Holidays Made Better

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I love the family gatherings, Christmas lights/decorations and happiness that I associate with this time of year. Now having said that, my husband is a slight bah-hum-bug. He doesn't like anything to do with Christmas. I have to prepare him for when I turn on Christmas music or am going to decorate the house.

The last few years at this time things have been busy, or I am just too tired to really enjoy decorating or appreciating anything. This year is different though. My daughter has changed it for me. Ms. Spaghetti is loving everything to do with Christmas.

I had my husband get out all the decorations for me a couple of weeks back. Every box I opened she would say,"What do we have here?" Every ornament we put on the tree she would declare,"So pretty!" Any time Holly Jolly Christmas comes on she yells,"Reindeer song" referring to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.

Tonight was no different. We got home late from Grandpa's house, so it was after dark. She was very excited about all the lights in the neighborhood. I decided to drive past our house and take a driving tour to show her all the decorations. I loved hearing "Holly molely", "Wow" and "Pretty!" from the backseat.

I am not having to wait for retirement to get my second childhood. I am getting to experience my second one right now.

The Tree Huggin' Mama Doopsy SD giveaway

The Tree Huggin' Mama is giving away a Doopsy SD diaper from Joana at BabyEcoMart.com . I just won a doopsy from Joana and am excited to give it a try. I have several friends who have them and are in love.

http://thetreehugginmomma.blogspot.com/2010/12/doopsy-sd-diaper-giveaway.html

KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer Giveaway!!!

3 Kids and Us and KitchenAid want to make your holiday wish come true and offer you the chance to win a brand new KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer, in your choice of over 20 colors, valued at $349.99!

Enter the KitchenAid Stand Mixer Giveaway KitchenAid Stand Mixer Giveaway and check out the Homemade Holiday Feast recipes that show all the ways the KitchenAid Stand Mixer and attachments can be used to create unique family dishes and save you counter space with one appliance that can be converted to meet your every need.

Fitteds and Pockets and Snappies, oh my! Merry Fluffy Christmas

Maria over at Fitteds is having a great Merry Fluffy Christmas giveaway sponsored by CNS. Babykicks and gDiapers for $98 in prizes! Ends Dec 7.
http://www.change-diapers.com/2010/12/merry-fluffy-christmas-giveaway-5.html

Give away at Mama B's

Mama B is giving away $25 to Earth Angels Diaper Co. They have quite the selection of diapers and accessories! Giveaway ends Dec 19.

http://mamabmy.blogspot.com/2010/12/eadc-bumgenius-review-giveaway.html

Stop to smell the roses, or pick berries.

After last week's cold spell, the last two days have been beautiful. I have taken the kiddos on walks both days. Today's walk was longer than yesterday's. I love watching my daughter as she runs along for a few feet, then stops because something is infinitely interesting. After a few minutes of exploring whatever has caught her eye, I have to remind her we are on a walk and away she runs again.
All the leaves are down in our neighborhood, and some people (us) haven't picked them up. This is an endless source of entertainment. Spaghetti stomps her way diligently through each pile. I follow suite. She also has each berry bush memorized on our route. If she is in the stroller, she jettisons from her seat to pick as many as can fit in her pockets. There are red and orange ones. Today she informed me that birds eat berries, and so do dogs and airplanes. I reminded her that we don't eat these ones.
We have also seen a road runner the last two days. We commonly have them in our neighborhood. It is the state bird of New Mexico, so no surprise that they are everywhere. Spaghetti decided to chase it today. Of course, it was always three houses ahead of her barely walking fast, but she giggled the whole time. Super Y squealed, also enjoying the great outdoors.
I love living in a place where I can wear a t-shirt outside in the month of December.

9 Months!

Super Y is 9 months old today. I can't believe it.