Weekend Top 5

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! If you want to link up and share your Top 5- go sign the Mr. Linky at Kristi's of The Wheelz Are Rolling .

5. As I previously mentioned, I went Black Friday shopping for the first time. LOVED IT. I got home about around noon and then Ken left to go pick up Danyelle for the weekend. While he was gone I put Katelyn and myself down for a nap.

Later in the evening we ordered pizza for dinner and the kids hung out playing the Wii. We got a great new game last week that Gavin cannot stop playing. I will be doing a review on the new game and a giveaway later in the week so make sure to check back!

4. Saturday mid morning I headed up to Michaels for some more Christmas shopping. They had the photo storage boxes on sale 3 for $5.00. Let me tell you about my love affair with these boxes. Whenever they are on sale I buy them. I have to have them. I love looking at them and filling them with stuff. Ok, enough about the boxes. I might just have to get up and go look at them again if I keep talking about them.

I also went to the grocery store while I was out to pick up stuff for Sunday lunch which was going to be at our house this week.

3. My hair!!! Oh yes. Also on Saturday afternoon I had my much over do hair appointment for a highlight and cut. When my stylist looked up my card to see when the last time I was in I wasn't surprised to find out it was June. I do that every single time my hair needs to be done. I wait and wait and wait to make an appointment until I can barely go out in public anymore because my roots are showing so bad! Now I feel like a whole new person ready for holiday photos.

2. As I am typing this all up I am realizing that Saturday was a pretty busy day. Saturday evening we met up with my in laws to go to the Festival of Trees. Hundreds of Christmas trees decorated by businesses around the city. They each have a different theme and can be purchased with the money going to charity.

Katelyn totally surprised me by wanting to be carried for most of the night. She kept saying that the lights scare her. Maybe it was a little overwhelming all the trees and lights all at once. She finally started walking on her own about a half hour after we where there.

Here are some of the trees we saw.


A pink princess tree that Katelyn loved:

A World Series tree that Gavin loved:
A Christmas in Florida themed tree:

An Under The Sea themed tree:

A white tree:

We even got our picture taken with Santa. All of us.

What a great memory!

We all ended the night up at Dairy Queen for some yummy ice cream!

1. Sunday Gavin sang in 2 of the services at church. I love this time of year when the kids choirs start singing Christmas songs. Katelyn went into the nursery for the first service we went to. She was such a big girl and walked in and said Bye Mommy. I think its the first time she hasn't cried when we drop her off there!

After church we headed back to our house for Sunday lunch. My inlaws met us here too. My wonderful husband kicked things up a notch with the hamburgers. Instead of just plain ol grilled hamburgers, he stuffed them with shredded cheese, onions, and bacon. MMMMMM bacon! They were so good I hope he makes them again.



We spent the rest of Sunday just hanging out at the house with each other.



Have a great week everyone!

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Thanksgiving Recap

So Thanksgiving has come and gone.

Black Friday has come and gone.

We are officially in Christmas mode now!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day split between my in laws house and my mom's house. Turkey and stuffing at my MIL's and then off to my mom's for a great variety of desserts.

I fought the crowds this morning on Black Friday for the first time ever. I went with some great friends and got a little more than half of my shopping done. Next up is Christmas decorations. I have a funny feeling that we wont have time this weekend to even get them out of the attic, so it will probably be next weekend before we start decorating.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

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Norton PC Tuneup ~ Review and Giveaway ~

******This is a Sticky Post. Please scroll down for newer posts********




As much as I love it, my computer and I battle each other constantly. Granted, I pound away on it continuously throughout the day, but every once in awhile it grinds to a halt in complete protest and shuts itself down - inconvenient, to say the least, and especially when I've forgotten to hit save.

All the whirring and unexpected shut downs often have a cause (other than orneriness); incorrect settings, fragmented hard drives, and unused, bulky programs slow down computer performance until you're practically pulling your hair out. Just as our cars need regular tune-ups and oil changes, so, it turns out, do our computers.

Norton by Symantec has created one elegant solution. Norton Premium Services allows Norton experts to connect with you one-on-one, listen to the problems your encountering, and then directly access your computer via the Internet so they can run diagnostic tests and fix the problems while you sit back and watch. In addition to making your PC run like new, they can also help with killing viruses, eliminating spyware, and installing Norton software, just to name a few.

I was very lucky to be able to review the Norton PC Tuneup Service. I was able to tune up my computer from the comfort of my own home. I simply called the 1-800 number and spent about 45 minutes on the phone with a representative who worked with me and my computer. The representative was able to look into my computer clean up some unused icons and unnecessary software. Now my computer is running faster and smoother!!

Now for the good part!

To enter to win 1 of 3 Norton PC Tuneup cards, please leave me a comment on this post!

I will leave the contest open until Thanksgiving and announce the winner that night. Please make sure you leave a valid email address so I can get in touch with you if you win! Good luck!

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Happy Thanksgiving

myspace

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She Didn't Get The Memo

I'm talking about Katelyn of course.

I don't think she got the memo that there is no school this whole week for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Yesterday she was up bright and early at 7am and today...... 615 I heard her thru the baby monitor.

615??? Really Katelyn? That is just way to early for me so I let her cry hoping she would fall back asleep. After crying for about 15 minutes she was quiet again for about 10 minutes. Then I heard this:

"Mommy, where are youuuuuuuuuu?"

Omigosh- her pitiful little voice broke my heart. I jumped right out of bed to go get her ( yes even though it was still before 7 ).

I saddened me to think she was sitting in her crib wondering where the heck I was.

But today I will make sure she knows there is no reason to get up that early tomorrow!!

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Weekend Top 5

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! If you want to link up and share your Top 5- go sign the Mr. Linky at Kristi's of The Wheelz Are Rolling .





5. Friday night was my monthly scrap booking night up at our church. I've been working on a huge project for about 8 months now. I am putting all the names and dates on the backs of pictures from the 1970's til present. I think I've got about 3 more months of work left before its done.

Since I was up at the church until around 1130, that meant the kids were home with daddy. So can anyone guess what I came home to????? The kitchen looked like a tornado had come thru it and for some reason I think every single toy in the house had been pulled out of the kids bedrooms and were scattered about the rest of the house. Nice.

4. Saturday morning at the unseemly hour of 8am, we had another Tball practice. After the initial shock that the temperature was in the 40's, we got going. Katelyn decided that we couldn't leave the house until she had a hat on like Gavin, so he chose to let her borrow his Mickey Mouse hat.



I brought a chair to the field for Katelyn to sit on instead of keeping her prisoner in her stroller. She was a good girl and sat in the chair and ate some crackers for a little while. But then she was up. Since it was only our team practicing I let her run around behind where I was sitting. Where she found a little friend. She kept calling him her baby and trying to tickle him under his chin.




Practice went well. For some reason my son seems to think he is the best player on the team and told a couple of the other kids just how awesome he was. So we had a little talk after practice about how of course Mommy thinks he is the best player ever, that doesn't mean he is and its not nice to tell other kids you are better than them.


3. The rest of Saturday was just spent at home. Gavin played the Wii off and on and Katelyn played outside in the backyard for a while. Gavin and Katelyn also colored together. Nicely. Which I could not believe.
















1. Yep, I skipped #2 because we really don't have one. Sunday morning my inlaws picked us up again for Sunday lunch. With Thanksgiving almost here Ken is working nonstop. We hung out at my inlaws until around 430 when Ken got back from work and picked us up. While we were there the kids had wonderful time. Katelyn spent some time jumping on the bed:



or maybe she was trying to jump on Ryan and Gavin.

She also played dress up by putting on Mr. Potato Head glasses. They surprisingly stayed on for about a half hour.

Once we finally returned home Sunday evening we had a light dinner and relaxed.

Have a wonderful week!

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Flashback Friday

Since Thanksgiving is less than 1 week away ( really?WOW!) , I thought I would flashback to Thanksgiving 7 years ago.

7 years ago at the end of October I found out I was pregnant with Gavin. It was such an exciting time. Ken and I had been trying for a couple of months and we were so happy to find out our baby was on its way. We shared the news with only both of our parents when we first found out.

By the time Thanksgiving rolled around I was about 6 weeks pregnant. I remember walking into my mother in laws house and being overwhelmed by all the food smells. Smells I normally love. Smells that when you are 6 weeks pregnant make you want to vomit. I suffered thru Thanksgiving lunch moving the food around on my plate and sipping Sprite. And trying not to gag watching everyone eat.

I noticed across the table Ken's cousin David's girlfriend ( got that? ) was drinking sprite too and not eating much. I remember thinking it was weird that someone else was drinking Sprite- cause in my mind no one drinks Sprite unless they are sick or pregnant.

After lunch my MIL asked me if I wanted to share the news that day since the whole family was together. I said OK.

We had Danyelle make the big announcement that she was getting a little brother or sister. It was so fun to share.

It was at that time that cousin David's girlfriend ( soon to be wife ) stood up and said she was pregnant too!

We were both 6 weeks along and due in July. Her son Brandon was born July 1st and Gavin was born July 10th. Isn't that funny?

By the time we got to my grandmother's house later on for more turkey- I was exhausted. Those first couple of months of pregnancy really took their toll on me. I remember walking into my grandmothers house and heading straight to the couch and passing out for hours.

Every Thanksgiving since then makes me remember that Thanksgiving 7 years ago. Even those first smells of dinner cooking make me feel a little queasy still. And I don't eat the turkey anymore either.

Please join in on Flashback Friday by heading over to see Colleen at Mommy Always Wins

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Yesterday was Wednesday?

It's Thursday night and I just now realized that I totally missed Wordless Wednesday and ABC Wednesday.

I'm all sorts of messed up this week.

Hopefully I remember that Grey's is on tonight.

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Giving Thanks

Something I just had to share with everyone...............



Don't Forget To Give Thanks



Thanks Lisa

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Have You Ever............

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you cant believe it is only Wednesday????

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you feel like all you do is snap at the kids because they are jumping all over your last nerve??

How about one of those nights where you cant wait for the kids to go to bed?

Or eaten 2 bowls of ice cream while watching Private Practice?

I have.

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Weekend Top 5

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! If you want to link up and share your Top 5- go sign the Mr. Linky at Kristi's of The Wheelz Are Rolling .


5. Friday night after dinner I took Gavin, Katelyn, and Danyelle up to the rec center. The rec center has an awesome skate park they built a couple of years ago. Friday night they were having a skateboarding competition and I thought the kids would enjoy watching. We got there about15 minutes after it started and it was packed!! I would say there was about 30 kids ages ranging from 7 yrs to 16 yrs. It was really neat to watch with all the ramps and stuff that they have. Gavin thought this was the coolest thing ever to watch. And of course it didn't take long for his imagination to take over, and before ya know it, he is running around pretending he was on a skateboard. He did his best to imitate all the moves.

The space shuttle went off on Friday night too. It launched around 8pm and we walked into the middle of the parking lot at the skate park to see if we could see it. Unfortunately it was a little too cloudy for us to be able to see it. Whenever we are at home and it launches we have a great view from our driveway. Oh, well, maybe next time!


4. Saturday morning was Gavin's first T-ball practice for the new season. His team name is the Giants. I was excited to see that he has 2 other players on his team from last years basketball team. And the coach this year of Tball is a father of one of the players that he knows. The practice went well and Gavin was happy to be out on the field again. What didn't go well was having Katelyn on lockdown in her stroller. She complained the entire time about needing to get out and run. And goodness knows if she was on the loose she would have been on the field trying to run the bases with the boys. So in the stroller she stays!


The team took turns playing the outfield and batting and running the bases. Our next practice with be on Monday night.

3. The rest of Saturday was spent at home. I got alot of stuff done around the house that had been neglected. I had about 3 weeks of coupons that needed to be clipped and put away. Considering that I get double coupons each Sunday, that's alot of coupons to go thru. But now its done and I am ready to go grocery shopping this week.

We also had a house guest this weekend named Hailey:

She is my brother's beautiful St. Bernard. Since he was away at the National Guard this weekend we had the pleasure of taking care of Hailey. Katelyn absolutely loves her and followed her around all weekend trying to hug and kiss her while saying " You so cute Hay ee"

Danyelle and Gavin had fun on Saturday playing the PlayStation together. We recently moved the PlayStation into Gavin's room too.

2. Sunday mid morning we went over to my inlaws for our Sunday lunch. Here's a picture of the kids playing in their back room:

Chris and Danyelle helping cook in the kitchen:

Katelyn helping herself to some grapes in the fridge:

After lunch we took the kids up to the park at the end of the neighborhood. They had fun running around playing tag and also throwing a frisbee around.

And for some reason the teeter totter was the funnest part of the park. Everyone got in on the teeter totter action: Katelyn, Gavin, Danylle, Grammie, and even Great Grampa Martin!!!

Oh- and to all my northern bloggy friends..... the temperature this weekend finally dropped into the 60's! Yes, that is cold to us Floridians. If you notice in the above pics, Gavin and Katelyn are wearing jackets!!

1. Sunday evening was spent at home. I thought the kids had run off all of their energy at the park, but nope, when we got home they headed out into the back yard to play. Since Hailey had spent much of the day inside she was more than happy to chase the kids around.

We capped off the night with some ice cream cones too:

Have a wonderful week everyone!

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A Funny

For a good laugh- head on over to Heidi's at Mommy Doesnt Live Here Anymore .



She wrote the funniest letter to Dora that I think all of us mom's have wanted to write. Seriously. It's funny. Go now!!

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Christmas Blog Party ~ Day 3~

Today is Day 3 of the Blog Party going on over at momDot. Todays Sponsors are Appledonia, Hippos Toes and My Bag.

The topic for today is: Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Do you budget for the holidays? Do you always stick to your budget? Share with us any budgeting tips you may have!

This is the first year that I haven't started my holiday shopping yet. I usually have everything ( well almost everything ) bought by Thanksgiving. This year I am switchin it up a bit by going Black Friday shopping with Katie. Hopefully I get some really good deals and get most of my shopping done.

Budget? What budget? Haha, no just kidding. I usually have a specific number in my head of how much to spend on each person. And I am glad to say that I usually come in under the number that I thought of. Pretty good.

Thanks for stopping by!

And - is anyone else having problems spacing with blogger?? My lines havent been spacing the past couple of day! AACk!

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Good Bye Joe Bennett

Oh. My. God.



I just read on yahoo that NBC is cancelling Lipstick Jungle. I am so on the floor right now kicking and screaming and throwing a Katelyn tantrum.



Why oh why are they taking this show away from me??

More importantly- Why are they taking this away from me:

How I love watching Andrew McCarthy every week. I may have to put posters on my wall of him again if I cant watch him every week.

And oh yeah- the story line is pretty good too. I mean- this is really one good show!

Please, powers that be at NBC- Do NOT cancel this show!

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Blog Party ~ Day 2 ~ Traditions ~

Its Day 2 of the MomDot Blog Party. Please head on over the take part in the fun!

Todays Sponsors are: LaPlates and Lets Go Strolling and Natitys Design.

The topic for today is Traditions for the Holidays. We start out the holiday by going to the Christmas Eve service at our church. Its called the "kids service" because the kids choirs sing at that time. Gavin has been singing in the choir since he was 4. It melts my heart to see him up there all dressed up singing Christmas songs. Of course we end the service by singing Silent Night while holding candles.

After church we head on over to my dad's for a yummy dinner and presents with my brother and sister. Its so fun every year.

After my dad's house on Christmas Eve we head home. Once we arrive home its all about getting ready for Santa! Gavin, Danyelle, and now Katelyn get the cookies and milk ready for Santa. We always leave Santa homemade cookies that Grammie made. Cause you know, Santa deserves the best!

After the cookies are put out, then it is time to put the food out for the reindeer. We got outside and sprinkle the reindeer food all over the front lawn. I use oatmeal with glitter in it so it sparkles as the kids are throwing it.

Next on our list is to put Santa's Magic Key on the front door. Since we don't have a chimney for Santa to enter thru he has to come in the front door. I have really old antique keys that we hand outside for Santa to use.

Gavin and Danyelle have made it tradition to sleep on Danyelle's floor together Christmas Eve. My kids love to sleep in- even on Christmas - so they usually wake us up around 830 to open presents. While we open presents I have Christmas music playing in the background and we have sausage balls for breakfast.

Around noon we make our way to my in laws house for presents and a yummy Christmas lunch. After that we meet up with my mom for more of the same thing!

Then its time to go home and have a nap for me because- boy- this holiday is exhausting!!

Thanks for stopping by!

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MomDot Christmas Blog Party ~ Day 1 ~

Its started! That's right - today is Day 1 of the Christmas Of Dreams Blog Party hosted by the Wonderful girls at MomDot.

Today sponsors are by La Belle Toile and This and That by Randi

My family consists of my wonderful husband Ken, my son Gavin who is 6, my daughter Katelyn who is 2, and my stepdaughter Danyelle who is almost 14.

This is last years Christmas photo taken Christmas Eve at our church:

And here are some more pics from last year:

I cant believe how little Katelyn looks in these pics!

Thanks for stopping by today- I cant wait to come around and see everyone else's Christmas pictures!

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