All I Want for Christmas...

Approximately a week or so ago, Billy and I were discussing with the kids what items they wanted to ask Santa for this year.  At the time, Tyler wanted the Doris Tyrannasaurus and Buddy interactive dinosaurs from the show Dinosaur Train.  (Now he wants the Night Fury dragon from How to Train your Dragon).  Allison most wants a "Cookie Bake Oven" (translation - Easy Bake Oven).  Ryan just wants to pull all the ornaments off our Christmas tree!  There are other requests of course, but we were just discussing what would be at the very TOP of their lists.
At the end of the discussion, Allison wanted to know what would be at the top of her Daddy's Christmas list...

Allison:  Daddy, what do you want for Christmas?
Billy:  I want all my stress to go away.
Allison:  No, what do you want for CHRISTMAS???
Billy:  That is what I want.  For all my stress to go away.
I think Allison asked her question even a time or two more, not being able to comprehend her Daddy's wish, but finally moved on when his answer didn't change.

Now, fast forward to this morning at our church's Breakfast with Santa.  After Allison sat on Santa's lap and told him she wanted her Cookie Bake Oven on Christmas morning, she came back to our table and started coloring.  A few minutes passed and someone came over and started talking to Allison...

Bro. S: Hey Pretty Girl (Billy calls her this all the time, so a couple of people have followed suit).  Did I hear you wanted an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas?
Allison:  Yep.....And Daddy wants all his stress to go away.

Precious.  Absolutely precious.

FREE Holiday Cards!!!

Nothing like a free offer to get you blogging again after a 3-month blogging hiatus!

Just for telling all of you about the wonderful products they have to offer, Shutterfly is giving me 50 FREE holiday cards!!!   I am exstatic!  This time of year rolls around, and I start to stress about getting cards out.  And getting them out on TIME.  But first I have to get a cute picture taken, choose where to order from, what design, etc., etc.  VERY stressful for me!  But Shutterfly is taking some of the work out of it this year (since now I already know where I'm getting them from) and they are getting me on the ball early! 

I have been signed up with Shutterfly for a while, but for no reason in particular, don't have much ordering history with them.  I continue to get emails with all kinds of great offers, however, and I always love browsing through their products.  They have an amazing line of cards to offer this holiday season.  I can't believe how many designs there are to choose from!  Go HERE to check them out.  You can choose from stationary cards, photo cards, or folded greeting cards.  And it probably goes without saying, but all of them can be personalized.  I'm quite particular when it comes to just the right design that I'm looking for, but it looks like I won't be disappointed with Shutterfly's options!

Shutterfly also has many great holiday gift ideas available.  What Grandma wouldn't LOVE staring at pictures of her grandkids everytime she refers to her calendar?!  And photo calendars always serve as a great conversation piece when friends are over (again, what Grandma doesn't jump at the chance to brag talk about her kids and grandkids?!).  Click HERE to see the beautiful calendar templates.

Then, if you're REALLY on top of things, they already have their Valentine's Day card designs available to choose from!  They have some super cute designs.  Look at those HERE.

Thanks for AMAZING products and an AMAZING deal Shutterfly!

Oh... and if you want to sign up to blog about and get your own free set of cards, click HERE. 

You're welcome!  :)

Little Caesar

Allison saw this guy as we were driving down the road the other day,

and he seemed to really make an impression...

"Mommy!  I saw a guy with a pizza on his tummy...

and SPINICH in his EARS!!!"

A Little Thursday Cuteness

Allison (on the very HOT walk to the bus stop to pick up Tyler):  I wish our feet was a rocket!  (In other words, it's too bad we can't get this over with a bit more quickly!)

Tyler (after overhearing me ask Billy a question about the iPad):

Mommy, iPad NEVER dies!  I've heard about it on T.V.

Another Budding Artist

Remember the culprit behind this work of art back in October of 2008???

Yeah, that was Mr. Tyler's first experiment with an ink pen.

Well...

Now we have a different culprit.

And a different canvas.

But the same old ink pen.

She went to the bathroom.  I heard her singing and laughing (and no, this didn't make me suspicious because these are not uncommon things for her to be doing).  Then she came back not even 2 minutes later looking like this.  I couldn't help but laugh!

For some reason, Allison urgently wants Auntie Vanessa to see these pictures of her.  She created this work of art yesterday and has been bugging me to get them on here ever since.  Her exact words were, "I really want Auntie to see me like this!"  So I hope it gives you your laugh for the day Auntie!

P.E. Day

While discussing Tyler's day with Daddy at dinner tonight...

Me:  Tyler had P.E. today.
Billy: Oh really?
Tyler: Yeah!  I went to the gym.  And they said P.E. stands for Physical Evalation!

Cute boy!

Keep scrolling to read all about his first day!

Tales of Kindergarten - Part I

Mom was in denial.  Dad was anxious.  But Tyler couldn't wait for his first day of school!

It all began last Thursday with Open House where Tyler got to meet his teacher, Mrs. Price. 

He enjoyed looking around his classroom, and sitting at his spot at the table.  Everything was marked with William instead of Tyler (that's what happens when you call your child by their middle name), but Tyler wasted no time in correcting the problem. 

See that pen in his hand?  Well, after snapping that picture, I starting filling out some paperwork.  Then I look up a few minutes later to see "TYLER" being squeezed between his first and last name.  So ingenious of him!  (Too bad I didn't take a picture of it, though.  How very unblogger-like of me!)

After that day, the countdown began!  As each day passed, Tyler would wake up and report the progress.  On Sunday morning, he woke up and exclaimed, "Today is church, and then tomorrow is my first day of school!"  Upon waking him Monday morning, his immediate concern was that they might start without him.  I assured him that we had plenty of time and that I was certain they wouldn't start without him.  He was so anxious and excited that he almost shivered right out of his skin.  After a while of complaining that he was cold, I explained that his body was shaking a lot because it was just SO excited.  (He was very surprised by this answer, and later that day had to tell his Aunt Kandee about it.)

My sleepy-eyed boy trying hard to eat breakfast with a VERY anxious tummy!

After he finished his breakfast, we took his picture all decked out in his new outfit, shoes, and backpack.

 

Is he adorable or what?!

Then we all loaded up in the car and headed to school!

Leading the way!

Of course I had to take as many pictures as possible...

Outside his classroom.

Locating his cubby.

and got one more with Mrs. Price for good measure.  (I was standing in the doorway while Tyler unpacked his things and was waiting for him to come back over so I could say goodbye.  I must have looked like a poor, helpless soul, because Mrs. Price brought him over and said, "Tyler, I see your mom still standing over there, so she must want a picture of us."  Well, of COURSE I did!  :) 

I knew he was going to be just fine and that he would have a fabulous day, but that didn't make it any easier to walk away from him for the first time like that.  But I did it (so Mrs. Price wouldn't get completely irritated with me...haha), and I didn't even shed a tear!  I sure miss my little man, but I know it's going to be a great year.  It's a good thing I have Allison and Ryan to keep me busy during the day!

Tyler was grinning from ear to ear when he got off the bus...

It turned out to be a SUPER fun day!