Some Holiday Cheer

If you read the previous post, then you know that Landry received this adorable rocking frog for Christmas from G.G. and Poppie. Here is a video of our little ham enjoying his first ride on Fergie Frog...no, that is not the name we gave it. Can I just tell you that this child only took one nap ALL day...I'm not sure if he was giddy in this video or just delirious. :o)

Merry Christmas!

I cannot even begin to express what a wonderful day we had filled with family, love, laughter, and joy...so I won't! :o) Here are some pictures from our day that highlight our first Christmas together as a family of THREE!!!

Landry with his first present...not so sure what to do with it. I'll just sit back here and let you open them for me, Mom!
Ooops...I forgot...I'm Mr. Serious...kinda!

The Krusers - Chad, Landry, me, my mom (Dale/Nawnie), and my dad (Kim/Papa)

The Lofgrens - Chad's dad (Todd/Poppie), Chad, Landry, me, and Chad's mom (Pam/G.G.)

My sweet family!

My nana, me, Landry, and Chad

Nothing like a mini photo shoot before we open presents!

Look at the cool rocking frog Poppie and G.G. got me!

Look, I can rock with no hands and my tongue sticking out!

Okay, Mom...I'll put my hands back on the handlebars!

As I said...it was an absolutely great day...filled with the ones we love! We hope that you and your family had a Christmas just a wonderful as ours!

Lights, camera, Santa!

Last night our group of friends all got together so that we could walk the "Clovis Christmas Tree Lane"...also known as the Wawona neighborhood and Cany Cane Lane...even though there used to be a different neighborhood in Clovis that was Candy Cane Lane...so, I'm not sure what this one is actually called...if there is even an "official" name for it. Anyway, enough about that. We lucked out and the weather was great! It wasn't rainy and it wasn't freezing cold either. Here we are all ready to go: In front of some lights...

My two boys...

I couldn't pass this up...just because our last name starts with an L, so I thought it was kind of funny...I said kinda...not extremely! :o)

And of course you can't have your first Christmas without a picture with Santa. In typical baby/small child fashion...here is the story of our Santa picture. Landry is once again wondering why in the world I am acting like a crazy person to try and get him to smile. You see who won this one...Mr. Serious

Then he decides to take a look and see who is holding him...Mr. Serious turns into Mr. I'm Not So Sure About This...

And finally, the shot that every family has to have...the one where the child has that scared look on their face and you know the screaming is about to begin...Mr. Get Me Out of Here!

All in all, it was a great night of friends, fun, lights, and some good 'ol "holiday cheer!"

My Little Reader

Take a look at my little reader! Don't you love the way he has his arm up on the armrest and he has such a serious look on his face. Don't let him fool you...he is a total goofball!

And the stockings were hung...

by the chimney with care!

Yup, you guessed it...I have been letting my creative juices flow this weekend! One of my favorite things about Christmas as a kid was hanging up our stockings. So, naturally I was very excited to be able to hang up our stockings...our family of stockings. I debated for awhile about whether or not I would just buy Landry a stocking or if I would make it. There was one at Pottery Barn that I loved but part of me felt that it wouldn't be the same as having one that was homemade. So, I decided to do my own version of the Pottery Barn one I loved...and I must admit...I am pretty proud of myself! Those of you that know me and my type A personality...I made one for Chad and me as well...because there was no way that I was going to have one homemade stocking an two store bought.

Here they are hanging from our mantle and I have to say...it automatically made our living room feel so much more homey and personal. I love them!

7 month update

So, my update this month is going to be pretty short and sweet. You wanna know why...well, I happen to have a 7 month old who loves to sit on my lap and type with me. Yup. It's official. He is a techie! So, excuse me if there are some errors. I challenge you to try and type anything with a tech-loving 7 month old on your lap!

Here is this month's pic with lion: And now...drumroll please...yes, he struck this pose all on his own...the 7 month old GQ poseAnd now...just a little holiday cheer for you:

Oh, ya...have I mentioned how much I love this absolutely amazing, fabulous, loving, giggle-filled, army-crawling, food-loving, sweet, little boy? Mmhmm...a million bizillion times. That's how much.

Fun and Easy Christmas Gift

SPOILER ALERT!

If you are a parent helper in my classroom...you may want to stop reading. This post is about the gift you will be receiving in appreciation for all of your hard work! :o)

Now, back to business! I am sure that many of you are like me and you have quite a list of friends, family, co-workers, etc. that you would like to acknowledge during the holidays. If you are also like me, then you may find yourself on a very tight budget. Well, here is a simple, fun, and cute idea for you!

I know it is kind of hard to see what is in the bag...a set of measuring cups!

Here is what you need:
measuring cups - I found mine at Dollar Tree
cellophane bags
gift shred
ribbon
cardstock for the tag
button - strictly optional
glue dots - or any kind of glue

Since I have 15 parent helpers in my classroom, I was looking for a gift that would be useful, cute, and of course...budget friendly. So, I took a trip to the Dollar Tree and found these adorable, red, Betty Crocker measuring cups. Everything else I already had at home.

I put the cups in the bag, added some shred for a bit of pizazz, and tied the bow on. Then I printed some little cards that read, "No one could ever "measure up" to you...thank you for all of your help." I used glue dots to attach the card to the bag and the button to the card. If you don't have glue dots, you can easily use any other kind of glue or hot glue...I just think the dots are easier and less messy.

Here is another picture for you:

Like I said, these are super easy, fun, cute, and most importantly...very budget friendly. Since I already had the rest of the materials at home these only cost me $1 a piece!!!! These would also be great as a favor at a bridal shower, gifts for friends, neighbors, co-workers, anyone.

Giveaway!

So, a few months ago one of the blogs that I follow (stalk) introduced me to this fabulous machine that can create all kinds of goodies...vinyl decals, iron-on-transfers, die cuts, temporary tatoos, etc. It is called the Silhouette Craft Cutter...and you can check it out here:
http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/whatcanitdo.aspx
I have entered many different giveaways for a chance to win one...and this week I am enetering even more! It seems that almost ALL of the craft blogs I follow have one to give away. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will win one! Here are the links:
http://shanty2chic.blogspot.com/
http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/
http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/

Go Dogs!

Yesterday we took Landry to his very first Bulldog tailgate and football game. As always, he was such a trooper and did an amazing job during the 5 hours of tailgating...yes, you read that right...yes, we LOVE a good tailgate! What better way to spend a Saturday than with your friends, bbqing great food on a beautiful November afternoon? Could someone get me some tri-tip? Good thing I get service here...I have some texting to do! Here is our first family shot at the 'Dogs game...thank you to the random man walking up the stairs who offered to take it for us! I have to point out two things that I love about this picture...besides the fact that it is of my amazing family...1. Chad is sporting the "Baby Shoulder" - a.k.a. baby spit on the shoulder...2. Clearly Landry is much more interested in my phone than the game or the picture. Do we have a future techie? Just another example of how I really do have a "Mini Chad!" Landry was such a trooper and made it the whole game...freezing weather and all. Football season is one of my favorite times of the year and I cannot wait to continue on the tradition as Landry gets older.

Special thanks to our great friends who were able to hook us up with some great seats and tailgate passes...love you all!

It's Only the Beginning...

So, we must confess...we are definitely going to be "those parents." You know, the ones who drive all over the place trying to find that one thing that their child really wants for Christmas. The ones that will hunt like mad online to find the best deal on it. The ones that will wake up before any human should be up, so that they can race to the nearest retailer and stand in line with all of the other crazies. Yup, that's us...well, I guess I really mean...me!

I do have to say, though...this time...it was BOTH of us. No, we didn't drive all over or wake up and stand in any crazy line. But, we did search online and then I did go to two different Targets. Here is what all of the fuss was about:

Cute...right...duh! I had registered for this little froggy, bouncer, activity center because I loved the fact that it was compact...and let's face it...it wasn't like all the other exersaucer-type-thingies out there. So, obviously I would be attracted to it. :o) Chad and I decided to go ahead and get it since our little man seemed to be getting a little bored with being on the floor. So, I ran out...picked it up...and Chad immediately put it together. We were sooooooooo excited about it. Landry, however...well, he was less than enthusiastic. But he has learned to love it!Yes, we did have to put some phonebooks underneath it so that he can reach the bottom to hopefully jump up and down. He hasn't discovered that yet...oh well!

How Can It Be?

I am trully at a loss of words. How can it be possible that my little one is 6 months old? It is crazy to think that this time last year we were trying to guess whether he was going to be a Landry or a Lexie. Now, we find ourselves completely consumed in everything he does...every giggle, coo, roll, wiggle, drool, poop, everything!

Little man, you have been such a life changing event! You have no idea how much joy and happiness you have brought our family and how much your mommy and daddy love you! Now, slow down and stop getting so big so fast! :o)

Smile!This is my serious faceLovin' on my lionOne of these months I will eat you!You lookin' at me?

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Bash 2010

It wouldn't be Halloween without the Annual Richardson Halloween Bash! Every year our friends show their creativity with a wide variety of costumes. I am always so impressed with how everyone truly gets into the spirit and some of the creativity our group of friends has. Over the past several years we have had Chewbacca, Cruella Deville, Medusa, greek godesses, Hugh Hefner and Holly Madison, Beer Man, a mummy and "mummy to-be," Michael Phelps, and many, many more. This year the guests included Wonder Woman, a nearly 7 foot tall Sock Monkey, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Clark Kent, a knight in shining armor, drill sergeant, Cal-Trans worker, Lindsey Lohan, an angel and devil, swamp/hunter/sniper man, a pair of vampires and one pretty cute bat!

Me and Landry...Landry won the "Over-all Best Costume Award."

Me and Chad

The Sock Monkey..."Best Male Costume."

Me and Wonder Woman..."Best Female Costume." - Wonder Woman...not me. :o)