Every year, thousands upon thousands line up outside the retail big box giants like Best Buy, Costco, Old Navy, etc hours before the store even opens. But with more & more deals being offered online a few days or hours before "doorbusters" are even offered at the store, then what's the big hype about lining up before the 5 am opening time??? Is it the adrenaline rush you get from getting one of the best "limited quantity" deals or do you just like getting trampled by masses of strangers?
I admit, I am one of the Black Friday crazies that gets up super early to try to snag one of those deals. For the past two years, my best friend and I would leave our house before the crack of dawn and attempt to find everything on our list before the dreaded end of the doorbuster specials. This is one of the many traditions we have created for ourselves but unfortunately this year, she had to go to a wedding so I was left to confront the masses on my own.
However, I purchased many of the doorbuster specials online early on and didn't have to show up with the other crazies bright and early at those big box stores. I was really tempted to go to the 3 am opening at Old Navy, considering I'm still up most nights (or mornings) at that time. But I decided to sleep in (YAY!) and head out instead at a decent hour (9:30 am). To my dismay, ofcourse, a lot of the best deals were already out of stock and after standing in line at the 2nd store I went to (Kohl's) for almost an hour...I was DONE.
The best part was that I made it home just in time to purchase some of the specials online! With Bing cashback or Ebates, coupon codes, free shipping and the convenience of not having to deal with the crowds...I think overall that my experience shopping online was far better than having to go to the stores. But even with all my frustrations waiting in line (I just don't have the patience for it), my best friend and I will continue our tradition next year. :)
Any other Black Friday crazies out there?
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Friday, November 27, 2009
Saturday, May 09, 2009
I got "Mom of the Year"!
I can't believe it. I did it. I didn't think I would win. But yay! (Total joke, but funny)
CLICK FOR VIDEO
CLICK FOR VIDEO
Monday, April 13, 2009
Fun-filled Easter weekend!
We definitely had one fun-filled weekend this Easter. Lots of egg-hunting activities, moments of chocolate bliss and fun with family & friends. It was a lot of fun but mommy is TIRED! :)
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter!
We celebrated Easter at Aunt Carol's this weekend. During our Easter dinner, Maren & Adam (cousins) wouldn't eat their food and started telling Knock-Knock jokes like the night prior...
Aunt Carol: No Knock-Knock jokes until after dinner. Eat your food first.
Maren: But I don't want to eat.
Aunt Carol: Well you should. Easter is about eating.
Connor: And...Easter is about eggs!
Everyone: Yes Connor, you're right.
Connor: But really, Easter is about Jesus!
I was very proud of my little son...for bringing up a very important fact. Easter (like Christmas) gets lost in today's society, being marketed as a holiday about eggs and bunnies. When in fact, it truly is about Jesus. The fact that He died on the cross to save us from our sins and He is risen! That is the true meaning of Easter. Amen.
Note: Here is a great link to teach bible verses about Easter: http://ministry-to-children.com/bible-verses-about-easter/
Aunt Carol: No Knock-Knock jokes until after dinner. Eat your food first.
Maren: But I don't want to eat.
Aunt Carol: Well you should. Easter is about eating.
Connor: And...Easter is about eggs!
Everyone: Yes Connor, you're right.
Connor: But really, Easter is about Jesus!
I was very proud of my little son...for bringing up a very important fact. Easter (like Christmas) gets lost in today's society, being marketed as a holiday about eggs and bunnies. When in fact, it truly is about Jesus. The fact that He died on the cross to save us from our sins and He is risen! That is the true meaning of Easter. Amen.
Note: Here is a great link to teach bible verses about Easter: http://ministry-to-children.com/bible-verses-about-easter/
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Happy New Year!
Wow...it's 2009. It seems like yesterday that I was hearing "Party like it's 1999" over and over again on the radio. And look at us now, 10 years later. It's super crazy how fast time really flies.
2009 is going to be a busy year. We'll be traveling a lot like usual and hopefully we will be able to continue this for years to come. Our 1st trip will be to the snow (hopefully next week). It will be the first time we're bringing the kids, so they will be very excited. I already bought all their snow gear (oh wait, that reminds me, I need to get them gloves). Next will be a special trip to somewhere (don't know where yet) in February for our 5-year anniversary, my 32nd birthday and for Valentine's. February is a really full month for my poor hubby. :) In early March, I will be going away for a weekend with my sisters to celebrate birthdays and just being together. It will officially be our 1st "just us" trip together. It should be amazing. Then as soon as I come back, I think Jer is gonna take Connor to San Fran for their annual trip to visit friends and go to the Zoo. Isabella and I will surely find something to do while they're gone. Then at the end of March, Jer and I will be traveling with his sister and her hubby to Palm Springs for 5 days while the kids stay with Grandpa and Grandma. Phew, to think, that's only the first 3 months of traveling! We're still trying to figure out when we're going to Hawaii...but we are definitely intending to go. It will be our first time going together! I am so looking forward to that! So this month, my goal is to start planning out our trips from April til the holidays...
There are just so many great things happening this year. Jer's sister will be having her baby in June, Connor will be attending kindergarten (yikes!), I might be heading back to work (or school...undecided still), Jer will be working a new position, the kids will be starting new activities, and so much more. I am actually really excited about the New Year, as I can begin "fresh" again with my goals and will work hard to attain them. I think I've pretty much reached all my goals in 2008 so I HOPE that 2009 will just be as great, if not, I will MAKE it great no matter what.
Anyhow, I wish everyone a wonderful new year and hope & pray that 2009 only brings great peace and joy!
2009 is going to be a busy year. We'll be traveling a lot like usual and hopefully we will be able to continue this for years to come. Our 1st trip will be to the snow (hopefully next week). It will be the first time we're bringing the kids, so they will be very excited. I already bought all their snow gear (oh wait, that reminds me, I need to get them gloves). Next will be a special trip to somewhere (don't know where yet) in February for our 5-year anniversary, my 32nd birthday and for Valentine's. February is a really full month for my poor hubby. :) In early March, I will be going away for a weekend with my sisters to celebrate birthdays and just being together. It will officially be our 1st "just us" trip together. It should be amazing. Then as soon as I come back, I think Jer is gonna take Connor to San Fran for their annual trip to visit friends and go to the Zoo. Isabella and I will surely find something to do while they're gone. Then at the end of March, Jer and I will be traveling with his sister and her hubby to Palm Springs for 5 days while the kids stay with Grandpa and Grandma. Phew, to think, that's only the first 3 months of traveling! We're still trying to figure out when we're going to Hawaii...but we are definitely intending to go. It will be our first time going together! I am so looking forward to that! So this month, my goal is to start planning out our trips from April til the holidays...
There are just so many great things happening this year. Jer's sister will be having her baby in June, Connor will be attending kindergarten (yikes!), I might be heading back to work (or school...undecided still), Jer will be working a new position, the kids will be starting new activities, and so much more. I am actually really excited about the New Year, as I can begin "fresh" again with my goals and will work hard to attain them. I think I've pretty much reached all my goals in 2008 so I HOPE that 2009 will just be as great, if not, I will MAKE it great no matter what.
Anyhow, I wish everyone a wonderful new year and hope & pray that 2009 only brings great peace and joy!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Reflection Questions for 2008
I got this from SimpleMom.net. I haven't really given a lot of what's happened in the past year much thought so it will be interesting to try to answer these questions. Why don't you try them yourself?
Reflection Questions for 2008
1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
We bought our 1st house! It's such a pretty little 3BR/2BA house with a great backyard for the kids to run around in. I love where we live and look forward to all the wonderful memories we will make in our new home!
2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Working 50+ hrs per week as an Event Coordinator for the Zoo (while taking care of the kids at the same time) for less money than what I expected.
3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
The Mexican Riviera cruise my in-laws took us on in September!
4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
Having to pay for my dental implants ($5,000) at the last-minute due to an emergency.
5. Pick three words to describe 2008.
Fun, adventurous, and stressful.
6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2008 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).
Stressed, confused, and happy.
7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2008 (again, without asking).
Fun, adventurous, and stressful.
8. What were the best books you read this year?
Crazy Love by Chan (the most recent one I read) was by far the most thought-provoking and life-changing book I've read in the past year. I honestly don't remember the others after reading that one.
9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
Jeramy, my kids, my sisters, my inlaws, and my girls (Corinne, Ling, Sammie, the Jen(n)s, and Jess).
10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
I became a true stay-at-home mom in May. I was always working (ie, volunteering) on small projects on the side and focused on those things rather than just spending time with my kids.
11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
I usually talk about everything else, but never about what really bothers ME. I have had enough breakdowns this year to realize that it's OK to cry, to let it out and not internalize everything.
12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
I have become more spiritual in a sense that I am trying to build a more intimate relationship with God.
13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
I gained 10 lbs last holiday season and weighed 162 lbs at the beginning of 2008, fasted for 5 days and lost quite a few lbs then gained a few back. But in August, I discovered the South Beach Diet and have managed to keep my weight around 140-145 lbs. It has been REALLY challenging, considering the cruise and all the traveling we've done in the last few months but I intend to stick with this lifestyle for good.
14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
I have lost some friends this year which was a really painful process. However, I have learned a valuable lesson...to never take things for granted. I've also given every person I've met the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are good from the get-go, but over time, I find that I am wrong. I need to listen to my instincts from the very beginning and try to build better relationships with people who are worth my time and effort. Fortunately, we have created our own little "Sex in the City" group and I have gotten closer with these girls this past year and am looking forward to becoming even better friends with them in 2009.
15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?
Believe it or not, it's the kids/guest bathroom. I managed to keep that bathroom clean almost every day since we've moved in! I don't know if it was exactly "enjoyable" but I enjoyed the fact that it was the one room in the house that was clean the majority of the time.
16. What was your most challenging area of home management?
The kitchen. I hate washing dishes, cleaning the counters, throwing out the trash, etc. But I like cooking and eating, so go figure.
17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Working for the Zoo.
18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Traveled and spent a lot of time with family/friends! We went to LA in Feb for our 4th anniversary, enjoyed the concerts and festivities at the Fair in the summer, went to San Clemente in June for my brother's graduation, had family/friends come visit in August for our housewarming, went on the cruise with J's parents in Sept, had Lefse reunion in Phoenix & early Thanksgiving with my mom & bro in Laguna Niguel in November, and celebrated early Christmas at my sister Charmaine's new house (which she purchased a month after we bought ours) in San Diego in December.
19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
That friends come and go and that I'm old enough now to pick & choose who my friends are. We are ADULTS, so let's act like it. We're not in high school anymore!
20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2008 for you.
Whoo-rah!
Reflection Questions for 2008
1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
We bought our 1st house! It's such a pretty little 3BR/2BA house with a great backyard for the kids to run around in. I love where we live and look forward to all the wonderful memories we will make in our new home!
2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Working 50+ hrs per week as an Event Coordinator for the Zoo (while taking care of the kids at the same time) for less money than what I expected.
3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
The Mexican Riviera cruise my in-laws took us on in September!
4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
Having to pay for my dental implants ($5,000) at the last-minute due to an emergency.
5. Pick three words to describe 2008.
Fun, adventurous, and stressful.
6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2008 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).
Stressed, confused, and happy.
7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2008 (again, without asking).
Fun, adventurous, and stressful.
8. What were the best books you read this year?
Crazy Love by Chan (the most recent one I read) was by far the most thought-provoking and life-changing book I've read in the past year. I honestly don't remember the others after reading that one.
9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
Jeramy, my kids, my sisters, my inlaws, and my girls (Corinne, Ling, Sammie, the Jen(n)s, and Jess).
10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
I became a true stay-at-home mom in May. I was always working (ie, volunteering) on small projects on the side and focused on those things rather than just spending time with my kids.
11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
I usually talk about everything else, but never about what really bothers ME. I have had enough breakdowns this year to realize that it's OK to cry, to let it out and not internalize everything.
12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
I have become more spiritual in a sense that I am trying to build a more intimate relationship with God.
13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
I gained 10 lbs last holiday season and weighed 162 lbs at the beginning of 2008, fasted for 5 days and lost quite a few lbs then gained a few back. But in August, I discovered the South Beach Diet and have managed to keep my weight around 140-145 lbs. It has been REALLY challenging, considering the cruise and all the traveling we've done in the last few months but I intend to stick with this lifestyle for good.
14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
I have lost some friends this year which was a really painful process. However, I have learned a valuable lesson...to never take things for granted. I've also given every person I've met the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are good from the get-go, but over time, I find that I am wrong. I need to listen to my instincts from the very beginning and try to build better relationships with people who are worth my time and effort. Fortunately, we have created our own little "Sex in the City" group and I have gotten closer with these girls this past year and am looking forward to becoming even better friends with them in 2009.
15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?
Believe it or not, it's the kids/guest bathroom. I managed to keep that bathroom clean almost every day since we've moved in! I don't know if it was exactly "enjoyable" but I enjoyed the fact that it was the one room in the house that was clean the majority of the time.
16. What was your most challenging area of home management?
The kitchen. I hate washing dishes, cleaning the counters, throwing out the trash, etc. But I like cooking and eating, so go figure.
17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Working for the Zoo.
18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Traveled and spent a lot of time with family/friends! We went to LA in Feb for our 4th anniversary, enjoyed the concerts and festivities at the Fair in the summer, went to San Clemente in June for my brother's graduation, had family/friends come visit in August for our housewarming, went on the cruise with J's parents in Sept, had Lefse reunion in Phoenix & early Thanksgiving with my mom & bro in Laguna Niguel in November, and celebrated early Christmas at my sister Charmaine's new house (which she purchased a month after we bought ours) in San Diego in December.
19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
That friends come and go and that I'm old enough now to pick & choose who my friends are. We are ADULTS, so let's act like it. We're not in high school anymore!
20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2008 for you.
Whoo-rah!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
2nd Annual Holiday Party
The holiday season means so much more when you're surrounded by friends and family. Jeramy and I started a tradition last year by hosting a Christmas party at our home for some of our closest friends and I hope that it continues for many more years to come. Having it in our new house makes it even more special. Thanks to all our friends who celebrated with us!
(I'm sad that I didn't take too many pics tonight. Oh well.)
Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween!
Today was another busy day for the fam. It was non-stop from the time we got up at 8 am til the time we got home at 11:30 pm. I can't believe how well-behaved the kids were all day. I am so glad that they enjoyed this day as I was nearing exhaustion at the end of the night. Thank goodness for the Hixson's party. That was such a great party...great food, great company and ofcourse, the drinks. :)
Halloween is such a special day this year as it's the 1st time the kids are going trick or treating together! Connor dressed up as Darth Vader and Isabella as Princess Leia. Jeramy and I shopped at the very last minute to fix up some Jedi costumes. He found an old 60's bath robe from the thrift store which actually looked very Jedi-ish. My costume on the other hand looked very Padme-like to me but I was asked all night "What the hell are you?" so obviously others didn't see what I was seeing. Maybe a light sabre would have helped?
Anyway, we ended up carving our pumpkins right before heading out to go trick or treating. I usually have this much more organized but this month has been an exception. October has truly been the most stressful and most exhausting month for me this year. I carved my pumpkin while J carved Connor's pumpkin for him. Connor was so sweet that he carved Isabella's pumpkin for her. It's such a cute pumpkin too!
We were planning on heading over to Jen's neighborhood to join them trick-or-treating but we ended up just going around our own neighborhood. Our hood is off the shiznat! Seriously, I had no idea how cool our neighborhood was until now. 80% of the homes were decorated and our neighbors were all dressed up (except for our lovely friends across the street...yeah, you know who you are). It got dark super fast. I didn't realize how slow my kids were until going door to door. LOL. Connor was so scared of some of the homes (which he was rightfully so, as some of the houses were super duper scary!). Isabella, on the other hand, didn't really care about anything other than getting more candy. You go girl!
It was great meeting some of our neighbors. I wish they were as friendly on a regular day as they were tonight. Normally, it's very rare we even see them! But whatever, we had a lot of fun. Connor and Isabella really enjoyed themselves. As usual, I took pictures and videotaped as much as I could.
There were a TON of people in our neighborhood. It's such a new experience for us since we lived in what I consider "rural" part of A-town and we never had people knocking on our door (except for those persistent Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses...whom I welcomed with open arms, by the way). It's so nice to be able to decorate the front of the house and actually have someone other than my husband and kids see them.
I think we were home a mere 10 mins and Jeramy passed out ALL the candy within that time. Yes, it was that crazy! But he was also very generous as I told him WE HAVE TO GO! Luckily, we reached a good break in between crowds and were able to leave just in time.
The party was bangin'. The Hixsons definitely know how to throw a party. Food was yummy. We'll definitely have to get food from there from now on. It was great seeing so many people we normally don't see. It was also a weird night with friends. I think I had an epiphany tonight...life goes on.
Oh well. What matters is that J, the kids and I had a good time and I can honestly say that I am glad it is now over. Now I can start planning our mini-vacation to Phoenix and then pre-Thanksgiving with my fam down south then Thanksgiving here at the house! This month is a busy one for us. I am not looking forward to all the traveling. That's a lot of miles with kids in tow. First things first, I must sleep.
{pictures to follow}
Halloween is such a special day this year as it's the 1st time the kids are going trick or treating together! Connor dressed up as Darth Vader and Isabella as Princess Leia. Jeramy and I shopped at the very last minute to fix up some Jedi costumes. He found an old 60's bath robe from the thrift store which actually looked very Jedi-ish. My costume on the other hand looked very Padme-like to me but I was asked all night "What the hell are you?" so obviously others didn't see what I was seeing. Maybe a light sabre would have helped?
Anyway, we ended up carving our pumpkins right before heading out to go trick or treating. I usually have this much more organized but this month has been an exception. October has truly been the most stressful and most exhausting month for me this year. I carved my pumpkin while J carved Connor's pumpkin for him. Connor was so sweet that he carved Isabella's pumpkin for her. It's such a cute pumpkin too!
We were planning on heading over to Jen's neighborhood to join them trick-or-treating but we ended up just going around our own neighborhood. Our hood is off the shiznat! Seriously, I had no idea how cool our neighborhood was until now. 80% of the homes were decorated and our neighbors were all dressed up (except for our lovely friends across the street...yeah, you know who you are). It got dark super fast. I didn't realize how slow my kids were until going door to door. LOL. Connor was so scared of some of the homes (which he was rightfully so, as some of the houses were super duper scary!). Isabella, on the other hand, didn't really care about anything other than getting more candy. You go girl!
It was great meeting some of our neighbors. I wish they were as friendly on a regular day as they were tonight. Normally, it's very rare we even see them! But whatever, we had a lot of fun. Connor and Isabella really enjoyed themselves. As usual, I took pictures and videotaped as much as I could.
There were a TON of people in our neighborhood. It's such a new experience for us since we lived in what I consider "rural" part of A-town and we never had people knocking on our door (except for those persistent Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses...whom I welcomed with open arms, by the way). It's so nice to be able to decorate the front of the house and actually have someone other than my husband and kids see them.
I think we were home a mere 10 mins and Jeramy passed out ALL the candy within that time. Yes, it was that crazy! But he was also very generous as I told him WE HAVE TO GO! Luckily, we reached a good break in between crowds and were able to leave just in time.
The party was bangin'. The Hixsons definitely know how to throw a party. Food was yummy. We'll definitely have to get food from there from now on. It was great seeing so many people we normally don't see. It was also a weird night with friends. I think I had an epiphany tonight...life goes on.
Oh well. What matters is that J, the kids and I had a good time and I can honestly say that I am glad it is now over. Now I can start planning our mini-vacation to Phoenix and then pre-Thanksgiving with my fam down south then Thanksgiving here at the house! This month is a busy one for us. I am not looking forward to all the traveling. That's a lot of miles with kids in tow. First things first, I must sleep.
{pictures to follow}
Saturday, October 25, 2008
More pumpkin farm fun!
I am on a mission to visit all the pumpkin farms this year. So far, we have visited two so I better get a move on huh?!
We went to Avila Barn on Friday and it felt like it was summer once again...it was HOT! It probably wasn't the smartest idea to have the fam wear black. Oops. We survived so, oh well. We invited Aunt Carol to come spend the day with us and it was really fun!
Pumpkins galore! I love fall, the changing of colors, the nice crisp air (if only this Indian Summer would end already), the opportunities to wear sweaters and coats...I LOVE COATS. I've got a gazillion of them. Can't wait for the (feeling of) fall to begin! I also can't wait go to our next field trip! I think we're gonna hit up Chesebrough Farm in Templeton next. Never been there and have heard great things about it. I'm excited!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Pumpkin Farm fun...
A few days ago, the kids and I went on a field trip to Colleen's Pumpkin Farm out in Santa Margarita. We have been going every year since Connor was born and it brings back a lot of memories for us.I was browsing through our photos and OMG, I can't believe how much the kids have grown in a year. It's amazing how different they are, yet the same...
This year, the kids seemed to have a lot of fun. I played around with some of the pictures and made them look "better" (my tired eyes can be very deceived however) as I had a very difficult time trying to get a shot of these very rambunctious children of mine.
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Day after Christmas...
Phew! I am tired (and sicky too!)...but I will write as much as I can while I'm still awake. Connor's sleeping soundly so this is a perfect opportunity for me to write!!!
Well, we had an absolutely wonderful Christmas this year. It feels like we had Christmas all week (we kinda did). On Thurs night, we had dinner at Jeramy's parents' house. Connor opened his Christmas presents for the 1st time. Seemed like he knew exactly what to do, but like most babies, he was more interested in the paper, ribbons and boxes than the gifts themselves. But he had a lot of fun playing with everything. Then on Xmas eve, we had dinner at our house. I prepared and cooked an Italian dinner for all of us AND for all of Jeramy's coworkers the day before, so I was a bit tired preparing everything for Xmas eve. Jeramy had to work Fri, Sat, and Sun so I thought it'd be nice to cook for Jeramy's work for Christmas. Anyways, Connor and I went to church with Jeramy's parents on Xmas eve. It was a really nice service and Connor behaved fairly well, considering how tired he was feeling. Then on Xmas day, we had dinner at Aunt Carol's house with the whole family. Jeramy could only attend for an hour or so, since he had to leave to go to work. My poor baby! And to top it all off, he has been feeling really sick in the past week so I feel so badly for him...
Connor had a blast playing with all the other kids on Christmas. He was so tired that he fell asleep right after dinner. But when he woke up, he was ready to go! He was all smiles and giggles, and was quite the entertainer. It's so fascinating to see how much his personality has grown over the last few months. He's such a happy baby in general and doesn't mind showing it at all. We count our blessings every day for such a lovely perfect boy.
Jeramy and I are feeling quite tired and ill these past few days. It's been a long week for us, especially for Connor. Connor was never on much of a schedule, but we had somewhat of a daily routine these past couple months...but we were all off this past week so I feel bad because he just gets tired so easily. He's so overtired that he wants to go to sleep and actually falls asleep fairly easily but doesn't stay asleep for very long. But then again, he's getting over a cold as well so he's just recuperating.
We received so many lovely presents this year. We made out like bandits! Connor has soooooooooooooooooo many toys and clothes, we have no idea where to put them all. They're still scattered all over the house, since I don't know exactly where to start. I opened a few toys earlier this morning to put batteries in them, but now I don't know just where to store them. Connor is so overwhelmed with all this stuff! And frankly, so am I!!!
Well, I better go to bed since we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. I haven't cleaned the house AT ALL since the 23rd and it's a mess!!! My parents, brother, Aunt and Uncle are coming over to stay with us this week since we didn't get to spend Xmas together this year. It'll be nice to see them!! Connor hasn't even met my Aunt and Uncle yet, so this is gonna be exciting for everyone. Jeramy's finally off tomorrow so we finally get to spend some time together! Woo hoo...we'll probably end up staying in bed for most of the day tomorrow to recuperate. haha but Oh well! Catch y'all later...
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!!
Well, we had an absolutely wonderful Christmas this year. It feels like we had Christmas all week (we kinda did). On Thurs night, we had dinner at Jeramy's parents' house. Connor opened his Christmas presents for the 1st time. Seemed like he knew exactly what to do, but like most babies, he was more interested in the paper, ribbons and boxes than the gifts themselves. But he had a lot of fun playing with everything. Then on Xmas eve, we had dinner at our house. I prepared and cooked an Italian dinner for all of us AND for all of Jeramy's coworkers the day before, so I was a bit tired preparing everything for Xmas eve. Jeramy had to work Fri, Sat, and Sun so I thought it'd be nice to cook for Jeramy's work for Christmas. Anyways, Connor and I went to church with Jeramy's parents on Xmas eve. It was a really nice service and Connor behaved fairly well, considering how tired he was feeling. Then on Xmas day, we had dinner at Aunt Carol's house with the whole family. Jeramy could only attend for an hour or so, since he had to leave to go to work. My poor baby! And to top it all off, he has been feeling really sick in the past week so I feel so badly for him...
Connor had a blast playing with all the other kids on Christmas. He was so tired that he fell asleep right after dinner. But when he woke up, he was ready to go! He was all smiles and giggles, and was quite the entertainer. It's so fascinating to see how much his personality has grown over the last few months. He's such a happy baby in general and doesn't mind showing it at all. We count our blessings every day for such a lovely perfect boy.
Jeramy and I are feeling quite tired and ill these past few days. It's been a long week for us, especially for Connor. Connor was never on much of a schedule, but we had somewhat of a daily routine these past couple months...but we were all off this past week so I feel bad because he just gets tired so easily. He's so overtired that he wants to go to sleep and actually falls asleep fairly easily but doesn't stay asleep for very long. But then again, he's getting over a cold as well so he's just recuperating.
We received so many lovely presents this year. We made out like bandits! Connor has soooooooooooooooooo many toys and clothes, we have no idea where to put them all. They're still scattered all over the house, since I don't know exactly where to start. I opened a few toys earlier this morning to put batteries in them, but now I don't know just where to store them. Connor is so overwhelmed with all this stuff! And frankly, so am I!!!
Well, I better go to bed since we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. I haven't cleaned the house AT ALL since the 23rd and it's a mess!!! My parents, brother, Aunt and Uncle are coming over to stay with us this week since we didn't get to spend Xmas together this year. It'll be nice to see them!! Connor hasn't even met my Aunt and Uncle yet, so this is gonna be exciting for everyone. Jeramy's finally off tomorrow so we finally get to spend some time together! Woo hoo...we'll probably end up staying in bed for most of the day tomorrow to recuperate. haha but Oh well! Catch y'all later...
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!!
Monday, November 15, 2004
Lefse!
Lefse weeekend! If you're wondering what "Lefse" is...ask Jeramy. haha Actually, Lefse weekend is a Norwegian tradition of making potato tortilla-like bread. The whole Moen family gets together (sort of an annual family reunion) and make Lefse together.
There were a lot of kiddies and to think...not even everyone was here! The weekend was fun but honestly, I'm too sick to really enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It was fun but it was all a bit too overwhelming for us. Spending time with 20+ people in a small space for 2-3 days was too much for us, especially Connor. Even though Connor handled everything really well since he's such a social person. But overall, it was great!
There were a lot of kiddies and to think...not even everyone was here! The weekend was fun but honestly, I'm too sick to really enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It was fun but it was all a bit too overwhelming for us. Spending time with 20+ people in a small space for 2-3 days was too much for us, especially Connor. Even though Connor handled everything really well since he's such a social person. But overall, it was great!
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Happy Halloween!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
It’s been over a month since I’ve updated this because I’ve been having problems with my computer. It’s been freezing up and rebooting on its own…and I can’t figure out why. Jeramy says we can look into buying a new computer but I am determined in getting this fixed! I just don’t understand how it can be perfectly working one day and not the next. So I am using Jeramy’s computer for now, so I can atleast update this…
Well, I will be dressing Connor up as a pumpkin early tonight (around 5 PM) when we go trick-or-treating. Grandpa and Grandma Moen will be coming with us, since they know all of the neighbors and it will be more enjoyable with them. It'll be fun eating all the candy he gets...yum yum!
Anyways, Connor has changed so much in just a month! He just started teething a few weeks ago. Drooling started months ago but now he’s just chomping on his hands and everything else he can get his little hands on. I know he’s also going through the “oral stage” now but I can tell he’s teething because he’s a lot more crankier than normal. He also got his first cold/cough this past week, so he’s been really fussy and insecure. I feel so bad for him because I don’t know how to make him feel better. I’ve given him a few doses of Tylenol but it doesn’t seem to help. He has been having the most difficult time trying to sleep in the past few weeks too, but he’s somewhat getting better so I am too. The last 2 weeks have been pretty stressful for me and I almost broke down a few times. I thought the most difficult weeks (the 1st 6 weeks) were over, but boy was a I wrong! I didn’t realize how hard it can really get, especially now that Jeramy is back at work. Things were much easier or atleast more bearable when Jeramy was home. I had the opportunity to unload a lot of my stress off by having Jeramy take care of him when I couldn’t handle it. I guess this is what being a stay at home Mommy is all about. My patience is being tested. That’s for sure!!!
Ok…enough of me venting already!
Connor’s losing his hair. He’s balder on the right side of his head and you can see where his bald spots are all over. I find little strands of his hair everywhere. I’m also losing a lot of hair…I guess due to the hormones or something. Connor likes to try standing up rather than sitting. He actually holds up on his own two feet quite well (with support of course). It scares me that he might just start walking first rather than crawling! When he’s sitting or standing, he tries to sit up on his own. It’s funny when he does it since he looks like he’s doing sit-ups or something. He’s getting really good with his hands. He can focus on things really well, which makes him better at playing with his toys. It’s amazing to see the development occur right before our very eyes. One moment, he can only bat at his toys as if it was done by accident and then the next moment, he can actually “play” with it. He grasps his toys and seems like he knows what to do with it now. Ofcourse, he ends up putting them in their mouth after drooling all over it. It’s supposedly their way of exploring the world. I wonder if we as adults can still explore the world that way? Haha He can stay on his tummy for a really long time now. I mean, he’s been doing it since he’s a month old but he can actually play being on his tummy. He hasn’t quite rolled over on his own yet. He does with a little help (like if he’s on an inclined area like the couch or bed, or with a good push!). I guess I can just count my blessings since I really don’t want him to be mobile just yet!
We haven’t weighed Connor in over 2 months, so I’m guessing he’s over 18 lbs. He’s getting REAL heavy. I thought I’d never say this but his legs are like tree stumps…they’re soooo chubby!!!! He’s already wearing 6-9 month clothing and the scaring thing is, he’s already almost outgrowing those too. But he’s the cutest thing ever!!! He just melts my heart when he smiles and laughs. His laughs are soooooooo adorable. He totally heaves into laughter when we tickle him. Sometimes when we play our own version of peek-a-boo, he just bursts into laughter and he gets rolling for what seems like hours. The other night, we were all laying in bed and I was blowing raspberry kisses on Connor’s tummy and he just squealed with laughter …giggling like a big boy! It amazes me what makes him laugh. He still coos and can talk for hours on end (wonder where he got that from?! Haha). I know when it’s either going to be a “good” day or “bad” by how he wakes up. Normally, he wakes up smiling and talking. But if he doesn’t, then I just know…it’s gonna be a looooooong day!
Oh yeah, we tried rice cereal for the 1st time on Oct 22nd. He seemed to really like it. He liked the idea of the spoon entering his mouth. I think he thinks it’s a “grown-up” thing to do or something because he watches intently when we sit and eat our meals. I haven’t tried it again because he got diarrhea and his cold/cough started so I wanted to make sure he felt better until we try again. Also, just in case of food allergies!
Connor and I had our 1st big road trip during the week of Oct. 5th-12th. Jeramy had to work so we went on our own. I was really afraid Connor was gonna be one big fuss-ball but he actually ended up sleeping most of the way. He did wake up when we were passing through Buellton on the way down south, so we stopped at Pea Anderson’s to walk around the gift shop. We stayed at my sister Christine’s in Thousand Oaks before we headed down to San Clemente to spend a few days with my parents. It was my Dad’s b-day on the 6th so we celebrated it with him, along with celebrating fun times with my Grandma who came to visit from Kansas. We then headed down to San Diego on the 9th for my Dad’s graduation. He got his Master’s degree from University of San Diego so it was a cause of another celebration! The whole family was there and Connor seemed to deal with everyone and everything really well. I think everyone was amazed at how much Connor can really talk, especially my Dad.
I was amazed at how much Connor could absorb. I mean, we were always on the go. We traveled to many places…the beach, lots of restaurants, University of San Diego, malls. Boy, I do miss them malls! I actually miss a lot of things from living down in Southern California…Coffee Bean, the “melting pot” society, and so much more! But one thing is for sure…I DO NOT MISS THE TRAFFIC. It makes me appreciate my life on the central coast even more. Another thing I did miss while on vacation was Jeramy. I missed him soooooo much! I think that was the longest we’ve ever been apart. I had Connor talk to him on the phone every day so that Connor couldn’t forget him. Heh heh Well, our little vacation was so much fun but it was also nice coming home!!!
Now it’s Halloween…I can’t believe it’s already November. We have a busy month ahead of us. I signed up to be the organizer for the Stay At Home Moms meetup group for the San Luis Obispo county and we will be having our 1st meeting on Nov. 9th. I am soooooooo excited!!! I can’t wait to meet other mommies. Most of my friends are single and not married, so it will be nice to meet people who are somewhat in the same boat as I am. Here, check out our website: http://sahm.meetup.com/316/. Let’s see…what else do we have planned? We will be having a pre-Thanksgiving dinner with friends on the 21st and then we will be having Thanksgiving with my family this year so we will be staying down in SC for a few days. We also have Dr’s appts and other “fun” stuff planned so it’s gonna be one busy month!
Well, I can’t believe I got to write as much as I have. Connor’s been asleep now for 2 hours…WOW!!! I am stoked! I am looking forward to the days that he actually sleeps through the night. When, oh when will that be?! Uh oh, speaking of…
It’s been over a month since I’ve updated this because I’ve been having problems with my computer. It’s been freezing up and rebooting on its own…and I can’t figure out why. Jeramy says we can look into buying a new computer but I am determined in getting this fixed! I just don’t understand how it can be perfectly working one day and not the next. So I am using Jeramy’s computer for now, so I can atleast update this…
Well, I will be dressing Connor up as a pumpkin early tonight (around 5 PM) when we go trick-or-treating. Grandpa and Grandma Moen will be coming with us, since they know all of the neighbors and it will be more enjoyable with them. It'll be fun eating all the candy he gets...yum yum!
Anyways, Connor has changed so much in just a month! He just started teething a few weeks ago. Drooling started months ago but now he’s just chomping on his hands and everything else he can get his little hands on. I know he’s also going through the “oral stage” now but I can tell he’s teething because he’s a lot more crankier than normal. He also got his first cold/cough this past week, so he’s been really fussy and insecure. I feel so bad for him because I don’t know how to make him feel better. I’ve given him a few doses of Tylenol but it doesn’t seem to help. He has been having the most difficult time trying to sleep in the past few weeks too, but he’s somewhat getting better so I am too. The last 2 weeks have been pretty stressful for me and I almost broke down a few times. I thought the most difficult weeks (the 1st 6 weeks) were over, but boy was a I wrong! I didn’t realize how hard it can really get, especially now that Jeramy is back at work. Things were much easier or atleast more bearable when Jeramy was home. I had the opportunity to unload a lot of my stress off by having Jeramy take care of him when I couldn’t handle it. I guess this is what being a stay at home Mommy is all about. My patience is being tested. That’s for sure!!!
Ok…enough of me venting already!
Connor’s losing his hair. He’s balder on the right side of his head and you can see where his bald spots are all over. I find little strands of his hair everywhere. I’m also losing a lot of hair…I guess due to the hormones or something. Connor likes to try standing up rather than sitting. He actually holds up on his own two feet quite well (with support of course). It scares me that he might just start walking first rather than crawling! When he’s sitting or standing, he tries to sit up on his own. It’s funny when he does it since he looks like he’s doing sit-ups or something. He’s getting really good with his hands. He can focus on things really well, which makes him better at playing with his toys. It’s amazing to see the development occur right before our very eyes. One moment, he can only bat at his toys as if it was done by accident and then the next moment, he can actually “play” with it. He grasps his toys and seems like he knows what to do with it now. Ofcourse, he ends up putting them in their mouth after drooling all over it. It’s supposedly their way of exploring the world. I wonder if we as adults can still explore the world that way? Haha He can stay on his tummy for a really long time now. I mean, he’s been doing it since he’s a month old but he can actually play being on his tummy. He hasn’t quite rolled over on his own yet. He does with a little help (like if he’s on an inclined area like the couch or bed, or with a good push!). I guess I can just count my blessings since I really don’t want him to be mobile just yet!
We haven’t weighed Connor in over 2 months, so I’m guessing he’s over 18 lbs. He’s getting REAL heavy. I thought I’d never say this but his legs are like tree stumps…they’re soooo chubby!!!! He’s already wearing 6-9 month clothing and the scaring thing is, he’s already almost outgrowing those too. But he’s the cutest thing ever!!! He just melts my heart when he smiles and laughs. His laughs are soooooooo adorable. He totally heaves into laughter when we tickle him. Sometimes when we play our own version of peek-a-boo, he just bursts into laughter and he gets rolling for what seems like hours. The other night, we were all laying in bed and I was blowing raspberry kisses on Connor’s tummy and he just squealed with laughter …giggling like a big boy! It amazes me what makes him laugh. He still coos and can talk for hours on end (wonder where he got that from?! Haha). I know when it’s either going to be a “good” day or “bad” by how he wakes up. Normally, he wakes up smiling and talking. But if he doesn’t, then I just know…it’s gonna be a looooooong day!
Oh yeah, we tried rice cereal for the 1st time on Oct 22nd. He seemed to really like it. He liked the idea of the spoon entering his mouth. I think he thinks it’s a “grown-up” thing to do or something because he watches intently when we sit and eat our meals. I haven’t tried it again because he got diarrhea and his cold/cough started so I wanted to make sure he felt better until we try again. Also, just in case of food allergies!
Connor and I had our 1st big road trip during the week of Oct. 5th-12th. Jeramy had to work so we went on our own. I was really afraid Connor was gonna be one big fuss-ball but he actually ended up sleeping most of the way. He did wake up when we were passing through Buellton on the way down south, so we stopped at Pea Anderson’s to walk around the gift shop. We stayed at my sister Christine’s in Thousand Oaks before we headed down to San Clemente to spend a few days with my parents. It was my Dad’s b-day on the 6th so we celebrated it with him, along with celebrating fun times with my Grandma who came to visit from Kansas. We then headed down to San Diego on the 9th for my Dad’s graduation. He got his Master’s degree from University of San Diego so it was a cause of another celebration! The whole family was there and Connor seemed to deal with everyone and everything really well. I think everyone was amazed at how much Connor can really talk, especially my Dad.
I was amazed at how much Connor could absorb. I mean, we were always on the go. We traveled to many places…the beach, lots of restaurants, University of San Diego, malls. Boy, I do miss them malls! I actually miss a lot of things from living down in Southern California…Coffee Bean, the “melting pot” society, and so much more! But one thing is for sure…I DO NOT MISS THE TRAFFIC. It makes me appreciate my life on the central coast even more. Another thing I did miss while on vacation was Jeramy. I missed him soooooo much! I think that was the longest we’ve ever been apart. I had Connor talk to him on the phone every day so that Connor couldn’t forget him. Heh heh Well, our little vacation was so much fun but it was also nice coming home!!!
Now it’s Halloween…I can’t believe it’s already November. We have a busy month ahead of us. I signed up to be the organizer for the Stay At Home Moms meetup group for the San Luis Obispo county and we will be having our 1st meeting on Nov. 9th. I am soooooooo excited!!! I can’t wait to meet other mommies. Most of my friends are single and not married, so it will be nice to meet people who are somewhat in the same boat as I am. Here, check out our website: http://sahm.meetup.com/316/. Let’s see…what else do we have planned? We will be having a pre-Thanksgiving dinner with friends on the 21st and then we will be having Thanksgiving with my family this year so we will be staying down in SC for a few days. We also have Dr’s appts and other “fun” stuff planned so it’s gonna be one busy month!
Well, I can’t believe I got to write as much as I have. Connor’s been asleep now for 2 hours…WOW!!! I am stoked! I am looking forward to the days that he actually sleeps through the night. When, oh when will that be?! Uh oh, speaking of…
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