Cruz is Potty Training!

It's official. My baby is not a baby anymore. Today, we are embarking on the potty training adventure! Cruz has been ready for a while. He loves sitting on the toilet. He even grabs his diaper and takes me to the bathroom when he needs to go. 

If this is any indication of how the rest of our journey will go, he may very well be my easiest potty trainer yet! 

Valentine's Day 2013

Valentine's Day started off great with a little advanced preparation.  I woke up early to make the boys a special Valentine's themed breakfast. I made heart-shaped bacon, cooked in the oven and heart-shaped caramel cinnamon rolls. 

On the table were big, red heart doilies with my favorite qualities about each boy written on them. Luke is strong, bold and courageous; he's a good big brother and peacemaker; he's helpful to mommy; a great baseball and basketball player. Noah is kind, loving & sweet; he's a thoughtful & generous friend; a master logo builder; and is a good big & little brother.  Cruzie is my sweet chunky pumpkin and the best bonus baby a momma could ever ask for! 

Each boy received a new package of markers with a picture that said, "You 'color' my world Valentine."  They even were allowed to eat a few conversation hearts from the centerpiece of the table - a cup filled with candy & 3 glitter hearts. 

The fun  has only started. I am baking sugar cookies with Dove heart-shaped milk chocolates in the center. For dinner we are eating heart shaped pizza & s'mores dessert pizza. 

Celebrating holidays with the boys is so fun. Seeing their little faces when they walk out sleepy-eyed in the morning to a festive decorated kitchen is priceless! 

My loves - Luke, Noah, Cruz

Happy Birthday Jesus Cake

Better late than never! Today, on New Year's Day, we made our Happy Birthday Jesus cake!

Funfeti cake, green frosting, sprinkles, red letters & candy canes! I can't think of anything more Christmasy & Birthdayish!

We considered making it earlier, but we just had too many other desserts from Christmas: pies, cookies, brownies, and more!

Today, we are out of sweets and the cake will be perfect after our roast "beast" dinner! (Can you tell we've been watching the original Grinch movie!)

Happy Birthday Jesus. You are the reason for the season!

Winter Crafts - Glitter/Marshmallow Snowflakes

Glitter & marshmallow snowflakes! What could be more fun & yummy on a cold, muddy winter day!

It was a quick project, but something to pass the time while our Happy Birthday Jesus cakes cooled. (Yes, I realize it's New Year's Day and we're just getting around to making our cake - better late than never and a yummy treat regardless of when it's made.)

I think the boys had more fun eating the marshmallows than making the snowflakes, but that's what it's all about right now. Two weeks home during Christmas break and no outside play makes for a long, tiresome holiday! No worries, we've hunkered down, stocked up on crafts & have lots of good food to eat. All blessings indeed!

2013 Picture with Santa

Christmas wouldn't be complete without our annual trip to see Santa. This year's picture is especially precious to me, as Cruz was so completely inconsolable! He has been recovering from the flu earlier this week and was already not in a good mood. Having me leave him on this strange Santa's lap sent him over the top. He screamed from the moment I backed away until I came back and picked him up. Santa was very calm & good with him, reassuring me that he would hold him while they took the picture.

After the picture was snapped, Santa spent a few minutes with each big boy. He asked them their age, what they wanted for Christmas, and even asked them to work hard at getting along with each other.  It's as if he really knew them! They were delighted!!

New Year's Crafts - Glitter Ornaments

Today the boys & I decided to make glitter ornaments. They were originally going to be Christmas ornaments and, indeed, we will hang them on the tree next year. But for now, we decided to write 2012 on them and hang them on the mantel where our stockings once hung to help ring in the New Year next week.

They were super-easy & fun to make.  Using clear glass ornaments, we popped the tops off and poured some Pledge Floor Cleaner inside. Next, we sprinkled in a bunch of glitter and rolled it around until the inside was coated well.  After pouring out the excess glitter, we used glitter glue to write 2012 on the outside. We popped the tops back on and used red yarn to hang them.

A fun activity for a cold, melted-snow, muddy day!

Final Gift from Gumdrop - Reindeer Food

Today we received one final gift from Gumdrop - Sparkly Oats reindeer food! There were special instructions attached. The boys had great fun with this final Christmas activity! They took great care spreading it around the sidewalk & driveway and were very curious the next morning to see how much had been eaten. Good thing the storms rolled in a blew it away, making a very believable morsel scattered here & there.

One more bit of fun before Christmas Day,

Deep down, you boys are sweet & I’ve enjoyed my stay.

Tomorrow I’ll go back, to the North Pole,

More than not you’ve been good and have avoided coal.

Today’s activity involves Santa’s reindeer,

They get hungry too, as their trip draws near.

Sprinkle this magic food all around your driveway,

It will be such a treat instead of their normal hay.