Hmmm, whats that you say? Christmas Shopping? Me....

I looked for a picture with a stroller but couldn't find one, but these work too! Yes, that's right Max and I ventured out today to do some early Christmas shopping...in November, yes that's right! I honestly didn't think I would get much done due to the fact that my friend and I went out the other night and um yah I will admit it...I bought most everything for me! But I needed boots, and sock, and earrings! I really did, 3 pairs of shoes where purchased, but really its not that bad, I needed them all...yes I did. Oh wait I did buy some cologne for Loren at his requests, I could oblige!!

Isn’t that how Christmas shopping always starts, you start buying things for yourself? Well that is usually how it starts for me and I'm really not kidding.

I must admit that I hate crowds and crowded parking lots, I kind of get overwhelmed! Well not kind of... I do. The pressure of getting in line before it gets crazy, not having products in stock that I want...oh the idea of it doesn't put me much in the Christmas spirit. Not too mention that my favorite radio station only plays Christmas music after Thanksgiving, I do love Christmas but also don't need to be bombarded with Christmas songs all month long...am I alone with that thought? Boy I am getting off track, but isn’t that what blogging is? Anyways back to me and my amazing, proud day today. In the history of my life I really don't think I have even thought about Christmas shopping until December...thought about it in the early part but actually did the shopping a couple weeks before. Realizing that things are going to get a little crazy after Thursday (Thanksgiving) I decided I had an open day and figured might as well go try.

I was really happy when I stepped foot in the mall and saw Santa, again wasn't even thinking pictures with Santa this early but no line and remembering my 2 hour in line experience last year that ended up with a crying baby in the picture, guess you always have one of those! I decided to make a quick call to Loren and he agreed it was a great idea! So happy me quickly ran up to Santa picked out what package of pictures I wanted and was happy to hand a smiling Max over to Santa to have a no crying child, happy to see Santa. I was really lucky until the perfectionist side of me came out and had to fix his Boston shirt so it was straight, obviously that wasn’t important to Santa! After that Max lost it probably because he thought I was going to leave him with this guy. With the crying and only one picture being taken before the crying started I decided to accept it. The workers their said it was really cute, they obviously don't have good taste, Max wasn't even looking at the camera or Santa so I declined to take it which they said was totally fine. So though my morning didn't start off perfect it ended on a great note due to all I accomplished after that. I walked into a toy store to see if there was anything for Max's birthday which I found a Mr. Potato head and a school bus! Score, not sure who is going to have more fun with Mr. Potato head, me or Max? Does it matter though? Boy I am really rambling...hmmmm.

After that I went and found more gifts, keep in mind I honestly had no idea who or what I was buying but I totally scored and thought I was really creative and found some great things for numerous people and even got things for those people that I never know what to get for them! I felt so accomplished feeling it motivated me to come home and do my first Christmas order online at Amazon. A real treat was $.99 gift wrap for each gift, HELLO I will take it! Wheww...I feel so proud of myself. So I might be lazy when it comes to putting clothes away or unloading the dishwasher, but Christmas shopping...not a chance. I really think I have 40% of it done!

So proud...so proud.

Thanks for letting me ramble. Merry Christmas and good luck to all of you with your shopping...oh boy it can be challenging!

Am I the only one?

Yes, yes, sometimes I think I am? So yesterday I claimed I wanted to clean and organize my room! Did I do anything...NO! Why, well I will be honest, I'm lazy. I put Max down for his nap and I always feel like that is my time to relax so the only thing I did is move the clothes that were supposed to put away on the other side of the bed so I could lay down. Oh and then before bed last nght I moved them from there to the ironing board that was next to the bed, hmmmm how can I fix my lazy issue. I always have good intenions of wanting to clean, cook and be totally oranized, but it never happens. I'm always so envious of those wifes and moms who do it all. I feel so lame sometime because of my lack of things I do. Its just hard when you aren't feeling good, your tired, the majority of my day is chasing after a 2 year old. I deserve to relax...right? How do you all do it? I feel like I need a system, a way to do things better. I'm very grateful that my husband doesn't complain about any of this but when I do make dinner he is so happy. He is easy to please!!! Thank goodness. Quick, yummy recipes are always helpful! If you have any good ones...let me know. Anyways, Max is taking a nap now and I'm writing this...way to solve the problem huh? Just trying to stay up to date on my blog.

And of course I'm on the laptop so no pictures to post! I love pictures and always prefer to see pictures when I'm reading something.

Until next time...

What to write?

Doesn't seem like much has happened lately so I haven't posted. We went to Portland last weekend to visit my mom which was fun. We even got to go see a movie with my mom and Pat while my brother Andrew babysat! Seeing a movie is such a rarity these days, just doesn't seem like there is engough time. This last weekend we got to hang out with a great friend of mine, Erin. She has a little boy who is 7 weeks older than Max and we try and get together and spend the day together everyother month or so. Our husbands usually watch the kids so we can have some one on one time but this time Loren came up and the 4 of us went to dinner while Erin's sister watched the boys. It was a fun day and night. I love relaxing with great friends and ending the night with my husband on a date! Fun times.

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is next week! Can you? Seems like the holidays come earlier each year. I did have a crazy thought this weekend...I thought about going Christmas shopping to get a few things...Crazy, yes I know! But wouldn't it be great to get the shopping done before the rush, oh the pressure relief it would bring! Maybe someday that will happen, but I doubt this will be the year. I always have good intentions though!!!

I'm already missing summer, well the clear skys is what I miss and the dry slides that the kids can play on. I will see that I see the beauty of fall more clearly each year...it really is a beautiful time of year. I just dread the short days, the cold nights, and the wet days! Oh well, guess it makes me look forward to spring and summer more. I just wish we could have fall with clear skys and dry days.

Max is drinking chocolate milk and a chonga bagel from starbucks...have you guys had those? Highly reccomend them...they are the yummiest things ever! Get it toasted with cream cheese and you won't be sorry. Its a little scary that Max always says coffee when we drive by Starbucks and he wants chocolate milk...what a big boy. Yah, its scary that he isin't 2 yet but already get the coffee concept idea...SCARY! Loren is working from home today which is always a special treat and he even got Max up and let me sleep in a little bit...love those mornings. Plus he went and got us bagels and coffee this morning....good stuff.

Ok so much for not having much to write. We are going to head to the gym today, I want to clean and organize our room oh and Max is turning TWO!!! November 26...can't believe it! Two...seems so old. He is talking all the time...it cracks me up the things he says and just to see his personality come out more each day. He is a fun little boy and I'm so gratefule for him.

Ok reallly I'm done...I will write and post pictures later. I always end up writing these posts on our laptop which has none of our pictures.

Costume Time!

Max is a skunk this year! I have to say I was not really excited about it until I got him in it and I LOVE IT. From behind it cracks me up. Last Saturday we had 2 get togethers planned. A friend of mine hosts a get together at her in-laws who have this amzing yard and they grow pumpkins and make it really fun for the kids. The kids get to pick pumpkins and ride on the tractor. Its a blast. Later that night my parents hosted a party for a lot of the kids they know and they had games and yummy food for all to enjoy. Fun filled day with friends and family and cute costumes.

So cute!The kids on the tractor ride, not all happy though!
This picture cracks me up!
Most of the kids
Cousin Ben and Max
Loren and Max

Croup!

I think Max has THE CROUP? Yah, Anne of Green Gables came flashing back to me where Anne saved her friends, sisters life...whewww....is it that bad? I don't think so and he is totally acting like himself so that is a relief. Has anyone else's kids had "The Croup"? It gets really bad at night and I'm so glad I don't freak out too much because it sounded like he could barely breathe last night. Loren brought him in to our bed for a while and he struggled a little but kept sleeping. Oh I hate seeing him sick, not fun at all. If anyone else has dealt with this I have a few questions? How did you treat it and how long did it last? Sounds like cold weather is good for them...yah I have that, check! Well yesterday it was warm, not sure if it still is today? The internet said it will only last a couple days and it gets worse at night. I hope that is all true.

This last weekend we had a busy one! I had a couple Southern Living parties and we had two halloween parties on Saturday! I love Max's costume! I got it at Children's Place and I love their costumes...I got Max's their last year too. I will post some pictures later!

Until later....see ya!

We love the BEACH!!!

Hope you love to see picture of Max because thats what these are.I'm so late on posting pictures but I love to share pictures. We had a great time in September when Max and I went to visit Nonnie...my mom for a few days...she lives in Portland, OR. We did a lot of fun things while we were there but the highlight was driving out to Cannon Beach for the day. Washington has a great coast, but Oregon takes the lead as far as beauty goes. Max has only been to the coast a couple of times and so it was fun to watch him explore everything that the beach has to offer. It wasn't super nice out, but hey its the Northwest...we take what we get and we make it work.

The BEAUTY that the open ocean has!
My mom (nonnie), Max and I
You can see Haystack rock in the distance

Love him!

How do you not love this kid? He is so much fun and I love taking pictures of him since he is changing daily. I love making memories with him.

Pictures from our Getaway...

So I could have added a lot of pictures of the entire house, but that wold have been too many. Here our some from our getaway! Enjoy...we did! On the ferry!!! Almost there....
The front of the house.

One of the views...
On our way to a very yummy dinner.

Getaways....

A wonderful time to relax and getaway! Loren and I had a quick but lovely get away this past weekend to Orcas Island where we celebrated 6 years of being married. We went to this amazing B&B that my mom recommended and it was AMAZING, it's called The Inn on Orcas Island. We have never stayed at a B&B but we will for sure be doing that more often. What I love about it is you feel like you are in a very nice, comfortable house and they serve you breakfast that you would never make yourself, so you feel spoiled. One of my favorite things they did is they left fresh, homeade chocolate chip cookies on your bed daily and they were so yummy. Besides this amazing B&B the Island was BEAUTIFUL and so PEACEFUL. We got very little cell service which is what you need when you really want to getaway. We also went to the most amazing dinner at this other little INN on the other side of town that was probably one of the best meals I have ever had. With all the wonderful sights and amazing food the best part was just being able to spend time with Loren. I highly recommend a short getaway for any couple and especially when you have kids, it’s crucial for your marriage to spend a few days just the two of you. I’m so grateful that we have great family and friends who are so willing and happy to take Maxwell. Pictures will be posted a little later but I wanted to touch base since it’s been a while.

What a great time! Looking forward to 2017...

Some of our planning committee as we started getting ready...only a few hours before the gig starts!

This night was a long time in the planning and it paid off on Friday night, 9/7/07 at 7pm for our 10 year reunion, Class of 1997! It was a beautiful day and such an enjoyable night catching up with past classmates. The only down side was the sound in Union Station, the use of a microphone is next to imposable if you actually want people to hear you! But other than that everything went amazing. We actually had to push people out the door so we could get out of there on time. My parents helped out w/ registration and photography. I thought it was so funny that my dad told a friend "I only recognize like 5 people" I was laughing when I heard that, though he didn't graduate with the class he did know all of my friends. People say a 10 year reunion is the least fun, maybe I will agree at our 20 year after I have something to compare it to but my experience is it was a blast and everyone was very friendly and mingled all night long. A lot of people met up afterwards and hung out in t-town. I hope to stay connected with some of the people since I have missed them and have totally been curious as to what they have been doing for the past 10 years. I can say I got to see everyone I wanted to and only wish the night could have lasted a little longer. Good times had by all. The best compliment when you plan a party like this or any other is that people have fun and enjoy themselves, that totally happened and I could not be happier. People loved it and told us that, even guest of classmates told us that and the vendors that helped out said they had never seen and event like this run so smoothly…complement taken and appreciated. Finally I can stop dreaming about this and that’s not a joke… A few of us on the committee have been dreaming about the reunion. I will miss our monthly meetings or should I see seeing everyone that helped plan it, I won’t necessarily miss the meeting aspect. I feel like I made new connections with past classmates and I think we will be keeping in touch. Oh and Loren made a new friend too…my BFF, Angela and I brought our husbands and they were able to connect…so perfect. We will be meeting at PF Changs for dinner soon.
A great night of memories…it will always be remembered!

Loren and I before the guest where about to arrive! Getting excited...

Aaron, Kevin and I enjoying the party. They were part of the committee as well.
BFF, Angela and I...Thanks Nate for taking our pictures. Do you like our nametags with our senior pictures? Loved that...
Oh Steph and I...Love this girl. We were best friends all through Jr. High and High School...
Katie, Deirdre and I...great friends...D and I were Tennis buddies too.
Jeanna and went all through school together...Elementry and up...so fun cathing up with her. A lot of fun memeoris.

Erin and I enjoying a lot of laughs. We actually became great friend after high school. One of my dearest friends...lovin her!Cesily, Erin and I at the end of the evening.
Erin, me, Deirdre, Michelle and Jeanna
The girls...Sara, me and Steph we have so many funny memories and more to come as we have set up monthly get together so we don't miss out anymore. Next event for us...Old School night...we are going to go visit our old stomping grounds...Sumner, yep should be a fun tonight.

Goodnight...had a great time...see you in another 10 years...PEACE OUT!

Do I really need to put my white shoes away?

Happy Labor Day! Hope you all had a great weekend. I found myself looking forward to the weekend off, but then realized I might have to put my favorite pair of shoes away. Its probably a good thing because I need to stop wearing them for a while. Have you ever purchased something and you didn't realize what a great purchase and how much use you would get out of something? These are the perfect white flats and I have worn them all summer. They are also the only show that people have actually stopped me to ask me where I got them. I will have to post a picture later. I have always been against the whole not wearing white after Labor Day but because I want to wear them next year then its time to put them away and clean them up for next year. Goodbye perfect shoes...goodbye for now.

In other news...we have had a great weekend. My mom and brother Andrew were in town and Loren had today off. We went to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle on Saturday. That is the best zoo! We had a great time and I am so happy that Max is at the age where he is enjoying those types of things. On Wednesday we went to the Seattle Aquarium with some girlfriends and that was a blast too. Max kept saying...fishies, fishies. He liked it. I'm writing this from my laptop so I can't post pictures yet, but those will come.

What is coming up next? A lot of my friends are having their second baby!!! Crazy! One of my friends just had her second on Friday and I have a handful of friends that are due over the next 10 weeks. Most of these ladies were pregnant when I was pregnant with Max so it’s crazy to see them having their second but its so fun to have new babies coming. Its also exciting to see some of them having their firsts...babies are so much fun...especially when I can enjoy them and have none of the responsibilities. It’s weird when you get to that age where that starts happening…most of my friends are married so now it’s the baby stage. You never feel like you age even when those big life changes start to happen. Friday is my 10 year reunion and I for sure don’t feel like it’s been 10 years since high school, but at the same time I feel like a totally different person then I was in high school. It will be a fun night out to catch up with old friends and make some news ones. We are celebrating at the Tacoma Union Station and have a great caterer who is doing some cool stuff with the food. I will be glad to have it behind me though because it’s been a big job planning it. Our committee is awesome and they have all done an amazing job at making things happen. Pictures to come after the event.

Summer is officially over and it still feels like it never happened. Now onto the fall which is a fun time to start routine and I’m excited because Max and I are starting a toddler class that will be once a week.

Till next time…

Boating day in Gig Harbor

Some wonderful friends of ours, Jason, Crystal & Aiden Wells invited us out on their boat for the day. We were looking forward to just relaxing and being able to hang out. We toured Gig Harbor, went under the new and improved Narrows Bridge, checked out Fox Island and just got to enjoy the beautiful Puget Sound. We finished the evening with a feast of crab we caught and bought and other yummy things. The guys watched a fight on TV while Crystal and just got to sit back and chat while the kids slept. Great time and friends! Love those kinds of days…

Crystal and I loading everything up for the day
Loren and Max

I was so happy he acutally fell asleep and took a nap
Relaxing on the water
Max helping dad drive the boat

I think he liked it...

CANCUN...how lovely.

I am finally getting around to posting some pictures from our vacation. For those of you who don't know I sell Southern Living at HOME! If you don't know about it check out my website to see some of the fabulous stuff I LOVE IT. Why do I love it...um I earned a FREE trip for my husband and me for 5 days. How can you not love that, oh yah and I love the products too. We had a great time, just the 2 of us, no Maxwell. We had some wonderful family and friends watch him while we enjoyed ourselves. It was wonderful to just relax and have some time together, just us. We stayed at a beautiful resort in Cancun called Moon Palace .

Hanging on the swings by the pool on our last day.

Last evening "Farewell Dinner" with my friend Stacey
Group shot of some of the gals on my team
Loren and I dressed up




Yah, can we say HUMID! Even the camera felt it. We had just arrived at the hotel and heading out for our Welcome dinner.
Wonderful, blue beaches. I love water like that.
Kerri, Loren and I at dinner
Miniture golfing is always fun.
Stacey and I ready for some lunch and time out of the sun.
Swings again...
Buh, Bye...Cancun...we will miss you.