Don't stress

Man, is it just me? Is this time of year super crazy? Today, I have decided to undertake cooking a pre-Christmas meal for one of Travis' friends, and for our new Uncle Matt! (more on him later). I don't know why I chose the day BEFORE we leave out of town, but that is just when it worked out.

So I found myself sitting on the couch, running through ingredients, time schedules and layout of the table settings and it just overwhelmed me. I put my head in my hands and let out a big sigh.

Me: "Ahhhhh"

London: "You ok mommy?" pat, pat, pat

Me: "Ya buddy".

London: "Don't stress mommy"

WHAT? Where did he get that word. As he been listening to me everyday for the last four weeks, complain and verbalize every feeling? I guess so. It made me think.

I don't want London to think that Christmas means stress. Isn't it supposed to mean JOY? I know it is hard this time of year to relax and enjoy the process. But I really think it would help and be a much better example to our kids. Afterall, if it doesn't get done, who cares?

So, we sat down together and watched Curious George: A Monkey Christmas and ate a strawberry candy cane. Much better.

Remember to not stress, but to love. One will kill you, and one will keep you alive!

Tis the Season

We tried a new tradition this year. Making a gingerbread house with London. It sounded like so much fun, and I knew that London would love the candy part. I just never thought it all through. He is, after all, 2.5 yrs old. And I am, after all, a complete control freak. Needless to say, the equation didn't add up.

This is what it is supposed to look like. I thought, no problem. I will put the frosting on, then show London where to put the candies. I even had the box on the table as an example.

This is what it turned out looking like. And that is only because dad stepped in. After the millionth time of me asking London to wait until I put the frosting on, I gave up and walked away. Daddy and London had to finish up.
I am guessing that this may be the first and last gingerbread house that I partake in. :)

Thursday night, London had his first Christmas Program at school. I had no idea what to expect. I did assume that he wouldn't get through it. He would either not make it onto the stage OR see me in the audience and start crying. He had one task....sing Jingle Bells while shaking his Jingle Bells! We got him dressed up in his Christmas jammies and got him to school in plenty of time. Besides being confused about why he was going out after dark, in his jammie, he seemed to be up for the job. I dropped him off and headed for my seat. Trav was volunteered to video the performance and make a DVD for parents to buy, so we were worried that London might sabotage the whole thing. Instead,

He put his star on the board,

sat down and sang the last three words of Jingle Bells,

And then got to enjoy Christmas cookies with his BFF Isabella.

Oh what fun! He was so brave. We were so proud.

Thanks so much to the Allshouse, Siems, and the Stricker(s) family

for coming out and supporting London. He still talks about how

his friends came to see him at his school!

My boy....

Out for Christmas card photo's and got some other shots as well. Does it get any cuter than this?

I am Glutacus

My lovely aunt is letting me borrow her Total Gym for a while so that I can get all ripped and stuff. I'm not getting any younger, so I think it's time to start taking care of my body a little more. I NEVER exercise. Ever. Mostly because it hurts so bad.

If I'm going to put myself through that much pain, then I'm going to only work one muscle group and make darn sure that it's ripped. So? Hello glutes.

-Trav

Sweetest Darn Thing

My husband just said the sweetest darn thing.

(side bar: a few days ago, my hubby was awarded a prize for top sales in his company. He did very well last quarter, and in turn was entered in a pool to win some awesome prizes. Thursday we found out that he won SHOES FOR A YEAR! That's right, $2500 worth of shoes in one year)

Trav: I don't know girls shoes really, but I want you to find some that are "must have's", ones that you wouldn't normally get. Shoes that will last you a lifetime. And I want to get them for you".

Awwwwwww. That's right. Jimmy Choo here I come. I might not be super girly, but I know good shoes when I see them.

So Trav took off to hang with some friends tonight.

And I am browsing the internet, making my list of "must have's" shoes.

All while watching the Heisman Trophy Award presentation that I recorded from earlier.

Hey, like I said....I am not super girly.

Jenn

Anise Awards

Every once in a great while, something so genius comes along that it deserves the greatly coveted "Anise Award." Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with extreme pleasure that I present to you two such winners.

The first goes to a local pizzeria with a name so brilliant that upon seeing it from the road, I immediately pulled into the parking lot, ran into the store, struck up a conversation with the owner and vowed to order a pizza very soon. Turns out that the story behind the name isn't the least bit funny, so I won't share it here. It has something to do with math and geography. But the man wins an Anise Award for having the sheer moxie to name a restaurant such as he did.

My favorite part might not even be the name. The tag line is brilliant! "From Our Pi-Whole To Yours!" Is he kidding with that!? Incredible.

Anise Award number two (pun intended) goes to a product which inspired the award itself. I had the privilege of seeing this product on our trip to Utah and it initiated a slew of jokes aimed at the user. The merchandise is toothpaste created by a brand called "Nature's Gate," which will be even more funny once you see the main ingredient...

Your eyes are not fooling you. It really says, "Creme de Anise - Natural Toothpaste with baking soda and anise oil." Call me juvenile, but I laughed my butt off when I saw this. I'm all for saving the environment and recycling natural resources, but c'mon people. Where do we draw the line!?

I'd like to thank and congratulate the genius' behind these products. You've allowed me to say far more butt jokes than should be allowed in normal conversation.

-Trav

Utah

My friend Curtis and I flew to Salt Lake City last weekend to film a wedding. Utah is beautiful...and cold. But most importantly, they have sweet rental cars. Check out our chick magnet.

"Fourteens"

Friends are Forever

Remember that cheesy Mike W. Smith song, "Friends are Friends Forever"? Well, as much as that song rubs me the wrong way, I really wish some of those lyrics true for London. He has such great friends and has so much fun with them. They are like siblings to him and they feel like part of our family. He wakes up asking to play with them and goes to sleep praying for them.

Here's to hoping that they are life long friends.

Thanksgiving Fun