Our Tree, 2007

Our tree arrived home safe and sound! I must say a Christmas Tree purchase experience in Florida was extremely different than a Christmas Tree purchase in Wisconsin. First off, trees are expensive in the south. We purchased a Frasier Fur for $25 last year, and a Frasier Fur for $95 (sticker price) this year. Don't you worry, I used my friendly negotiating skills down 60%, there was just no way I could spend that on something I threw away. Second, there was no snow to contend with while making the decision. The sun was beating down on us and the boys only had a sweatshirt on. The boys really enjoyed the experience. Sam was definitely excited to strap the tree on top of the van and ride home to put the lights on! Now, we wait...patiently for Santa who will be here as soon as his Mimi and Papa arrive!

Finally, the tree is lit! A little crooked, but lit.

Again, I must say, I LOVE PUBLIX!

Again, another post about how much I love Publix. Let me start out by saying, "I STILL love Publix!" This event, hosted by Publix, was to bring in the holidays..What am I going to do if we ever move to a state where I am without a Publix? It was that time of year, again, where Publix did it best to spoil us rotten. The store managers (about 15 of them) supplied a great huge warm welcome to us as we walk through the door. Not only was I three steps into the store before I was offered some Champagne and my children were offered a balloon, next to the 5 piece string cortet, chilling behind the ice sculpture. Of course I indulged in the Bubbly and I figured I could stay there for a few more hours since we walked there :). Next we came across a table. A table that was FULL of the favorites. The melting moments, the strawberry drizzled with brown and white chocolate and the favorite brownie surprise. The baker gave one plate to me, one to Matthew and the other to Sam. We piled up those desserts high and mighty. The baker just adores Matthew and she always gives him Hi-5's! Not to mention that Matthew adores her because she not only supplies his paws with 1 sprinkled cookie, but he gets 2 cookies! And yes, they do know my children by their first name. So we stood there and stuffed our faces with the decants first. Now, onto the produce spread....This is the favorite event of our excursion. Why you ask? Because they have a scale and everything we buy we have to weigh....according to Mr. Sam Man. And tonight, we weighed the fork that we used to eat all the palatable bakery items.
We were done, Matthew was a mess, imagine that, and Sam was just too worried that his fingers were dirty. We continue. Next it was the seafood table. Gorgeous seafood laid out with of course, the mini cocktail wieners! Matthew stood by the butcher until he noticed him and also filled up a plate for us! He said, "Wieners for the children! Does the mother want some?" I passed on that question.....Matthew found himself a comfy seat on the tile floor next to the raw spare ribs that were next to the lamb shank.

After eating our way through the store we noticed that it was getting very very dark out and we still had about a 20 minute walk home. We were having so much fun talking, eating and drinking we lost track of time. Now somehow I was going to have to break the news to my little ones that it was time to go.....let me say it wasn't easy, until we started walking towards the front of the store. There was SANTA! The big ole' man himself was sitting high and mighty on 1,000 cases of coke! Oh man. The tears from the poor little sad children froze and the faces turned into smiles. "Ho Ho Ho Ho" came out of Matthew's mouth. "Can I tell him to bring me a firetruck" came out of my darling 3 year old's mouth. Matthew followed Sam...all the way to the lap, then turned around and got shy. However, check out the smile on Sam's face...He was in heaven!!!! And this Santa was free of charge! Well, he should be seeing how much of my $$ Publix has....

It was time to head back home to wait for daddy! Our bellies were fed and the boys were ready to roll. Sam ate like a champ and Matthew, well he always has an appetite. As we were rolling out of the parking lot, Sam looked at me and said, "Mommy, I think you better walk fast, I have to poop." So we ran home dodging the sprinklers that were spraying in our path :).....I will never leave my house without my camera again!!!! And yes, I did look like a fool taking pictures in a food store, but the funny part was...I wasn't the only one!

The Festival of Lights

So much funakkah on Hanukkah!

The menorah just swallowed our children down to the core. They were in aah as the candles were lit and daddy recited the Hanukkah blessings at our lighting ceremony. Matthew continuously tried to blow out the candles, Sam was just candle struck and hardly blinked. They were so funny as they sat their little tushies on the table as we talked about Hanukkah and the story behind it. (Thank Goodness I got a little clued in from the Blues Clues Hanukkah book we read that morning!)

We were nontraditional for dinner and ate Spaghetti.... However, we could smell the Brisket simmering away and the latkes stacked up high at Gaga Judi and Papa Stan's house and we missed you all.
Check out the new puppets Aunt Lori and Uncle Marc surprised the boys with!!!! They adore them and they thank you for sending them down to Hot, Sunny, Sticky Florida. THANK YOU! Matthew is a bit intimated by his, Sam, no fear. HE LOVES THEM and makes Matthew laugh with them.
DAY TWO

Thank you Gaga and Papa Stan for the magnets and car racer set! We can't wait to show you them in a few DAYS when you visit!!!!!! The boys love receiving boxes in the mail!

I just love these pictures of the boys. Because it was just Brad and I celebrating Hanukkah together, we took charge of the celebration and I really think the boys were into it this year. Sam asked questions, Matthew just giggled. It was so fun for us to explain the Teplin Traditions with him, to the best of our knowledge, and watch the excitement brought to the table when we proclaimed "It's time to light the Menorah". We can't wait for next year!

Confused drive-thru passenger

We love you McDonald's!!! And we also love your drive through service. It suites our family's needs in those 'last minute dinner' decisions. Tonight was one of those nights, I didn't want anything to do with the kitchen!

So, in an effort to get out as a family, we decided to pack up the troops and head to our new friendly neighbor, myself (Erin) in the pilot seat.

We always talk up McDonald's as a bribe to our children. "If you're good.....we'll get you french fries." Heck if they understand what "good" is, but they do know how GOOD those greasy wet salty fries taste weaving through their little paws as the salt sprinkles their little lips. The kids decided that they were going to get Chicken, milk, fries and ketchup. Daddy decided that he was going to get Extra Value Meal #7, with his chicken grilled, and a diet soda.

Mommy was next in line to order in the ever so friendly drive-thru. While we were waiting in line, we saw the line next to us get a little out of control as the driver kept yelling out his window, "can you move your car up so I can see the order board....(no car movement)...can you MOVE YOUR CAR UP...(still no car movement)......MOVE YOUR *(^$@!# CAR NOW OR I'LL *&(*#!%@. Great for the hungry ears in the back seat to witness as mommy and daddy were rolling over with laughter.

Next it was our turn. (Now remember Daddy wanted the #7 value meal with grilled chicken). I start my order.....it went something like this....

McD's: "Welcome to McDonald's in Oakleaf, can I take your order?"
Me: "yes, I'll have a #7, chicken grilled with a diet coke"

McD'S: "Just so you know, it will be about a 6 minute wait on the grilled chicken. Would you mind waiting?"

Me: "Brad, it's going to be a wait on your grilled chicken...."
Brad: "Why?"

Me: "I don't know.....do you want to wait or want something else?"
McD's: "Would you like that #7 crispy instead?"

Brad: "Tell her I'll take a grilled chicken #5 instead"

Me: "Are you serious?"
Brad: "Well if they can't make a grilled #7, then have them make me a #5 grilled chicken sandwich"

Me: "Brad, come on...."

McD's: "Mam? Crispy or do you want to wait?"

Me: "Hold on one second.........(window is now closed)"

Me: "Brad....they don't have any grilled chicken, hence why I'm unable to order you a #5 instead of a #7....now come on here....do you get it?

We proceeded with caution as we headed towards the next window to get our food.....oh yes, my darling husband was a little slow to understand the difference between meal #5 and meal #7 and the concept that the little McD's grill team was a little slow on the line of making the grilled chicken. When I asked him if he was really serious about making me look like a fool, his exact words were:

"I thought they just couldn't make the sandwich in meal #7, like they didn't have the bread or lettuce or something......."

Love you darling!

A internet hug!

Thank you Uncle Darren and Aunt Ann for the birthday gift! Sam loves it, even though the picture presents a different story! But all in all, don't you think he looks cute? He was just upset I had the camera in my hands again! He just got done posing for the holiday card which, well, 200 pictures later, turned out fine.
We can't wait to see you in a few weeks!

Cutsie!

My little cutsie just doesn't want to wear clothes anymore. He prefers naked, we enforce a diaper. If the fail to enforce the diaper avenue, he literally makes puddles all over the house. He pushes SOOO hard he surprises himself when more and more and more comes out! Our little Matthew, so predictable!

Boring daddy bath

I politely asked Daddy Brad to bathe the children on Saturday Morning. I wanted to

have a few minutes in the kitchen alone and I wanted the little monsters to be contained as I finished my mission. What I didn't realize is how contemporary Daddy Brad's baths have became. When I whipped around the corner and saw this position, I needed to present a picture. The kids were fine, but how NOT FUN of a bath! Every morning we literally play until the bath water gets cold, hands become pruned and the boys and I have a blast! Daddy bath's are soooo 2007. When I asked him what he was doing his response was, "I'm checking the weather in WI." But oh how his children love him to death.

Are they here yet?

Our little Sam is soooooo excited for the upcoming weeks. We're getting in the holiday spirit these past few days and explaining what different things are and who is who! Sam is in all his glory as he prances around the house proclaiming "they are coming today". I'm always afraid to ask him "who" because I know how disappointed he will be when I tell him "not today Sam". We have a slue of visitors coming the end of the month to celebrate the end of Hanukkah and the Christmas festivities! We told Sam who is all coming and his concept of "days" is so off. He is so excited to see you all! He can't wait, and neither can we. Matthew thinks he is super excited as well because he talks about it with Sam.

This morning after bath the door bell rang. Sam dashed out of the tub, slid across the kitchen floor, tumbled over the shoes and made a safe landing at the foot of the door. He was sooo excited that "they" were here. When I asked who he said, "mommy, they are here....Gaga, Papa Tom, Papa Stan, Mimi, Ozzy and Sassy. Next Uncle Darren and Aunt Ann will come. Oh yeah, and Great Grandma Trudy too. She's coming too.". With every door bell incident and every drifted conversation his heart gets broken as he just wants you all to be here so bad! He is so excited to see you all.....you have no idea.

Our Thanksgiving meal

Our Thanksgiving, 2007. It was just the four of us this year for the big Turkey Day. We celebrated the day just being a family. Our plans for the day took a dump as we planned on heading to the beach until we woke up and found out it was a cold and rainy day. Instead of going with our fun day, we stayed home and played! Daddy was home with us on Thursday but had to return to the grind on "black Friday" and went about his business as normal. The boys and I braved the stores and made it a fun event watching all the craziness going on around us. The boys were so anxious to eat and decided I was taking too long. So instead of trying to jump in the oven, they decided it would be a great idea if they just camped out on the kitchen floor right next to the oven. Perfect spot my children picked. Not only was it in the middle of the kitchen, it was smack dab in my way!
Helping us get ready to carve!
Here is our bird! He lost his limbs while in the Publix cooler, but he tasted mighty yummy!

The treehouse

Welcome to the jungle! This tree house is great! The boys love it. It soars in the sky and they pretend they live away from mommy and daddy, in their own little fort! Matthew recently discovered he can do everything Sam can (and then some) and he can go up the steep steep ladder, all by himself mind you....

Vanilla Shakes

Our two little boys are in love with McDonald's milkshakes! Sam actually drinks it, Matthew likes to sip it and make sure to take the straw in and out of the cup to make sure he makes a super huge sticky mess everywhere! We love you Ronald, and we love you even more that your crew opened up a new McDonald's 2 minutes away!!! Thank you!

it's december 2nd...

and it's 82 stinkin' degrees? WHAT???? All the family back home are buried in a snow/ice storm, and we sit here with our shorts, sweating with the air on. Something just doesn't feel right. It's so strange for us to take walks through the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights. Normally we would bundle up, buckle everyone up in the car, crank the heat and drive around. Not this year...we walk with our flip flops on as the warm breeze sifts through our hair. Looking at lights, hearing 'HO HO HO MERRY CHRISTMAS" belt out from those 20 feet colorful blow up snow men, just isn't cuttin' it for us. Hmmmm...this is strange. Last night our neighbors invited us over for a bon fire. Sure enough, it still didn't feel right. Bon fires are reserved for camp time...in summer.

So now, next weeks mission is getting a tree. Hmmmm....instead of worrying about a fire striking the dry tree, we have to make sure we have a large enough tree skirt underneath to catch the dripping sap as it melts off the pine needles. Will I be able to celebrate a Christmas this year?