Jaxon's Christmas Program

This is Jaxon's Sunday School class performing in the Christmas Program at our church.
They are always a BIG hit! 

This is the banner I was asked to make for the program.
It's been over 16 years since I was in the program... it was fun to be apart of it again!

I've been working on getting our video uploaded but found out my camcorder isn't compatible with my laptop...
guess I know what I'll be asking SANTA for next year!

Christmas Morning

SANTA made it to our house again this year! And boy did we have 2 super, excited little boys! As always SANTA picks a special movie for the kiddos and themes his gifts around that flick! This year's movie was Cars 2! The boys got Cars 2 toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wash, band-aids and pencils. They also got the movie and the card table pictured below! As well as a whole buncha other good stuff... take a look!

SANTA brought a folding table & chairs set... it's top is a dry erase board, very cool! 

He also brought a McDonald's kitchen playset! They're "lov'in it"!

They got a musical instrument set w/ Max's favorite, "shakey eggs"!

And this really cool garage that's sort of like a doll house for boys. Daddy spent lots of time putting that together!

This was the 1st & only present Max showed any interest in ripp'in into!

Pinterest inspired me to make this John Deere flannel board for Jaxon...

and this felt board for Max!

SANTA was good to the boys even though they both shared a seat on the "naughty list"! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Jaxon's all ready for his Christmas Program! He loves that train sweater and was so excited about wearing it!

Here they both are ready to go. I was shocked to get both of them to stand sort of still and smile!

Max is excited for SANTA to come!

Daddy & his boys!

Mommy & her boys!

Jaxon insisted that Daddy & I get a picture together... he's quite the photographer!

B-I-N-G-0

Found this on Pinterest....

1st square under "I"... yeah, that's MAX!

Fitting considering the topic of my last post!

Where's Your Shoe, Cinderella?!

If you follow my adventures you already know how very much I loath Holiday shopping in stores. Most gifts were bought on-line this year and will continue to be in the coming years at least until both my boys can stay home w/ a sitter. However there is still a need for groceries during the Holidays and last week we were in dire need. 


Snow was in the forecast and Hubby gets his panties in a bunch at the mere thought of the frozen stuff. I knew he'd pull my keys if I attempted to go any other day so after Jaxon got out of PreSchool Monday morning, we set out for an adventure to the land of Wally World... a week from Christmas.


Our lil' adventure started out really well. Since we would get to town at dinner time I decided before we left that we'd stop at McDonald's for lunch. They have Chipmunk toys in their Happy Meals right now and I knew that would make Jaxon's day and work as a bribe all at the same time! To avoid an argument I ordered Max his very 1st Happy Meal (to share w/ Mommy) so he'd get a toy of his own as well. After finishing our dinner we were on our way.


It was cold that day but the parking lot was packed for a Monday afternoon so I didn't even bother trying to get close to the door. We bundled up in our winter gear and pushed our way through the wind to the entrance to Hell! There were people everywhere! I don't if certain individuals get the entire week off for Christmas but I am sure some of those Bozo's should have been doing something other than last minute shopping!


I needed some supplies from the craft isle for Jaxon's Christmas party so we made our way over (to the opposite side of the store that I needed to be on), to hunt for something they didn't carry anyway! And why did they have to go and move the crafts next to the toys?! Jaxon began his usual, "I just want to pick out 1 toy!", routine about the same time that Max decided he'd had enough of riding in the school bus sized cart we always have to get!


I settled with Jaxon on "looking not buying" and we headed over to the toys. Just as we were finishing an argument on whether or not my new niece/nephew would like a "rubbery creature" as a Christmas gift, Max went and kicked off one of his shoes. Luckily I was paying attention. After putting his shoe back on for what must have been the 125th time that day we headed towards the grocery isle. 


We had just finished picking out which types of chips to use in our cookies when I noticed that Cinderella was once again missing his shoe! I told Jaxon to walk around the side isle we were in and look on the backside to see if it was lying on the floor... it wasn't. We began backtracking through the store in panic mode and ended up stopping a sales clerk to have her ask over the walkie if anyone had seen a toddler's shoe... no one had. 


The clerk suggested that I finish my shopping and ask again at customer service before leaving the store. I decided that was a good idea but figured I might as well stop and look at shoes while we were standing there just in case. We picked out a new pair reluctantly and made our way back to the groceries. I can't even tell you how many things I forgot that day. We ended up going back through several isles several times because all I could think about was how badly I wanted to just be at home!


We wrapped up our shopping and waited in line for 15 minutes at customer service just to discover that no one had found the tiny shoe. I left my name and number and a brief description of the shoe with the clerk and headed to the checkout, sick to my stomach. That shoe was a hand-me-down from Jaxon. It was the shoe both the boys learned to walk in. A tiny pair of Nike Shocks my Mom had bought for Jaxon's 1st birthday... a pair I would have never sold on a garage sale but would have tucked away in a keep sake trunk to show them both one day!


I am still waiting for a phone call... unfortunately it's been over a week now and my hopes have completely faded that the shoe will be returned to us. AND I have now decided (after another trip to Wally World yesterday), that Max's shoes will be removed at the door upon entering... he gave me another scare in the electronic isle! Thank goodness the shoe ended up under the cart this time!!!

Candy Cane Guessing Game

This is my second attempt to win some cold, hard Christmas cash! My first guess at In Good Measure http://yourlocalsecurity.com/in-good-measure/ was 918... Jaxon's birthday is on the 9th & Max's is the 18th.

My second guess is 1015... me & Hubby's anniversary! Wish me luck! 

Counting Down the Days

We are getting so excited for Christmas around here! A few weeks ago Jaxon already began asking, "How many more days till Christmas, Mom?" Since Jaxon's learning to write numbers at PreSchool I thought it'd be fun to do a countdown. We cut out 26 squares of red construction paper and Jaxon wrote the numbers 0-25 on each square. We began our countdown on the 30th of November and as of today we only have 17 more days till Christmas!

And if you haven't already heard, I'm sponsoring my very first giveaway! Be the first to leave me a comment on My Interview w/ Mark Cuban http://jaxonsstory.blogspot.com/2011/12/interview-w-mark-cuban.html on what ways you as a blogger Mommy or Daddy have used your platform to generate income and win two Landmark movie tickets!

Here's Jaxon starting our coutdown!

An Interview w/ Mark Cuban

My blogger friend, Jeff, recently asked if I'd be interested in sharing part of an interview he had done with business savvy, Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban on his new book, How to Win at the Sport of Business. Using material from his popular Blog Maverick http://blogmaverick.com, Cuban compiles insider knowledge on what it takes to become a thriving entrepreneur.

Cuban tells his own rags-to-riches story of how he went from selling powdered milk and sleeping on friends' couches to owning his own company and becoming a multi-billion dollar success story. His unconventional, yet highly effective ideas on how to build a successful business offer entrepreneurs at any stage of their careers a huge edge over their competitors.

While I am certainly no entrepreneur myself, I would recommend Cuban's book to anyone out there who is interested in turning a profit from their blog. Cuban's book will leave you feeling not only inspired but guided in a direction to help you become the entrepreneur you are striving to become.

The following is only part of Jeff's interview w/ Mark. If you are interested in reading the rest, click on this link... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-rivera/mark-cuban-on-how-to-win-_b_1106048.html. 

One part in your book I loved and my heart sank at is when your fiance lost your $7500 ring.  What's your advice for those moms out there who are distracted by a relationship? How do you balance a real life with your dreams?

"I never was able to balance. Each person has to make their own decisions. But remember, your competitors aren’t sitting by idly waiting for you to have a nice dinner with your significant other. They are trying to kick your ass. So choose wisely."

Mark, you mentioned that you were approached countless times to write a memoir but instead chose to ePublish.  Why?

"The time obligations of a traditional release were more than I was willing to undertake. I couldn’t ask for advances and then not want to do a book tour. Plus, the editorial deadlines were much more forgiving. I made changes hours before the final release."

You have three kids. What life lessons do you give them so that they don't
go through all the heartache that you've gone through?

"That is a life-long process. My oldest daughter is just 8, so we arestill dealing with the basics. But I try to do some things in my businesses that are great for my kids. For instance, we changed the programming on HDNet Movies so that every morning we run commercial-free, kid and family-friendly movies. I was mad that my kids always were so excited about commercials they saw in their favorite shows that I wanted to give them a commercial-free environment."

One of my favorite parts of your book, How to Win at the Sport of Business, that completely broke my heart was when your ex-secretary robbed your first company of over $83,000, leaving you only $2000 after a year of work.  If there are moms out there that have lost everything, what advice do you have for them to pick themselves back up?

"Keep working. Don’t feel sorry for yourself because it won’t do any good."

There are many young moms who are just beginning their lives and can relate to
you when you said you were sharing a small apartment with 6 people and
sleeping on the floor.  How can someone keep their eye on the prize when they’re
living on Ramen noodles?

"Who cares how you are living today? I loved every minute of living in that dump. The low rent and utilities and eating Mac n’ Cheese all the time allowed me to afford the startup of my business. Instead of paying myself much, I could put it in to my business."

Where can we get a copy of your eBook, How to Win at the Sport of Business?

"Anywhere eBooks are sold: Amazon, BN.com, and sites that support independent bookstores too."

And since I am feeling rather giving w/ it being only 24 more days till Christmas, I am sponsoring my first ever giveaway! Be the first to leave me a comment on what ways you as a blogger Mommy or Daddy have used your platform to generate income and win two Landmark movie tickets! Check out this link for more information! 

http://www.hdnetmovies.com/program_categories/kidscene/

All of the Lights

Daddy's a fan of multi-colored lights... Mommy is NOT! Every year Daddy tries to convince Mommy to put up colored lights... every year she turns him down. That is until this year! Mommmy got outvoted! Jaxon & Daddy (w/ a silent vote from Max) decided this was the year for colored lights... Mommy's still not convinced! 

The thing is, I like things to match. All my decorations are red & green. If they made a strand of red, green & white lights, I'd be OK w/ the multi-colored variety. Maybe it's my OCD but the blues, oranges, and pinks really bother me. I feel like they clash w/ my reds & greens! 

But once we got the decorations up on our tiny tree the other day, the multi-colored lights have been bothering me less and less. And it looks more matchy then I thought it would w/ my wrapping paper (which I was most concerned about).  

What do you think? Do colored lights add more HO HO HO to your Hoilday when there are kids in the house?! Or are you like me, a traditional fan of the white lights?! 

Max tasted all the decorations for us! 

Here he is hanging an ornament!

Christmas card, maybe?!  

My BIG Elf... he decorated the entire tree by himself this year!

Black Friday

This is about a week late BUT it's worth mentioning. 


I don't do Black Friday! I do shop online but I avoid stores. I can not deal with crowds of people, standing in lines and packed parking lots. The commercials that flooded the TV last week left quite an impression on Son # 1. He's recently had a lot of questions about Holidays, specifically St. Patrick's Day. Random?! Completely, considering the time of year. 


Trying to explain to a 5 year old that St. Patty's Day is several months away is difficult. Luckily he's decided that wearing green can be an anytime deal and that the need to ask several times a week isn't necessary since he is now dressing himself.


Thanksgiving morning, while we were getting ready to go to Grandma's, Jaxon asked me what Black Friday was. Here's how it played out!


JAXON: "Mom, is Black Friday a Holiday?"


ME: "Sort of! It's a shopping holiday where people get up really early and wait in big, long lines to buy things for super cheap."


JAXON: "Do you have to wear black?"


ME: "No... but that's a really good idea!"


Love his innocence! And speaking of Holidays, Pinterest has made one of my wishes come true by adding a HOLIDAYS category... YAY!

Snowmen Milk Jugs

Snowmen Milk Jug Craft

24 MORE DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!! I'm just a lil' bit excited!!! I'm also a lil' strapped for cash having to buy for 2 boys this year! I have been "pinning" away, scouring Pinterest for inexpensive decorating ideas (like this) and gift ideas. These are super cheap and really easy to make. Ask the kids for help, just not w/ the glue gun!


Here's what you'll need...

• empty, washed out really good milk jugs (we chose 3 but you could do as many as you like)
• scissors
• black & red paint
• pipe cleaners (we chose black but you can match the color to your own decor)
• yarn (again match to your decor)
• hot glue gun
• orange construction paper

Here's what you do...

1. Save your milk jugs! And like I said before, make sure you wash them out real good, if you don't they will stink! The kids loved this part because I let them do this in the bathtub! 
2. After your jugs are good and clean, cut a hole in the back of them where the label is to insert your lights. I cut my holes the size of the label.
3. Make the yarn earmuffs by folding your yarn in half several times in a bundle and tying a knot around itself. After you've tied the knot, cut the looped ends so the ends stick out. Or any other way you choose! Big, fuzzy pom poms would work too!
4. Paint the snowman's eyes and mouth on the jug w/ black paint and give him some red, rosy cheeks.
5. Hot glue the pipe cleaner on one side of the jug and hold till it dries. Now hot glue the other side down and again hold while it dries... try not to burn your fingers!
6. Glue your earmuffs over the ends of the pipe cleaner, it'll hide any unsightly mess you've made w/ the glue gun!
7. Finally, cut out a, orange nose and glue it to your snowman's face.

There you have it... stick your light in the backs and set them out for display!

Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest to check out all the other fun, cheap, kid-friendly craft and gift ideas I'm finding! 

What's For Lunch?!

I get asked this a lot! The boys LOVE Mac n' Cheese so when I found this recipe on Pinterest, I just knew we had to try it! This is Paula Dean's recipe so you know it's gonna be good! I did tweak it a bit though... gotta make it somewhat healthy! 

I used whole wheat pasta, low fat butter and sour cream, omitted the eggs and used low fat mozzarella instead of cheddar cheese AND it is still amazing!!!

http://www.food.com/recipe/paula-deen-crock-pot-macaroni-and-cheese-257276

Mystery Bag - Letter "J"

I think I get more excited when Jaxon brings home the Mystery Bag from PreSchool, than he does! The Mystery Bag is homework for PreSchool age kids. Every other week it's Jaxon's turn to bring the bag home and have a turn. 

Last year when he'd bring the bag home there would be a color, shape or number written on a paper bag and he was to find things around the house that he could bring back to class w/ him (that fit in the bag), to share w/ his classmates. 

This year he is assigned a letter. He practices writing that letter, sounding it out, making both upper and lower case versions of the letter, writing a tongue twister that goes w/ the assigned letter and choosing something to take back to class that starts w/ the letter.

Yesterday he got to choose whatever letter he wanted from the alphabet... surprisingly, he chose "J"! So, he decided to make "J" shaped, Jello Jigglers!

Here he is getting ready to make the Jigglers! 

Surprisingly he chose green Jello!

Max kept reminding us both that it was "HOT"! One of his favorite words!

Fast forward to today... here's Jaxon getting ready to cut out the "J" Jigglers!

This is also a fun treat for parties... we made trucks and trains one year!

Press hard!

 

He had to make sure it tasted OK!

8 "J" shaped Jello Jigglers ready for the Mystery Bag showing!

And since we have left overs we made some "M's" so both boys would have some for lunch today!

Kitchen Aid

My number one "Mommy Pet peeve" at the moment is my kitchen aid, or aids, I should say! I need a door on my kitchen, one w/ a "CLOSED" sign hanging up! Every time I am in there so are Sons # 1 & 2. I created this monster, I often ask for their help, just not every, stink'n time! For instance, while I'm making breakfast and drinking my coffee... no help needed! When I'm chopping veggies w/ a sharp knife... no help needed! 

Or when I'm busy cleaning up after dinner, loading the dishwasher and your Dad is home to play w/ you.... no help needed!!! Luckily, I caught this before the water cycle turned on! OH, and look I have voicemail! Thanks Max... Mommy's got this!!!

Top 10

Here are my Pinterest Top 10 Finds this week...

#10 - guysread.com... a website that encourages literacy in boys! They have a great list of good reads for lil' guys!

#9 - This pretty much sums things up!

#8 - Thinking about making these for Thanksgiving...  super cute & delicious!

#7 - In all my years as an art student Oil Pastels were always a fave of mine... I had no idea Crayola made these. Santa might have to bring Jaxon a set of his very own!

#6 - Skinny Funfetti Cupcake recipe... where have you been my whole life?! http://www.fashionmeetsfood.com/2011/11/skinny-funfetti-cupcakes.html

#5 - Could have used this while putting up the lights!

#4 - I was just looking for tips on how to do this and "poof", there was on Pinterest!

#3 - I foresee this happening any day now!

#2 - Among other things, but I say this to Hubby at least 3 times a week!

#1 - I LOVE THIS IDEA! I have decided that when the boys go to Kindergarten I am going to do this. The day they graduate from high school I'm digging their time capsules up and we'll take a look at them then. Hopefully the dogs won't dig 'em up for me!

For more Pinterest Top Picks follow along as I waste hours of my life "pinning" creative ideas... it's easy, click my Pinterest button on the sidebar and check out my boards!

Pinterest Intervention

I AM OFFICIALLY ADDICTED TO PINTEREST! There, I admitted it, that's the 1st step right?! I can't stop myself from "pinning"! I wake up early to "pin" in the morning, I "pin" in the afternoon & every time Max needs nourishment. I pin till I can't "pin" anymore at bedtime... I've fallen asleep at the keyboard! I daydream while working out, about how I could finagle a way to "pin" while on the treadmill!!! I would be on the treadmill A LOT more if I could figure out a way to do both simultaneously!!! 

So, since I have been getting behind on my blogging due to my new addiction, I thought I'd take a moment to step away from Pinterest (for a short time) to share a few fun things we've been up to lately. 

MAX IS OFFICIALLY WALKING/RUNNING! He's been toddling around for a little over a month now taking steps here and there but he's 100% on the move nowadays! That's the other reason why I've been away for so long. Keeping up w/ the boys has become a little more interesting now that Max can get to wherever Jaxon is and snatch whatever Jaxon has! Just hand me a whistle and call me "ref"... all though I'm not too sure Jaxon would agree that he's been getting fair calls lately! 


We finally got some much needed rain the other day. Daddy decided to take a vacation day to catch back up w/ his kiddos after being away so much the month of October. He surprised Jaxon w/ a "Cars 2" movie date on the living room floor after lunch.The "snack counter" provided blue sugared popcorn and entertained Monster #2 so the movie date could be enjoyed by both!


While the weather has had it's ups and downs we continue to try our best to enjoy what's left of Fall. We had a beautiful day on the 1st and spent the afternoon putting up our Christmas lights outside. I decided that evening to reward myself with a glass of wine, can of beer, 1/5 of Crown, (whatever I could find), after the stressful time I had of hanging lights w/ a 5 & 1 year old. Memo to self: check alcoholic beverage supply before entertaining the idea of proceeding with these types of activities!!! 


And thanks to Pinterest the boys and I have been crafting & baking like crazy! I plan to post some of our newest Holiday adventures one of these days... that is as soon as I can pull myself away from the obsessive "pinning"! And be sure to follow along as I continue to "pin" my way through the holiday season... if you're a list maker like me, Pinterest is the place to be!

Happy Halloween 2011

The boys and I had a great time Trick or Treating last! Kick Buttowski and my lil' dragon made out like bandits w/ the candy... Mama's mission is to try and stay out of it! I figured while I can still get away w/ it that I would dress up too! The kids at Jaxon's party really enjoyed it and I figured the people whose houses we'd Trick or Treat at would too! PLUS I love playing dress up!!! Here are some highlights from last night!

Jaxon's costume was a lot of fun to put together! I think the kitchen gloves really completed his look!!!! 

If Daddy hadn't had to work, he would have been Mommy's 1st Mate... I'm guessing he's glad he had to work!!! What a great time we had!