Christmas in Pictures 2008

**UPDATE** Orson Mozes featured on my side bar

Orson was arrested today (Dec. 29) thanks to an anonymous tip that came into America's Most Wanted. So whoever you are anonymous, THANKS!!!! What a way to end 2008, YAHOO! Here's his most recent MUG SHOT.




OK, I never wanted to hijack my blog about the scum bag Orson Mozes but we just found out some info on him (or at least we think it's him) from the DA in Santa Barbara that they believe him to be in Florida. He was arrested in Naples in November and Miami in December. I think now if this news report is right twice in Miami in December once just 5 days ago, so all of you Floridians please keep an eye out for him. This is good but bad news, we now know he is in the states and not aboard. The bad news is that he was arrested multiple times and released. I am baffled that this could happen. How can someone be released without knowing who they really are, not to mention someone who is listed on America's Most Wanted, EERRRRRR. This has all just unfolded for our case in the last few days so it is changing daily. I just pray we are close to finding him, that would definitely make for a great beginning to the new year:0) I find it rather funny though that he is being arrested for petty theft. A far cry from his couple million dollar home in CA. I know it's not very Christian like but it makes me smile.

Any ways, please keep your eye out for Orson or who ever he is these days. If you do see him please contact authorities right away at the information provided by his photo at the left or your local law offices.

I hope you all had a great Christmas, it was so fun this year with Logan. He of course got way to much stuff.

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours

I know Logan's eye's are closed but that is because he would not open them for the picture but I like this picture because he was having fun and being silly. He is NOT into pics at all right now so I am surprised we even got him in one laughing :0)

Merry Christmas

**Snow update: about another 4 to 6 inches today, we'll see what tomorrow brings as far as ice

And Snow It Did...

First, Happy Birthday Jeff. I hope you had a great day :0) Happy B-day to Tania today also and my Mom tomorrow.


Since my last post we have got about 15 inches of snow. And to go along with it bitter cold temps, like 20 below with the wind chill all day yesterday. So we really can't even get out and enjoy the snow. Freezing cold, runny, red noses in a few minutes, yuck! We are expected to get about another 2/4 inches of snow and then Christmas Eve sleet/snow mix, double YUCK!

I baked my first ever Pumpkin Roll and it was fantastic, I will definitely make it again. I always thought it would be really hard but I found it rather easy.


We (Logan and I) also made frosted sugar cookies, coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate, chocolate chip cookies and buckeye's (peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate). They are all very good, I think my favorite cookie is the frosted sugar, I haven't had them in years and they are just really YUMMY!. Jeff liked the macaroons the best and I think Logan liked the buckeyes the best. Oh ya, we also did some chocolate molds and I made brownies for Jeff's b-day cake.


Poor Jeff got sick with a high temp, he was nice and clamy :0( Really I think the only thing he had was a high temp and he was tired, thank God. It lasted about 2 days but the poor guy working for UPS had to go in, it's a crazy time right now there as you can imagine. We had to cancel plans we had for his parents to come by from Friday to today. And we also had some family over yesterday. I am in need of a relaxation day and I think that is tomorrow. The only thing we have to do is take some books back to the library. I really don't like to be on the roads with Logan around the stores right now people are driving like crazy and some of our roads are still bad from all of this snow.

Logan got some great gifts over the past few days and I am excited to clean out his toys after Christmas to make room for the new. We are going to take a bunch of stuff for donation before the end of the year. Aunt Chris brought his gift in the adorable bag, dont you just LOVE it. It is felt and I plan to wrap it up and put it away for him for his kids.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Last night we got about 4 inches of snow and I thought for sure my little guy would want to go out in it but no. He all of a sudden doesn't want to go play in it because he doesn't want to freeze. It's pretty funny when he tells me why as he shakes himself like he is cold, to cute! I hope the snow sticks around for Christmas, I always love to have a white Christmas :0)

In other news our festivities have been on going since Friday and will continue right up to Christmas day where we will stay home and relax :0) Tania and I got together last Friday and let the kiddo's open their gifts. She got Logan this little digital camera, it's not the kid one so he LOVES it. Saturday we went to my Dad's and Step-moms with my brothers and their families and my sister. That same evening I had my annual girls night Christmas party. That was a long day, we left at 10:30 am, I dropped my guy's back off at home that evening, freshened up, left and didn't return until about 1-1:30 am. On Monday we had Jeff's Grandma over for lunch and on Friday we will have Jeff's parents over for dinner. We are also having Jeff's Aunt Chris, uncle Rick and cousin Ricky over for brunch on Sunday. I think that is our last gathering until Christmas Eve where we will gather with all of my extended family on my Mom's side and then head to my Mom's for dinner around 7:00 and gifts. Christmas day we stay home and relax. It's nice that Logan actually gets to be home and relax and enjoy all of his gifts. Usually someone will stop by for desert, no plans as of yet this year so we'll see.

I have been baking away also. I need to figure out one more type of cookie to make? I have never made a Pumpkin Roll before but I am going to try it on Sunday for our brunch with Aunt Chris. Other than being pretty busy at least every other day we have been trying to lay low on the other day's.

Logan Update: He is doing great. I think in the last 4/5 months he has really settled in. I no longer have any attachment fears, he LOVES, WANTS and needs his Mama :0) He is growing like a weed still. I was looking back at some pictures just from May and he is soooo much bigger. I had to get him some clothes for Christmas as he is almost to big for his 4T pants. When I bought them a few months ago we were rolling them and had them adjusted at the waist almost all the way and now they are out at the waist and just barley long enough. Same thing last year. He definitely grows the most in the fall, thank god we get through the summer without going up a size :0) Logan is smart as a whip, amazing on the computer and loves his friends. He can't wait for Christmas and this year I can't wait to see his face Christmas morning.

I ended up wrapping Logan gifts in the white tissue paper like Jeff wanted but I will not do this next year. Sorry babe it's boring :0) I have been asking around and most of the Mom's I talked to picked some type of fun paper. I think the suggestion I liked the best was Santa paper, something real festive. So next year it is on to something new :0)

We also celebrate a lot of Birthday's this month. My Dad just had a B-day on the 10th. Jeff's God-daughters is on the 17th and then next will be Jeff's and my BFF Tania's on the 22nd. Then my Mom's on the 23rd, whew. Happy Birthday to all of you!

I leave you with some cuteness :0)

Look how tall Logan is

Santa, The Big Jolly Guy

As you can tell by the look on my little man's face he is not very happy to be sitting on Santa's lap. Jeff and I are actually sitting on either side of him on the arm's of this giant chair. The lady zoomed right in and cut us out :0) I was glad he finally sat on his lap for the picture. The ladies helping were great, they did a few tricks to make him laugh. Logan held his face as to not smile, what a little stinker. He wanted to laugh so bad but wouldn't let it out so this is what we got. He was OK as long as I was holding him and he even shook his hand but he still wouldn't talk to him. He did wish him a Merry Christmas and said thank you for the little coloring book he got when we were walking away. The picture is not to awful but not great, maybe next year he'll smile :0) click here to see last year with Santa, not happy then either.

We actually seen Santa once already at Walmart. I didn't know he was there and L didn't want anything to do with him there. The picture we got has L, me and santa L & S are both looking the other way. I gave up and said that was fine because I don't want him to always have a fear of him. Logan wasn't having anything to do with him there either. He was fine standing close and watching. The funny thing his he totally LOVES everything Santa right now but he doesn't want to talk or sit with him :0) I found this web-site that you can call Santa and they record your kiddo telling Santa their wish list and then they email it to you. Very cool Logan listened to the whole thing the elf talking but as soon as the bit jolly guy started talking he ran away, LOL!

BERRRRR!!!!!

It has just been down right COLD these past few day's more like mid January not mid December. Yesterday it was snowing before we got up and continued well after we went to bed. We got outside a little and shoveled the driveway in the morning but by mid afternoon you really couldn't tell. There wasn't enough for the snow blower and Logan wanted to shovel so that is what we did. He made a snow angel also but it was to soft to build a snowman. The funny thing is is that for as long as it snowed we only got about 2 inches total. Today we tried to got out for a bit and it was so darn COLD we came in about 15 minutes later. We need some sunshine :0) and at least 40 degrees for a few.

I'm gonna get one :0)


Today Logan was asking me why we had presents for other people under the tree and so I explained what Christmas was all about. And then I said we give to the ones we love and he asked me if there was a present for his friend Isa. It was the sweetest thing ever and made my heart melt. My little guy loves his friends and wants to think of them also :0) We have been talking a lot about the less fortunate and how we donate to the shelters and why. EVERY time we see the Salvation Army at the stores he asked for our change to put in the pot. He even did this to my Mom the other day when they were out. I had to explain that we cannot do it at every store we will go broke, LOL!

I am all done shopping, I got the last of my gifts on Friday now the wrapping begins. I have actually done some of that to but only a few. I am up in the air about wrapping gifts. I HATE the WASTE of the paper. I will recycle it but it just bothers me to use it. I wanted to not wrap L's gifts from Santa but Jeff is not liking that idea. Jeff would like me to wrap his gifts from the Jolly guy in white tissue paper because that is what Santa did for him. I am not sure I really like that idea either so time will tell. I would like to pick a paper that is more kid friendly, maybe like his favorite thing right now. I have tried to find Buzz Lightyear paper but I can't. I did find some Snoopy paper and bought a roll because he likes him. Although he has never seen the Charlie Brown shows yet because they always come on to late and he just wasn't old enough. I bought him a shirt I got on clearance for like $1.50 and I told him who they were and that I loved them as a kid. He LOVES that shirt and I know he will love the paper. So if any of you lurkers want to chime in on how Santa wraps your kiddos gifts please do, I would love to hear what others do.

We always get such a big tree and every year we say we are going smaller but we never do. Next year we a re going thinner for sure. Jeff and I have always went and cut down a tree since our first Christmas together so of course we will carry that tradition on for a very long time. This we we went to 3 different places before we found a tree. Ridiculous I know but the first place only had a very few tall tree's the second place that is only about a mile away went into foreclosure so they did not take care of their tree's and that all looked brown, not very healthy at all. We went to a place that I had seen online the night before that was about 20 minutes from where we were and it was a hidden gem. They had SOOOOOOO many BEAUTIFUL tree's it took some time to pick one out. Well actually as soon as we walked up I seen a great tree but another family had left their saw there and claimed it. We found the perfect tree and love it, it looks beautiful and smells fantastic.
This is our beautiful tree, we cut about 3 feet off the bottom.

From december 2008

When we went and cut down our tree I took some good pictures, I ended up using one for our Christmas cards. I ordered 2 different cards and the Blue one is by far my favorite. The Red one is nice but a little to formal of a picture of the 3 of us for me. I love how cute Logan looks with that Santa hat on and he was just being silly like his normal self so that picture was perfect to represent who he is :0)



I am really excited for Christmas this year. Logan is way into it and knows whats going on and it's making it that much more fun. Most of our neighbors decorate their houses and so do we so our street looks great. I am looking into going and seeing this light show next weekend. It is like a five mile drive through a park it's suppose to be spectacular so I know L will love it but I think it is like an hour drive each way so it's still up for debate. I am going to do a little more research online before we make a decision about it.

Well it's time to get my little man to bed and relax. I have been going non stop all day, actually for days now :0)

A Few Other Things!

Logan has almost stopped napping. Since Florida he has only napped maybe 3 times, I have still been putting him down but he is not falling asleep and after about 45 minutes he'll start calling for me. I knew this day was coming but I was hoping for later :0) He is doing pretty well with this transition. He is getting about an hour of down time so I think that is what is getting him through the day. I have also rolled back bedtime about an hour and he is sleeping a bit later. If he does nap he lays awake in his bed until almost 10:00 and I don't want that. So for now I will continue to take him up for a nap and if he don't fall asleep that is OK at least he is resting.

I also jinxed my poor little guy talking about him not peeing at night. While in FL he had a few accidents and then right after coming home. He is now wearing a Pull-up at night but has been dry every night but one. I swear I talk about his progress in an area and we have a set back. So we continue with PU's for now and hopefully by the end of the package we are free of them again. I knew he would have a hard time at night, He sleeps so sound it doesn't even wake him up sometimes. I wish I could sleep that deep :0)

Logan is also so fun to talk to. The conversations that we have and the BIG words that he uses crack me up and always in the appropriate way. I was also told by the Security lady in the airport how polite he was. One guy took our boarding passes and Logan looks at him a few seconds later and says "excuse me, can I have those back please" It was so funny. They were all like he's so polite and good training mom, I was so proud of him.

Hey There, We're Still Here

I cannot believe I've been MIA for so long. We were actually in Florida for 5 days, Nov. 13-18. My friend Tania and I took the kids down while the guys hunted. We stayed at my Dads place, got really cheap flights and a great deal on a car that we split so it was a pretty inexpensive vacation. Until you add in Sea World. Wow is it expensive to get in there although you can save 20% if you have a Southwest Airlines reward card that is free to sing up for.

I got sick for the first few day's down there. I struggle with my balance sometimes and I think the flight just kicked my equilibrium's butt. I tried to make the most of it but it was hard the first 2 days. I was getting dizzy off and on for 2 days straight. I made myself do stuff and so did Tania, LOL! But enough of that we had a good time all around and I think the kids did to.

Julia is only 19 months and Logan is 3 1/2 so we weren't ready for Disney yet but we did go to Sea World and it was WONDERFUL. I've been there before a few times and each time I go I love it more, we all LOVED it. They have the most amazing play area for the younger kids (under 12 but over 4). This thing was just a giant climbing fort made of tubes and nets and I am talking GIGANTIC. I wish I would have got a picture of it. It was a little to big for L so we opted for the sand area for the little ones. They were both totally happy playing in there. They had a really cool Pirate Ship that we all climbed. We saw the Shamoo show, that was great. Logan actually reached in and stroked a Stingray. I didn't think he would do it but after watching me a few times he wanted to do it and he LOVED it. He'll tell you that it felt like snot :0) Tania got a great shot of it.








We also went to Cypress Gardens. It was the last day before they closed for renovations. I'm glad we went tickets were only 10 dollars each and it was just big enough for the younger kids.




We actually missed part of it to get back for a nap and the little stinkers didn't end up sleeping anyways. Long story short they started talking (screaming) through the walls to each other. Tania and I were cracking up. we decided to get them up and go to Downtown Disney hoping they would fall asleep on the drive. They both did so we drove around a little extra to let them sleep a bit, stinkers :0)


Downtown Disney is a lot of fun. It wasn't that busy being off season so it was nice being that our kiddo's are on the young side. We ate at the Rain Forest Cafe, expensive, but good food, huge portions and great atmosphere. We have such a great picture that our waiter took, but Logan decided he was not going to be in the picture and hid. It's funny you would never know he was with us, you can't see him at all, LOL!









How handsome is my little guy :0)


Jeff's actually been on vaca for 2 weeks and just went back this past week and now he's off today but will have to go in on Friday for a few hours. He really needed the break. This next month is going to kick his butt at work and he will be putting in some very long hours.

I ended up getting a cold about 4 days ago. It is just the common cold, runny nose, sneezing and scratchy throat. I pushed it a little the other day. I wasn't feeling very well and I plugged in our Christmas lights outside (only because my neighbors did, normally I would wait until Thanksgiving night but Logan begged) and half of them didn't work. I was so mad, I spent a lot of time fixing them and making sure they all worked before I put them on, before we left for Fl when it was still in the high 50's. I ended up having to take 4 strands off of 3 different tree's, only to hang one again to have it go out 2 seconds later. So off we went to the store so I could finish, I had to buy 2 more strands, EERRRR I told Logan he better enjoy the tree's having lights because next year we are only having light up yard stuff :0) It didn't help my cold that I was doing all of this on a damp day. I just wanted it done.

Yesterday I laid around all day, I didn't do much at all besides make dinner. Today was a different story, I am still not great but getting better. I had things that I had to do. I went to the Chiropractor and Target, came home and baked. I made a Pumpkin pie, Rice Krispy treats and Chocolate Chip cookies to take to my Aunt's for Thanksgiving. Now here it is 12:30 and I am spent. My nose is starting to burn and I am going to take some medicine and go to bed. Have a great night!

Happy Turkey day to you all

Things are good around here but I have had no inspiration to write on my blog lately. I hope it comes back soon. So for now I leave you with a quick update.

We have just been on the go, a couple different Halloween things, a couple trips to the Zoo and hanging with fiends. L is so funny now he is saying to everyone "you know what's coming? Thanksgiving" So cute! Logan was sick for a few days but bounced back quick. He has done a great job of staying dry at night, only 2 light morning accidents in about 6 weeks I think :0) I'm so proud of him in so many ways.

Happy Halloween!

Way To Busy!

This past 2 weeks here have been so beautiful. I love the temps in the mid 70's with the sun shining, AAAHHHHHHH!!! I am not however liking all of the leaves that have blown off the tree's the last 2 days. We have only a few ornamental tree's in our front and 2 small ornamentals in the back but we have some woods behind our house so our back yard gets loaded with leaves. It is fun for L but a real pain in the butt to clean up.

In my last post I said we had a b-day party to go to at the Cider mill. It was even more fun than I thought it would be. If you have a little one who's b-day is in the fall it is a great thing to do. The kids had a blast and I am pretty sure all of the adults had fun also. There was just enough to do not overwhelming for the kids.

Since that day we have pretty much been filled with play dates and other things going on. We found a new park that I heard was beautiful but man I had no idea. It was amazing. I bet it cost at least a million to open. There are 3 play scapes total but the middle one is the size of about 3 of your average ones put together. There are several different water features and the bathroom house is amazing. There were photographers everywhere including the bathroom building taking pictures. It is almost to big to keep an eye on your kids. I think 6 is the perfect age for that park just because it is so big. Having only Logan made it a lot easier but my friend Debra had her son Alec who is 4 and her new baby and it was hard for her to keep an eye on Alec and the baby but we had a great time and so did the kids. It had this thing as soon as I seen it I knew Logan would love. It is this spinning contraption that worked by shifting your body weight just a little. My little man didn't want to get off of it :0)

We also made a trip to the zoo with my friend Tania and her daughter Julia. Like I said the weather has been so fantastic. We have a great Polar bear exhibit and that day he was in the tunnel swimming above our head it was the greatest thing. I have video and pics that I am going to post, it was the first time I had seen him in the water like that. And I have been to the Zoo a lot since the Arctic Ring of Life opened several years ago, WAY COOL.

We also went to the Childrens Museum, it was just OK. I don't think we will go back. A lot of other cool things to see and do.

So Logan has been in his new room with a new bed for almost 2 weeks now and everything is going great (knock on wood). When we moved him in to the new room we did not put the rocking chair in there and after about a week he started asking for me to rock him. How sweet my little man missed sitting with me every night reading books and singing songs so we moved it in. He is feeling much better about that and to be honest I missed it to. I was just laying in his bed w/him and reading and singing although we don't really sing anymore he wants to spell words instead so that is what we do after we read now :0)

L has been potty trained for well over a year now but he still wore a pull-up at night. At first because he was still in his crib. Then went the crib to a toddler bed and he still wore a pull-up. Logan is a sleeper so I knew he would not wake up to go if he had to plus he doesn't come out of him room really. Well about 11 days ago he started waking up dry. For 3 day's he was dry and then we used our last PU night 4 and he woke up dry again. We ran out of PU's and haven't since. It has been 10 day's now and still dry, YAHOO Logan! I took some advice and have been getting him up just before I go to bed and taking him to the potty. It's working so for now that is what I am doing.

It seems like almost overnight he turned into a little boy. My baby is all gone, he's ALL BOY now. I looked at him today and he just looked much taller today compared to yesterday, weird I know but true. Man, I love my little guy!

Fall is Among Us!

Almost every year around this time I start wanting to paint a room. This year has been no exception. I have wanted to move L's room for a while now so his new room needed to pumped up and I wanted to let him help with the "theme". We headed off to Lowes and I let him help pick out the colors. He wanted blue strips with red also. I think it turned out great. I pulled up some decals online and we went through them and we decided it was going to be Pirates.

I pulled up a couple of quilts online also and let L pick out the one he liked the best. I got lucky because it was the one I wanted to get. After searching I found out it was no longer available but good old Ebay pulled thru and I won it new with tag for $45.00 instead of the $80 that it retailed for :0)

Logan not only got a new room but he also moved into a full size bed from his toddler bed, He loves it. I kind of had to look for him in it, LOL he is so small in his new BIG bed.

We are headed to a b-day party tomorrow for Logan's best buddy Alec. It's at the Cider mill so it should be a lot of fun for all of us. What a great idea for a fall b-day. There are lots of things to do there. They have a corn maze, hay tower, bounce house, hay rides and pony rides. Not to mention the yummy junk food :0) Can't wait there should be lots of photo ops.