Gettin' Sugary With It

Tonight the fam and I hosted our first annual Christmas cookie decorating party. I just added the 'first annual' part, because I'm hoping to make it a tradition. We invited our family and friends for an evening of cookies, icing, and sprinkles.

I think we even ended up with sprinkles between our toes.

Last night I used refrigerated sugar cookie dough and just cut out Christmas shapes using cookie-cutters. To my surprise, my local grocery store had enough dough for about 4 dozen cookies. I usually can't depend on Dirty Harvey's for anything. (Note: Actual store name = Harvey's. The store before it was Big J, but I lovingly referred to it as Dirty J. All they did was change the sign out front, the inside stayed the same = dirty. So....until they give me a Publix, Harris Teeter, or in my dream world - a Whole Foods Market, I'll just refer to them as Dirty _____.) Ah, but I digress, I really was happy that I didn't have to make 4 dozen homemade sugar cookies.

And actually, truth be told, M to the Izz-A and Kate baked most of them while I went on a late night Wal-mart run to gather up a few last minute items. He makes me looks good. He really does.

Everyone showed up with their favorite cookie toppings and we went to town!

The cookies turned out even better than I imagined! Not too shabby!

Now, as to whether you'd wanna eat them is another story. I think the toppings are made of equal parts sugar, icing, and saliva! The kids licked their fingers at they went along!

Last week Kate and I decided to bake Daddy some homemade chocolate chip cookies using a recipe my sister, Sal Gal, told me about: Carol's Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chippies. I'm a really big fan of refrigerated cookie dough, but the holidays always get me in the mood for baking homemade goodies (in small amounts). Plus, Kate loves to help out in the kitchen and I thought it'd give us something to do other than stare at Wow, Wow Wuzzby on the T.V. The cookies were pretty simple to make and I have to tell ya, they must be fool proof, because Kate poured some extra baking soda into the dough and they still turned out. I mean really, how can a little extra baking soda harm a mound of sugary, chocolatey, cavity-inducing goodness? The answer is: it simple cannot.

M to the Izz-A is still working hard in our laundry room remodel. He's almost finished! Update with pics to follow as soon as it's complete...

Besides baking, I also think the holidays are a great time for crafts. However, when you child is only two, you've gotta think simple. Wait. Make that extra simple.



We've been doing a few crafts together in the evenings after dinner and so far have managed to make our house look pretty festive!

Our first craft was simply making a wreath out of her hand prints. They won't be that little forever....

Next, we wanted to get a little messier with the glue. The only thing this 'craft' (so simple it may not merit being called a craft) involves is tearing up all colors of construction paper and letting your little one glue them onto a Christmas tree...anywhere, no pattern, no rhyme or reason. It ends up so colorful. This was Kate's favorite activity so far. Add glue to the equation and you're sure to get a smile.

And last we made a snowflake using gumdrops and toothpicks. This one is always a hit because you can eat as you go along!

Now that I've crammed way too much into this post, I'm off to bed. I only have three days left and then I'm off work for the holidays...until January to be exact!

I told M to the Izz-A to remind me to have him take a pic of this belly I'm developing. He's now snoring in bed, and I have no picture. I'm gonna try to get it tomorrow. I'm 4 1/2 months already! Time flies when you're having fun...and eating everything in sight!

It's a......

...fun thing to have some of your precious family gathered around you when you found out what you're having.


And even though M to the Izz-A's parents and my parents both live away, we still had a very special group that came along for the sweet surprise.


Here's the gang that joined us:

L to R: Lillie, Sal Gal, me, Chas, Kate, M to the Izz-A, my Aunt Sara, my Grandma, Matt's Granny

And without further ado....

It's

A

BOY!!!!

Ya'll knew I couldn't wait, right?

Just thought you'd like to know that we're on our way right now to
find out the gender of Baby!

I made the appointment yesterday. The suspense was killin' me.

Sent from my iPhone

Oh Disney, how we love thee

Last weekend's trip to Disney was amazing. Like I said, it was Kate's first time ever going. And believe it or not, it was M to the Izz-A's first time, too! I hadn't been in many, many years, so it was very exciting for all of us.

Now, about that weather forecast I was supposed to be looking up the last time I posted....
It ended up raining a little while we were there, but it was just enough to keep the crowds and long lines away, so it worked out for the best. And really, I don't think there could ever be a bad day at the happiest place on earth! A little liquid sunshine never hurt anyone, right?





Kate, doing her 'princess pose' with the best of 'em...

One of our favorite parts about the Very Merry Christmas Party was the complimentary cookies and hot chocolate on every corner. It may have just been the atmosphere, the Christmas spirit, or me being pregnant, but that had to of been the best hot chocolate I've ever had. It was probably just the instant packets, but to me, it tasted delicious! Kate was a big fan of the cookies with the "prinkles". (She's still not a fan of using her 's' sounds!)

M to the Izz-A ended up taking pictures of the entire parade - every float, every character, every ballooon seller, but I'll just post one. Speaking of balloons, they were $10 a piece. For a dang balloon! We passed. Kate, I'll buy you an entire bag of balloons and blow every single one of them up at the hotel room until I pass out for less than $10, my little sweet pea!

We spent the following day at Downtown Disney. We loved it just as much as Disney itself. There was so much to see and do, and again...eat. Mama was happy I tell you!

In keeping with the rain theme, we decided to eat lunch at The Rainforest Cafe. Talk about a kid-friendly eating establishment, this place was perfect - rambunctious and entertaining.

She loved the Legos Store. We spend quite a while there. And the sneak even managed to walk away with one little random piece, as we discovered a little later on.

Ghirardelli's anyone???

If that pic doesn't make you want some, I don't know what will!




That night we attended the Arabian Nights dinner show.

Boy would I have liked to get a hold of that lady's caboodle of makeup back in the day, say 8th gradish?? I would have totally went nuts with that blue eyeshadow.

Moving on...Kate loved the horses!

After the show, we headed to Celebration for their nightly 'snowfall'. It's fake snow (actually more like soap suds), but it gave us the same feeling. We southerners take what we can get! And Kate didn't know any different, she loved it.

And of course I love anything that makes her smile this big...

Heck, even Ryan Cabrerra showed up to serenade us. He put on a little mini-concert beside that Christmas tree you see in the background of the above pic. Pretty cool.

This chick is stubborn sometimes. She wouldn't open her eyes for anything!

Can't wait to go back!!

That Mouse is a Party Animal

I should be packing right now.


But instead I'm on the computer looking up information, insider tips, and weather forecasts for Orlando, FL. We're taking Kate to Disney for the weekend to attend Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.


And since our laundry room is currently under construction, I've put off doing the laundry because I'm not particularly fond of stepping over hammers, screws, dry wall bits, while carrying my overflowing laundry basket. Now I'm stuck with last minute washing and last minute packing. Another thing I should be doing? Folding. But here again I sit, at the computer. I work better under pressure. And I can't promise that I won't save some of it for in the morning.


M to the Izz-A and I are watching some low-budget, made for TV Christmas movie as we sit here not packing. It's always the same actors/actresses on these things. I wonder it they set out on their careers saying, "I wanna be a made for TV actor."


Okay I'm obviously just trying to think of things to type to keep me unproductively preoccupied.


I'm also making raising my eyebrows up and down a lot and squinting at the computer as I type so that M to the Izz-A really thinks I'm looking up that weather forecast.

Wordless Wednesday

Big things, people. Big things.

Thanks to Aunt Abbi, Kate got her first haircut last week. She's two and a half and we've never taken her for so much as a trim. Oh, it's been a big debate and topic of discussion for about the past year, but it wasn't until now did we decide to finally go for it.

She was so excited! And although we only trimmed a tiny bit, actually just the lil' rat tail that seemed to make its grand debut into her tresses a few months ago, it made a big difference.

It was a pretty big event. M to the Izz-A came by on his lunch break and Sal Gal met us there with my nephew, Chas, as well. Kate's first trim turned into a family affair. She had her own paparazzi!

I think it's safe to say that she was happy with the end result!


Now I'm feeling all brave and stuff, and I'm wanting to take another inch or so off of it. We shall see!

Thanks again, Aunt Abbi!

And just a quick update on the baby front: At my last appointment, the heartbeat was 170. I know some people say that they can tell the gender based on heartbeat, but I don't believe that's very accurate. I go back next week, but won't find out if it's a boy or girl until the following appointment. When I was pregnant with Kate, I just had this feeling and knew that I was having a girl. But with this pregnancy, I really can't tell. I don't have a strong feeling either way. Maybe it's because I don't have as much time to just sit around and think about it. Who knows?

I'll be about 4 months (16 weeks) next week and so I figured I could start doing some belly pics soon...