Christmas...Its the most WONDERFUL time of the year!

Our Christmas Home...

Our Christmas Traditions:

*We have an Elf who comes and stays with us (the kids named him Mr Fixin) he leaves every night and reports to Santa and comes back in the morning and its a race to find his new watching spot

*The Wiseman took Jesus 3 gifts so Santa only brings Easton and Pais 3 gifts

*Mr Fixen (the Elf) brings us all new jammies to open Christmas Eve

*Christmas Eve we have a Birthday cake for Jesus

*Christmas Day we go to the movies...this year Princess and the Frog

Our Thanksgiving Feast...

This is the most inexpensive Thanksgiving I have ever fed my kids and the easiest clean up! We had turkey legs from Animal Kingdom for our Turkey Day feast. Easton was very concerned with where we were going to get turkey from on Thanksgiving and this was our solution! It might even become a tradition.

Lets Play Catch Up...

We went to Disney and stayed at the Nickelodeon Suites for Thanksgiving. Yup just the 2 kiddos and I. We had tons and tons of fun and after going through all 300 pics I decided I would just post the kids character meetings since they loved them the most. Disney was magical and just the vacation the kids and I needed. Heres who we met, hugged, dined with, and shared very magical secrets with...

The night before we left for Disney Easton had a lil birthday party with his "bestest" friends. We met at the pizza place in town and then ventured to the movies to see Astro Boy. Fun was had by all! I still cant believe your 6 dude.

You're invited to our pity party...

Life has been busy busy around our house lately but today I finally stayed in and did nothing...I mean nothing... but I did miss this boy (see pic below if your not sure who) and maybe even shed a tear over him. I pulled it all together in time for Easton to come home and it all to fall apart again. It started with Pais who stubbed her toe and in major tears proclaimed "I need daddy to kiss it better" I thought gee wouldn't that be nice. Easton then came to me with frustrated tears and said "Mom...I miss dad...I cant get allllll these Lego sets together alllllll by myself" so of course I cried with him and then because mom was crying we all cried together.

I hope America loves and appreciates this husband father and solider tonight because his family sure misses him and I would like to think maybe just maybe our sacrifices will one day better this country.

Ben we love you...words are just not enough.

Happy Birthday Easton!

Today is this kids 6th birthday!

YES...hes 6...and isn't he the coolest 6 yr old ever!?!

In true Birthday fashion

I must post lots of heartfelt loving things about this dude

BUT we all know how much I love him

and how fantastic of a kid he is so instead

I'm interviewing him for you...

ENJOY!

Me: whats today?

E: Going to disneyworld and the Nickelodeon Hotel and its Wednesday

(OK hes apparently in denial hes getting older)

Me: whats your favorite color?

E: BUHHHLUE

Me: Whats your favorite breakfast?

E: Cinnamon Crunch Cereal

Me: Wheres your favorite place to eat?

E: China food or Waffle House

Me: Who's your best friend?

E: Bella (yes the dog) Uncle John and Ili

Me: What do you want to be when you grow up?

E: A Vet and a dog rescuer

Me: Who do you love the most? haha

E: MOM (of course)

Me: Whats your favorite toy?

E: My G.I. Joe toys

Me: Whats your favorite movie?

E: Cars and Transformers

Me: What are you an expert on?

E: sports

Me: Do you have a girlfriend?

E: Yup Bella and Ili

Me: What do the girls love about you?

E: I'm tall and funny and I protect them and I took them to the movies (his bday party)

Me: Whats your favorite thing to learn in school

E: Math (ew yuck!)

Me: What would you buy if you had a $100

E: a new puppy

The End!

Happy Happy Birthday Easton!

Your the BEST 6 yr old EVER!

October Happenings

More of our busy October...

I "ran" a 5 K with my dear friend Sam and didn't die or come in last place...

whats that...ooh yes a woot woot!

(FYI: friends don't sign eachother up for 5k runs)

Proof we didn't die

and I would dare say the sweat is proof I worked hard

We had our annual dinner in a pumpkin.

I experimented this year and came up with a super yummy recipe...

watch for it on the cooking blog.

Doesn't look that good I know but it was fantastic and the kids LOVE it!

We dressed up for Halloween..

.as a witch and Superman to be exact

we trick or treated with our friends

the ballerina and a dirt biker

we even paused for a group shot...ooh tender

that snitch witch came along snitched the candy

and left calorie and cavity free goodies in its place



We also found time to pose for cute pics with Dad

Weekend in the ATL

October was a busy busy month for us! Ben had 2 weeks off work so we took advantage of that and skipped town. Our first adventure was to Atlanta for a weekend of baseball, the aquarium, and shopping! (My favorite was the shopping...go figure)

The kids had lots of fun at the Braves game...we gave into the hype of it all even despite the fact were not fans...well Ben claims the Cardinals.

(The a on my hat is clearly for awesome, amber, and amazing)

The Braves were tied so we went 2 extra innings so Easton put on his rally cap and we all cheered but they still lost. Oh and do you see proof that the said St. Louis Cardinals fan was participating in the cheering...

Atlanta has the worlds largest Aquarium so we ventured there for the day. It was cool and the kids loved it. We saw lots of fish...ooh go figure right. Eastons favorite was the whale shark...which I might add is H U G E!!!

I got in my own fun and hit up the outlets on our way home. Sorry no pics but I would hate for Ben to be reminded of the damage and have a full grown man twitching and rocking in the corner of his tent. Here's him and I at some point during that weekend...clearly before the shopping.

Our Solider

As many of you know so I'm sorry if your sick of hearing it we sent our favorite and much loved Solider off on a deployment this last week. We have a few things to be thankful for even if the situation sucks...the first is he deployed to Iraq as opposed to Afghanistan...seriously THANK HEAVENS and also this time is a mere 12 months unlike last time which was a grueling 15...yes 3 months makes a big difference in the long run.


I hope Ben reads this because I want him to know how much we love and miss him already! He is the best thing that has ever come into my life he is my best friend and my rock. I'm proud of him for all that he has accomplished in his career and I personally feel the Army is a better place because of him. I miss him horribly...I miss him shutting off the light before bed even though he usually beats me under the covers, I miss hearing him play and tease the kids, I miss all the unmentionable married stuff but mostly his kisses, I miss knowing someone pumped the gas and I have a full tank (yes already!), my list can go on and on but Ill stop...just know your missed by every person in this house!


I had the sweetest experience last night while I was at dinner with the kiddos. We decided to go out to eat and I will admit I was having a baaad emotional day so instead of sitting at the table without Ben we left the house. We let the fat man trapped in a 5 yr old lil boy body pick and he requested a buffet so off we went. The kids and I were fine...we were laughing and having fun when the sweetest older couple came up to our table and this is what happened. The man told us he had bought our dinner and left a tip, of course I was like wow thank you and then the lady said and I'm pretty sure this is word for word "the Lord impressed upon my heart that we needed to buy you dinner and let you and your kids know you are cared about" she then told me my sad spirit left such an impression on her. Ok I lost it, were talking tears almost a full on bawl. I of course was like thank you so much and Easton and Pais told them their dad had just gone to Iraq. The man then told me to tell my solider thank you and that his family is being taken care of and cared for in Richmond Hill...then I really cried. In that moment I did need to feel like I wasn't alone in my trails, and I am grateful that their are people who are open to the spirit and its promptings and are willing to help that lady who's only holding it together for her 2 kids. Im grateful for a community that does love and support their soliders and their families. The fact that I do not walk alone in this brings me such comfort and peace.


This war sucks and I don't at all see eye to eye with our current President but regardless I am proud to be an American, Ben's wife, an Army wife, and I whole heartedly support our troops and their families.


Hug your husbands tonight and don't forget our troops in your prayers!

Ben...we love you come home safe baby!

You Might Be A Redneck If...

You use your leaf blower to help your wife dust...

the fan

the skylight

&

the wreath

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?

BUSTED....they did!

This actually happened a few weeks ago while Ben was gone... I had sent the kids off to their rooms to "read" before bed and Pais snuck in the kitchen claiming to fill her water cup. About ten minutes later I could hear a lot of giggling and Easton telling Pais to "SHSHHH" so I popped my head in Pais room and there were 2 lil cookie monsters looking proud as ever and an empty Oreo package. I couldn't be mad...I wanted to but I mean really have you seen cuter thieves ever? Didn't think so!

Ooh look ONE left...they even offered it to me...

NO thanks Oreos are not my thing

Caution this is a very deep conversation...

I would like to sum up for everyone our dinner conversation this evening.

Me: Easton what was the best part of your day?

Easton: well I got a new girlfriend

Me: Ok, wait a NEW girlfriend? I wasn't aware you had a girlfriend.

Paisley: Molly was his girlfriend mom, now its Sara.

Easton: Yeah mom! Molly WAAAAS my girlfriend but now its Sara

Me: Whys that?

Easton: Sara plays horse better at recess and Molly has a hurt knee and cant play right now

Me: Well I hope your still being nice to Molly

Easton: I am but she gives me lots of mean looks like this...(insert hilarious "mean face" by Easton here)

Me: Well that's too bad...I don't think you need a girlfriend

Paisley: yeah huh boys have girlfriends mom

Easton: And mom its very important to have a girlfriend that you like.

Ok....where do a 4 and 5 yr old learn all this? I'm also left wondering how everyone but Mom is aware of his girlfriend situation...even Pais. I couldn't even argue with his last statement. Boys! When does the girls are nasty phase start?

I'm missing 2 things today...

Cafe Rio's Sweet Pork Salad (YUMMMMMMO)

&

Ben Barbeau!!!

Whats a girl to do!?!

My baby went to Pre-K

First, let me apologize for the pictures, it was so humid this morning everything on the camera was fogging up. Totally annoying and I didn't realize it was this bad.

Today my lil Paisley ventured into the big world of Pre-k. Ok yikes...I'm totally old and all alone now...just me and the mutt at home.

Paisley loved it and didn't even hesitate in going. Last night she asked me if I would just drop her off at the door of the school because she was big enough to find her own class. They grow up way too fast!

I was one of those moms...ya know the ones that get all teary and sentimental over sending the kids off to school. I lingered too long and Pais invited me to leave and told me not to hurry back to get her....WHAT!?! Where is the love? Last year I couldn't get rid of her this year she apparently feels she cant get rid of me. She did inform me though the best part was playing and the worst part was doing work...uh oh!

I filled the void of being kid less with a delish breakfast with my dear friend Lori who happens to make alot of Pais clothes so she took advantage of my traumatic morning and gave me a lil one on one designing and retail therapy...her new fall line is out and Pais is going to be decked out and fabulous!

Paisley Bop...here's to 4 days a week of silence and not being yelled at for not making your hair bow match ooh so perfect...despite our differences and occasional clashes you my dear dear child will be missed!

I love you...guess your no longer my baby!

Isnt she the CUTEST Pre-K girl you've ever seen!?!

Time Flies...

Yesterday was Eastons first day of Kindergarten....I can not believe he is old enough for that! Where did the time go?
He was excited of course and had his uniform laid out and ready to go since Sat night. The first day was a hit other then a few mom mistakes (no drink in his lunch, almost late on the first day, some missing supplies, and he was the last to get picked up...OOPS!)
Most of the same kids from his pre K class are now in his Kindergarten class which he loves. He was quick to inform Pais and I he's the only boy at his table and then told us probably 20 times he sure was glad to see Molly. A Girl huh!?! All I heard all day once he got home was "can you believe it mom, Im a kindergartner, Im going to be so so so smart now." Nope, I cant belive it! What happened to my fat squishy baby?
Today his day didn't go as well and upon further prying this was his explanation "Molly, ya know my friend thats pretty and nice to look at, threw up and had to go home this morning even before lunch! I had no one to look at" (Yikes...hes a starer and a stalker!?!)
HMMMMM my 5 yr old has a lil crush I think.

Look how handsome he looked all dressed for school

(doesnt look like that at all when I get him back though)

I LOVE YOU my lil KINDERGARTNER

I can't wait to see how much smarter your going to be when this year is over!