29!

Yesterday I turned 29 looking oh sooo fine...

Mama - 29th Birthday, 31 weeks pregnant.  Big Brother J - 19 months old, trying to keep up with his mom's belly

The celebrations continued with more family (Aunt Sarah & Uncle Kyle have arrived from Cali, trying to convince them to stay for good!), food (ohh Kanki how I love you), presents, and lots of slobbery kisses.  This morning I continued with cookie cake for breakfast, I just can't help myself.  Party on people!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Jackson had lots of wonderful Christmasesssss this year.  We gave Jackson his present from us before we headed to Wilson to be with our families.  Charlie assembled his first kitchen set, it only took 2 1/2 hours and a 12 pack of Guiness, and it is super awesome.  (I stayed a safe distance away and pulled out the pregnancy card.) For the weekend we headed to Wilson for Christmas with the Farris family then the Winslow family and then to Goldsboro for Jackson's great-grandparents Christmas celebrations.  He was a trooper and did not mind showing off one bit. What a blessing he is.  Merry Christmas!

hmm, a Winslow cousin picture attempt, maybe next year...

Christmas lights, music and a sucker.... perfection

Dinosaur Train!!

It's a ball, it's a ball, it's a ball, it's a ball... (marbles)

Christmas Cards

I love getting real mail and that never happens except for Christmas!  There is nothing like a good picture Christmas card.  I attempted to take some cute pictures of Jackson decorating the tree in his pajamas, but then Charlie insisted that if we wanted to win the best Christmas card of the year contest we had to go with this one...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

nom nom nom

The average person gains 5lbs over the Holidays.  What does this mean for pregnant ladies?  15lbs is ok, right? right??  So what better way to pack on some winter pounds than with Monster Cookies.  These are easy and oh so good.  Throw in some red and green M&M's and you have got yourself some last minute Christmas goodies to take to the family gatherings.

Monster Cookie
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
3 eggs 
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. white corn syrup
4 1/2 cups quick oats
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup dark chocolate m&ms (red & green for Christmas)
1/2 cup chocolate chips
mix & bake for 8 to 10 minutes on 350


In need of something on the lighter side to take?  Please make this festive salad.  I have made it numerous times and it is a hit!

Autumn Chopped Salad - adapted from Espresso and Cream
6 to 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
2 medium pears, chopped
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup chopped pecans
4 to 6 oz. feta cheese, crumbled (I used Fat Free)
Poppy seed Salad Dressing 
Balsamic Vinaigrette (I used Trader Joe's Fat Free)
I used about a cup of dressing: 70 percent poppy seed dressing and 30 percent balsamic vinaigrette

Both of these are toddler friendly, as in you can make them with one dangling from your leg.  Just remember knives are sharp and the oven is hot...

Sweet Lumber Jack

engaging graduates

This past weekend we headed to the mountains to celebrate 'Master' Aunt Ginny's graduation from a school counseling program at Appalachian State, getting a job, getting engaged and just being all around awesome!  We did a lot of eating, relaxing, even played a rousing game of Monopoly.  Nothing beats a good weekend with family and very soon to be Uncle Ben!

my elf

1 week till Christmas!

The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear. -Buddy, Elf

exploring

I really love to see what new things Jackson picks up on every single day.  Yesterday he noticed his shadow.  It took us a long time to walk to the park with him trying to get rid of that thing...

traditions

I love a good family tradition.  My favorite was always Christmas Eve.  My family would and still does go to the 5:00 'Children's Service' at our church.  Then we ride around and look at Christmas lights with Christmas music blaring (this was very painful as a child, now I can appreciate it).  We then head home and have a fancy dinner of leftovers or whatever was in the pantry.  For me it was usually Kraft mac & cheese, a Tostino's pizza and more fudge than a girl should be allowed to handle, mmmm.  Then we placed all of the presents from our immediate family into piles for everyone.  We patiently sat and watched as everyone opened family gifts one by one.  It is glorious!  I hope to continue this tradition with our own growing family.
Another little Christmas tradition that I want to start is Santa Train.  We headed over to the NC Museum of Life and Science this evening to ride the Santa Train.  They have craft projects, face painting, hot chocolate and a train you can ride on to go see Santa Clause.  Jackson was still a little too young to enjoy it but I had a good time!

 One cool thing, is look at all of these awesome lights!

 Ahmm someone get me off this dumb train and don't let Santa get near me...

Best part - All you can eat candy canes!!!!