December Daily | 12.15.2012

 

We spent the day doing a little shopping at Mernards & Target - the boys always love the carts with the car in the front.

December Daily | 12.14.2012

 

Tonight the boys had a sleep over at Birdie & Pa's house.

(Carson doesn't care for his picture taken anymore, grr).

 

They took them to see christmas lights and also got to find a special prize hidden when they got home to Birdie & Pa's house. (somehow my boys get a prize - everytime they go to birdie's - they aren't spoiled or anything, :))

 

Jason & I enjoyed dinner at Firehouse - kid free!! (I mean that in the nicest way)

 

December Daily | 12.13.2012

Today was a very long day for me at work so for today's blog I want to go back in time a little - 6 years back.........what a journey it has been.  Six years ago Christmas time was much different.  Jason was six months into treatment for his brain cancer.  Full of emotions to look back on that time.

December Daily | 12.12.2012

Today marked 12.12.12 in celebration of the historic date Woody the Elf made the house look festive and fun with garland hanging everywhere in the living room.

December Daily | 12.11.2012

To be honest it is kind of a boring week - nothing special going on...just normal life. Tuesday is an early class for Jason's workout schedule, which means sometimes we have to swap kids & cars.
Tonight when we did Carson was in a sleep-coma and even after bringing him inside this is how he slept for another hour.  While Carson caught some zzzz's Cooper and I did some pre-shop coupon planning! 

December Daily | 12.10.2012

Just another manic monday wish it were sunday....my coop - he loves eating more than anything!

December Daily | 12.9.2012

lazy days of winter........we woke to a house full of GIRLS!  That only happens occasionally since I am out numbered by boys.

 

 

then off to grandmothers house we go.....

 

 

we spent the afternoon lounging and hanging with family.



 

 

 



December Daily | 12.8.2012

Double Date Night 

 

 

 

Jason and I planned a night out to celebrate his birthday next week and Carson got to have a slumber party with 3 of his favorite cousins, Sierra, Madi & Kelly.

 

 

Carson usually hangs with me when I get ready, especially when he knows we are leaving for the night. I love that he has on rainboots, hat and has his bow & arrow. Ha Ha!

 

 

 

 

 

We celebrated with dinner at Carrabbas & a little shopping.

 

 



December Daily | 12.7.2012

We were supposed to spend the evening watching the parade with Aunt Ang-ie but the day was miserable weather, rainy and cold.  

So we switched up the plans for a night in with pizza and Pinterest Pinning recipies and projects........well sort of........

Cooper helping with dishes



Ang trying out one of my pinterest recipes for buffalo califlower wings.

  So I finally tried out a recipe I had pinned awhile back  for buffalo califlower wings. I wanted to try them since Jason has been so dedicated to changing his diet. I was hoping that this would be a great alternative for the traditional wing. We were all surprised how great  they were. I totally suggest you try the recipe.

I also thought I would try one of the crafts that I had pinned for large popsicle stick snowflakes. However when I started to prep the area for the craft.....a paper war started and the craft went right out the window. OH well the boys had fun with crazy Aunt Ang.

 

I also tried a recipe posted on the coupon blog I follow. Reese's peanut butter pie.
                YUMM-O

 

It was a great night, and that is no-bull#$&!. (angie that one is for you).

 



December Daily | 12.6.2012

This sums up the day -

 

 

 

 

December Daily | 12.5.2012

Woody the Elf is not as popular as I hoped he would be. I always dream and try so very hard to make the boy's childhood special and meaningful.  I want traditions to be the things they loved and cherrished as kids - not "stuff".
We are five days in and I have yet to experience a joyful face from Carson when it comes to Woody the Elf. Most days he finds him after I ask several times and that's it, he pays no attention to him the rest of the day and he NEVER asks about him.
Today - today was the prest-ti-resistance - the best yet......and I don't mean it in a good way.

Here is the dialog I was texted while at work.

Jason: Katie, Carson found Woody the Elf, and immediatly pulled down piggy and was like "why is he up there".  - here is how the conversation went between the two of them.

Jason: Piggy was playing dominos with Big Bird & Woody the Elf, he must have thought it would be fun to play with them.
Carson: I don't like him (meaning Woody the Elf).
Jason: Carson don't let him hear you say that or he will tell Santa and will report you being bad.
Carson: I still don't like him daddy maybe Santa won't let him work for him anymore!

NAILED IT, exactly what I dreamed this experience would be. LOL.  Oh well I will now never forget the first year Woody the Elf made his apperance.

December Daily | 12.4.2012

Tuesday is "shop" day for the boys, the reason its Tuesday you ask - well it has everything to do with coupons. :) Aren't you glad you asked now?!?  Tuesday is milk sale day at Buehler's.  On sale Tuesday and Wednesday, smith dairy milk 2.49 per gallon with 40 cent coupons that double - making it 1.69!  When you go through 5 gallons a week - you can understand my excitement. I do admit though since Carson was sick during Thanksgiving and given the stern NO MILK for 3 days - his intake has slimmed to very little and he has even begun drinking almond milk instead. I guess being sick had its advantages, it allowed us to break Carson of his night time sippy of milk. 
Anyways...the boys spend the day running errands and grocery shopping.  Monnie (aka grandma Pam) was along and they even meet up with Shelby & Kynzie (cousins) for a lunch/play date at McDonald's.

 

In the evening we had a visit from Aunt Angie, she came bearning gifts...corn/potato chowder!  She and Carson had a whole conversation about Woody the elf.  She thinks the elf is semi creepy and Carson at this point isn't really so sure about him. 

December Daily | 12.3.2012

 

Rub a dub dub - 2 (little) men in a tub



 

Cooper 1.5 years Carson 3 years

The boys enjoying bathtime.



Today was just a normal day, well as normal as our life is anyways.

 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

Reviewing the year |

Since I only blog during the month of December I thought this year I would periodically do several year in review posts with a day as well.

 

This year has been another emotional and trying year for us. Our lives were forever changed on May 13, 2006. Jason's diagnosis of brain cancer is an every day battle for us. Everyday we face the challenges. This February was another challenge. Jason lost his job after the affects of his many treatments of radiation, chemo and just all the cancer "stuff" fianlly showed its face - affecting his memory and daily fundamentals.  Jay has taken the loss in stride, proving that he is a fighter and will rise above. He is now a "SHAD" as I like to call him. Stay-at-home-dad is a job that not many men could do. I/We both have tried to find the postive in the negative. Jason has been given the opportunity to spend time with boys. We aren't given a crystal ball in life so this time is a gift for sure.

 

By no means do I mean for this post to be a "pitty" party for us, I just want these post to be a true reflection of our lives. I hope to one day look back and read this post - sitting with my husband and my grown children, and think wow that was a tough year - but look at us now!

 

 

December Daily | 12.2.2012

Mornings are for Momma's - there is one thing I have come to love since being a mom......quiet weekend mornings. Don't for a minute think I have angel children that play quietly and get along.  What I am talking about it is early morning rising for some couponing bliss. There is PURE BLISS in just me, my coupon binder and an empty store. (empty store means shopping at 6:30 in the morning)

This was my haul today - 43 items for $34, savings was just over $60!!
I figured on should blog this in case the worse should ever happen.....I am no longer a crazy coupon lady......or coupons become extinct. Gosh I pray neither of those ever happen.

The rest of the day was spent decorating the tree and having my parents over for dinner. Thanksgiving didn't happen for us this year.....the boys were deathly ill.........then I was ill.......then my parents were ill. Thanksgiving this year was a bust to say the least. I of course forgot to take a picture of the boys with my parents but I didn't forget to snap a quick photo the meal I made, my sister Angie will appreciate the picture. Meatball subs and cheesy potato wedges, yummy recipe I found on Pinterest!

December Daily | 12.1.2012

Well I am at it again, December daily for 2012. I admit during 2011 when I was posting daily it was work and sometimes I was so tired but I stayed true to my commitement and I am so glad I did. November 30th I took time to go through all the posts. WOW. I was moved, to laughter, smiles and tears. All that work and late night blogging was worth it.

TOTALLY WORTH IT.  

 

 Here's to another year of making memories, sharing laughs and loving & living life.

 

Christmas tree time.  This year we opted to use the local market instead of treaking through a tree farm with 2 little ones......oh and not to mention I could use a coupon for a Christmas tree - yeah you read that right - a coupon!

 

yep, thats me - all smiles about to use a $20 gc that I got for $6 for our christmas tree.



 

 

Dover Christmas parade was tonight, the weather was beautiful. 

It didn't feel like December that is for sure.

 

NTB (note to remember) - Carson is so funny sometimes, he had to walk with his hands in his pockets the whole way back to the car - he knew it made him look cute...hahahah