Monday, December 29, 2008

Giveaway

halftimelessons.blogspot.com is doing a giveaway for MISSION:Monday. You can win these items if drawn

a $100 Ruth's Chris Gift Card
an MP3 Player
$30 in Itunes Credits
and MORE!!!

Go check them out!

MissionMonday

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Some Christmas Pics










We did four christmases total. My house was really nothing though, just three gifts in the morning when she got up. She got an Elmo live from my MIL and she was mersmerized, she even gave him a kiss before getting him out of the package haha
It was a blessed Christmas but, a busy one!

Friday, December 26, 2008

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies




On Wednesday night I made some of these for my uncle who has celiac. I thought it might be nice for him to enjoy some dessert.

Here's the recipe I used/made for this

1/2 c butter (or shortening)
1/2 c peanut butter (I used creamy)
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 egg

mix well then add your dry

1 1/4 c gluten free baking mix(I used bob's red mill. It already has leavening in it)

mix well

Roll in a log and cut the cookies into 1/4 pieces and bake or roll into balls and press down with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes

Happy 2nd Birthday Kaia!

Two years ago today you came into our world and changed it forever. Daddy got a little girl that he had wished for and mommy got a precious daughter to teach and love and grow with!

I love you baby and continue to pray that you will follow God's direction in your life and find out what true happiness is!

Always,

Mommy

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas

I'm wishing all my fellow bloggers a very Merry Christmas! May God's ultimate gift to us reflect in the day and bring us peace in our hearts throughout the new year.

Merry Christmas!

Melanie

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Two Years Old

















On Friday my precious little girl will be two years old. I will be saying "I can't believe it" probably every year! Where did those two years go? She is such a blessing to me everyday, even when she's driving me crazy!

Here's some pics of my girl! Birth until now

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Plan Toys Giveaway!

I found an amazing giveaway for plan toys! Look here to see all of their amazing wooden creations and learning toys http://www.plantoysusa.com/.

Jolly mom at www.jollymom.com is offering $100 worth of super cute wooden groceries in a giveaway over at her site.

If you're interested follow the directions and enter, you only have until 11:59 EST on December 28th to get your name in that hat!

Thanks

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Christmas is peeking it's head at me!

I cannot believe how fast this month has flown! I have been trying to figure out gifts, wrapping, food, etc. I know this is a busy month for all. We have been blessed this month because we were able to get caught up on all our bills AND have some money left for Christmas. That was exciting!

I can't believe it's just about hte 17th already. My baby girl will be two December 26th. How exciting and a little sad it is! She has grown in a blink of my eye. She is getting taller by the minute and her hair is finally growing, especially in the back. Her vocab has just leapt this last couple of months.(if that was a proper term for it haha)

I got to order something off etsy from my sweet hubby for Christmas. He never knows what to get me and forgets everything I say. We weren't even going to exchange this year but, things changed and we had a little money. I'm going to get him some cologne he ran out of and loves(yummy, me too!) It's been a blessed season this year! Friends and family and a little money too.

Now to finish all that wrapping and wrap my head around my daughter's Birthday party which I haven't even really thought of. EEK!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Christmas tree contest at island life

Vote for me please! hehe Please go vote here. Cool prizes at stake. Thanks in advance to those that vote!

http://islandlife808.com/uncategorized/voting-is-now-open/#comment-74701

I am number 23. You can view my tree below this post here in my blog.

Thanks,

Melanie

Thursday, December 11, 2008

500 Home Depot card giveaway!

For those of you that like to do the blog contests, you know who you are, run to 5minutesformom right now! They are having a giveaway for a 500 dollar gift card to home depot which ends Friday December 12th.

Run over there and enter NOW, you don't want to miss this!

Merry Christmas!

Melanie

http://www.5minutesformom.com/5066/win-a-500-gift-card-to-home-depot/

Monday, December 8, 2008

Bah Humbug!

I chuckle to myself, thinking about how I've been for such a long time. Christmas used to mean heartache for me. I thought about the son of man and that made me feel better. My family was poor, my dad was gone, and Christmas was supposed to be about family!

I wasn't really happy with the thought of Christmas. It broke my mom's heart that she never had any money. It broke my heart that she was sad and so were my siblings. When I was single and living alone, I didn't decorate or waste my money on a tree. I enjoyed picking out gifts for family and friends but, I didn't really feel a need to decorate my little place. I even had a very sweet friend, who later was my roommate for awhile, give me a baby tree and a stocking because she couldn't bear it. Ah, the memories that flood back to me when I really try and recollect them.

I'm married now and have a daughter who was born the day after Christmas in 2006. They have brought a new meaning of Christmas, and life for that matter, to me. My husband works hard and is tired after long days. We don't get much alone time with a toddler and son who visits weekends. My daughter is into everything, as a two year old should be. We barely scrape by some months and yet, I'm am so richly blessed!

God reminds me daily that he has fulfilled his promise to me. That he was faithful to me and has seen me through all of my days here on earth. I worry sometimes but, mostly I know I am doing what I should be. I am raising my daughter. I am taking care of my husband. I try to be a good friend, etc.

I no longer feel like I'm going to die if I hear Christmas songs while in the store, haha. I feel like I can enjoy the spirit of the season with friends and family. I got "warm fuzzies" while putting up the tree with my kids and husband.

No longer do I feel like Scrooge and that's just fine with me!

Recital Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Recital Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Christmas is coming!









We had Cam this weekend so we decorated the tree. It was nice with all four of us this year! It gave me warm fuzzies at one moment haha. Last year Kaia was learning how to walk and just about a year old so we didn't do the tree in our little apartment. I dreaded it this year too but, it brings such joy to her little face! Here are some pics of the day. We also did a "photoshoot" of the kids. She is such a stinker to try and take pictures of! grrr.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Mogul baby


Go check out this holiday guide for moms, dads, babies and kids. Some really fresh ideas!

http://www.mogulbaby.com/2008/10/holiday-guide-2008.html

Thursday, December 4, 2008

My Delicious Sleeping Toddler


Alesha reminded me that I haven't take any sleeping pics of my daughter lately. This is probably going to be the last "binky" sleeping picture I will ever take of her. My little child, almost two will have to say goodbye to a cherished friend :( Here she is sleeping in mommy and daddy's bed. My, they are precious when they sleep.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

This was a forward sent in my email

After being interviewed by the school administration, the teaching prospect said, 'Let me see if I've got this right:

'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.

'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.

'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job. You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of anti-social behavior, and make sure that they all pass the state exams.

'You want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

'You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps. You want me to do all this and then you tell me:



I CAN'T PRAY?


I know the separation of church and state was for a reason, because the "church" was very involved in all of the King's and Queen's business and there were dirty dealings. I don't understand why we can't participate in the same rights as others in a school as we can in a restaurant, etc. This is very indicative of our times

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Radio City Christmas Spectacular giveaway

Oh my gosh! This is one of the best giveaways I've ever seen on a blog! Babies Gotta have it http://babiesgottahaveit.com/?p=121 has a giveaway for four tickets to go to the Radio city music hall and see the Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes in NYC!

"Audiences of all ages will delight in this multifaceted spectacular including Santa flying high above the crowd, childhood dreams coming true in the classic tale of The Nutcracker and the awe-inspiring Living Nativity - the beautiful story of the first Christmas."

Please go check out her blog and enter as soon as possible. She is closing the contest on Friday Dec 5.

Merry Christmas!