Tuesday Today

Keira & I got to join Tyler at his school for their Holiday Meal.  Tyler ate my ham, I ate Keira's tamale and Keira at every, single pea that was on her tray.  It was fun to see our biggest boy at his school & hearing from one of his teachers AND one of the other moms about what a great kid he is!  I'm so proud of him, I can hardly stand it. ♥ Getting ready really wasn't much fun, because Keira wasn't happy with the way her pants fit her OR how I wanted to do her hair.  And of course, we couldn't find the shoes she wanted to wear so that was pretty traumatic.  I told her that I hated what I was wearing, need my hair cut and new shoes and I think she was happy at least not being alone in having a blah girl day.  But, Lord please help me when this girl is a teen with teen girl emotions, because 5 year old girl emotions are craaaaaazy enough! 

This should be interesting... tomorrow I'm sending Travis to school with a few dollars which he's to use to buy Christmas gifts at the holdiay shop - at his school.  I L-O-V-E-D doing this when I was in school and am really excited for Travis to have this chance.  We talked, at length, about how there's $3 for a small gift for Tyler & $3 for a small gift for Sissy... and no $ for a gift for Travis.  Haha! ;0) I can't wait to see what he comes home with. 

Santa Love

Little Jessica Renee with Santa. 

 See how much I loved him?

Keira loves him too, but only from a distance. 

We peeked on him at the mall this year

{from the second floor}

 and that was close enough for Keira.

Keira & Santa 2011

Three Little Cuties

These two little cuties were given to me by my Momma last Christmas and spent a whole year in a tote in the garage waiting to be set out this year! They're just so stinkin cute with their roundness, smiles and rosy cheeks.  I absolutely love them!  Definitely one of the funnest parts of decorating is getting out the goodies you collected the year before.

This little cutie was sitting next to me on the couch tonight while I was knitting.  He was reading the book of John from his new Bible that his Papa & Gaw bought for him Sunday.  Totally LOVE this guy.

This weekend, Keira & Travis built a fire and summoned Zuul.

Kidding, Kidding!

The truth is that the kids & I enjoyed a fire and Christmas songs in the back yard.  I don't know what the neighbors thought of it, but we had ourselves a jolly ol' time!  Funny thing, both Keira & Travis add "EE-I-EE-I-O" to the end of Jingle Bells?!?... 

This is my new favorite Christmas decoration.  Mr. Travis made it last year, but I had a flash of genius today & put it in the frame.  I really love how it looks on the wall. 

♥

Nothing More Than Feelings

The end of this work day took such a weird turn.  A few relatively minor situations hit me all wrong and made me feel yucky inside.  One, right after another.  I hate when that happens. 

It was just feelings over temporary situations & I told myself that I didn't need to let it eat me.  That helped a bit, but then I came home and found this quote a friend posted on Facebook.  I'd actually seen it earlier, but now it seemed like it was there just for me.  I love when THAT happens! 

Don't bother too much about your feelings. When they are humble, loving, brave, give thanks for them; when they are conceited, selfish, cowardly, ask to have them altered. In neither case are they you, but only a thing that happens to you. What matters is your intentions and your behaviour. 

C. S. Lewis

Not SO Crazy

Team Selph took the win over Wal-Mart & Target this Black Friday!

Emily, Brenda, Dad & I

 Dad made his debut and proved himself a strong asset to our team as, with his help, we made record times on getting in and out with all the goodies we went in for!

Walmart's sale got a little jump start and even though it was supposed to start at 10pm, we were checking out at 9:57pm.  It was almost too easy.

Target went similarly well with their check out process going considerably better/faster than in years past & we were out in a snap. 

Fellow shoppers were {for the most part} kind,  courteous and fun to chat with. 

FUN STUFF!

♥

Pondering Black Friday

I don't know about YOU,

but I need more days between now & Christmas!!

I was able to get a tiny, tiny bit of shopping done this weekend

& I have half a plan for Black Friday. 

About that, I'm not sure I like the *new* starting of BF on Thanksgiving day.  I mean, shopping is generally a good activity any day, but I just don't know if I'll have enough time to lay on my tummy and digest dinner before I have to go out and be ruthless to get my hands on some sales. 

Hmm...



Science Center Fummer

Fummer = Fun + Bummer.

Doesn't my boy look handsome in purple?!

Travis & I went with his school to the Arizona Science Center last week for a very interactive field trip.  I had Travis + 2 girls & 1 other boy in my group of little super stars. 

The boys really, really liked the exhibit where they could connect pvc pipe like they were setting up the plumbing for a bathroom sink, shower & potty.  Travis immediately made his into a gun, which I'm pretty sure wasn't a part of the exercise, but what do I know about plumbing?..

Both genders were able to appreciate the stomach room/slide complete with smells and sounds you might hear if you were able to pass through a stomach & slide through the intestines.  I was glad to not have to participate in this exhibit myself. ;)

We all really liked the Forces of Nature exhibit where you get to *experience* a hurricane, tornado, thunderstorm, earthquake & volcano explosion.  Water sprays down on you, the ground shakes, wind blows on you & you get warmed up under heat lamps.  Very cool!

It was a very great day until I realized my camera was gone.  Gone and no one turned it in so MAJOR bummer. 

Lucky for me I have the bestest sister & brother-in-law EVER who gave me a camera.  They totally saved me on this one... I owe them sooooo much free babysitting!  {{One day, hopefully before I forget how to change a diaper!}}

Pie Day 2011

Some pictures from our 2nd Annual Pie Day

with my Momma & Sisters + a guest baker,

Aunt Connie!



Keira's area of expertice.

Grandma & Keira working on K's pie.

Sisters who bake together, stay together! ♥

Miss K & her finished pie!

Me, Aunt Connie & Keira

Brenda's gigantic cherry crumb pie!



Emily's PERFECT pecan pie.  SOOOO good!!



All so delicious!



Tristan + knives = SHARP!

We had a great day and made pecan, peach, apple,

cherry and pumpkin pies as well as 16 crusts

to freeze and use later in this baking season!

Twinkle Twinkle

It's time!

This lighted garland always goes up on top of the kitchen cabinets in November.  The soft glow warms up the house and tells us all that BIG celebrations are near!   I put it up today, even though my head is stuffy & body achy from a cold.  It just could not wait...  It's TIME!  

{{Tyler let out a little sigh of delight when he saw it all lit up tonight.}}

Apparently...

This is my two year old Travis & this picture cracks me up! 

Something else that cracks me up is Travis' latest catch phrase, if you can call one word that?

He keeps saying, in an exacerbated voice, "Apparently...." and finishing his sentence with something not so shockingly apparent.

Today he said, "Apparently, I keep forgetting to take my books back to the library!" 

Like he can't imagine how or that this happens

&

it's all news to him!

;o)

Apparently, this is the end of this post!

Tricks & Treats

I don't know if it's just the fact that it's getting darker sooner or what, but I have been too tired and/or lazy to get my bootie upstairs and blog.  I've had ideas & I have pictures, but by the time dinner is done, homework is checked... I'm just out of power.  Plus, I have been taking extra time to enjoy holiday fun with my kiddos in the form of watching & adding to our Halloween movie collection.  {{And that's some pretty important stuff, so I'm not sorry!}} 

Today I realized if I didn't do a Halloween blog now, I wouldn't do it... so here it is:

Here are pictures from our trip to Schnepf Farms, 2 Halloween parties & of course, the big night of trick or treating in our neighborhood.

{Yes, Nathan too!Clicky Click to enlarge.}

THOR won 2nd place in the costume contest, we carved pumpkins using power tools and we got to hang out with family & special friends, old & new!

I also made 4 loafs of Pumpkin Bread and I just have to share a picture,

because... Hello, it's beautiful!

And last, I got a visit from THE Chuck Norris & his BFF, Mad Max {{at work}} on Halloween. 

You can imagine my delight! :)

Our Halloween Movie List: Garfield's Halloween Adventure, Scared Shrekless, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), The Birds, Abbot & Costello Meet Frankenstein & The Creature from the Black Lagoon!

Now it's 8:23pm & I feel like it's 11:32pm.  Am I just old?!

Well, on to Thanksgiving preperation and cellebration!  Here's hoping I have more energy & the weather really cools down so it feels like it should.

 ♥





Officer and a Gentleman Ending

Girls Gone Chino

This weekend~

My Aunt Debbie & cousin Nicole invited the family ladies up to their place in Chino Valley for some girly fun.  We painted nails, ate delicious meals & snacks, attempted to walk off said food, jabbered and crafted our hearts out.  We were also, just a little naughty.  Because we could be!

;o)

It was a great time & we hope the first of many such trips. 

Doing Nails

Emily, Aunt Debbie & Nicole
{{And the beautiful view from the front door!}}

Check out that spread!

Chelsea, Aunt Debbie, Bren & Nicole

I don't know what I was doing?

Emily & Batman



Chelsea fixin to bring the pain to Aunt Alicia!



Being a girl is no easy task.



My loveley sisters!

Wearing my hat Aunt Alicia made.

My Momma, getting us home safe! (+ only a few u-turns!)

Random Tourist

I adore this song and this line in particular speaks to me:

Because when you find yourself the villain in the story you have written
It's plain to see
That sometimes the best intentions are in need of redemptions
Would you agree?
If so please show me

You Are A Tourist ~ Death Cab For Cutie

Just a reandom picture, for a random post.

Hotel Genius

When I mentioned in my last post that the hotel we staid at in Anaheim was cheap and no frills, I wasn't kidding.  It was a mile from Disneyland, it had beds that rate slightly higher than sleeping on the floor and no coffee pot in the room. 

{{REALLY!}}

It did have some good points to it, however.  The pillows were fluffy enough to make the bed sleepable.  The hotel staff were all kind and helpful.  There was a mini fridge and microwave in the room, so that was cool. 

The most very neat feature of the room was, hands down, the shower curtain!

Check it out!

You don't have to take your whole shower feeling creeped out & nervous that your butt nekid in an unfamiliar shower, because you'll totally be able to tell if some one's going to sneak up to Norman Bates you! 

You still have to be on your game and ready to run if attacked, but Roadway Inn & Suites gives you the edge so you at least have a chance of survival.

Clear panel shower curtains, Genius!!

;o)

Disneyland - Tyler's Turn

Tyler's gigantic & I love Disneyland so I decided we should go.

{{Plus, it was kinda my Birthday present... to myself!}}

I found a cheap, no frills hotel & bought 2 tickets to Mickey's Halloween Party.

We hit the road early Friday morning and arrived in Anaheim just in-time to change into our costumes and walk to the fun.  Tyler was a Ghostbuster & I was a ghost... or just a Mom with a ghost shirt on, but it was pretty snazzy for last minute planning.  We hit Main Street USA when the gates opened for party guests at 4 and after eating corn dogs {sustenance, people!} we hit the rides!  We got quite a few in before the party officially began.  At 7pm, Disney kicked out the people who didn't have wrist bands and then rolled out the music, costumed characters and C-A-N-D-Y!  Let me tell you... I went into this thinking that Tyler & I would just use the smaller crowd to take advantage of all the rides we could handle, and we did, but you just can't help getting into the other fun as well.  There are stops where you can trick-or-treat for candy {{the good stuff too}} around every other corner and you are free to go through as many times as you want.  Tyler & I probably hit 10 spots all together & made out pretty well.  Then there was the special Halloween fireworks show and you better believe it's good.  Here I am, 31 years old, and Tyler a pre-teen, often grumbly, 11 year old and we both watched the show with our mouths open in awe and our bodies covered in goosebumps.  It's just magic. 

Disney magic! 

Still, that magic didn't compare to my favorite memory of our trip.  Tyler was way into Big Thunder Mountain Railroad so we road it over and over and over and over!  One round, my big ol' boy held my hand, arms in the air as we shot out over the fantastically fabricated red desert mountains and into our view was the whole park lit up with the most amazing pink and orange sunset framing the whole view for us. Our adrenalin was rushing, my heart was melting and it was just perfect.  I couldn't help but thank God for the gift of that moment.  I know it's one Tyler and I will cherish in our hearts for the longest time.

♥

Tyler & Geppetto

The Matterhorn

Me ~ Smelling Main Street = ♥

My candy, candy, candy!

All tuckered out after day 1!

Saturday we slept in a little and then made our way down to Huntington Beach.  The weather was mildly breezy and just perfectly cool.  The water was way too cold for me, but Tyler braved it and jumped some waves.  We spent some time digging tunnels and watching the waves come in and flood them out, but mostly I just laid on the sand and watched him play.   

Beach Boy

♥ Us Two ♥

We finished our trip up back at Downtown Disney where we enjoyed some real food for dinner, watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes & did some shopping.  Tyler picked out a Pirates of the Caribbean shirt, I got a lanyard and a pin {{I'm going to trade pins my next visit, that's my goal!}} and we got some candy and prizes for Travis & Keira.

Tyler & I started out a tradition I hope to continue on; "Mommy & Me Disney Days."  Next it will be Travis' turn and then Keira's turn.  I haven't worked out the specifics, but I know , God willing, I have some great memories to look forward to making with my sweet babies.

Adventure

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain

Soon I'll be off on my next adventure with a super-special guy.

Pictures and stories of fun and folly will be posted upon our return!

♥ 

Bookalicious

Tonight we visted the book fair at Trab's school.

Keira sat right down with her picks in our cozy reading nook.

I just set this area up.  It's so cute in person.

 {{& when the cushion is on right!}}

This was my selection. 

My mom used to read Amelia Bedelia books to me!

Travis had to have a *3D* book!

This one's a donation for the class. 

Wish I'd gotten one for us as well.

Happy Reading!