New Years Eve

 We have always spent our New Years eve with my in-laws but, since moving back home we have decided to forgo the drive since, I really don't enjoy driving home with drunks on the road and stay home for an at home celebration with our kids.

 The kids never stay up that late anyway, so we will get to enjoy watching the "WIG DROP" hahaha on Watch What Happens Live sans children. Little does my husband know that yet... hee hee but, I'm sick and not just in the head so, a low key celebration with my last cup of good ol' fashioned Mexican Hot Chocolate(Yes, I'm starting my annual diet) wrapped in my new giraffe print, Sherpa lined blankie with tons of tissues all while watching my favorite channel with my favorite man sounds like the perfect way to celebrate 2011.

  What are your plans for New Years eve? If you're going out be sure to check out my New Years eve make-up tips and tricks on my other blog www.shawnadmakeup.blogspot.com

Here's to a warm & cozy New Year!
Love and Chocolate,
Shawna

Our Christmas Extraveaganza

 

 Here the princess is not quite sure she wants to share her monkey backpack with her cousin .

   

My hubby and me

  

My big boy and me

 

  We brought Sunday along for the festivities as well.

 On Christmas day we spend the morning opening presents at our house then go next door to Papa & Nana's house to have breakfast and open more presents. This year my brothers brought their A game and scored big points with the kids! They got everything they asked for! What awesome uncles my kids have.

 

 YAY MOONDOUGH!!

 OHHHHH NERF GUN!!!!

 YESSSSS BLACK OPS!!!!!

  

The day after Christmas we spend with my super fabulous Grandma at my Aunts house. By this time the kiddos are all pictured out and refuse to take any more pictures so, I have to be sneaky about it. Here the princess is hiding from me.

 This has to be one of my favorite pictures. My little family with my Grandma and Papa. This is what Christmas is really all about...Celebrating the gift that God gave us with the ones we love.

I hope your Christmas was filled with lot's of love and great family memories too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

Santa might not make it tonight

Sorry kids Santa might not make it tonight on account of being destroyed by the dog.

WAHM vs. Working Mom

 I feel like I'm struggling and juggling with Christmas this year. I'm feeling unsure about the decision I made a few months ago to give up making girlie accessories. I'm actually REALLY feeling the financial part of it and how it has affected my Christmas giving.

 Last year I was stressed beyond about getting my holiday orders done and shipped in time and knowing that I was neglecting my motherly and wifely duties as well. I had gone back and forth in my head about it for a while. I knew it was more important to give 100% of me to my family but, now I just wanna cry because I feel like I can't give them all of things they want and NEED for that manner.

 If I was working outside the home I would make enough to pay for childcare and well, since I have 3 kids it would be really expensive so, it just made more sense for me to work from home but, what most people don't understand is that when you go to work outside the home you are not babysitting, making meals, cleaning the house, doing laundry, driving people here and there and helping with homework. You actually have time to focus on your job that pays your bills when you work outside the home.

  I had to focus on not only being  the CEO of my job but, the CEO of a household as well. What's a mom to do in this situation? Struggle financially to give your family what they need emotionally or struggle emotionally to give your family what they need financially? I have to give up one to have the other no matter what decision I make. I'm just not sure if I made the right decision.

Flowers and Sunshine

My mom brought me flowers the other day and said "they're just because you needed them". She can be so sweet and on a day that wasn't even so good for her. It has been raining non-stop for a week here in Southern California and us beach people are not use to all of this gloomy weather. Not enough sun really can get you down but, when someone unexpectedly brings you flowers it's just like a ray of sunshine in an otherwise gloomy day.
 The sun poked out just enough for me to take some pictures of my flowers and of course Sunday had to get in on the action. He was so excited to run and play in the warm sunshine!

Advent Calender (Nana Made it)

I always have great ideas (or at least I think they are) but, never seem to either find the time or have the right supplies on hand to get them made. I found a great post for The Lazy mom's guide to making an advent calender but, Christmas is less than a week away and I can't justify starting a new project this close to Christmas when I have so many other projects to finish.
 This is where Nana comes to the rescue! She sewed together this beautiful heirloom Advent calender that I will be able to use for years to come.It hangs on the wall in the living room at a height perfect for the kids. I will stuff each day with small candy canes for them to pull out as they count down to Christmas. The kids love it as much as I do and I didn't even have to make it! even better hahaha.
 Thanks Mom. You Rock!

Meet Sunday

Meet the newest addition to our family. We promised the kids they were going to get THE BEST Christmas gift ever so we adopted Sunday from a Los Angeles animal shelter. Poor little guy needed a loving family but, really I think this family really needed him.

 Here are some fun facts about him:
~He weighs 16lbs.
~He is a year old but, looks like a little old Scottish man.
~He is the sweetest little doggy ever.
~He loves to lick your face and lick your fingers and arms and well, I guess he just loves to lick in general.
~He likes his rope toy and his Santa toy the best of all his toys.
~He is currently being potty trained and yes we have had a few accidents already but, that's what the kids agreed to : 0
~He loves to cuddle and isn't too sure about the new dog food we bought him.
~He prefers to find scraps on the floor so, I guess that means the kitchen floor will need to be mopped EVERY day now.
~He goes nuts when he smells fried chicken.
~He loves his doggy bed and warm blankies.
~He begs to sleep with mommy and yes, I let him.
I'm sure with time we'll find out more interesting facts about him and I'll share those too.

A writing celebration

Instead of a traditional holiday party at school my son's first grade teacher decided to have a writing celebration. Each child wrote and illustrated their own story then, parents were invited to come in and each child took their story around and read to all of the adults.
 They were all so proud and excited to read their stories. They didn't even realize that they were missing out on a day of no school work and eating tons of junk...we'll save that for next year ; )
Here's a little video of my son reading me his story...
Writting celebration 2010 from Shawna D. on Vimeo.

First Trumpet performance

 My little monkey isn't so little anymore. He had his first ever instrumental performance tonight. He played the Trumpet and did a pretty good job. He's only been practicing for about two months so, I think this is great for someone who's never played an instrument before and did I mention that he's the ONLY Trumpet player in the whole school!
He's playing his uncle David's trumpet. Those are some pretty big shoes to fill and I think he's up for the task. Hopefully he'll stick with it and be amazing.

I'm such a proud mom... 

and now I'm going to share a little video of his performance..oh yes, I'm THAT mom.

Josh's Trumpet performance 2010 from Shawna D. on Vimeo.

Holiday Sugar cookie recipe and decorating tips

Who doesn't love sugar cookies? I could eat a whole batch in one sitting myself! Well, thanks to my favorite blog "Tip Junkie" I will get to make some from scratch this year. Watch out because we may just have an earthquake since I will attempt to bake and not burn my cookies this year. I will be using a sugar cookie recipe from the blog The girl who ate everything she has great recipes and great tips for NOT burning your cookies LOL!

 Then, I will attempt my hand at decorating our sugar cookies which, is right up my alley. Now this I'm pretty sure I can do. I'm not as talented or as OCD as one would need to be to create such cookie masterpieces as the cookie decorating master over at Bake at 350 but I will give it a go. I MAY even let the kids help : 0 just kidding I'll make a separate batch for me to decorate : )

 If our cookies come out even remotely as nice as some of these then, I will post pics, If not then, I will also post pics so you can enjoy a good laugh at my expense.
Please feel free to post links to your yummy delicious recipes. I would love to try something new.

Happy baking to you all,
Shawna

Holiday Shopping

Have you ever noticed how people become crazy maniacs during the holiday season?  Maybe this would kick the bah humbug out of their butts!

The biggest splinter ever!

 If you're easily grossed out stop reading this and go read this. If you're still here please read on.....

 I told you that we live in an old craftsman style house with old pipes and old wood floors. Well this is what happens when you have boys running through the house. My son yells "mom I have a splinter!" And knowing that they always act like they're dying whenever they bump themselves I yell back "oh you'll be okay. Let me finish folding the clothes and then I'll come take it out." So, he hobbles into the living room and this is what he shows me........

 You better believe that sucker bled. We had to cut the skin covering it so we could pull it out. And yes, mommy felt a little bad for thinking it was a little splinter, no big deal. I guess that means I should jump to the rescue next time. My bad.

NO WATER!!!

UGH! That's how I feel today. We live in an older craftsman style house and well, we have to deal with all of the wonderful things that go along with that such as, galvanized pipes which means sand and all that yucky stuff come through and clog up the pipes leaving us with yup, you guessed it .. NO WATER!

 First, the water heater goes out so all we have is cold water and now the lines are clogged in the kitchen. I don't know which is worse, dirty bodies or dirty dishes! I guess I could go do the dishes in the tub but really that's pretty disgusting too! I'll just wait it out one more day and hope that the plumbers can fix it tomorrow.

 I may just go buy paper plates. Oh, I can hear all of my "green" friends screaming in terror right now but, you gotta do whatcha gotta do to keep your sanity and if that means contributing to the destruction of the environment well, that's what I'll have to do. At least I'll have a squeaky clean family even though our kitchen will be disgusting.

 I'd take a picture of our disgusting kitchen but, I'm sure in your imagination it's looks worse so, I'll just leave you with that.

Happy dirty dishes to you all,
Shawna