Please, pray for sweet Stellan

MckMama's newest addition, Stellan, needs our prayers and good thoughts. Please, read here for the whole story.

Wordless Wednesday

This is my Brother In Law, Scott. I think this picture is hilarious, I hope you do too! I'm sure that he will kill me if he sees it posted here!
For more wordless Wednesday go here :)

O:FA Week 1 (late)

I was supposed to update 4 or so days ago, but, I didn't. It's going okay I suppose. I've had fast food once in the past week, but that is usually all the more I have fast food. More like once every two weeks. I really need to just cut it out completely. I realized this even more after reading this post over at momdot.com. I haven't had any soda, so that is good. That is really to be expected though, because we actually don't buy any soda to keep in the house. I just have it once in a while, usually while getting the fast food! My big downfall is the late night snack, I've tried, and I don't think it's possible to cut it all the way out. However, I have been trying to eat a lower portion, and a little earlier. NOT easy when hubby is in the next seat over scarffing ruffles and french onion dip and still managing to look trim as ever...


That picture is actually from last summer, but you get the point. He still looks like that underneath his clothes, I promise! (minus the tan)
So, all in all, I have not lost any weight in the past week and a half, I have not gained any either. These next two weeks will be a true test, and then I think I will enter myself in some spinning classes :)

Wordless Wednesday

Operation: Fat Ass

I've decided to join Amanda on her quest of Operation: Fat Ass. For my height of 5'7" I am not overweight. I just am not comfortable with myself. Two short years ago I weighed 120 lbs. and that is my goal. I know I can do it. I'm not even going to try for my pre-pregnancies weight. Getting to 120 is already 20 lbs that I will have to lose! So, basically I need to cut my bad calories OUT. No soda, junk food, fast food, and probably less coffee too....or at least less coconut creamer :) I need to work out more too. I have an exersize ball that gave me abs of steel once upon a time, so I will get on that every night and try to hit the treadmill a couple times a week. Running outside would not be easy for me around here with all the snow we currently have! I can't believe I'm even sharing what I currently weigh, but since I mentioned it above anyway, here it is! Like my socks?! I will check in weekly on progress or no progress, probably on Thursdays.

Not me Monday

As started by Mckmama at My Charming Kids :)

I did not bribe my son with a stick of gum this morning just to make him get dressed, because he definitely was not more interested in his lego collection then getting dressed and going to school.

I did not buy The Elf on the Shelf from Hallmark just to return it two days later, because two days after purchasing it I received a 40% off coupon from Hallmark for the Elf on the Shelf. I did not then proceed to tell my son that Frosty (the name given to the elf) had to stay and help Santa a little longer so that I could get to the Hallmark on the other side of town and use my new coupon!

I did not get frustrated and yell at my husband last night when he was hanging up Christmas lights because they were not JUST how I wanted them. Then I did not feel bad after and apologize when he fixed it all for my liking.

I did not skip my shower this morning with intentions on hopefully getting one in this afternoon while the kids are napping because I wanted to take a few extra minutes to create this post before leaving to run some errands and pick my son up from school.

Wordless Wednesday

Science Time Tuesday!

We started going a little stir crazy today. School was canceled yesterday(due to the load of snow we've gotten), and Ryan only has pre-school 3 days a week. Today was his off day and he was BORED, and really wanted to go to school. We ran some errands, came home and decided to do a little experiment...

THIS is what happens when you mix corn starch and water (and food coloring) together!

It really is very cool. You can pick it up and form it into a ball and then let is oooooooozzzzeee

back into the dish. So it shows the difference between liquid and solid and how it is possible for something to turn from a solid to a liquid. Ryan is still playing with this as I type!

(HOWEVER, we have learned the hard way that you do not really need the food coloring. Actually, I don't recommend it at all, because now Ryan and I have blue hands!! LOL)

Because it's Christmas

The girls at What's that smell? have teamed up with Alyson from 3 P’s in a Pod and 3 P’s Mama Says for a unique project for this Christmas season.
They are hosting a giveway where not only readers have the chance to win some awesome prizes, but they are also giving away toys to needy children and deserving charities.
There are 5 separate groups to enter for, and a new prize will be opened every day. Here is what has been "unwrapped" so far. Make sure to check back as there will more added to this list:

Group 1: Duck Pull Toy from Haba: Enter here!

Group 1: Trix Mix Pull Toy from Haba: Enter here!

Group 1: Lets go walking Puppy from North Star Toys: Enter here!

Group 2: Haba Casalino Fabric Blocks from Maukilo: Enter here!

Group 2: Scribble & Sing Art Station from Crayola: Enter Here!

Group 2: Rainbow People Mover from North Star Toys: Enter here!

Group 2: Nature Discovery in My Backyard from The Little Enviromentalists: enter here!

Group 2: Short Jumbo Crayons and Sketch Pad from Creativity for Kids: enter here!

Group 3: Nana Star and the Moonman storybook and Moonman Lovey: Enter here!

Group 3: Dragonrock Castle from Creative Toyshop: Enter here!

Group 3: Nature Discovery in My Backyard from The Little Environmentalists: Enter here!

Group 3: Terra Kids Headlamp from Haba: Enter here!

Group 3: Plush Giant Panda from Xeko Pals: Enter here!

Group 3: Helicopter from North Star Toys: Enter here!

Group 3: Drift Cars Street Team from Creativity for Kids: Enter here!

Group 4: Planet Pixies from I Love My Planet Toys: Enter here!

Group 4: Rosegarden Palace from Creative ToyShop: Enter here!

Group 4: Plush Giant Panda from Xeko Pals: Enter here!

Group 4: Nature Discovery in My Backyard from The Little Enviromentalists: enter here!

Group 5: Sleepy Princess and the Pea Game from Maukilo: Enter here!

Group 5: Kit from Precious Girls Club: Enter here!

Group 5: Nature Discovery in My Backyard from The Little Enviromentalists: enter here!

Group 5: Plush Giant Panda from Xeko Pals: Enter here!

Group 5: Indoor Gardening Kit from Green Toys: Enter here!

Group 5: Chatterchix Starter Set: enter here!

Group 5: Pretty Pedicure Salon from Creativity for Kids: enter here!

Wordless Wednesday

My sweet boy, 4 years ago now!

COD #6

Sponsors: Day Five Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Flying Colors Baby, Uncommonly Cute and Lollipop Book Club.
VIP BLOGS to visit are Parent Reviewers , Mom Most Traveled, Mommy Zabs, MomStart, HipposToes, Run DMT

We would like to know what is your favorite holiday memory from your childhood.

My favorite holiday memory was spending time with grandma every Christmas. We would always head down to her house a couple days before Christmas, she lived 4 hours away, so that we could wake up at her house Christmas morning. She always had overstuffed stockings for us and a different porcelain doll for every Christmas. My cousin and I are only 1 month apart, we grew up very close and almost always received the same gifts growing up, sometimes it might be a different color....depending on what it was :) When we got back to our house there were always gifts and stockings left from Santa, that was always exciting too! It was like Christmas all over again a couple days later!

COD Blog Party: Day 5

Sponsors: Day Five Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Baby Pop and Chic Covers

VIP BLOGS to visit are Parent Reviewers , Mom Most Traveled, Mommy Zabs, MomStart, HipposToes, Run DMT

Today, make a blog post about what you do to give back during the holidays. Do you volunteer your time? If so, please tell us where. What do you do to teach your children the true meaning of the holidays?

We always donate to Toys for Tots and Coats for Kids. This year I also went through my son's very gently or never used sweaters with him and did a sweater drive with his pre-school. I occasionally, throughout the year, volunteer at our local Womens Resource Center, to help women and families in need of any assistance at all.

Ryan turned 4 this year, so actually just yesterday we were explaining to him the joy of giving over recieving. We will work on that more with him this year than we have in the past.

Blog Party: Day 4

Today it is all about food! Here in our family, immediate and extended, we are all about food.
Quick note, thank you Amanda, I hope you don't mind that I used the button you had on your page for this post. I'm not sure where you found it, but I couldn't get the one from Momdot to work on my post :(.

Sponsors: Day Four Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Bottlewise and Glow Mama

VIP BLOGS to visit are Parent Reviewers , Mom Most Traveled, Mommy Zabs, MomStart, HipposToes, Run DMT

My favorite Holiday recipe...hmm this is a tough one. My favorite, as in I enjoy eating it, would have to be the cranberry sauce that my mom makes. Unfortunately I do not have the recipe, but I know there are cranberries, apples and oranges involved. I don't know, I think I like it that much more because we only have it one time of year!
My favorite traditional recipe, that I actually do not like the taste of at all, is the "orange stuff". My grandma (on my mom's side), and my grandma's mother had been making this for as long as I have been around, possibly longer. My grandma and only one of my aunts are the only ones who ever eat it. My grandma has since passed, but it is still made every Thanksgiving for just my aunt, or if anything to honor my grandma :)

We usually celebrate Thanksgiving at a couple different places, so the setting of the table is different everywhere! It is the most elaborate when we go down to my grandpa and grandma's (on my dad's side) home. There are anywhere from 25 to 35 people there. My grandma has the granddaughters shine her fine silver while she takes care of the rest. She does place card seating and uses her fine china.

No disasters so far to date :) which is good I suppose! Hopefully I'm not jinxing myself!

Kreativ Blogger Award!

Amanda, from Divine Chaos awarded me with this~


Thank you Amanda! You inspire me to be a better blogger :)

Here are the rules for this one:
1. Mention the blog that gave it to you and comment on their blog to let them know you’ve posted your award.
2. Publish these rules.
3. Share 6 values that are important to you and 6 things you do not support.
4. Grant the prize to 6 people.
5. Mention the blog that gave it to you and comment on their blog to let them know you’ve posted your award.

Six Important Values/Beliefs:
1. Honesty
2. Motivation
3. Love
4. Trust
5. Confidence
6. Friendship

Nix Support For These Values/Beliefs:
1. Hate
2. Dishonesty
3. Jealousy
4. Greed
5. Impatience
6. Ignorance

I'd like to bestow this award to:

Mary, Being who God created me to be

Shana, Welcome to the Dieli family

Sheila, Just Plain Crazy!

Jen, We are blessed!

Christine, Princess Fiona

Valerie, A Day in the Life of Valerie

Christmas Giveaways

I just love Christmas time. It really is the time for giving and recieving. Thoughts from the Mrs. is doing a 12 days of Christmas giveaway. What a great idea to possibly win some cool things to give to special people in your life this time of year!

COD Blog Party - #2: Traditions

Well, it's the second day of the Christmas of Dreams Blog Party! I, of course, missed the first day :) You know, 'cause I'm really good about doing things a day or 16 late!

Today's (Day 2) topic is brought to us by LaPlates, Lets Go Strolling
and Natitys Design and is all about Traditions.

Thanksgiving:Growing up, my family always traveled 4 hours south to spend time with grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles...etc...Now that I have my own family though, the tradition has changed, just slightly. All of the grandparents live by us now, so we usually spend Thanksgiving day with my family, and the day after with my in-laws. We will go south to see my grandparents in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of course we always eat a lot!

Christmas Eve: I have always, and my family and I probably will always spend this night with close family friends of ours. We go to church and then head to their house for tons of food, and to exchange our gifts with them. We play games and always watch a Christmas themed movie.

Christmas: We wake up early and open presents!! I've never been able to sleep in on Christmas day, I still get as excited as I did as a child, more so to see everyone else open their gifts :) We have a big breakfast and mimosas' at my mom's, and then later my dad comes to our house.

New Years Eve: We go out once in a while for NYE. Last year I was preggo, and 3 years before that I was. It really just depends on the year! I think we've stayed up to watch the ball drop every year though!

Wordless Wednesday

Thankful

First and foremost I am thankful for this little group of people sitting amongst the mess in Ryan's room...

With Thanksgiving right around the corner I've been thinking of things that I am thankful for, and really I have so much that I am thankful for. Ryan really made me realize just how lucky we are, and thankful we should be. On our way home from preschool yesterday we noticed that some of the yards in the higher elevated spots of our area, had snow in them, and on the cars in their driveways. I stated to Ryan that I wished I lived somewhere warm, that I am not ready for all of this snow. Ryan caught me slightly off gaurd, and said "Mommy, aren't you happy though that we can go home, in our house where it is warm? This winter our house will keep us warm." Yes! of course I am Ryan! Why didn't I think of that? I have a warm house waiting for me, that I am so fortunate to have. ( however there is still a part of me that would love to retreat to a warmer climate! )

Nominated

So I was nominated by Gena, from The Morris Bunch! Over the last year or so Gena has grown to be a good friend to me. She is an awesome down to earth person. Not to mention an awesome mommy.

Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who:

• ~ inspires you~ makes you smile and laugh
• ~ or maybe gives amazing information
• ~ a great read
• ~ has an amazing design
• ~ and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!

The rules of this award are:
* Put the logo on your blog or post.
* Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!
* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog. * Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from. ( click her name up at the top).

Here are my picks for Uber Amazing Blogs

Sheila
Christine
Nastassja
Mandee
Virginia

My Bag

Okay, so I have never claimed to be the best blogger on the block! I have been tagged, just never mind that it was 3 weeks ago :) Amanda, over at Divine Chaos tagged me to show off the items in my bag, so here we go!


Here are the rules.

Find a safe quiet place free of significant others, nosey meme makers, priests, nuns, all things religious and men in general. (If you're a guy just reverse this process to male and tell us about your wallet, tool box, briefcase or metro sexual accessory.)

1. Dump the contents of your handbag in a pile

2. Take a photo of your handbag and the contents

3. Be brave and explain to your fellow bloggers what lurks inside the handbag.

4. Tag others who might want to embarrass themselves

5. Answer these questions:

Describe the contents of your handbag.

What's the most important thing in your handbag?

What's the most embarrassing thing in your handbag?

What's the smallest thing in your handbag?

Is there anything illegal in your handbag?

This meme was started by Mimi, Queen of Memes.

1) Describe the contents of your handbag.
wallet, chapstick, lip gloss, dental floss, fingernail clippers, nail polish, a pen, lotion, matches, a single earring with no partner, and a CD from a band that was playing at a bar near me (the band is Milligram Smile)

2) What's the most important thing in your handbag?
I'm going to say my wallet

3) What's the most embarrassing thing in your handbag?
Nothing really embarrassing in my bag.

4) What's the smallest thing in your handbag?
I think the earring

5) Is there anything illegal in your handbag?

nope

Well, there it is. The crap in my bag exposed for the blogging world to see. Now it's time for you to show us what you got. I'm tagging...

Gena
Valerie
Virginia

Wordless Wednesday

Olivicious

This will be a repeat for some of you, but here are some pictures of Olivia, she decided to throw off our routine today, and stay awake for a little while in the middle of what is supposed to be her nap time! haha, so we took some pictures, because she was so darn happy. Oh and don't mind her pj's, she told me this morning that she would prefer to wear them all day instead of getting dressed, I thought that was a great idea and followed suit!

Olivia's new accessory that she just HAD to have

This is just a random one from a couple days ago that I threw in :)

First day of school - late

Okay, I REALLY am going to try to keep this more up to date! These are some pictures from Ryan first day of preschool, his second year. He actually started about 3 weeks ago, but is doing awesome. They have a classroom pet named Rosebud, and she is a guinea pig, so happy he has that opportunity at school, because he won't at home!!

"not me!" monday - a day late

as taken from this blog www.mycharmingkids.net, started by Mckmama, you can find her story here

I did not eat an 8" diameter brownie ALMOST all by myself on Saturday, and I most certainly did not eat an 8" squared piece of chocolate cake ALL by myself yesterday.

I did not hit the ignore button on my phone several times yesterday, because I just did not have the energy to talk!

I did not close my eyes, and pretend to be sleeping this morning when I heard my husband and son coming back to see if mommy was still sleeping, just because I wanted to lay in peace 5 more minutes.

I definitely did not tell my son that I had to go to the bathroom, just so I could sit in there with locked doors and finish the last chapter of my book!

and last but not least....I did not write "not me!" monday a day late, on Tuesday, because I was just too lazy to do it on the right day! Nope, not me!

Wordless Wednesday

the end of summer

I am a 24 year old mom who spends most of my time at home with my kids. Or outside with my kids. 98% of my time is with my kids. You get the point! I have 2 kids, Ryan who is 4 and Olivia who will be 1 May. The 6 hours/week that I work outside of my home is spent coloring and cutting hair a Salon/Day Spa. I've recently found that I have a passion to blog, so I hope you enjoy what I have to say! I love writing reviews and finding new products to share with my readers. I'm married to Rob, who also happens to be my high school sweetheart. I love to cook and eat good food, so I'm sure you'll also find a few recipes that you may or may not enjoy along the way. hmmmm, if you want to know anything else, ask! tara@throughhazeleyesblog.com

Interested in holding a review and/or contest through my site? Or maybe you'd like to place an advertisement in one of my top spots? All PR welcome. Contact me at: tara@throughhazeleyesblog.com

Water Park

We went to the water park on Friday, one of the last summery things we're doing before the end of summer approachs.

Rob and Ryan going down the lazy river

Olivia just hanging out as usual :)

This one is hard to see, but that is actually me going down the slide.

To end our time at Thunder Falls a thunder storm hit, hard, this is everyone running back to the car!

catching up

Both kids had check ups about a week ago. Both are doing GREAT! Ryan is 33.5 lbs and 39.5 in. tall, which meant he got to go down some of the more medium sized water slides at the water park this past weekend!! Olivia weighed in at 13 lb 15 oz and 25.5 in tall. She is up to par on everything else, and he said she is just "a good baby" :). Both of them had shots :( All in all though, good appointment!

Wordless Wednesday

I'm officially one week behind. I will try harder. In the mean time here is a photo each of my handsome boy and pretty girl :)

Wordless Wednesday

these are from today...

I don't know if you can tell it is raining

and yes, they have dug a BIG hole in my backyard, for their muddy pleasure :)

First time

Here it goes. This is my very first blog, ever. I actually don't have anything to currently blog about today, but I felt I should post something being I just started this....Off to put up some pictures and such!