He's One!

So it has been an amazing year with my little guy. He is a year old now, and the sweetest most amazing person in the world, but I'm a little biased. We had a party with mostly family and I think he had fun- he really likes people singing to him, so he enjoyed the birthday song. I decided to have a smash cake for him, and in traditional Connor fashion- he smashed the cake into his face. Picked the plate right up and started in on it. This was after he stuck his hands in the frosting and ate as much as he could. 

Humpty Dumpty Smash Cake

He loved the frosting.

There's cake under this frosting?

I must eat it all!

So good!

Eat until you're tired.

Here Comes the Storm

It has been a pretty mild winter, but we have some snow coming up. According to the weather man, we are supposed to get up to 6 inches of snow. It’s kid of funny, because C’s birthday is coming up and when we brought Connor home on 2-1-11 there was a big snowstorm which was called Snowstorm Connor. It just seems fitting that we are finally getting some snow at just the right time. This probably sounds dumb. I don’t care. It just kind of seemed like the snow was a giant celebration of my guy coming home and now this snow will be kind of like another celebration because it’s coming in time for his birthday. Ok ok I know giant ball of cheese. But I am also very excited he will get to play with in the snow for the fist time. I can’t wait to bundle him up and let me have at it. I can pull him around on the sled and we’ll have some fun and yay!

 

OK, now for something that you might actually care about. Well crap, honestly I’m not sure I have anything for you. So… I am sending you to someone else who does. SO… go forth and check out Fox Valley Avon and check out some games and freebies and fun prizes like a $25 gift certificate!

Wow

My little guy will be one this month. I am so excited. I was looking at him today and it just hit me how big he is getting. He is so tall, and getting skinny. My husband says that he will be walking in the next four days. I can almost believe it. Things go by so fast. He hung out with Santa before Christmas and told him what he wanted. I think he got it. I watched him rip the paper off of one of the gifts all by himself. We didn't give him a ton, he doesn't need it. I did open a savings account for him though. I think that's the best gift I can give him. I want to put money in it every month. If I can't do it every month I will do it every year when we get our taxes back. So for his birthday party we are doing a nursery rhyme theme. I hope it goes well. Not a ton of people, but just enough. I'll write more later, right now we are 48 hours into little man having a fever.

Happy Holidays

So Christmas is over, and New Years is upon us.

We had a great Christmas, we kept it small C-man is only one so we didn't need a ton of stuff. Not that you ever need a ton of stuff, but as parents I think we tend to go overboard- a lot. I was proud of myself for keeping in my budget this holiday season. I think a big part of my success is that I shop all year long. When I see a good deal, I buy it and I keep it in my "gift center" (read: rusty old shelf in the basement) until the appropriate gift giving occasion arrives. I currently have stashed a huge my little pony sea castle thing for my niece they go for $40+ and I snagged it for $5 or $10 I honestly don't remember. This year I also saved cash by making gifts for my 4 nieces. I made them tutu's and they loved them. It was great. Not that the holidays are about gifts, it's just I love giving so it's a bonus for me.

Sunny was here too so that was fun. For those of you who don't know, Sunny was our exchange student a few years ago, he comes back for Christmas. It's nice to have him around, he's a good kid. (Even though he's 20 now.) He has a great sense of humor and he's always willing to help. Though he does kind of make me miss my early 20's when I didn't need the sleep I'm not getting now.

In other great news I will be starting off the new year in good spirits, my car will be fixed, I got a new car seat for the little man, and I am going to clean the house. Well that's the plan anyway. I got my craft stuff out of Connors room, and moved into the basement. Now I just have to reorganize. I got him a toy box for his room (not that he has much but now we have a place to put it.) He got a bunch of cars for Christmas so now we have a place to keep them. He got some cute plastic little tykes cars from his Great Grandpa (James's G-pa K) and some cook rubber Tonka trucks from his grandma (James's mom.) My brother sent him some little musical toy in hopes to annoy me, but he's going to have to do better- we have lots of musical toys. He asked my what the most annoying toy he could get was, but I'm not telling. I'm not going to mention it here because even though I am sure he doesn't read this, with my luck it would be his first time when I say what I don't want my kid to have.

I got a video camera for Christmas, so look forward to some cute videos of my cute kid. :D And that's all for today. Anyone out there have a new years resolution or do you skip them?

Wordless Wednesday

Say a little prayer

 

Things have been crazy here, and I haven’t even drawn the winner yet for the jam. Sorry about that, and I’m not posting about that now. I just read a post from a fellow blogger (if I can call myself that) and I wanted to share her story. I cried the whole way through. So please whatever religion you do or do not subscribe to, however you pray, or send good juju, or whatever else you do- please do it for this family. I can’t imagine how they must be feeling.

Our Ordinary Life - Tragedy

Be sure to read the updates as well.

Holiday Gift Guide Vol. I Part III–GIVEAWAY INCLUDED!

This year I am very pro hand made business (bonus points if it’s from the USA but I’m not very exclusionary.) I just want to make purchases where it will make a difference to someone. While if we go and shop at Wal-Mart or Target, it may not make the same impact as shopping at your local mom and pop shop, or making a purchase from an etsy shop owner. So, please join me in making a difference in the lives of our neighbors this year. Even if you only purchase half of your gifts from home owned shops know you are making a HUGE difference.

WOLF CREEK CREATIONS

Apple Pie and Sweet Pepper

My Jelly. Yum!

Buy it here: Wolf Creek
What: Some of the yummiest jellies you will ever find.
Cost: 4oz jars start at only $3; Holiday packs including shipping start at $26 including shipping!
Who to buy it for:ME!  Great for the foodie, the hard to buy for person, the person you have no idea what to get, someone with a sweet tooth or you know anyone else on your shopping list.
Why: This stuff is so good! I am so happy with my choices! I have only tried two of my six jars and I am hooked. I originally found them looking for something to send my dad for Christmas. However Crystal (the lovely lady behind the jelly) had some fun and games on her page where her fans got to rename the jelly; so my husband suggested the name “Sweet Magma” for the hot pepper jelly and he won! So I got to try some out too! I was really impressed with the packaging, I liked that she used a lot of packaging, and it was mostly "green" too! I am a huge fan of packaging with paper. 

I have to tell you her chocolate covered cherry is AMAZING! It tastes like a cherry cordial, and it’s not too sweet. I have eaten almost the entire jar by myself. It’s fantastic on toast, pb&j and I am sure just about anywhere else you might think to use it. I am thinking of trying it in some thumbprint cookies. I am telling you I think I am going to order a six pack of this stuff because I do not see myself getting sick of it. I have also tried their Apple Pie (soon to be renamed Apple-licious) It really tastes like Apple Pie filling. It was also awesome on toast, I was thinking it might also be good a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or again anywhere else you can think to use it. It’s sweeter than the chocolate covered cherry. Another great thing is she has some sugar free options available as well. All of the jars are sealed and dated with the day they were made, so you know you are getting a fresh and super yummy product, made with love.

Here’s the best part! Wolf Creek Creations wants to share their jelly with you too! They are giving away two jars in your choice of flavor! All you have to do is like their page, and leave a note saying you came from “Becoming Mom.” Then come back and fill out the rafflecopter form!


US only please!