and hours falling in love.

I came home. You waited for me. We continued to spend hours on the phone, hours writing letters and emails, and hours falling in love.

**********************************************************************************

Exactly 9 years later you had to stay home from work just to take care of your sick wife and be an amazing dad to our sweet children.

You.

You're just the best.

And I love you.

(And I'm feeling 90% better!)

A snowed-in kind of day

We had our selves a candy blizzard yesterday.

 In honor of the real blizzard going on outside.

 

Every piece was carefully placed.

 

While wearing Spiderman pajamas, which he has lived in since the snow started.

(I'm not the only snowed in mom who does this, right?)

 

Totally worth the $8! I'm usually, weirdly, anti-kits. Why buy it when I can make it myself?

I can barely buy a boxed cake or brownie mix without having convulsions.

I have no rational explanation for why I think this way.

But after this $8 kit, I may never go back...

 

Another view of our blizzard and what used to be our cars.

 

No, it's not breakfast. It was supper. And still in our pajamas.

Have you ever tried to feed a baby and keep your mouth closed. It's hard. Try it!

 

I finished my night off with caramel corn.

 

And today we're back to normal. RJ got off early on Tuesday, had yesterday off, and a late start today.

I'm going a little nuts being stuck in the house, but we've been having fun. It's especially fun that this happened during the week and not on the weekend.

Makes it an easy and fun week for this mamma!

Happy Thursday!

I could really use a....

New Kitchen Aid Mixer. :)  Check out the link, and maybe you could use a new one too!

Snow Day

Although this picture totally cracks me up, it left me wondering why I even tried.

This was the last shot I took.

Poor kids.

We had a quick photo shoot since we had a snowed-in afternoon. 

At least the adults were smiling...though not the friendliest-gentle-smile-reminders coming out of our clenched teeth.

 

So I'm taking the kids to have a photo shoot elsewhere...once this storm blows over...to someone who actually knows what they're doing. And has more patience. And actually likes taking pictures.

And has more patience.

But hey, tomorrow will *hopefully* be a snow day and I'm pumped! We've got a ginger bread train kit all ready to go. A Christmas Curious George movie to watch. And lots of other fun stuff to do. And the second I'm able....I need to get out of this house!!!

But the Prettiest Sight to See....

What a great weekend! I had a great time at MOPS. Got some great deals at GoodWill. Hung out with my hubby at home Friday night. And made the decision to not go shopping with my girlfriends. I was so looking forward to it, but after much thought I decided I needed the day at home with my family. It was great. We had RJ's work party Saturday. We mainly went to possibly win some prizes, which of course we didn't. They gave away a ton of good prizes and 2 airplane tickets to anywhere in the US. Can you imagine winning that?!

Friday afternoon we decorated for Christmas. I always love opening the boxes because I don't always remember what I have or what I bought at after Christmas clearance sales.

My absolute favorite decoration ever. I just need to figure out how to keep it up all year round....and how to convince my husband of this too...

I just love all it's glorious sparkly splendor.

We also decided against putting up the big tree, and you know? I'm okay with it. Makes it all a little more simple not having to worry about keeping an 8 1/2 month old away from it all day long. Henry graciously let me put the tree that was in his room downstairs and it fascinates me.

My #1 wanted item for after Christmas clearance is a big tinsel-fiber-optic tree. Or a big ol' white one. I love the tacky-ness and sparkly-ness of it. And really, if you're gonna have a fake tree you might as well flaunt it. I do miss hanging up all of my vintage ornaments I got at a consignment store, but I did hang up some of the ones that were a little Henry-friendly so he could play with them. Ahhh, one of my favorite memories from when I was little was playing with the Christmas ornaments. I still remember those ornaments so well!

And a little bonus picture. How do you get an almost 3 year old to look at you and smile?

It was a good Sunday. I didn't get overly frantic getting to church *for once*! Got to hear some great testimonies and see their baptisims. Then went back for a "box party" and some good ol' fashioned cookie fellowship. Man, I love my church family!

Harper checking out the boxes.

 

 

It was so fun to see all the kids filling up the boxes full of necessities for families in need.

 

Hope you all have a great week!

Christmas Cookies

Oh, boy.

I think I have a new hobby.

We are having a cookie exchange at MOPS and I was in the mood to try something new and pretty. I've never tried sugar cookies. Frankly, they aren't my cookie of choice. Sure I'll eat them, but there are many other cookies that I'd eat first. That's why it's a perfect cookie to make! Not quite as tempting....

Roll and cut.

FYI Do not place your cookies this close together!

 

Frost.

 

Decorate.

 

Decorate.

 

Decorate~!