Kick starting Christmas.

I made a promise on Facebook, "'I will make ALL my Christmas gifts this year" and thanks to Pintrest I will have no problem filling stockings this Christmas.  It had been a while since I had made something to give as a gift so I felt that the best place to warm-up would be Halloween. Cheetah reommended carving a pumpkin, I tried to remind him how much he DID NOT enjoy doing it last year but he would not give up. 
                                   
Yeah, it didn't take long for him to regret his request.  I also learned a good lesson about pumpkins this year, although the 'warty' pumpkins are super cute they do not make good carving pumpkins.  The skin is SUPER tough, even Tarzan had a hard time carving into it.  We kinda gave up on the face but the 'goblin' inspired jack-o-lantern still came out super cute.

After our battle with the pumpkin I was a little nervous to try my hand at tye dying at home.  Last year after Halloween I bought this kit at Walmart for under $3 dollars, and I was super excited.  The only things I had to provide were shirts and patience...

                              

Suprisingly it went really well, Cheetah was into it but after 15 minutes of just squeezing dye he lost intrest.  I ended up tye dying 5 t-shirts and loving it.  They had to soak overnight but the 1st thing I did the next morning was cut off the bands and take a look.  Cheetah couldn't believe that you could change a white t-shirt to something 'so cool yo' (had to use his exact words).

We had enough dye leftover to make our 1st Christmas gift of the year.  It turned out great and we know that the giftee will LOVE it too!! 

                           

We have whipped our creative muscles into shape and this past weekend we churned out 4 more Christmas gifts and started on another 4, it won't be long before we have them all done and ready for the unveiling.  I'll give a little sneak peek as we work toward our family Christmas's...seriously, check out Pintrest, there are SO many great ideas and ways to help you save money during this holiday season.  

a back that needed patting...

My grandmother always gave me the best advice, off the top of my head I can think of three pearls of wisdom that have helped me: the most important relationship is the one with yourself, you can never really know someone else, and when you marry it should be to someone who brings out the best in you. I am so thankful that I listened.  I am reminded daily how lucky I am to have a partner so loyal, honest, and caring.  He's my hunter, my barometer, my heart, and my space heater.

Like most people I had an idea of what I was looking for in a partner.  I had images of a two story colonial with 4 smiling children, 2 minivans parked side by side, and a husband whose ambitious career perfectly matched mine.  It has taken 33 years of life experience and 9 years in a marriage to shed some light on the sham I had envisioned so many years ago.  Don't get the wrong idea, I didn't settle.  In reality I do not live in a two story colonial and will never have 4 perfect children, God gave me an abundance of flour and I've been busy making roux.

I know beyond a doubt that Tarzan is the perfect life mate for me.  Without even a grimace he cleans up squished bugs, fresh vomit, and all unidentifiable messes.  He never shys away from explaining the most difficult words or concepts to Cheetah.  His ability to define words like sexy and explain theories like time travel in a way that a 5 year old can comprehend is astounding.  He puts his own needs and wants on the back-burner time and time again, his sacrifices are never mentioned and his back is often left patless.

I have often struggled with my self esteem but my relationship with Tarzan has changed that aspect.  The unyielding love and devotion this man has for me has helped me to see myself as he does; beautiful, strong, good, and worthy.  I have never had to ask him how he feels for me; I see it in every dish that is washed, every yard that has been mowed, every book he reads to Cheetah, and in every note he leaves for me.

I love you Tarzan.  Thank you for being more than I ever dreamed of and everything I never knew to ask for.

a few chews down memory lane

The Smith household has been playing with their food for a few weeks now.  We've been making food that makes us giggle, sigh with contentment, and takes us on a stroll down memory lane.  Besides pizza and turkey sandwiches; hotdogs are a staple in Cheetah's diet.  He orders corndogs and hotdogs but never eats the 'bread' he likes his dogs au natural.  In the interest of 'funning up' his dogs I began searching on pintrest and I found these cute pictures and I knew of a trick to turn hotdogs into a seafood delight; they were both a hit with Cheetah and they been requested daily since their introduction.

Cheetah has developed a love for several of my childhood favorites like gumbo, mexican cornbread, and porcupine meatballs but Tarzan became concerned when he learned that Cheetah wasn't a huge fan of some of the items that were offered at the school cafeteria.  We did a recap of the week's menu and decided to school Cheetah on two staples from Tarzan's childhood: meatloaf and sloppy joes. 

I got this yummy meatloaf recipe from The Pioneer Woman's site but the sloppy joes came straight out of the can.  I forgot how yummy sloppy joes are and it's a fairly inexpensive meal to fix in a flash.

Tonight we are noshing on the gorgeous meatloaf accompanied by fluffy mashed potatoes and green beans. It's been fun reliving some of our childhood memories while making some for Cheetah along the way.  What are the 'go to meals' in your house?  Are they the meals you ate as a child as well?? 

Wordless Wednesday

Wax on, wax off.

It has been busy couple of weeks in the Smith household, we have signed up for a new after school program and it has taken some time to get used to our new schedule.  For some time now, Cheetah has shown interest in karate and Tarzan and I were more than happy to sign him up for some extra physical activity.  I knew I was going to be pleased with him learning some techniques in self-defense but really had no idea how much help it would be in the behavior department.

He still has his moments where listening and focusing can be taxing but it's obvious that he realizes it and tries his best to keep it in check.  Not only has karate helped him to learn the correct behavior for social & school situations but we have also seen a huge change in his self-confidence.  It even shows on the playgrounds we have been frequenting.

NO CRAWLING!!!

I know that no matter how long he stays in the program, only positive things can come from earning stripes for memory, discipline, and fitness.  My 'Little Ninja' is thoroughly enjoying his time in the dojo and I love seeing the accomplished look on his face each time we head home.  It's a win - win!

Guest Post: I am that Mom

Check out my guest post on my dear friend McCall's blog for her 'I am that Mom week', and if you aren't a groupie of her's...what are you waiting for?!?!?

365 more days without you.

Here I sit surrounded by soggy kleenex, wet faced, and sad.  I can't believe I have survived 730 days without you.  I felt sure that with both you and Opa gone my heart would crumble and turn to dust.  With your's and Opa's 'anniversaries' being so close together the end of summer has really began to take it's toll.  I know it gets easier but I must admit it's hard, it doesn't help that I have planted my feet firmly in the ground and I have started to take 'root'.  It's as if I am taking a stand.  I have lost enough great people from my life and I am scared to move forward.  It's not that I haven't been happy, loved, or had fun; it's just that every other breath seems to get caught in my throat and tears try to well up in my eyes. 


I am so thankful that Tarzan and Cheetah had the chance to build real relationships with you, knowing you mean so much to them has helped me to mourn openly.  If a wave of emotion hits, Tarzan can truly know the great loss I am feeling.  Cheetah speaks of you regularly, and he keeps that beanie baby kitten you gave him sitting on his dresser.  It nearly kills me each time he wishes he could see your face again and give you a hug...what I wouldn't give for a chance at that myself.

You were always a constant in my life, ever present, ever loving.  One of my first soild memories of you is lying in a twin bed (with you in the one right next to mine) and talking with eachother until we fell asleep.  When I was scared you would hold my hand, and give me your glow in the dark rosary to help sooth my nerves.  The last time we talked I told you how scary it was to watch you leaving me, and you grabbed my hand and said, "I know you are scared but I can't be here just because you're scared...I did what I was suppossed to do". You were my compass, a place where I could always find my 'true north' and I fear I may be lost without you