Beware of the Cheese Shark

Today during our lunch at Panera Bread we were visited by the cheese shark. Beware!

Sticking out our tongues...

Ainsley loves to play with the camera on the iPhone. Tonight I decided to turn the camera on both of us. Here we are playing with our tongues. Ainsley is also showing off her vocabulary. Enjoy!

3 Days Before Christmas... We made Ornaments

That's right... We made this little Snowman. Ever since we decided on our 12 Days list I have been looking for ideas for our "Homemade Ornament". And I had come down to 2... Which this snowman was not one of. That was until the packages arrived from Kevin's mom. Inside I found a whole bunch of packing peanuts and I was instantly inspired.

I pulled out my scissors, glue gun, a ribbon from something, and my random craft box. I let Ainsley tear up the peanuts... Which she loved by the way.

I found a brochure from the Auto Show with a plain silver page and cut out the shape of a snowman. Then I went to work with the glue gun attaching the ribbon, pieces of peanuts, and a few buttons for eyes and the body. I then found a piece of scrapbook paper and cut out the nose. And to finish it all off I found this snowflake trim (don't know why) that I just attached to the ribbon.

Not to shabby... For an UpCycled Snowman!

Bath Time Adventures

So for the past week Ainsley has had a lot of fun in the bath tub. She has her bath toys we play with but she just figured out the bottle. All Ainsley needs is a squeeze bottle and some water and it's laughing fun for all. Well... Maybe for all. Enjoy!

4 Days Before Christmas... We performed Random Acts of Kindness



Day 9:  Random Acts of Kindness

This Christmas Kevin and I both felt it was important to give back. This year has been a hard year for us (like many in our lives). Because of these hardships I think we both have tried to focus on what we do have. It's hard somedays to stay focused on the good things... But we are very thankful that we have each other and our health.

I have always liked the idea of Random Act of Kindness. These Acts are selfless acts performed by a person or people wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual person or people.  I was first introduced to this 2 years ago at Ransom. They actually make it part of their 6th Grade curriculum.
Which I think is amazing. Kids should learn about kindness and helping others.  Then the day after my Birthday I got an email from Panera Bread. Inside they featured a woman, Secret Agent L, who performs Random Acts of Kindness in Philadelphia. She has inspired hundreds more to join her Secret Agent Army. I was so inspired by her... And it started me thinking about my foot print on the world.

What kind of message do I want to teach my little girl?

We decided each of us would do an Act of Kindness. Now I know that these are things that we should be doing regardless of the time of year. During this time of the year I think we all get wrapped up in our own lives we forget to help others. So anything to help others is needed. I've already started thinking about different acts we can perform throughout the year.

So... Here are our Acts:

* Kevin donated Red Blood Cells at a Blood Drive.

* Arianne cleaned out all the closets and took a bunch of stuff to the GoodWill. She also donated to St. Jude's, Share our Strength, Voice for the Homeless, and Veterans of South Florida.

* Ainsley bought a toy for the Coral Gables Fire Department Toy Drive.

5 Days Before Christmas... Drive around and look at the lights

 

Drive around and look at lights 

Ok so we didn't actually drive around and look at lights... We just drove to the Zoo for their Zoo Lights event.  Ever since Kevin saw the advertisement a few weeks ago that's all he has been talking about. So we invited The Nelson- Montet family to join us and we went to Zoo. 

It was a great night!  To be honest that was one of the things that Kevin was really excited about... we were going to the zoo at night.    The Zoo had dozens of animal-shaped lights throughout the event area (from the entrance to the Children's Zoo).  And when you put on 3-D glasses some of the lights turned into Snowflakes or moved!  They had snow machines, a faux ice rink, and other fun activities. 

We got one of the $12.50 packages that came with hot chocolate and cookies, a ride on the carousel, and a photo with Santa. (who happened to be someone that I worked with at my old place of employment). 

We even ran into our friends Christine and Eli who were Caroling around the park. 

It was a fun evening... And a great (and different) way to get into the holiday spirit. 

A Visit with Santa

6 Days before Christmas... We Decorated our Tree

8 Days to Christmas ... Write Letters to Santa

Day 5:  Letters to Santa

A few days ago... (while I was picking up a gift card for the Outback Gift Swap) I picked up a few "Letters" from Macys.  I love Macys for their "Million Reason to Believe" campaign that they do every holiday season. I love them even more for the money that they will donate (up to 1,000,000) to Make a Wish for every letter written.  The Believe site even has Classroom Activities, create your own letter, and many other goodies.   

We wrote our letters and headed to Macys at The Falls to mail them to Santa. 

10 Days before Christmas...

Watch a special Christmas movie with treats

Last night we watched Rudolph, ate cookies and drank hot chocolate. It was a nice way to end the evening. I let Ainsley put the cookies on the stone and she had a fit when I put them in the oven. The only way we could get her to calm down was to pull her table into the kitchen and have her help me make the hot chocolate. Her favorite part of that was putting all of the mini marshmallows in her mouth... not her cup.  After all the treats were made we sat down and watched Rudloph and The Cricket on the Hearth.  And thanks to Gina... watching Rudolph will never be the same.  We kept commenting about how right she was about how Santa, Rudolphs Dad, the head elf, and the other reindeer treated Rudolph and Herbie.  

Anyway... we seem to be doing very well with our countdown.  Kevin and I are both excited that this seems to be working out well for us.  I think after 14 years we might have finally figured it out.  :)          

11 Days Before Christmas...

The Outback Christmas Party

Well,  It's that time of year.  The Outback Christmas Party.  This year Tracy decided to have it at the Yacht Club near Jungle Island.  Because of the Outback Party we were not able to do any of our Holiday Items.  It dawned on me that we should probably add in these little things into next years countdown.  As soon as I got home from Ransom we got ready and headed out.  First stop Macys to pick up a gift card for the gift swap.  Then we had to drive out to Mildres to drop off Ainsley.  We ended up stopping at Wendys for dinner.  

The party was nice.  It was out on the water so we had an amazing view of Miami Beach.  

We also had a view of a building that looked very similar to Dexter's apartment.  And being near a dock with a ton of boats that could have been Dexter's boat it struck up some interesting "holiday" conversations.

After a glass of wine I was exhausted and unfortunately we had to leave early. 

12 Days Before Christmas...

3 New Pairs of Pjs... and A Random Act of Kindness

Day 1:  Buy New Holiday PJs for Christmas Eve

This year we decided to try something different.  Instead of just a regular advent calendar we are going to do a holiday themed activity to count down the days to Christmas.  It's our new holiday tradition.  

I arrived home with a list of fun things to do and we quickly headed out to Sir Pizza for dinner.  As we ate pizza I filled Kevin in on my "New" idea.  I showed him the list and to my joy he was as excited as I was to attempt this.  At that point I realized I had left off "Visit Santa" on the list.  I guess that is a given for all families but I need a reminder.  We decided that we would make today an easy day and "Buy New Holiday Pjs" would be our first holiday adventure. 

We headed to Old Navy.  They have a pretty good selection and for a good price.  It's pretty much the go-to place for us every year.    

When we drove up Kevin noticed the Blood Donor drive.  He turned to me and said "I'd like to do my Random Act of Kindness tonight."  So Ainsley and I headed into the store and Kevin headed in to donate.  

He was in there for over an hour. Because of his size and his vain type (which his is most proud of) he was able to give Red Blood Cells.  This process is more involved than say just me going in and giving blood.  ** According to Kevin: This process takes his blood and separates the blood cells and then pumps the blood back into him.  It cuts down the time his "Gift" gets to the hospitals.  As always... he had some dizzy issues which is why he was in there for so long.  Kevin said that they had been out there for over 3 hours and he was the 3rd person to donate.  Which I felt really bad about.  They said it's the slowest time of the year for people to donate.  If Kevin hadn't taken so long I would have donated myself but after an hour there was no way Ainsley would last any longer.    

After Kevin had finished we walked into the store and picked out our pjs.  Ainsley got a cute pair with a Monkey.  I picked out a pair with Reindeer.  And Kevin (our fearless leader) got the Pirate Christmas pants with the Jolly Roger wearing a Santa Hat.

I can't wait to see everyone in their pjs on Christmas Eve.    

  

          

The Christmas Coundown...

::singing Ba Ba Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Bammm... The Final Countdown::

Ever since Kevin and I first met he has always talked about the Advent Calendar his family would use during Christmas to count down the days to Christmas.  Each time he would talk about it I would invision the 5 year old version of him race past his sister to the Advent Calendar and wait to see if today was his day to put the next ornament on the tree. 

I am not sure why when he tells this story I always picture him at the age of 5.  Maybe it's because of the family portrait Marcia has hanging on the living room wall.  It's of all 4 of them... Marcia, Kelley, Kevin... and Will.  I see an entire family so happy... not a care in the world...  I don't know if Kevin pictures his childhood this way.  But this is how I like to think of it.  

Anyway... a few years ago his mother asked if he wanted the Advent Calendar.  I don't think I have ever seen him jump so fast to say "YES" to anything his mom was trying to give him.  I have always liked the idea of an Advent Calendar to countdown the days to Christmas.  We never had one in my family growing up.  The idea of taking on a new family tradition (from Kevin's side) excited me.

Not a discussion about the Advent Calendar went by without Kevin remarking how he and his sister had to alternate days.  Every day they would alternate who got to decorate the tree.  His Mom would even pack it up and take it with them to Mass.  Kevin always talked about how he and Kelley had to alternate years so they had to share who put the "star" on the tree (the final day).  I could see he didn't like the idea of sharing the days.  And I couldn't blame him.  Who wanted to sit there and watch your sibling decorate a tree while you had to wait till the next day.  Not me!!!  And don't even get me started on the "Candy" advents.  I would never share.  I would be the kid in the corner eating all of the candy!  Maybe that's why we never had one.  They knew I had no will for sharing candy.  

So after we inherited this Advent I knew I wanted to do something the entire family could get excited about.  Not just that days lucky chosen one.  But I had no idea on what or how to start.  

You see... Our problem is very simple.  During this time of the year we are both very busy.  This is the money time at the restaurant.  Even when I wasn't working at Outback full time I always would come in and sell Gift Cards.  Every year we would make a list of things we like to do for the holidays.  (Great intentions)  But without fail we would but we get so wrapped up in work they never happen.  We work so hard during this time we forget to slow down and enjoy the season.  And before you know it... that season is gone. (Horrible Follow thru)     

Last year our tree went up on Christmas Eve.  Now I know that's ok for a couple but it hit me... we are no longer a couple. We are a family.  I don't want our kids to miss out on baking cookies, watching movies, caroling, or taking drives to see the christmas lights. 

From my earlier posts you might have seen I have a new addiction... Pinterest.  Well, today while I was bopping around looking at Holiday things I found my solution.  You could say that is when I saw the Christmas Light!  

I found this site The Petit Cadeau.  Here they have a whole segment on the Advent Calendar and all sorts of fun activities to do instead of the traditional  (and sibling frustrating) candy.  

Today marks the final 12 days to Christmas... so I figured I would start with 12 this year and see how well we do.  I picked out 12 (out of the 36 suggestions they provided) things that I would like to do as a family to get us in the holiday spirit.  Hopefully we can catch the spirit before work and the other stresses of life make the holiday season disappear.  

I printed out the pdf from The Petit Cadeau and picked my favorite 12.  Tonight I am going to go to pull out those gift tags that we haven't used in years and copy the ideas over.

I am not sure which one we are going to start with... I am kind of excited to share with Kevin our new tradition.  I hope he will be as excited as I am to experience the season with each passing day.

Here is the list of 12 that I picked for this year:  

1. Go for a drive to see the Christmas lights.
2. Bake Christmas cookies.
3. Random Act of Kindness.
4. Make an ornament or decoration.
5. Watch a special Christmas movie with treats.
6. Have breakfast in bed!
7. Write a letter to Santa.
8. Shop for New Christmas pyjamas.
9. Decorate the Christmas tree.
10. Let's go: Ice skating.
11. Turn off the lights in the house, light up the christmas tree, turn on Christmas music, sip hot chocolate, and just relax!
12. Have a picnic dinner in front of the tree.            

   

A Day with Pam in the Gardens

Happy Halloween

Happy Thanksgiving