Too Much Christmas

I guess Lorelei had too much on Christmas day. She finished opening all of her presents, played with some toys and then disappeared. We found her passed out on her bed. Poor girl!

Here are some pics of the fun kitchen thatn Grandma and Opa sent the kids. The are really loving it! We just have to remind Houston not to climb on it. What is it with little boys and their need to climb on everyting?

The other day I made some gingerbread cookies. As I was decorating them I was telling Briab about Mom's "hoochie" jeans. (the one with the 2 inch long zipper). So here a cookie dedicated to mom's hoochie jeans.

The white dot in the middle is a belly button and I gave her painted fingernails and toenails.

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas Everybody!! (Ha ha ha! For once I beat Jennifer in posting on a major event! In your face! Sure, not in the spirit of Christmas, but I just couldn't help myself. :) )

Christmas started last night for our family. At 7pm we were at the church for it's Christmas Eve candlelight service which we attend every year. We got home shortly after 8. Brian wasn't feeling well (and he is still jet-lagged) so he went to bed. I got the kids in their jammies and then we made some gingerbread star cookies to leave out for Santa. Houston and I then made some reindeer food. Oatmeal with green and red sugar sprinkles. We wanted to leave the reindeer a snack since they work so hard pulling that heavy sleigh.

Houston was a little mad when we went outside this morning to check on the reindeer food. He was very upset that they didn't eat it all.

Mom decided last night that Christmas morning wasn't going to be a free for all (to dad's dissapointment). The kids got up at 7:30 and we all got dressed and then we ate breakfast. We didn't start opening gifts until a little after 8.

The kids were very excited to see what Santa put in their stockings this year. Houston was thrilled to get the movie "Underdog" since he has been asking for it since August. He also really liked all the temporary tattoos that Santa stuffed in the bottom. Lorelei was most excited when she pulled out her "Blue's Clues" pictures to put on her wall.

The kids got a lot of fun movies and toys. Even the ladies from church thought about them and left them a few little gifts to open.

Houston's neatest present came from Opa. When Opa was here in October Houston asked him very sweetly if he could make him a "Daddy Airplane". And what a good Opa Houston has!! His airplane arrived in the mail just in time for Christmas!!

One of my favorite traditions are the ornaments that Grandma Schultz sends us every year. I get so excited to see which ones she has picked out special for the kids. My favorite so far is Paisley's "Baby's First Christmas". This ornament strays from the traditional "Hallmark Keepsake" that she normally sends, but it is even better! It's from The Santa Claus House in North Pole Alaska!!

Well, Merry Christmas everyone! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Happy Birthday!!

Oh my goodness, is she two already?? I can't believe how fast the time is flying. She's getting to be so big! Now if only her hair would catch up. I wish she had enough for pigtails or a pony tail, but we are no where close to that. Oh well, I guess that just gives me even longer to learn how to french braid.

Her are pictures of her birthday cake. It was very yummy!! I had two big pieces. The best part was the frosting. A friend of mine showed me a trick to keeping it moist. You mix one can of frosting with one tub of cool whip.

Been A While

It's been a while since I have posted anything meaningful. I figured that since (for once) all three kids are quiet at the same time I would take advantage. Houston and Lorelei are both sleeping and Paisley has been fed so she is content sitting up in the boppy sucking on her fist. I love my boppy!!! I think that I would give up disposable diapers before I gave up my boppy. In fact, I now have two. I bought my first one with Houston and by the time Lorlei came around we had worn it out so we threw it away and bought a new one. Well, since Paisley spits up so much (she has acid reflux) I bought a spare to have since I am constantly washing not only the covers, but the boppy itself depending on how expolosive her spit-up is (and it tends to be pretty explosive most of the time).

Good news here for us. Brian will home somtime on Friday the 21st. I can't wait. I am so tired of being the only growup in my house!! I want someone to take care of me for a change. I think that was my favorite part of my mom and my grandma being here. I got to be taken care of once. It was so nice. Close to an entire month of not always being the one in charge. Well anyway, with Brian coming back I went to the commissary today to get his welcome home food. I picked up some steaks and the fixin's to make my apple pie. ( I only make it when Brian gets home from a deployment. Since I make it from scratch, crust included, it's a lot of work ) Now I just gotta finish getting the Christmas gifts wrapped before he gets here. I also want to make a btach of gingerbread cookies to decorate to take to the sqdrn when he gets back. I'll leave them for the guys to chow down on.

Well, here are just some random pictures that I have taken. I love the one of our "vampire kitty".

Superstar!!

Turn the volume up for this one!!!

Jen's Christmas Tag

1. Your favorite tradition: Hmmmm...that is a head scratcher. I think that, for now, it would be going to the Christmas Even Candlelight Service at the base chapel. I can't remember a year not going. I we even went after Lorelei was born. She was born on the 20th, I was discharged on the 22, and I was at the chapel (staples and all) on the 24th. I say that it's my favorite tradition for now, because now that I have kids we might have to start some new traditions.

2. Least favorite tradition: I don't have a least favorite tradition.

3. Your favorite holiday treat: Mmmmmm, gingerbread cookies. (picture me with some Homer drool going on and you get the idea :) )

4. Favorite holiday meal: Roast turkey (I'm not a big ham fan) with stuffing that's been made right. That means you cut up the heart, the gizzards and through them in.

5. Favorite decoration: Outdoor lights.

6. One memorable Christmas: When Lorelei was born. It was so special because my mom got to be here for it. Sure, she and dad spent the actual Christmas day in Utah, but they were back here on the 27thish until after New Years.

7. Most missed tradition: I miss being able to be at home with my big family. Germany was so much fun (even though Brian couldn't be there) becuase the rest of the family was there. I wish we all lived close enough so that we could always be together on Christmas. I think that is that is the one thing I regret about being part of the military.

Please Buy from Me!!!

This is a blatant (sp??) plee for your money. I have started selling AVON to earn extra money without having to pay for childcare.

Here is a link to my webpage for all you out-of-towners:

http://jcrow.avonrepresentative.com/

Happy Shopping!!!

Hungry Baby

Houston loves what I have taught him. (Mom thinks it's a little weird though) When Paisley is hungry Houston leans over and touches his nose to her mouth and she sucks on his nose. I told him those are "Paisley Kisses".

My Pretty House

Yeah, I'm sure that Alan could take much better pictures than these and that the lights would show up a lot better, but I did the best that I know how to do. I'll hit the after Christmas sales so that next year there will be even more lights!