Holiday To-do’s:

Remember when I talked about the holidays here? Well this is the list I started after that blog post went out. I’m sure this list will grow. But I’m hoping the following things keep me on track as the holiday season is truly upon us!

Start a recipe list – check

Start a holiday cooking list – check

Get holiday gatherings on our calendar – check

Do a grocery trip for non-perishables to save myself the headache later –

Buy cards – ordering them online thanks to a fabulous email from Steff ;)

Make Tags –

Make my gift list for Jer and Owen –

Make a gift list for everyone – check

Go and see a Christmas Movie –

Make cookie/goody bags for various people I see often…parking garage attendant at school and other's

Make fudge with Mom – still need to set a date

Make cookies/candy with the girls – December 6th

Plan a Linoski night out to celebrate my b-day and graduating school – December 18th

See historic St. Charles during their Christmas festival – December 18th

Take Owen to see Santa – December 4th

Take Owen through Rock Springs Park to see Lights –

This is a good start anyway!

Puff lovin’ little boy!

We have started working with Owen on eating different types of foods besides his baby food. He seems interested in what we’re eating and we thought the best place to start besides soups and yogurt would be to try the Gerber Puffs. They teach him to work with his hands and also to chew up something that mushes pretty easily! We started with them two Saturday[s ago and have since tried them with every meal. We put him in his highchair, sprinkle a few on his tray and let him busy himself with touching them, putting them in his mouth and just working out the whole business of chewing! 5 of every ten make it to his mouth and the rest end up on his lap, on the floor or mushed in between his chin and neck. Sunday evening when we were getting ready for his bath, one dropped out on the floor from under his sweat pants! It’s a blast to watch him work on this new skill. This week he has gotten very crafty at getting them from the tray into his mouth.  When he accomplishes this, he looks up at me and smiles from ear to ear!  His face says...I GOT it Momma!! Anyway…it's yet another adorable thing our son loves to do! So of course I had to take pictures of his mushy messy puff buffet. Below a picture of Owen vs. Sweet potato and Banana flavored puffs!

Thankful Thursdays a few days later...

Seeing Aunt Jenni

A day to catch up

A text message that made me cry

Having my feathers fluffed by Steff

Another week down of classes!

A relaxing weekend ahead

Finding out our company didn’t raise $6000 but over $8000 for the USO

Owen waving hi at me across a room

Long boot-length socks from NY&C

Seeing UABC Family on Sunday

My umbrella

Fires in the fireplace

Wallflowers from Bath and Body

Thanksgiving dinner at work

$3 for 30 prints at Walgreens

Laughing till we cried while thinking about Owen’s little chubby fingers and hands putting a puff into his mouth

Seeing Owen’s concentrating frown

Hearing my husband say good things about me to someone else

All comfy in my PJ's

"Splish! Splash! I was takin' a Bath"

Thanks Aunt Steff and Uncle B for the cool cool tugboat bathtoy you gave me for Halloween!  I love to play with all the pieces in the water...and the tugboat is fun out of the water too.  I think the cups with the holes on the bottom are my favorite!

Love,
Owie

P.S. I also love my squeaky rubber ducky dressed up like a pirate that I got from my Linley family in Walnut!  Thank you everyone!  My bathtime ROCKS!

Thankful Thursdays

Welcome to my first of what I hope to be many...Thankful Thursdays.  The inspiration grew from other blogs I follow...thanks Alison, Julie and Brad!  Everyone had their own little twist on them and enjoy them all...so I thought I could try it too.  Since Thursday is my official Friday b/c I only work 4 days a week, I thought keeping track and celebrating a wonderful week would be the perfect way to start my weekend!  I kept a good track of all the little things, big things and in-between things that made my week special, easier or funnier this week.  Enjoy!

This week I am thankful for:

Husband packed lunches

New green sweaters from NY&C

Finding said green sweater on sale, plus a coupon...bonus!

Short lines at McDonalds

XL Cokes with extra ice

Parents who care about what works for my family this holiday season

A best friend who always knows just what to say

Being a part of an organization who came together to raise nearly $6000 for the USO Thanksgiving Basket Drive

Gerber puffs and watching Owen eat them

Reading my friend Alison's blog about listening to gossip at Bread Co. (this has be blogged about more than one occasion...it's highly entertaining!)

Text messages about quirky bartenders w/ Steff

Another week of school under my belt - 4 weeks to go!!!

Owen vs. the sprite can story Jer told me, making me laugh out loud!

Cancelled Thursday night class

The weekend and the promise of a massage on Saturday

Glee returning to new shows this week - YAY!

Owen learning to wave

Sunshine and sunglasses

Finding my new and promptly misplaced shades in a jacket pocket

Being laughed at by Jer because I swore I looked everywhere for them

The Holidays

Yesterday I was cruising through the store looking for snacks before class and I noticed something. I noticed displays loaded with nuts and ready-made pie crusts and baking essentials. Everything is prepped and ready for the approaching holiday season. This scene brought about that warm familiar feeling. And I thought ahhh…the holidays! Yummy food, warm sweaters, family gatherings, wrapping of presents. The good stuff in life! I was also suddenly realizing that’s it’s already November…that in a few weeks Christmas lights will begin being put up, that we’ll be going to cut down a Christmas Tree at the tree farm soon. There are great things in store and they’ll be happening sooner than we think. This also started my brain running through the list of get-togethers and dates and baked goods and Christmas lists. And I was tired. While I love the holidays and all the busyness and festivities, I also always find myself exhausted and glad they are over! So at that moment at the grocery store then and there, I resolved to make sure I made a list of what I wanted to do for sure, what I am ok if we don’t do, and some things I can do ahead of time to make it all go smoothly! I know b/c I’ll be wrapping up my final term of school it’s going to be busier than normal. But it is Owen’s first holiday season and I don’t want to forgo my whimsical love of goofy traditions and holiday cheer b/c I’m busy with school.  In other words, I don't want to be this guy...although I think that sometimes he has the right idea!

Anyway…another offering from the Happiness Project was recently posted and I thought it appropriate to include. You can check it out here. It got me thinking about traditions. What’s your favorite holiday tradition?? How do you keep the holidays from getting overwhelming?? Any techniques you want to share?