Traditions???

I'm putting together an advent type calendar...but instead of opening it everyday and getting a candy or trinket...I'm wanting more of an holiday spirit countdown...maybe trying to focus on making memories instead of eating a tiny chocolate in the shape of a nutcracker or snowflake! But it's got me thinking...what traditions do we as a family have??? We have a few things that we do...but I guess I'm trying to focus on creating those family memories that my kids will remember forever.

Since it is already December 1st and I'm still trying to create my perfect memory-maker...I've decided to break it into weeks. This is what I have so far for my ideas for the week - I know some of them are random...but I was trying to think of things to keep Garrett interested and surprised!

• Learn to say “I love you” in five languages
• Write holiday cards to 5 friends you have lost touch with
• Gaze at the winter stars (yeah, we can do this in Texas...w/o freezing to death!!! I LOVE it here!!!)
• Have dinner by candlelight
• Have a holiday dance party (we do this anyway very frequently, but we might as well do it to Christmas music for extra holiday cheer!)
• Make breakfast food for dinner (also a family favorite!)
• Make a list of 100 things you are grateful for

What do you do??? What traditions did you grow up with...and what kinds of things do you do now?

Imagination!

So, I'm walking up the stairs this morning. I had heard Ethan cooing in his room...he'd been happily chatting and cooing and laughing away in his crib for a good 1/2 hour, so I figured it was time to go get him! On my way up though, Garrett shouts out for me to come into his room. I didn't even know that he was awake! I walk in and he's already directing me on what to do...yeah, we're going through a bossy phase...but he's telling me to come quickly and to not touch the door. So, I'm mentally gearing up for the HUGE spider that is lurking behind his door or something - or more likely the minuscule little gnat that Garrett seems to be more afraid of than actual scary-sized bugs! Seriously, who is afraid of spider webs, but not the actual spider??? Anyway, back to this morning...once I'm in the room, he motions me over to sit on his bed by him and tells me to look at the pterodactyl?!?!?! WHAT???? But low and behold, his baseball cap that was hanging on his doorknob was casting a shadow that looked like an amazing flying dinosaur! I love that he comes up with this stuff...but more importantly, that this time, I could actually see it! For some reason lately, he's been seeing random shapes in things, but silly ol' mom can't seem to see it...I wont even go into how frustrated that makes him! :) Oh well, you've either got it or you don't...I'm just glad I had it this morning! :)

Tortilla Soup

This was soooo good! It totally hit the spot, so I thought I'd share. Once again though, I cannot claim any of the credit...it comes from the Kingwood Third Ward cookbook and all the kudos go to Randie Krogel!

Tortilla Soup

3 chicken breasts
6 cups chicken broth
1 small can chopped green chilies
1 c onion
1 c. tomato (I used a bottle of diced tomatoes)
1 green pepper, chopped
1 head fresh cilantro (I forgot this and it still turned out great...good thing I'm using my herbs from my garden!!!)
1 tsp chili powder
3/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp pepper (I only did 1/8)
1/4 tsp red pepper sauce (Tabasco)
1 can corn, drained

Cut chicken into bite size pieces and boil with onion in chicken broth until onions are tender and chicken is cooked. Add remaining ingredients and boil until green pepper is tender. Serve with grated cheese and tortilla chips.

hmmm...

I was just taking the pics off of my camera and noticed somthing odd - how do you get running through sprinklers and winter hats from the same week of pictures??? Only in Texas I guess!!!

Isn't that just so cute...he is so patient with us! Nothing like a photo-shoot with your cute little head crammed into a snow hat! I tried for the mittens too, but he's just too wiggly! :)

The Simple Things

Today it rained. It hasn't rained for a while...so it was a fun change! Plus it made it seem a bit more winter-like...all dark and stormy! Although it was still around 75 and quite muggy - so how that is winter-like, I'm not quite sure! Maybe the Christmas music that I had playing helped with the whole winter atmosphere...but that's another story!

So anyway, after the rain, Garrett saw some puddles in front of our house and charged out there barefooted to jump in the puddles! I made him go back in for his flip-flops, but those were left abandoned on the driveway before too long! It was hilarious!!! We then spent the next half hour racing leaves and grass blades down the street as the water rushed towards the drain at the corner. I love that he can find joy in the simple things!

Green...

I know that this should probably be a deep and profound email about saving the environment with a title such as 'green', but instead, it is nothing but a declaration of my love for the color green!!! Yep, that's about as deep as I get these days! :) I am so in love with the limey green color that I keep doing everything in Ethan's room in! I had all these plans for his room before he was born...but then Garrett picked out a little stuffed frog to give to his new little brother when he arrived, and the entire color scheme went right out the window! So sad to say, everything has now stemmed from this little frog sitting on top of the hutch in Ethan's room!

I do have to say though, on a completely different note, this frog really was a thoughtful gift since it is the same brand of stuffed animal as Garrett's 'dog'. This is really the only toy or item that Garrett has been attached to since birth...dog goes everywhere with us, so I LOVED that Garrett wanted to pick out something similar for his little brother! Don't let the originality of the name detract from the amount of love that this floppy dog gets though. The name on the tag says 'Ploppers' and Garrett got a big kick out of that one and called him Ploppers for an entire day, but alas we've gone back to 'Dog' though Superdog, Firedog, and Buster have all had their moments of glory too! And just as a side-note - Kelley, this is the dog that you sent when he was born...so thanks again - it has proved to be a most loved gift!!! :)

Enough about Dog...back to my important green conversation...I really haven't done much in Ethan's room, but I am absolutely loving the green little signs and accents that pop out at me every time I walk by! Now I just need to find some fabric and finish the bedding that I started so long ago...only now with GREEN! How's that for pretending I am the least bit crafty or even better, that I have any decorating sense whatsoever!!! :)

Fun Times

So, I am supposed to be painting all day today - I have a craft show tomorrow - but of course Ethan is wanting to be held constantly and Garrett is used to having someone to play with every second of the day (too bad Grandma left yesterday!) So, this is how we've spent our afternoon...I won, but not by much!

Garrett loves to play with the Scrabble tiles...making up words and stories for me to read, but this was our first attempt at an official game. He did GREAT and surprised me with some of the words that he came up with on his own! :)