Elf on the Shelf and Santa Pictures

It's literally been years since my last post.

Things are SO different these days!

But I need somewhere to document life. I've tried youtube, and it's just not something I can do as much as I want because of the lack of space on my computer. I can't even make one video without receiving pop-ups that tell me that my "disk space" is full.

SO, until I get another computer with more storage, my videos will be set at bare minimum and I will be blogging again!!

Kalista is now 5!

Hayleigh is 3!

and

We have another sweet baby girl on the way!
I'll be 30 weeks on Tuesday. Due February 7th! 

While it's not possible to recap life since my last post,

I will just start where life is now and see where that takes me ;)

We are just entering into the Christmas season.

The Holidays become more and more fun each year, as the girls get bigger.

This is the first year that Kali not only remembers the previous year, but she remembers specific details.

She has been talking about Christmas for months and has been SO excited for it!

We started a new tradition last year.

One that I honestly never thought I'd do.

To be honest, I've always been against Elf on the Shelf because I thought it was stupid.

I hated the fact that the elf always did "naughty" things, and I still hate that fact.

The point of the elf is to make sure the kids behave,

so why would you make the elf misbehave?

I've learned that teaching by example is one of the most effect ways of parenting,

at least with my kids.

So sending an elf, that tells them to be good, but is naughty herself, was kind of contradicting and didn't teach a very good lesson for my kids.

But last year, when I saw that Elf on the Shelf on sale,

something inside me said I just HAD to get it.

I couldn't resist.

Who says the elf has to be naughty?

It's also a great way to incorporate the true meaning of Christmas.

Teaching the girls that Santa and his elves also focus on the true meaning of Christmas, is an awesome teaching opportunity.
It also makes Christmas that much more magical!

SO,

we started the elf thing.

Our elf is VERY obedient and she is here to make sure the girls are not only behaving,

but she also takes time to teach them about the true meaning of Christmas.

She doesn't do it every day,

but she makes sure it's the main focus.

I really wanted to document it this year,

because I didn't last year and this Elf is SO important to Kali.

She LOVES this elf!

So, I'd like to introduce our Elf "Sparkles"

Where she made her entrance for the year.

After reading the book and the letter, 

Kalista started talking to the elf.

She asked her what she was grateful for, 

so obviously I had to take advantage of that!

So, 

last night "Sparkles" wrote another letter

I'm no rhyming genuis, but it's good enough for the kids! haha

They had so much fun finding all of the candy canes this morning.
I wish I had recorded it! 

Here's where she ended up tonight.

It's so much fun watching the girls excitement every morning when they look for the Elf. 

I love how much magic she brings into our home and I'm so happy that I decided to do it!

Sparkles showed up for the first time last night while we were out getting our "santa" pictures. 

here are a few of them. 

I'm just a little disappointed with how they turned out. 

I was more impressed with the ones we've had done in previous years, 

but I still think they turned out cute. 

I just am annoyed that the photographer really didn't get a picture of both girls with their darling smiles in the same picture. Let me show you what I mean:

Kalista's smile is beautiful, but Hayleigh is making a funny face. This is because the photographer told them to say something, and they repeated it over and over. They stopped after we told them to only say it once, but apparently she didn't add those pictures. 

This black and white would be SO much better if Hayleigh wasn't making such a silly face..

Same thing here. Hayleigh is talking. Kali's smile is perfect though.

Here, Hayleigh's smile is so cute and fitting for her personality, but Kalista is talking this time. 

So I am a little disappointed, but they will work.

These next poses are obviously their favorite. Tyson likes them too. haha

These last poses, are what I decided to put in my Christmas cards.

Remind me not to let them photograph my pregnant belly ever again. 

I feel like I totally destroyed this pose.

However, both girls look darling and we might as well have all of us in our Christmas cards! 

I wanted to do this one for the Christmas cards, but Tyson thinks it should be in color. 

We went to firehouse subs after getting our pictures.

I've literally only been there like one other time and I wasn't disappointed with what I got.

I totally hit the spot! 

Girls loved it as well since they both got their own hats. 

I'm so excited for Christmas this year!!!

14 Days of Valentines

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!! <3

We had such an incredible, unforgettable day.

It was by far the all time best Valentines day yet!

Here is Kalista in her cute little Love Day Attire:

and her doing her modelesque pose.

Yes she did this by herself.

She is at the stage where she refuses to look at the camera no matter what I do!

haha

I woke up on the Morning of Valentines day and came upstairs to this lovely, awesome, incredible suprise:

Roses, Chocolates, the sweetest card ever written, and a 1 hour massage at massage envy!

mmmm...I'm getting that massage tomorrow!

My husband knows EXACTLY what I need.

I love that man SOO very much.

***

When I started trying to decided what to get Tyson for Valentines day, I came across many different 14 days of Valentines day gifts and decided this was the perfect idea.

I found a lot of different ones as I searched the internet.

However,

I didn't want to do just one of them,

so I decided that I was going to work up some ideas in my little head and combine some I found/come up with some of my own.

So here was my Valentines day Gift to Tyson:

Day 1

Tyson and I wrote each other while he was on his mission.

I typed some of my letters to him, because I really can't stand my handwriting and I was also able to write them faster. I was busy and knew I was already slacking as it was...so I just typed his letters.

Come to find out,

He hated when I did that.

He didn't feel it was as personal if it was typed.

So for his first gift,

I wrote him a short and sweet letter about how much I appreciated everything he does for Kali and me.

I hate my handwriting.

(best picture I could get on my phone)

Day 2

For the second day,

I taped a [typed] note to our front door so that Tyson would see it when he got home.

Unfortunately,

I forgot to take a picture of this one,

but it said that once he walked in the door,

he wasn't allowed to do anything but relax.

He couldn't talk or even think about work.

I told him that if it took Kali and I leaving and him having the house to himself in order for him to relax,

we could do that.

Apparantly it's hard for him to relax,

because he kept trying to do things that involved work.

and he wouldn't let us leave.

He decided he wanted to go to a movie with his brother and some friends.

Unfortunately they couldn't do it until the next day,

so we spent that night together and he went out with the guys the next day.

(But I still wouldn't let him do an ounce of work)

Day 3

I made him cupcakes!

Day 4

I gave him a heart attack in our hallway...

along with a bunch of little notes of things I liked about him...

Day 5

[please ignore the block calendar in the corner. I'm aware it needed to be changed]

Day 6

A valentines day themed lunch

Two heart shaped PB&J's

Strawberries

4 heart shaped cakes

Doritos (the pinkest chip I could think of..haha)

and pink Lemonade in a pink thermos :):)

Day 7

I made my Valentine a Homemade Valentine :)

Day 8

He has really needed chapstick lately and he kept mentioning it,

So...

Day 9

Since the day we got our car,

Tyson has made it a goal to make sure he cleans the in and outside of the car every weekend.

A few weeks ago,

he mentioned that he wanted to buy all the supplies needed to clean the outside of the car,

so that he didn't have to go to the carwash every weekend,

PLUS,

it would save us money in the long run.

SO....

Day 15

I found him a movie that I knew he would like,

and made a movie night out of it.

Day #11

We had been planning on taking Kali to the Rec. Center all week. We were going to go on Saturday.

It was going to be her first time and I was SO excited because I knew she was going to love it

(which she did!)

Tyson had mentioned when talking about it earlier in the week that his swimsuit no longer fit him.

I was so glad he mentioned it,

because that's what I got him for day #11

He looked DANG good in this swimsuit too.

If I don't say so myself!

Day 12

The note says:

"It's day #12 and just so you know...we were mint to be together"

haha I'm good huh?

...kidding.

(Sorry it's not a very good picture. These were all taken with my phone)

Day 13

His Favorite candybar is Snickers,

so I HAD to figure out a way to incorporate that into a day.

Because I'm not the most CREATIVE person in the world,

this was the best I came up with!

"I thought I should let you know on day 13, that sometimes your "Extra" hot body makes me "Snicker" with delight!"

haha!

Day 14

This is obviously the day I spent the most time preparing for.

I was so stressed out that something would go wrong!

But besides a few minor issues that didn't really matter,

It turned out PERFECT!

I brought Kali to my parents house around 3:00 where my sister agreed to Tend her over night.

Then I went home and immediately began preparing.

I SERIOUSLY had to learn some made double tasking skills,

and I gotta say,

I think I did a pretty good job!

I quickly changed in to some Lingerie I bought specifically for this occasion ;)

dressed up for him and got to work.

I made Sweet and Spicy Pork,

a recipe I got out of a magazine,

Black Bean Salad,

Homemade rolls that are supposed to taste like Texas Roadhouse's Rolls,

and Homemade Cinnamon Honey Butter which was also supposed to taste like Texas Roadhouse.

I topped it off with Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice.
(his favorite)

I turned on some romantice love music,

turned down the lights,

lit some candles,

and

WAH LAH!

(lights were on for this picture)

The pork is missing in this picture, because it was still in the oven!

It turned out SOO good!

It was delish! seriously. I really recommend it for a nice dinner.

(I'll post the recipe at the end of this post :))

Tyson got home JUST as the Pork was about done.

Seriously PERFECT timing.

We had such a good dinner,

and spent the rest of the night together,

topping of the evening with a last minute, late night movie "The Vow"

which was SO good I highly recommend it.

It really was such a romantic wonderful day.

It went perfectly. I was so happy with the way everything went.

We actually were able to spend time together. It was heavenly.

If you've never heard of the 14 days of Valentines day,

look up some of them on Google or try something like this one.

You won't be disappointed with the outcome ;)

***

Now for the delish recipe.

(For the texas roadhouse rolls/honey butter, you can find those on my pinterest! )

Sweet and Spicy Pork with Black Bean Salad

(I'm really sorry I don't have any good pictures of it. I took this one from the magazine. (which by the way was from the Womans day Magazine December 2011 issue)!!)

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp ancho or regular chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

2 Tbsp olive oil

Kosher salt and pepper

1 1/4-pound pork tenderloin

1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

3 scallions, thinly sliced

1 jalapeno (seeded for less heat), finely chopped

1 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, chili powder, cumin, 1 Tbsp oil, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.

2. Rub the spice mixture all over the pork, place on the prepared baking sheet, and roast until the pork registers 145 degrees F., 18-22 minutes.  Let rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing.

3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss together the beans, tomatoes, scallions, jalapeno, vinegar, remaining Tbsp oil, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper; fold in the cilantro. Serve with the pork.

Christmas/New Year

First off,

Happy New Year!!

Last year was great,

the best part being the birth of our Beautiful Kali.

Now to making it another great year to remember!

Christmas was so fun!

definitely one of the best Christmases ever!

It all started with Kali's first Visit to Santa!

She absolutely LOVED him.

I was so happy to see her enjoy him so much.

When we first put her on his lap,

she just stared at him...

then she looked over  at us and began smiling really big!

Complete with holding his fingers and all ;)

I sure love her.

Next was the Pixton Christmas party.

(Tyson's moms family)

Santa was there as well,

but I don't have a picture :(

I do Have Kali in her cute santa outfit though :)

The month went on with,

My sister coming home for the Holidays from Texas!

We got together right after she got here,

and made chocolate covered Cake bites!

mmm...

so Delish.

Then on to the rest of the partys...

With Santa at the DeMie Christmas Eve party.

/\ This was on Christmas Eve Eve.

On Christmas Eve,

we ended up at the Car Dealership...

and Tyson bought me my Christmas present!

You have no idea how much I love this car!

Christmas was so much fun with Kali!

We had to wake her up early,

because we were going to my parents house for breakfast.

Here's how much Santa spoiled this child...

She had so much fun!

The presents didn't stop there though...

We went to my parents house,

and she was overwhelmed with gifts there as well.

This was my favorite of the gifts they gave her.

This horse sings and prances.

It's so cute.

My little sister also gave her a really cute santa dressed monkey.

That was my other favorite,

but I forgot to take a picture :S

Dustin, Andrea and Avery came over the day after Christmas,

and gave Kali 4 of the Original Christmas Classic movies.

I can't WAIT until she gets into movies more,

because I LOVED those growing up.

They also gave us a gift card to Zupas, which we used that day.

haha

Anyway.

We had an INCREDIBLE Christmas!

I can't end without saying that I'm so grateful for the birth of Our Savior.

He's the real meaning of Christmas and I really felt the Spirit this year.

It was a wonderful month.

***

We just kept it low key for new years eve.

We spent the Evening with my parents with Pizza, Games and Movies.

Tyson and I made a New years Resolution this year that we started immediately.

We want to lose weight.

We're doing Isogenix.

It's SO tough,

but as long as I keep my eye on the prize,

I think I'll make it.

Tyson is doing way better than me :)

I'm going to make another 101 goals in 1001 days as well. 

I failed miserabely with the one I was doing on my other blog.

But I WILL do better with this one :)

That post to come...