Parent Win

When we first made plans for Collin & I to come spend Thanksgiving weekend in Big Bear with Jacob & his daughters, I obsessively scoured the Internet for activities we could do with the kids. Preferably something so full of holiday cheer, we'd all fall asleep that day with visions of sugar plums.

Big Bear is a small town, so I wasn't sure how my luck would pan out...until I saw that they had AN ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY WITH SANTA AND MRS CLAUS! BOTH of them!!! Even better, it was held in The Village, which is a super cute part of town lined with small shops and artisan displays. The Village is hands down, my favorite part of Big Bear.

Jacob & I created a master plan in no time. We'd load the kids up after dinner, make a pit stop at Starbucks for hot chocolate & cake pops & then drive down to The Village to watch the ceremony & see Santa.

Only....it didn't pan out that way.

Instead, we fell behind on dinner because the kitchen in this cabin...well, it's a whopper, lemme tell ya. Observe:

After we finagled dinner out of the kitchen, the ceremony was over. But we knew Santa & Mrs. Claus would still be there & the tree would still be lit up; looking gorgeous. So, we dressed the kids in warm coats & hats, loaded them into the car & headed to our first stop: Starbucks...for our grand plan of cake pops & hot chocolate, you know.

Only....Starbucks was out of cake pops....& whoopie pies....& hot sleeves....& venti sized cups....& peppermint flavor. No. This isn't a joke. They were out of everything. We were sad, yes, but shrugged it off. What else could we do? First world problems, yo! We got the kids their hot chocolate...Collin chocolate milk (did you know they put whipped cream & chocolate syrup on top?!?!?) & headed to The Village for the festivities.

Jacob parked in front of a candy shoppe & we decided since the cake pops were an epic fail, we would let the kids pick out something from the shop. $25 later, we walked out of the store with a giant lollipop, two sugar filled tubes, a Mario PEZ & a feather lollipop. It was so worth it to see the gleam in their eyes when we told them they could pick out what they wanted.

After we forced them all to stand in front of the tree so we could have our pictures, we saw Santa. Well, MJ & Andi did. Collin cried & screamed & had to wait with Cub Cub out side. I am so not getting a Santa picture out of him this year. We could barely hear the girls tell Santa what they wanted over Collin's curdled screams.

This afternoon, when I gave Andi permission to open her lollipop, we had one happy camper. I mean....HAPPY. Who knew a $4 sucker could get this much happy out of one little girl?

Just a lazy day!

So, today just happens to be one of those lazy days. Started off at 6:30 a.m. for some retarded reason. (Thank you Aiden) We just chilled around the room for a little while. I decided to take a shower with the doors blocked open so that I can pay attention to Aiden playing. Well . . . Mr. Stretch Armstrong somehow got his box of bunny cheddar crackers, and decided to dump a bunch all over the floor, then proceed to stomp all over them and trail them into the bathroom and then back into the bedroom. Frustrating? Yes. Funny? IT WAS SO HARD NOT TO LAUGH!!! Especially when I have to jump out of the shower to grab the box from him. Yes. Quite a funny sight.

We ended up chillin' (after I cleaned his mess up) on the floor. Aiden was loving trying to take apart my bracelets, and then my hand happened to sneak up his shirt or up his pant leg for some tickle torture. Actually, I don't really know if you can call it torture because he really enjoys getting tickled. And if he does not want to be tickled, he turns it off. NO JOKE!!! You can be going to town on the normal tickle spot, and he will just look at you like you are a moron, or just look/walk away. That is just not fair.

While talking with my most beautiful girlfriend on her lunch break, I really started wanting some pizza. I cannot remember the last time I was able to order a pizza that I wanted! So, after Holly and got off the phone, after an hour telling each other how freakin' excited we are that we are getting to see each other tomorrow night!!! After talking about how fun it is to finally have all of our kids together, under one roof, for a whole entire week!!! We hung up, and I called Red Baron Pizza in Big Bear Lake. Ordered me a pepperoni and breakfast bacon pizza!!! You know you are jealous. Especially looking at that beer. So puto good!!! What are your favorite styles of pizza?

Collin's Birthday Party

So Collin's party was low key this year. I didn't throw a huge bash like last year & kept it to close family & friends.

Anyone notice how hard it is to get pictures at your own parties. I suck at that because I'm usually running around or socializing with the guests.

I finally gave up & handed over camera duty to Collin's Uncle Brain (for the second year in a row), who did a great job! Thanks, B!

My Seester & I spent the night before creating this little piece of amazing. Yeah. THAT happened.

Normally, I am the party favor QUEEN. Just ask the kids from last year. This year, I was pressed for time because I waited last minute. Mom fail. Bubbles & Airheads it is.

I get my party planning from my Mama...who bought Collin his very own cotton candy machine & popcorn machine. Complete with his name on the billboard. Did I also mention she purchased her own jumpy house? Yeah. Grandma be cray.

The jumpy house proved to be the perfect setting for Collin & his betrothed to get their dancey dance on...& for Mama to get her stuff-her-face-with-non-diet-friendly-food on.

I'm sure you're thinking, "My what a large gift that green box is! I wonder what it could be?" Let me just prepare you to have your mind blown....

It has a little something to do with this sweet couple, who also happen to be my Seester & BIL.

Did I mention my Seester was knocked up? No? Oh...well, she is.....& Collin got to tell the family what she was having.... A BOY!

Homie made out. Which worked out because half went with Mama & half went with Daddy. These toys will be getting lots of Collin lovins for a long time comin.

iPhone Photos: Weeks 45 - 47

Mama & The Goo  //  He is totally my freaking kid  //  LOOK AT WHAT WE FOUND AT OUR FRIEND'S HOUSE!!!!!

Day one on the diet  //  Pine scented car freshener smells like Christmas  //  Low carb/no sugar lunch

Yummy, diet friendly breakfast  //  My Manski making me laugh  //  He makes me dweeby things

More yummy eggs  //  Black tea, thank God I can still drink that  //  Diet friendly snacks for my desk  //  Yummy chef's salad for lunch

Collin mowing on some frozen yogurt  //  Collin & Grandpa Sanford on their frozen yogurt date

Dude jacked my tea  //  The beginnings of Collin's birthday, Yo Gabz cake  //  Aunt Cort making Plex  //  The final product. Not perfect, but I'm okay with how it came out.

Getting cleanies  //  Down a total of five pounds & one whole pants size