Cookied Out

Photo from kraftfoods.com

I am completely, 100% done with cookies for quite a while. I have spent 4 entire days baking. I spent 2 with my mom, one with Alicia, and one by myself. I've baked chocolate chip, gooey butter, ginger, peanut butter, melt aways, sugar cookies and loads and loads of peanut brittle. Don't get me wrong, I love to bake but I don't think I've ever spent that much time in the kitchen before. I had a blast with my mom and Alicia because all the chit chatting makes the time fly but I don't even want to smell another cookies baking for a very long time!

Why all the baking, you ask? I was helping my mom prepare for a choir get together at their house, Alicia and I were just having fun, and I was baking goodies for all of Steve's employees. I also decided to make peanut brittle for all my aunts and uncles as well as Steve's relatives, too. I have a very yummy and easy recipe for the brittle. Check it out here. After the baking was done, I was on a mission to find cute ways to package all the yummy treats. I landed on Martha's line at Michaels and I was very pleased with how they turned out. Steve said some of his employees even commented on how nice the packaging was. Way to go Martha!

Warehouse Sale

I have an obsession with books. I love the way they smell, the way a new book feels when you open it and I really enjoy children's books too. The children's books are always so colorful and tell such wonderful stories. I have definitely passed along that love to Ava already. The kid will sit for half an hour and look through her books "reading" to herself.

Since I was a teacher, I get emails about Scholastic's warehouse sales. For those of you who don't know, Scholastic is the company that sends home monthly flyers with your kids from school. They sell books for a reasonable price and it always got my kiddos super excited about reading. Anyway, when I found out they were having their big sale right before Christmas, I knew I had to go. I emailed some girlfriends and we made a date. I ended up spending close to $60 on books. I know, I know...it's a lot. You have to remember I was the girl who spent her allowance on books instead of makeup and clothes. Everything was 50% off and I know how much Ava and I love reading her books so it was money well spent. I also picked up several of the Disney fairy chapter books for my niece's upcoming 8th birthday.

If I could pick my ideal career, besides teaching, I would definitely own a bookstore. One of those small, quirky stores that has all the books you have been searching for...forever. I would host monthly book club meetings in the store that everyone would make treats to share at each meeting. I would know all my regulars by name and they would know about me and my family. Of course, we would serve great coffee too. I don't know how many of those types of stores still exist with Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders running the show now. That is my ideal though...a girl can dream *sigh*

Mini Me

My days and evenings are filled with little moments like this. I am doing a seemingly boring chore, like loading the dishwasher, folding laundry, sweeping the kitchen, etc. and right on my heels is mini me trying to do the same thing. In this case, I was hanging snowflakes from Ava's fan using a step ladder. Little did I know that Ava was on the first step of the ladder with me. She is so quiet sometimes!! I went to step down and that's when I noticed her. Steve was home and found the situation funny so he snapped a few pictures. I love that little stinker so much!

Round 1 Ava, Round 2 Santa

After almost meeting Santa on Sunday, I was determined for her to actually meet the big guy. I talked to some of the "elves" before we left on Sunday at Bass Pro and was told that Tuesday around 6 would be a good time to come back. The plan was no set. We arrived at Bass Pro a little before 6 and headed in to get into the short line. The line was actually a good thing because it gave Ava ample time to check this Santa character out. She was waving to him and saying hi the entire 20 minutes we were in line. By the time we were up, I was confident there would be no tears...and I was right. He talked to her about Dora before he tried to hold her. She just stared at the floor the whole time doing her shy routine. She let him hold her and we got a tearless and smileless picture. That Santa was the sweetest and nicest Santa I have ever met. He took his time with her and was so friendly to us too. We will definitely be going back next year. Round 1 goes to Ava...yea!!

Round 2 however was a completely different story. Bass Pro is near my dad's house so we decided to eat dinner with him and my brother and my niece after seeing Santa. This was also the same night the Pattonville Fire Department's Santa was coming around my dad's neighborhood for all the kids to see Santa. This is their 26th year to bring Santa around to all the neighborhoods. We ate our chili and then saw the lights of Santa coming down the street. Santa comes down the street pulled by a fire truck or ambulance and Santa is on his sleigh on a trailer bed with all the lights going and horns blaring. The truck goes really slow...usually. This year they were going a lot faster and we had to dash outside so Santa would stop outside my dad's house. I had to rush Ava into her coat and hat and then out the door we went. I opted to sit with Santa and Ava. Ava immediately burst into tears the second she saw this Santa. You can see from the pictures that she was not a happy camper. There were tears and snot bubbles. Poor, young, fireman Santa didn't know what to do with her. We snapped our pictures and then off Santa went. I think he was happy to be on to the next house! Ava was a trooper though. After all, she sat with 2 strange men dressed in funny red suits in one night. Round 2 definitely went to Fireman Santa!

Unusual Find

Sunday, as we were killing time in the Chesterfield area, we stumbled upon a rather unique sculpture. It was chilly so Ava and I stayed in the car but Steve ventured out to take some pictures. It's hard to tell from these pictures but the sculpture is huge. On a warmer day we'll have to take some more pics with us in them so you have more of an idea of the size of this thing. Cool but kinda creepy at the same time.

Almost Santa

We had big plans to take Ava to see Santa on Sunday. The operative word there is had. I refuse to pay the astronomical prices at the mall, so when I found out from my mother in law that Bass Pro Shop was going to have free pictures with Santa I was in. I was a little leery that Santa might have a Red Ryder BB gun and a fishing pole but I was game anyway. We loaded Ava in the car, picked up the MIL and headed out for Bass Pro.

After the 30 minute ride to get there, Steve hopped out of the car to go get in line. As we were headed in he called and told us to get right back in the car. What?!? It was 3 o'clock and I was thinking we might have to wait 1/2 an hour but I was just a wee bit off. They gave Steve a line ticket to come back and get in line at 6. Who knew Santa was this popular. Ava was very restless so we decided to head in and let her walk around for a while. They had quite the winter wonderland there. We never saw Santa because he was on a break the 1/2 hour we were there...bummer. However, they had all kinds of toys set up for the kids to beg their parents for while they waited. Among my favorites were the pink crossbow with the phrase "bring 'em up right" on the box, a stuffed deer head, and a target practice game. While there was no Santa in sight, it was still an entertaining outing. Where else can you take your picture with a stuffed raccoon for Christmas?

Christmas Card Rejects

Last year was our first photo Christmas card, and I have to say that I loved it. Before Ava, there was no reason for Steve and I to send a photo card. Who really wants to see a picture of Steve and I? Anyone? Anyone?? Yeah, I don't see any hands up. Anyway, with the addition of a cute baby to the mix then all of a sudden the photo card was a must. This year I chose a card that had multiple pictures to fill because I had so many of the little darling I wanted to use. I have plenty of pictures to choose from but none of these made the cut. Truth be told, these are actually my faves. You really can't get a *pretty* smile out of the kid. She is either making a goofy face at the camera or staring at you like you're nuts. There is no happy medium with her. These show the real Ava...the goofball that my family knows and loves. Enjoy!!

More Adorable Freebies

Print these cuties out for this holiday gift giving season. Check out Kristen's site, Domestifluff, here.

It's Here

The holiday season is really and truly here. We went to a concert Friday night at the Cathedral downtown complete with a bell choir, children's choir, and adult choir. Saturday was the annual wrapping party for the family our group of friends adopts every year. My friend, Amy, organizes and hosts a party every year where our group of friends buys all the gifts for a family and then gets together to wrap all the presents. It's always a good time. The kids ended up having a dance party in their family room. It was quite a site!

The presents in our house have all been wrapped and I can confidently say I have only one more person to buy for and he's always my easiest...that is until this year. I'm drawing a complete blank on Steve. I pride myself on giving gifts that are thoughtful, useful, and fun. This year for him I've got nada! I know I'll pull something out in the end but for now I'm constantly thinking and looking.

Steve took off yesterday and we actually watched 2 movies together. That never happens. It was nice though. A time to curl up together and just be next to each other while Ava was sleeping. Grown up time is so good and so valuable now. You take it when you can get it!

A Pink Christmas

Yes, that is a 3 ft. pink flocked Christmas tree. I know, I know...how much more girly can you get? Well this probably tops all the girliness I've subjected Ava to! But I would have loved to have this tree in my room when I was little and I'm sure most of you girls would too!

Last year after Christmas my mom called and asked if I wanted her to pick up a pink Christmas tree for Ava for $12. Of course my answer was YES!! When she brought it over last year in the box, Steve saw it and threw me a look like, "you've got to be kidding me!" I just quietly put it in the basement and never gave it another thought. This year I started to pull all the decorations out of the basement and I stumbled upon her little tree and got so excited for it all over again. I put it up in Ava's room and turned out the lights to show Ava her new tree. She was not disappointed and neither was I. She gave a rousing, "ooohhhhhhhhhhhhh" several times and clapped her hands. I was worried about finding ornaments to put on it but I think I like it just the way it is. Maybe next year when Ava's a little older she can help make some ornaments or pick them out. Best $12 I've spent on Christmas decor in a while.

On a side note, Steve actually thought the tree was pretty too. Not as "ugly" as the box showed.

One of Those Christmas Tree People

We have been so busy lately! Busy in a good way though. Now that I can say Thanksgiving is officially over after 4 dinners ending on Sunday, it's on with the Christmas cheer! I like to get my tree up the day after Thanksgiving but seeing as I had people eating here Friday and I was cooking the entire turkey spread that wasn't happening. Steve finally got our tree up last night and Ava was oh so intrigued by the entire process. She even got under the tree while Steve was plugging in all the lights on our pre-lit tree (love it!).

Today is my dilemma. I am one who has matching ornaments on the tree meaning our tree is all silver, blue, and green. We don't have a tree with ornaments from when we were kids. This is an adult tree. So yes, I am one of *THOSE* Christmas tree people! I love the kid trees but I want our kids to make the ornaments for that tree, so that will come probably next year when Ava can help make some ornaments for the tree. But back to my dilemma. The kid is fascinated by ornaments and all things sparkly. I have silver glittered feathers on our tree, some ribbon, and lights right now. Ava won't even leave the feathers alone. I'm terrified that if I put glass ornaments on the tree with hooks she will end up breaking one or worse yet cut herself. I'm not worried about anything going in her mouth so at least that's one less thing to harp on! I guess I can always decorate the top half of the tree and leave the glass and hooks out of her reach. That would be one unique looking tree though! Oh well, at least the tree is up even if it never fully gets decked out!