Holiday Fun

I am trying to be more engaged with my children. Instead of just giving them stuff to do I am making an effort to do things with them. This is not the easiest thing for me. I could never be a home school Mom. Yesterday we did two projects (TV off and music on). We iced cookies for Ceci for her birthday and we decorated pine cones to use for Christmas decorations. It was a successful venture. Everyone had fun and no one cried. Yea! (Emory made the tie-dyed cookie with layers and layers of icing!)

Thanksgiving

I would like to give thanks that my children are well enough to go to school. Poor Jay had his last day of school on a Friday and was sick by Saturday morning. Basically all of my children have been sick the entire week. Not much of a vacation. Jay and Emory did get to go see Bee Movie last night with Ceci and Pop. Thanks to all of this at home time I am almost finished with my Christmas shopping. I do most everything online. It helps me to actually think about the presents and not go in to a store and start buying stuff because it's a good deal. I also do a lot of personalized presents and those are easier online as well. Now I am planning some fun things to do with the children. Today we are going to decorate giant pinecones that Emory collected at the farm where we spent Thanksgiving with glitter. One day we will decorate cookies that they can share with their friends. My goal is to have a simple, stress free, holiday season. If you have any tips on how to do this let me know. My next stress inducing event is the Christmas picture!

Tip for the Day

When your baby has a runny nose it is not a good idea to wear a black shirt.

Happy Thanksgiving from my sick house to yours!

Oprah

All I have to say is that I am glad my Sunday school lesson this week was on jealousy.

Packy Baptised

Paul Allen Churchwell was baptised yesterday. He wore a gown my mom made. This is the fourth one she has made for her grandchildren. What a special gift! Packy was beautiful and Emory kept asking why he was wearing a dress. Hattie is here. Jay is reading books to her. Such a sweet big cousin. Emory put on a "show" after Packy's lunch and sent Hattie around to sell tickets. After the show was over she had collected $8! I think we might have something here.

Disney Princesses on Ice

Before Disney Princesses on Ice.

And after.

We had so much fun. I bought the $12 opening night tickets which were great seats. I brought Princess candybars from Kroger that cost $1 to eat during intermission since the cotton candy cost $10 (it came with a plastic gold crown and people were buying them left and right-I am way too cheap for that). The show was very well done and all of the Princesses were there (even Mulan who E loves). Emory was asleep about 3 minutes out of the parking lot.

Good times!

My Boys

Jay is 6 and does not like to have his picture taken. Or so he says. He likes to play a game where I am the paparazzi and I have to "catch" him in order to get his picture. This is not easy because he is fast and knows what sounds my camera makes when the flash is metering. Most of my pictures of him end up a blur or with his hand in front of his face but every once in a while I catch him and get a big smile. The payoff is worth more than a Britney in the gas station shoeless picture.

Packy on the other hand is so used to seeing the camera in his face that it does not phase him. He also is always smiling so he makes for an easy target.

Old dog, new tricks

I am trying to teach an old dog (Packy) new tricks (sleeping all night).

I have always lived by the 3 day to form a habit rule. Packy does not follow this rule. Night 1- 1 hour crying. Night 2- 30 minutes. So far so good. Last night-more than an hour and more than I could take. I nursed him and he went back to sleep immediately. Now this is my fault because I have been nursing him whenever he wants, including the night, and he is almost 9 months. I just know it won't last forever. I usually try to nurse for a year so really I only have 3 months left. Does he really have to sleep all night?

Below is a sneak peek of Christmas.

A Packy Kiss

This is how Packy kisses.

Open mouth to the nose.

Definitely for family only.

Who else would think it's cute to have baby spit all over your nose?

FYI

In case you don't know....my countdown is the days I have been nicotine free.
My name is Payton. I am a nicotine addict.
I have taken a vow along with http://www.whyquit.com/ to NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF.
I have had this habit since I was 15 so I am pushing way too many years.
A blog is supposed to be about real life right?
This is mine.
No more nicotine.

3 Days

I am no longer counting hours.
I am starting day 4.
Going good.
Keep praying.

A New Baby

Maddie James Wilson has arrived.

She was born on Hope's birthday and has her dark brown hair.

Hope looks amazing, of course.

Mom and baby are doing great and coming home today.

I was asleep at 8:10 last night. Does that say anything about my week?

I am also at 36 hours and counting. Keep praying. Hour by hour.