Chicago Bound

I packed for two people for one week and I'm not checking a bag. My packing expertise is on full display below:


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Cookie Deliveries

Cookies by me (with help from Baker). Cute packaging courtesy of Martha Stewart. B and I will make deliveries after school today.





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Oh Deer!

I've made 20 reindeer cookies (so far). An intervention might be in order.


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Snowmen

Craft project found in the December issue of Martha Stewart: Hershey bars "dressed" as snowmen. Fun, easy and cute!





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Location:S Owasso Ave,Tulsa,United States

He's Baaaack

Coffee, our Elf on the Shelf is back and up to his old tricks. Baker was so happy to see him!!!


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I am Iron Man

Baker received an Iron Man helmet and miscellaneous weaponry from Tim and Kate (early Christmas exchange). Everyone loved trying on the helmet. Kylee looks a little like an ant, don't you think?


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It's a Wrap

How lovely are these packages? Pretty. Pale. Perfection.

Thankful Hearts

Baker is making a list of all of the things he is thankful for (in his own words). And the list keeps growing. (The random things are my favorite: Markers. Pumpkins.)









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Kitchen Project

I painted a chalkboard in our kitchen -- which scratched a home improvement itch that has been nagging me for about a week. This was an easy update to a slightly boring space... See what you think! (Notice Olive posing in the last photo. Such a ham.)








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OUCH

Earlier this week Kylee tore her ACL and MCL playing volleyball. She is being very brave and has a great attitude about everything...including her brace. She emailed me this pic from the doctor's office. (I like her pink socks!)

December

Inspiration arrived in the mailbox today...

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Christmas in November

With my online shopping well underway and gifts beginning to arrive via UPS and USPS, it's beginning to feel a little like Christmas around here. Or pre-Christmas, anyway. And this just might be the best part for me...PLANNING. Dreaming. List-making.

I am promising myself NOT to buy ornaments or decorations this year. I am making do with what we have and vowing not to buy MORE STUFF to fill the basement.

(Top photo) This is a Martha tree. I like it but I think the tubs of gifts are the best part. I'm thinking galvanized tubs would be cute... I'm also thinking our tree might be nice in the living room instead of the foyer this year. (Look at me -- thinking outside of the box!!)

(Bottom photo) We're going to be in Chicago for about a week in December. Dec. 16 - 22 to be exact. We'll need a little Christmas cheer in the apartment...how cute is the minimalist tree?!

Baker cannot wait for the Elf on the Shelf to make an appearance. We're hoping "Coffee" is up to his old tricks again this year. And we hope he has warm boots and a plane ticket to join us in Chicago. Time will tell...

James Henry is FOUR!

Boo!

Guess who picked out this year's Halloween costume??

I knew it would happen (eventually) and apparently this was the year.

In the past I enjoyed dressing Baker (in chronological order) as a frog, Elmo, a bat and a shark -- but this year it was all him.

Per his request, we searched high and low for a skeleton costume. (We returned a skeleton costume that was obscenely tight and ill fitting...included below for your enjoyment.)

He LOVES his spooky costume, especially the mask. And I loved that he loved it.

We trick-or-treated with a big group of kids this year. For the third year in a row Kristen hosted an absolutely adorable Halloween party.

Here's to all things spooky, creepy and crawly...
And here's to opinionated five-year-old boys.

Happy Halloween!!!

*This is the reject costume. Yikes.

Fall

Baker and I enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in Woodward Park. He fed the turtles, threw acorns and collected leaves. I love this park and I cherish days like this with my sweet, beautiful boy.

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Location:S Owasso Ave,Tulsa,United States

Halloween Cupcakes

We joined the George's for the third year in a row and had a cupcake decorating party.

Here's how things played out:

The kids ate a cupcake then ran off and played...Kristen decorated 36 cupcakes and I decorated 24...then the kids ran in and begged for more cupcakes...then pushed each other around...then pretended to be pregnant...then begged for more cupcakes...then B pushed JH down the stairs...then everyone begged for cupcakes...then JH ended up naked in the bathtub?!?!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Birthday Wishes

In honor of Kevin's 41st birthday, we had a family lunch/party on Sunday.

Menu: Cesar salad, rib eye steak and (homemade!) mashed potatoes

For dessert I made the exact same cake I've made since 2003 -- carrot cake with cream cheese frosting (so good your teeth hurt a little when you eat it).

I love seeing the family resemblance in the photos (below) of Kevin, Kylee and Baker. Wishing my Mister a happy birthday and many, many more.

Personal Best

Since I am holding Noah's camera hostage (I've had it since the wedding) I thought I'd take a few pics of Baker while he was running Tuesday afternoon.

His coach was helping him with his starting starting form. He's so encouraging and Baker always has a great time. This is turning into a really great activity for B.

26.2

Chicago Marathon 10/10/10.
We saw Kevin at mile 10. He gave Baker a high-five and he looked like he was doing great. He had terrible (and by that I'm guessing excruciating might be a more appropriate word) cramps beginning at mile 17. Of course he kept going. Which means he was miserable the last 9.2 miles. NINE POINT TWO MILES. But he did it. He finished his second marathon.

After it was all said and done Baker spotted Kevin in front of Buckingham Fountain and ran toward him asking, "Daddy did you win the race?!"
You've got to love a groupie!

Oh, and one more thing. Noah was in Chicago for the weekend. Dinner at Blackbird. Lunch at Big Star. Snacks at Pastoral. Plus we stopped in Sepia, Sable, the Gage and the Wit. Too much fun...

Marathon Man

Baker and I leave for Chicago this afternoon. Can't wait to cheer for Kevin on Sunday during the Chicago marathon. RUN KEVIN RUN

Fun-kins

Fun on the Farm

I took these pictures during Shona and Shelby's wedding weekend. I borrowed Noah's (super fancy) camera to take pics during the wedding. And I am more convinced than ever that I need a new digital camera. (TY Noah...)

Emily and I took the boys to the lake around 6 p.m. to feed the catfish and the light was magical. The boys are the cutest, sweetest, funniest little guys. And they are such good friends. I wish they could see each other more often!