Holly's Birthday-Christmas list

updated 1/1/12!
I'm still doing the brooke bedroom but i'm waiting for a sale....  http://www.potterybarnkids.com/room/rom/romgir/romgirwod/
I plan to get her the quilted bedding (both quilt and the euro sham, the sham i will monogram somewhere NOT at pottery barn).
Eventually i'll get her a canopy http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/daisy-petal-canopy/?pkey=dcanopies

DVDs: barbie charm school, any of the disney princess DVDs (we have most on VHS, and they aren't available in stores, they'd have to be bought through amazon or Ebay)
a kid-style CD player for her room (the girl LOVES music!)

accessories for her loving family grand dollhouse (fisher price).  she only has what came with the house (the kitchen table, mom dad and twin babies).  http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=5852&e=lfaccessories-thumb
she loves playmobil.  she's probably love the vet, zoo, etc. 

oversized melissa and doug puzzles (girlish ones)

a watch

Kendal's Christmas List

This is a list of ideas for Kendal's Christmas, updated 12/5/11 after talking to momT -

melissa and doug architectural blocks http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-60-Piece-Standard-Blocks/dp/B00008W72D/ref=pd_sim_t_30

DVDs:  Dinosaur Dan, Dinosaur Train, Fresh Beat Band,Happy Feet, Mr. Poppers Penguins, Looney Toons episode Collection, etc.

Playmobil collections:  has and loves the pirates, farm, dragon, firetruck:  would love the anything rescue related (firestation, ambulance, etc.), school, gym, etc.

LOVES music.  has a drum set, keyboard, and a guitar (will have it one day anyway). 

loves pirate stuff.

newly fascinated with toy story - buzz lightyear is favorite.

Analee's Christmas List

Well, I don't usually post a gift list for myself but this Christmas, I actually want some interesting things.  I posted a link to this on the left-hand side of my blog. Kendal and Holly's are there too.

photoshop actions:  http://www.florabellacollection.com/florabella-color--haze-photoshop-actions.html


Cash - i actually have an envelope that i'll put it in.  i have a camera fund, i'm saving for a full frame!

DVD:  Forks Over Knives(ok, so actually I just want to borrow this, but, if you know where I can do that - tell me!)

BOOK:  1000 VeganRecipes by Robin Robertson 


SHOES:  Dansko Volley Blue Patchwork Coated Canvas size 40

Clothes or Gift certificates to Chicos or Coldwater Creek! 

Birthmas for Nathaniel

For Birthmas (that's the dreaded combined birthday and christmas present for those of you who don't know.  I did it ONLY with prior approval), I gave Nathaniel a KitchenAid® Pasta Press Attachment with six interchangeable pasta plates.  I was so excited about it.  I think, though, more excited than him.  We've had our kitchenaid stand mixer for 3 or 4 years now (and it was his idea to get one).  I thought all this time he had been using it.   But, he told me that he'd never even used it before.  Aparently the only thing he does with it is get it out for me.  (It is heavy and we haven't the counter space to keep it out all the time - plus the fact I HATE HATE HATE having stuff on the counter, period.)  So, anyway, he wasn't as excited about the gift as I was.  The next day - we were snowed in.  I wanted him to make us some home made spaghetti (noodles, not sauce- that i buy in a jar though i know i can make it home made but it is SO easy to buy it for $2 from whole foods - can't make it for that price) for lunch.
Anyway, reluctantly (he was sick, I'll give him that one) he did make us some noodles.  and, I think he had more fun than he thought he was gonna have...  plus, the kids thought it was REALLY cool. 

I took pictures.  I tried not to get Nathaniel in them (much) because, like I said, he didn't feel well and hadn't showered.  The kids, however, they were digging it big time.  I can't wait to make macaroni noodles.  Melissa, what is the recipe for that yummy stovetop cheese sauce you and Joshua made at Thanksgiving? 

Holly's Birthday Party

Here are some pictures from Holly's Birthday Party.  She had a great time throughout the whole thing except for the having the birthday song sung to her part.  She hates being the center of attention.  So, she cried through that part.  We had soups and spaghetti (for the kids) - and cake for dessert.  By the way, if you ever are in a pinch for a cake, Whole Foods makes wonderful cakes.  I wasn't in a pinch, but I didn't need a big one.  Plus I didn't want any food dyes or preservatives or products treated with hormones or pesticides or GMO in it.  SO, for Nathaniel's birthday we got one of the little ones and it was delish.  We got a big one for Holly's party and between about 10 adults and 10 kids, we still had some left over!

Anyway, here are the pictures from her party!

h&k's christmas list

this is a list for me!


http://www.leapsandbounds.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=377&parentCategoryId=85190&categoryId=85261&subCategoryId=86283 
http://www.leapsandbounds.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=535809&cmSource=CrossSell&relatedProductId=536119 


http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/Cushie-Traveler.html
two more of these http://www.amazon.com/Xpress-Trainer-One-Real-Training-Elongated/dp/B0012ADSN8

http://www.target.com/s?keywords=dragon+tales&searchNodeID=1038576|1287991011&ref=sr_bx_1_1&x=0&y=0 (dragon tales DVD)

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2535225 (barney DVD)
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=fisher+price+oreo&_sacat=0&_odkw=fisher+price+oreo+match&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313 (fisher price cookies)




http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4179818 match it foods
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4179825 match it animals
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4179829 match it first words
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4179836 match it all about me





http://www.learningexpresstoys.com/index.php/shop-by-age/toys-for-ages-3-4/pizza-party.html pizza party

http://www.melissaanddoug.com/dyn_prod.php?p=4077&k=87136&name=Dry%20Goods%20Set

http://www.melissaanddoug.com/dyn_prod.php?p=3789&k=87134&name=Magnetic%20Responsibility%20Chart
http://www.melissaanddoug.com/dyn_prod.php?p=6081&k=265972&name=Happy%20Giddy%20Binoculars
melissa and doug chef outfit 
melissa and doug doctor outfit
http://www.learningexpresstoys.com/index.php/little-doctor-kit.html iplay doctor kit
sandbox with a lid
two make a plate kits! http://www.learningexpresstoys.com/index.php/shop-by-age/toys-for-ages-3-4/make-a-plate-kit.html

happy birthday to maggie

well it's 3 am and i can't sleep.  may as well update my blog, right?

2 weeks ago was mag's 10 year birthday.  mom and dad sang happy birthday to her and we've been talking about it ever since. this week she goes to the vet for her spring check-up, which i'm sure will be just fine.  she's healthy as an ox.  well, if she'd quit eating grass, anyway... that's the only thing that makes her sick.  why do dogs and cats do that, anyway? eat grass and puke?  lacy does it too (except it is one of my plants she eats and then pukes up...)

so yesterday at mom's for lunch, kendal was kissing on maggie so i tried to catch him doing it.  she kept kissing him back which he thinks is funny.  the lighting is bad and i was trying not to use the flash 100% (my camera has flash compensation, which means i can turn down the flash - i was trying NOT to give her the crazy green eyes).  i didn't actually catch the actual kiss, but i tried.  holly won't get close to her when she kisses, which is probably a good thing since she still gives open mouth kisses.  :)

next is outside play time - mags got some of the fresh-baked rolls mom had just pulled out of the oven.  she was "dancing" and you can see kendal dancing with her.  he held his hands up like her and would spin around. he didn't get a treat though.  his tricks were for free.  hahaha..

anyway, once we started eating lunch (which we did outside), maggie assumed her normal position beneath the kid's chairs.  she knows them too well... 

big meal around the kid table

as we decided at the party... check out all my mom's grandkids around nathaniel's mom's table!  :)  (and of coarse, 1/3 of them are her grandkids too!)

holly's first birthday, dec. 22nd party!

here are some pictures from holly's BIRTHDAY birthday party.  (to be followed by her  just plain birthday party... ha! what's better than celebrating twice???)

first we opened a couple of presents from mom and dad... we gave holly a little purse and a pair of footed PJs.  kendal got some puzzles for holly's birthday.  :)

next was a lot of yummy food.  not much to show with that except that we had a table full of children.  the joke was that it was all my mom's grandchildren sitting around nathaniel's mom's table!  ha!  it was a full table...

and last came cupcakes.  since the anna and jackson's birthday party a couple of weeks ago, we've been priming her for cake.  she loves it (naturally, she loves everything).

and now to wash it down with milk!  yum!  happy birthday holly!

tonight is the big night!

i've been preparing for weeks.  it feels like months.
i've made cards,  remade cards, and then made more. 
i had to come up with cards i think people would like, cards that aren't too hard, cards that are simple but not too simple - and interesting enough to "catch" people like the first one i made back in march 2007.

i've cut paper, wrinkled and pressed paper, sponged paper, trashed paper, cut ribbon, sprayed paper, colored paper... ripped paper.  you name it.  i've done it. 

and i've ended up with two really cute cards.  one is insanely simple.  one is a little more involved.  both are easy as pie.

i can't wait to see folks scrambling through the catalog like i was the first time i stamped, the first time i went to a stampin' up! party.   i hope people ask me for advice because i didn't get practical stuff.  it worked, but it wasn't the best.  i learned quick.
i got better.
i'm still getting better.
the learning curve is a long slope and i'm still on it.

i love to stamp.
i love to make cards.
i love to make things other than cards.
and i ABSOLUTELY can't wait to share it with 11 other women. tonight.  on my birthday night.

if i could ever get to sleep!

Happy Birthday Melissa!

Before any crazy folks decided to go and ruin the day known as "September 11th,"  it was a special day in our house already.  Not a bad kind of special like it is now.

Our American flag is flying high on hour front porch just like it does every day.  We are proud Americans every day.  Every day I pray for our soldiers and celebrate and are grateful for my freedoms.  Every day, I hope and pray that every human on earth can have the same rights that I have, even if my insurance company decides that my migraine medicine isn't necessary thus they remove it from their "list" and now I have to pay nearly $200/month rather than $30/month to take it. Anyway, at least I don't have to stand in line to use my vouchers to get toilet paper or government made cheese and I can go to a doctor I choose (for now, right?).

But for the past 31 years, including the last 8 years, today is the day that I celebrate my sister's birthday.  Today will ALWAYS be the day that I celebrate her birthday - it was her birthday first!

Happy Birthday Melissa! 

most popular birthday

after consulting my calender, i'm surprised to announce that there is a tie between may and september for the most birthdays:
may:  caroline, melody, kathy, jeffrey, jodi, zach, natalie, dina, ann, & matt = 10
september: jon, sara madison, melissa, cole, kendal, me, grace, butch, lindsey, and joshT = 10

third busiest is january: meredith, jonathan, ray, rob, smitty, daryl, and joy = 7

december isn't even 4th!
least busiest is february.  only "uncle" chris's birthday is recorded there.
i guess, technically, it is the hardest month to "hit" since it has the shortest number of days.  hum.  on what month would one have to get pregnant to have a baby in february? late may/early june.  just saying in case anyone in the family would like to add to that month.  probably won't be me since not having a job kinda puts a damper on growing a larger family.

"kendal's" birthday list

(yes, they are still in their PJs in this photo...)

i've been getting questions... what does he want? who knows. but, here are some things he doesn't have and would probably like. i've been working on a list for a month or so... for myself, but i'll share it! since he can't read and pretty much has no idea what the internet is yet (he just thinks the computer is a place where pictures constantly cycle through...) - if you want to "claim" something for yourself, please let me know and i'll remove it from the list. but, that is up to you. and, this is also just a suggestion list. you may have better ideas! he may hate all of these things! who knows! he still loves books, and the wonder pets, and farm animals - and he rarely sits down these days. he needs some yard toys but those are too expensive even for us (and probably too "big" for him still). one more note... this list is just a "something like this" kind of list. for example, the $42 vacuum, well, i don't particularly care if it is THAT vacuum, that just happened to be the vacuum on the site i was browsing at the moment. i know that dirt devil makes one, i've seen it somewhere, but i didn't take the time to find it online. so, that is what i mean when i say a "something like this" list. also, we don't mind second hand stuff! so if you have hand-me-downs (or you like to shop at consignment store or places like that), don't hesitate to regift! kendal will never know the difference. and we don't care. :) anyway, here is my old blog post.... http://theoutcrop.blogspot.com/2009/07/reminder-list-to-myself.html

reminder list to myself

http://www.tookiestoys.com/index.php/component/option,com_wishlist/id,112/task,viewWishlist/

http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/schylling/little_helper_broom_set.cfm

http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/international_playthings/iplay_2_in_1_vacuum.cfm?IP142-1
http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/haba/ball_track_rolln_rolln_roll.cfm
http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/plan_toys/nuts_bolts.cfm?display=main

http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/edushape/rollipop_advanced.cfm


http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/haba/kaleidoscopic_blocks.cfm

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2657949&siteID=fDklYaGulKY-YN4Y0V38GuuaNEkaJLKgcg


http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3447307

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2674703



for holly (this is early) http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3113956

http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/plan_toys/click_clack.cfm

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3004101

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2674710

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3537504

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2930703 (kate!!! you got him the other two, now, complete the set!)

just wanted to let everyone know that holly joined us in time for christmas! holly noelle was born monday afternoon (dec. 22) at 7:18 pm and came pouring into this world in less than one solid push. she weighed in at 7 pounds and 10 ounces and was 21 and 1/2 inches long. nathaniel and i were joined by mom T (grammy) for the delivery. holly has lots of brown hair, my fat cheeks & the famous "harris nose", and is already in love with her dad (as is he with her). she favors kendal quite a bit! her first day was wonderful - she rested peacefully without even a cry (except when she peed). she met her brother about 3 pm the next day and everything went great. kendal fortunately has lots of "experience" with babies (at daycare plus he has several small cousins). he touched her, hugged and kissed her, then he was ready to get down and walk. small hospital rooms are quite boring for 15 month olds... kendal spent the weekend and the past few days & nights with my parents playing with his fairel cousins visiting from kentucky. the photo log:

she's about 2 hours old here... and i haven't eaten in 15 hours. yup... got a rip-roaring migraine during L&D!

here is a little bit closer shot of those sweet sweet lips! her lips and nose look just like kendal's! she likes to suck on her fingers!

first thing tuesday morning, the fairel's stopped by on their way back home. i'm glad they had a few minutes to spend with their new niece/cousin! (BTW, isn't that a good picture of all the fairel women? G&F look so sisterly there, and even my sister isn't making a funny face!)

...and here is holly's outfit for her newborn photo they take at the hospital. this photo was taken at about 10am, so she was about 15 hours old.

got to love those sweet baby clicking noises. ready to say "awwwwwwww!!!"?

here is kendal's first sight of his sister... and then their first kiss!

and here is a shot of the ride home. kendal has taken his new spot behind the driver seat... you can see holly in the mirror, snug in her infant seat!

on the ride home, kendal kept talking to holly and to us... not sure what he was saying, but he was saying something none-the-less.

ok, so i have tons of pictures. kendal is in the bed now, sleep soundly in his crib. holly is probably asleep also, but she's snuggled safely in her daddy's arms. it is christmas eve, and i'm pretty sure santa won't come if i stay up all night and upload photos! merry christmas to all and to all a good night!