December....To-Do.......family events

Well Christmas is right around the corner. I'm not sure about you but in our home traditions are huge. We have traditions from my family and Isaac's family that we picked to carry on to our own family. Then we have OUR traditions that we have started together. This will give you a small glimpse into the things that are happening over at our house this holiday season. I would love to hear about or see what your family is doing this season.

Merry Christmas

November
30. Make a Paper Countdown chain.

December
1. Write and mail letter to Santa. Turn on Christmas lights after Dinner
2. Watch a Christmas movie with Christmas Popcorn. (The Polar Express 3-D)
3. Make ornaments...Take Christmas pictures.
4. DISNEY Christmas event
5. Camp out in living room with hot chocolate and smores reading Christmas stories.
6. Put up K's tree and decorate it (his personal tree with decorations of his favorite charters collected since he was born or ones he's made..Winnie the pooh, Elmo, Dora,Nemo, cars,Toy story)
7. Make Snowflake garland
8. Snowman crafts
9. Donate Can Goods
10. Watch Home ALONE
11. Drive around and look at Christmas lights in our Pj's with Hot Cocoa
and popcorn
12. Snow Day on the parkway
13. Shop for and drop off Toys for toys for TOTS
14. K shopping day
15. Cookie Baking Day and decorating
16. MAIL OFF ALL CHRISTMAS GIFTS to family..Cookie delivery day for Friends
17. Christmas Lights in the Park
18. Bake gingerbread house.
19. Holiday Cleaning..The day we clean of the toys shelf's from outgrown/broken toys (Donate or toss)
20. Finish Wrapping the gifts
21. Christmas clean up..Our gift to our community
22. Christmas Show
23. Bake bread
24. Bake Cookies for Santa..Christmas Eve Pj opening..Night Before
Christmas Story
25. Christmas..Cinnamon Rolls..Bible Story..Stockings..Tree

Thanksgiving Menu

OK I know I had just started posting our menus and then LIFE was crazy for a couple of weeks. My Dad came into town to go to Disney with us. We had a ton of fun but now life is getting back on track.

This evening I actually had the time to think about our Thanksgiving Dinner.

Turkey
Yam/mellow dish
homemade Lemon zest green beans <-- K is helping
homemade dinner rolls <-- K is helping
homemade stuffing
Olives
Cranberry's
sparkling cider and wine

Desserts
Pumpkin Pie <-- K is making with daddy
Apple Pie <-- K is helping

We cook BIG for just a family of 3 but we have all the goodness of the holiday and then we get to enjoy it for the next month..LOL OK not really about a week is about how long it all last. Makes for some yummy lunches and some great add In's for other meals through out the next week.

*HOMEMADE pretty much means we use nothing from a BOX or Can. Most the time it's my recipe or one that was passed down to us from family or friends. Oh and almost always healthier.

We'll take our Thanksgiving stroll on the beach, watch the parade, watch the game, play family games, talk about what we're thankful for etc.... Enjoy your Thanksgiving next week.

Halloween Treats..MOM made goodness..BEWARE will gain weight by looking at photos :o)

Halloween Treats 2009.

On Halloween we have a tradition of having Pizza and then I make some some special treats with the kiddo for after trick or treating. We have a rule of NO Halloween candy that night. Normally K finishes early and then we all have fun outside waiting for trick or treater's eat pizza and play games and hand out candy to all.

This year K and I made Chocolate covered Marshmallows and then added Halloween sprinkles. and then I whipped up my famous (in our house) candy bar cookie mix up trifle. I even made this mix up to go along with Halloween by using Orange and black..YUM YUM YUM In the trifle there are chunks of goodness through out the whole thing. Always a bite or goodness and figuring out what candy bar or cookie that you just consumed.

Menu Planning Monday November 2nd - November 8th

Monday: November 2nd
Breakfast - Yogurt and Fruit
Dinner - Scalloped Potatoes, Asparagus, Buttered French Bread

Tuesday: November 3rd
Breakfast - Cereal
Dinner - Crock Pot Meal (From scratch)

Wednesday: November 4th
Breakfast - French Toast
Dinner - Spaghetti and garlic Bread

Thursday: November 5th
Breakfast - Muffins and fruit
Dinner - Fix'em Omelets (Everyone puts in their own yuminess), Toast

Friday: November 6th
Breakfast - Cereal
Dinner - Baked BBQ chicken, mashed Potatoes and Salad

Saturday: November 7th
Breakfast - Bacon and Eggs
Dinner - Subway Subs

Sunday: November 8th
Breakfast - Cinnamon Rolls (HOMEMADE)
Dinner - Chicken Noodle Soup (From scratch) and grilled cheese

SWEETS:
Nothing special this week DUE to Halloween

Pumpkin Carving 2009

Pumpkin carving for the 1st time (For K that is)

Yeah he's 5 and just carved a pumpkin for the 1st time. You see we live somewhere HOT, HUMID and Salt in the air. So we just got the fake pumpkins or the little ones for inside the house. This year we took the leap and let him carve a pumpkin as this year was the 1st year he had actually asked for a pumpkin. I was waiting as I knew they would rot if we carved them to early. So week of Halloween we carved away....The photo's will show you how they turned out.

1st time feeling the inside of a pumpkin..he wasn't crazy about that so daddy got to pull the insides out for him.

BUT..........................................

Then you ask hubs if he's ever eaten the string things from the pumpkin and he takes a handful and takes a bite. So guess who had to give it a try. Mind you this is about 5 sec's before K spit it all out in the trash. Ewe is what K said as soon as his mouth was clean.

Here are the pumpkins

K enjoying his Goofy that he carved 50% of

I and his crazy Pumpkin

And then my etched Minnie Mouse.

We all had a great time carving and etching pumpkins together.

Halloween Social 2009

Halloween Social 2009

This year was our First year of attending this neat event. All the kids 2nd grade and under met at a local church pumpkin patch and then the local police shut down the road so all the kiddos could put on a short parade to the rec. center. Once at the rec. center we we're met by some of the local Lions club and PAL members with a warm greeting. Once inside the kids went wild with music, a dance floor, bounce house, lots of games and lots of prizes to win. They then walked around with buckets of treats for the kiddos to put into their bags to take home. After a little while there was cookies and punch. K loved it all, he's a wild one. Loving to dance like his mama and loving all the games like his dad. About 2 hours later we got K out the door where he was given a goodie bag filled with some treats to go. By this time he was ready for a late dinner at McDonald's. He had so much fun he ate some apples in the car and then went to sleep for the night.

Umm what is he pondering in this photo? or what's with the glare

Pumpkin Patch and Trunk or Treating 2009

Pumpkin Patch and Trunk or Treating 2009

Just a Photo K took. He LOVES to take photo's..and he's not to bad at it.

Trick or treating Bag HOMEMADE

No Sew Trick or Treating Bag.

I saw this really cute Trick or treating bag over here and wanted to make one for my son. I don't have a daughter yet so finding cute things for boys is just about unheard of. Since I didn't want to haul out the sewing machine I just used iron on adhesive. Since this was for a boy I left off ribbon and just cut everything out straight. I did add some black puffy paint around the edges to minimize fraying.

Pay it fwd adoption FUND

All it takes is just $1.00 to help a child come home to their family. This fund is just a great example of how we all can help the dream of having a FAMILY come true for a CHILD.

The family who receiving this round of money saved as some of the most caring, sweetest, God loving parents I have ever had the chance to meet. I couldn't think of the better couple to receive this round of support.

Yes we have the plans to adopt but right now it's not the right time for us. So we ask that any one who is wanting to help with our adoption to help our dear friends bring home their little one.

With much love the M family.

Cocoa Beach 1st Annual Air show 2009..Injury

Cocoa Beach 1st Annual Airshow

We finally got down to the show on Sunday to enjoy this great event. Isaac was volunteering at the event so he was there both Saturday and Sunday. However K and I had been watching the jets practice from our driveway all week long. Each time the jets went K went running for the house because they are LOUD and scared him. He doesn't like LOUD anything other then music. Friday night after we went out for dinner we stopped at the beach to watch the night jumpers open the event party..Just to start the weekend off.

Saturday K and I had some plans so we waited to go on Sunday.

The day started off great with getting to witness a brand new Jet. We met up with Isaac and then K and I headed with tickets in hand to go sit right in front of the drop zone. Where our beach location was right where all the pilots focused their stunts from. Now I didn't plan this event out like I should of but I didn't know I could take more then just a small bag. Next year were bring the whole beach get up. Umbrella and beach blanket and loads of water. Now with Isaac volunteering we had sunblock and water galore. at the start of the show it started with Geico sky writers and then McCord Airforce Base plane showing some amazing skills. So proud to see McCord down here in FL as we are from WA state and this is something I grew up seeing in my Rural town that I grew up in. I never knew those planes could turn as sharp as they can. Amazing..Thank you NASA for allowing them to use your runway. Then we had stunt planes and those where fun to watch. K really enjoyed watching them esp. when they did that straight up and then freefall through their rings. Yeah I have no Idea the terms a time when I wished my uncle John was here to ask. Then they took a short break so K and I walked up to grab sunblock and water. The show was starting again so we headed back as the jets where on the way. That's when I nearly broke my ankle. Yeah walking on the boardwalk and all was well then suddenly the lip of my shoe caught a board that was up a little more then it should be and my ankle rolled that my ankle bone was touching the boardwalk but yet my foot was flat. My other foot didn't skip a beat and just lunged fwd and kept me walking. I limped about 2 or 3 steps but then it felt OK. I knew I hurt it really bad but I wasn't about to make K stop from watching the show because of injury. In fact K was in front of me and had no idea that I was hurt. We got back to our location and I just put my foot up on all the bags I had and just enjoyed the show as much as I could with the increasing pain.

We got back in time to see some more stunt planes and the air force water team. I think that's what they are called. They made some mock water rescues; It was really neat to watch. Then we saw a great Jet performance, I think f-18 I think the F-16 was the one that had airplane issues and had to drop out for the Sunday show but i don't know the 16 from the 18 so I have a photo below.

Finally the show was over and we just hung around until it was mainly cleared out and then I tried to stand up. and couldn't. I ended up calling Isaac to say can't walk. He was going to come down and get me or call the beach patrol for the event to come and haul me off the beach. Yeah I am stubborn and said I am going to try. Well my complete stubbornness <--is that a WORD? I had K put my flip flop on my bad foot and then we hobbled (yes K now knew I was HURT) Yeah i tried to walk even though I was in pain but I learned quickly to step and drag on the beach. as long as I got a flat spot in the sand my ankle was OK. The stairs I just hopped 1 footed up. Ha, this all goes back to my gymnastics days on learning how to manage an injury to never keep me down. Got on the boardwalk and then I just hopped about football Field length to the covered area to meet up with Isaac. Shaded location. He left early so he could pull his car around to pick K and I up to drive me to my car. Then He helped me to my car and sent me home and took K with him to run errands that I had planned to run after the airshow. Well that was our eventful day

Fun had by almost ALL

Here are some photo's from the show. We mainly took videos from this event due to Injury and so we can replay the show. So really don't have a ton of photo's..ENJOY!

Nasa DAY...Another Family Fun Friday

Once again we have attended Brevard Residence appreciation day at NASA. Yes we live here in Brevard county and tend to get spoiled by NASA. Almost every time the shuttle in piggy back from anywhere we get a THANK YOU flight along the beach. It's an amazing sight to see. We also have these appreciation days every year. It's a joy to have something so cool in our backyard. Launches are amazing and such a joy to watch some HISTORY unfold right in our front yard/backyard/driveway/ front window whatever it might be; just pure amazing to take part in.

Family Fun Day FRIDAY:

The day started bright and early with me digging in our pantry shelf's gathering some can goods and boxes of pasta/cereal to donate to our local food bank. This year it's even more direr to donate to them. The demand is even higher then it has been with less people ABLE to donate but MORE people needing it. So we took a full bag of food to give with us to NASA (KSC) where they were set up for the day. We headed out early this year as last year we got there 23 min's after they opened and we had a HIKE just to get to the gate and then a huge line to wait in just to get in. This year getting there about 2 min's after opening and we got a spot in the front lot at the very end but much closer then last year. We got in all within minutes so got right down to going to see all that we wanted to see. We started off by going to see the 3D Show of landing on the moon. Great show. Isaac and I learned a ton. K on the other hand it was a little much and just wouldn't keep on the glasses. But to see those moon rocks flying at you would of scared him as they did look like they were about to hit you. He sat through it and watched it without the glasses and enjoyed most of the show. We headed to the shuttle launch experience but K was to short to ride on it so I took him in the gift shop to wait for Isaac who was riding the ride. Then I found out that I could take K up into the ride to just watch without riding. Well we jetted up all excited got into the room were your briefed and then there was some LOUD rumbling and K started to get scared. I tried to talk to him and then the smoke started and he was not having any of that and ran to the exit. So we had to escape. Once he was out of the building he was good to go. We finally met up with Isaac and moved on to the buses for the 2 hour tour. The tour is a lot of fun getting to go around NASA and seeing the launch pads the crawler (there is a new one that is currently being built) and seeing a module that is set to fly shortly. The ride back was fun to see the WILD animals of Florida including many Alligators and NASA chickens (Vultures) seeing a HUGE eagles nest <-- Saw this last year as well. We wrapped up our visit with heading over to the rocket garden and getting to get in and out (OK tried to get out of) some of the early on space travel capsules. Just think about flying into space in a seat laying on your back surrounded by all the computers and have maybe enough room to scratch your head. I know I couldn't do it. OK I could but i wouldn't want to do it. The people who flew in these capsules I applaud you. Then there was the playground that looked so FUN but this year we had to pass it up as I was not about to send my child into those germ infested playgrounds esp. with the H1N1 going around. He was fine about not getting to play on it once I told him about the germs going around (Yes my 5 yr old is learning about germs and how to protect himself but we we're also hoping to stay healthy to see a special someone come Oct.) So we finished with walking through their indoor exhibit of the Indian lagoon. Again something right in our back yards. K had so much fun in there finding all the animals low and high and even the ones that looked him in the eye.

We left early from NASA for a late lunch at DOGS. The day was diffidently a fun filled learning day.



FUN WAS HAD BY ALL

Check out some of the photo's from the day below.

Posing with Daddy in front of the NASA sign

Watching the 3D Moon Landing

Brand New Crawler being built..In fact a friend of ours and the dad of K's buddy M is one of the inspectors of this project.

K enjoying some dip 'n Dots..These come normally in a space helmet but K wanted his in a cup.

Launch Pad..I think this 1 is 39B..Where the Ares 1-X is suppose to launch from.

I think this one is 39A..

K looking back at earth from the ISS..LOL

The rocket garden

inside a rocket capsule without all it's computers.

Making silly faces even at NASA

Laying on the moon.

Make sure to visit Kennedy Space Center on your next trip to Central Florida

Work in Progress

I am working on some new features for our family blog so still work with me.

I hope you like my FALL look

BLOG is being UPDATED

I have a few blogs in the works. but until i start posting those I am working on changing the looks of our blog. I hope to have it at least 75% done by Sunday if not all the way done.

It all looks messed up right now. I KNOW just bare with the MESS

THANK YOU

Birthday weekend part 3 in photo's

K got a swing set for his Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to K from papa and Gmama

RIDING on the glider the day after I got it. 1st day to really get the chance to play on it. since it took just under 5 hours to put it together.

WHOA this is SOOO COOL



K says THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!

Birthday weekend Events..Part 1 and Part 2

Birthday Weekend

part 1

Friday

Making Cupcakes

The weekend plans had to be changed due to Isaac needing to work on Friday so Fridays plans were moved to Saturday. So K made some cupcakes on Friday.

Part 2

Saturday

Isaac had to work on Saturday as well so this weekend isn't panning out like we wanted, but it was OK.

We took K to toysrus and let him pick out a toy. Once again he picked a car and a new Thomas the train engine (Billy). Then we got him a happy meal and let him blow his bedtime by 2 hours.

Part 3 is coming in it's own blog..stay tuned

Just a peek of what we did TODAY

I will be posting tomorrow on our Trip to the Petting farm..We had such a great time. As we didn't roll into the drive way until after 8PM we are all tired. 12 hours of driving, petting farm, Ikea, dinner and home..Yikes what a day

6 years together..LONG

WoW 6 yrs have already flown by since the Hubs and I had our 1st date. What I didn't know back then is that this was the guy I was meant to be with. That took me only a couple of month's and a lot of praying about it. 6 yrs has been great I gained an amazing stepdaughter (Miss R) and a cherub (K). Our 6 yrs have been a whirl wind but together we have made an amazing team. We pick each other up when ones down and we build from each other. Where I am at fault I have a great guy to make up for it and where he faults I am right there.

I am 1 lucky gal to have such an amazing guy to call MINE

Our 6 years time line without the dates as I don't remember them all and if i did it would be just a little creepy. I can tell you month but don't ask the date :o) Most of our 2nd year was working with K and his health..which you will read below as it was all part of our 6 yrs..

Dad meets I
1st date
Dad, SP and Grandma meet I
1st meeting of miss R (Captured my heart from this moment ON)
Surprise is KNOWN by only us
1st weekend trip together (Seaside OR)
2nd trip together to FL
1st car accident together (also my 1st time in an aid truck for myself)
Engagement
3rd trip together (Surf trip in OR..P gets caught in Riptide stayed on Surfboard and I pulls it to shore)
Visitors from FL and trip to the MT
A miracle was born
I held my 5lbs baby in my arms for the 1st time.
K stopped breathing for the 1st time in a town we didn't know. Acid Reflux is what we are told and then released.
2nd time 2 weeks later K stopped breathing again. Took medics 17 min's to get to us our house. By then I and P had him back to normal. They gave us the choice to take him in or not. WE took him in.
K coded in P's arms while they try to draw blood from him..They just put the band on his arm and it set him off...Limp and gray. Transport was on their way.
We stayed for 4 hours waiting for them to put together the transport team at St. Petes.
I laid my son in an isolate for transport and had to walk away as I couldn't ride with them...I BROKE DOWN in I's arms
K was admitted to the PICU. They ran all the test in the books. They thought it was his heart but that checked out 100%. Brain 100% organ functions 100%..
Things that was hindering I is nearly finished.
K is released 7 days later with apnea monitor.
Baby shower ..K was early by 5.5 wks so he was at his baby shower
Finishing K's room
K stopped breathing..This time it was a 100% coding..911 "I have a 1M baby who is not breathing I am starting CPR" Do you need me to guide you? "No" Medics are dispatched..I am ready to help.. (3 times of CPR and pushing the cat away with my foot I get him breathing) "He's making whimpering noises" put the phone to him so I can hear him "OK" "What do I do now" just keep talking to him...to stpetes just for them to tell us he is bring transferred to Mary bridge...long story he was in PICU then floor then in the OR back to PICU to the floor to going home..the issue.. bad reflux hurt him made him cry which caused his under developed trachea to close which then he would stop breathing (youngest breath holder documented) until he would pass out then his breathing would start again...Home again with even more machines and wires for him..Adding O2 to his everyday life. Coming home Dec 23rd
Rushed Hubs to the hospital because he nearly cut off his finger trimming our Christmas tree..Yes same day we got home from the hossy with K.
Christmas
K stopped breathing again but can't be from reflux as he had the Nissen done as his reflux was ALTES (A life threatening event/s) while at his Doctors office for his 6M well baby. Took off his clothes to go measure and weigh him and he was crying in his I'm going to stop breathing cry (Yes I learned that cry early on) I told his doc he's going into a fit now. She just watched and let us try to calm him before he went into not breathing then it went into craziness. Screaming started for 2nd doc to call 911 and me to get miss R out of the room. Thank goodness another mom with child was out there that offered to watch R so I could be back there. K was taken and I took off for a different hossy and R and I arrived. This time I wasn't allowed back for a few min's then the RN called up to see if the mom was there yet. They then took R behind the counter to do some crafts and coloring and let me go back. they put an IV into his bone he wasn't doing well. then his mom started talking and he settled down and they had to shave a chunk of his hair for a head IV. They saved it for me and I still have it today. He was transferred to Mary bridge again. 5 days and he was sent home doing well...still not sure what it was they went back in and it wasn't reflux..they think just a bad breath holding and soft tranche issue. They wanted to tranche him the last time but I had said NO unless it was life or death and I made them contact a doctor that I had worked with in my intern and sure enough he didn't need a tranche. Went home with the prescription of don't let the baby cry hard..any whimpers needed to be addressed for the next 6 Months.
Went home and just enjoyed life
I's thing is DONE..dragged out for over a year but all is DONE finally
K settled down now it was family building time.
We're moving..we told our family that we'd be moving to FL. We prayed hard on it and followed our hearts to FL.
K's feeding tube (note used for feeding just burping until a yr old) broke and as I fed him it came out the hole. YUCK. We took him to Mary bridge and after 4 hours and me talking to our home doctor who got to know me very well since K was born. We had it removed when K was 8.5M and 3 weeks before our move was happening.
Moving Day..We left our house in the early AM to board our flight to FL as a family..We were a sight to see..LOL Me carrying K and bags and I with 2 cats. But it was easy because I and I make a great team. took no extra time.
Arrived in TX and we feed the cats and let K crawl around as we had 2.5 hrs until our flight to FL
We are HOME..FL that is
We took a chance and had a vacation until job was found and then house hunting started.
I found a job...He found it the day after arriving in FL (Still there 4.5 yrs now)
Found a house..but not ready to move in so lived in motel until it was ready.
Moved in and have been here since.
Got married
2nd car finally
Potty trained
pre-k 2, 3, 4 and Kindergarten
now life is still rolling on but much less stressful with K all healed up and perfect besides for his 4 yr old attitude he developed about a week after turning 4.

We all are doing great and just enjoying life and waiting out the storm of the recession.

Someone else's ADOPTION FUND SUPPORT

Support someone else’s adoption

Just $1.00 helps bring home some child to their family. The most common concern of starting an adoption is how to FUND the adoption. We are one of those families but we know that GOD will provide for us when the time is right. Until then we are 100% focused on helping someone else bring home their child/ren. Money should never be the reason that a child lives in an orphanage without a place to call home and people to call MY FAMILY. These children no matter race, age, disability etc.; should have that chance of a family. If you can just donate $1.00 that will help bring home someone’s child/ren.

If 20,000 people gave just $1.00 = 1 child coming home to their family.

Will you please help bring a child home?

If you would like to know more please write to Amy the founder of this set FUND

*Again this is NOT for OUR adoption but for someone who is following GODS plan for them to Adopt.

1st Day of Kindergarten..Homeschool

Kk's 1st Day of Kindergarten...

to see more photo's from school today check out Kk's Class page tomorrow (8/4) to see some of what we did.