dawn we now our gay apparel!

james and i had our ugly sweater party last weekend. we always have so much fun with this. while i was cooking in the kitchen bowen, knowing that cars aren't allowed on the kitchen floor, found a home for all of his cars on the cabinets. he's so inventive! and check out the ugly sweater he was sporting. (he won, in my book!)

we had a lot of fun with the games this year. and got pretty good laughs out of the white elephants and everyone's outfits!! good times. J won the ugly sweater again...he's now undefeited! someone stop him..

{trying to pick up a sac with your teeth is harder than it seems!}

here are just some of the sweaters...(we kinda failed in the photo-taking project!)

now it's time to pack away the ugly's...until next year, of course!

for tradition's sake

i took bowen to see santa on saturday at the mall. I made sure to make it seem like an experiance of a life-time for the little man. and he was so excited to go!unfortunately all my hype about santa didn't pay off cause he was still a little intimidated by the white-bearded man, even though the two 2-year olds in front of us were having a gay ol time! we did some quick warming up to the old man and then sat bowen on his lap for a photo!

{i love the classic shot, complete with floody pants!}

we finished the rest of our errands at the mall (with a master cuts clip for bo!) then made our way to bowen's favorite store for some much needed groceries! little did we know that santa was there too! such a magical man, being in two places at once! so i thought why not give bo another chance to tell him what he wants! the second time went a lot better. although, while we were in line he said "i wanna go home!" when we finally made it to the front, santa (and his elf) were very friendly to bo, and yet.....

he still managed to be a little timid of the whole situation. santa asked bowen what he wanted for Christmas, a question he is well practiced on since i ask him all the time "what is santa going to bring you?" i've gotten an assortment of answers including, "home, ghana, toys, bear, bubbles, movie, and tree!" but this time bo told santa "cars!" then proceeded to tell santa "i got haircut day!"

as soon as we left he was once again filled with excitement, "i see santa day!" yep, bo you did see santa today. and when anyone asks he's excited to tell of his experiance with santa, even adding "i cry!"

bowen is really taking a liking to christmas. he loves turning the lights on and off on the tree, he loves the snow, making his train go around the tree, singing christmas songs, and talking and reading of santa. and even watching the assortment of christmas movies. so far his favorites are Home Alone, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. he even laughs at all the funny parts. when i offer movies like Grinch, or frosty the snowman i hear "no cartoon mom!" so funny! my baby is getting such a fun personality, i love it!

here's to the beginning of a fun christmas season!

while feasting on leftovers....

james: marci, you are officially my favorite cook now!

me: thanks babe!

me: wait a minute, who has had my spot for the last four years?

james: your mom!

perhaps there are tiny benefits to mom living in Africa!

hours later....

james: do you think you're mom will still remember how to cook when she gets back? she may get your spot back!

Food, Family and Fun!

We had a great thanksgiving yesterday! bowen was so excited about thanksgiving this year. he could hardly wait for his cousins and uncles to come to play with him. and i guess all the build up and excitement got the best of him..he spent the holiday with the runs {both ends} and james spent most the holiday cleaning up the messes every couple minutes so i could try pullin off a good thanksgiving dinner! mike, jack and ty, and brian were all here and mom and dad skyped! we all missed them so much but had a great dinner and a lot of fun playing football and making gingerbread trains!

i have now officially made a thanksgiving dinner. and i'll be honest...it wasn't to bad. but all the prep, and the clean up (oh boy!) makes me think a nice resturant meal would sufice just the same. we'll see if given a year, i feel up to it again. but so far, i'm leaning on the resturant idea!

it started with the shopping. i only had to go to the grocery store twice, which i thought was quite the record. the bill was also a record. Next, i pressed all the linens and set the table!

then started the cooking, and all the stress and anxiety really paid off...we had the yummiest turkey and great yams, mashed potatoes, even homemade gravy and homemade cranberry sauce. and last but not least homemade rolls. the stuffing (stove top!...you have to cheat somewhere.) was great too! ty did all most the side dishes. we is so awesome! everyone loved the food and it made the effort seem worth it! even Krew loved grandma's famous garlic mashed potatoes!

the turkey was a perfect golden brown and oh so moist all the way through! i was a little shocked to be honest!

the dishes weren't as nice. this was about the fourth round of dishes that i did yesterday. and there were more after this....and still some more today....

the desserts though, we're b.e.a.utiful! and worth the extra dirty dishes! (pictures don't do it any justice but there are plenty of leftovers if you want a taste!)

by this time, i stopped taking picture to care for my little one and make sure i was being a proper host! but i found these cuties afterwards...

(excuse bowen's paleness)

bowen stopped puking for an hour or two and wanted to help havyn with the gingerbread train! he had been looking forward to this ALL week..i didn't want him to miss it either.

so now, the day after....

the family is gone, the laundry is full of bowen's twelve outfits that got dirty. the dishes are piled back up and christmas is now on it's way! all i can think about is that my mom sure used to do a lot for us. i appreciate it all so much now and wish so badly that she was here for me to thank with a giant hug! besides all the hussle and bussle i had a lot of time to think about what i'm grateful for and that's the real reason i love the holiday! hope you all had a great thanksgiving!

wasn't me...

disclaimer: i do not believe in, nor do i offer soda to minors.(especially when it looks like beer!)

-marci

future space ranger??

bowen has been talking so much lately. i have so much fun having little conversations with him. i wanted to write a few down so i never forget these special moments that put a smile on my face everyday!

he recently got a new buzz lightyear toy (toys are the outcome of boring nights home alone...me and bo hangout at walmart in the toy section!!) while he was alone in his room playing, i over heard this...

buzz: Ever thought of becoming a space ranger.

bowen: ya! (in his most serious tone.)

i burst into laughter in the next room and then i here

bowen: mom, you ok?

which only made me laugh harder!

yesterday james' mom was in town and our neice and nephew were having a orchestra performance at their school. so since, i had LOADS of homework and bowen was thourghly enjoying his movie "bugs life" i decided to see if bowen wanted to go...

me: bo, do you want to see grandma pratt tonight?

bowen: hmmm...toys?

me: ya, there's some toys there!

bowen: candy?

me: ya, there's probably some candy.

bowen: ok mom. we see grama patt!

this morning we were rushing out the door so i wouldn't be late to class. i was loading up the explorer and bowen was patiently waiting for me.

bowen: it's cold mom.

me: ya, it's cold today!

bowen: i'm so cold mom. (whining voice...his favorite!)

me: i'm hurrying...

bowen: {pout} {pout} {pout} i'm cying mom....i need kiss! (of course there was no crying at all just mumbling pouts!)

me: you betcha!

i think it's so funny that he refers to me as mom instead of momma or mommy. it's so mature! my little man is growing up, but honestly...it's so much fun!!

only in this town....

i went to the post office today : normal

i saw a man there : normal

the man was walking his dog : also normal

the man was also walking his sheep?? : perhaps country living at it's finest just like the sign reads!