Thursday, December 27, 2012

Spoiled Kids at Christmas!

Wowie!  I sure have some spoiled kids at Christmas time!  They were so good yesterday, just having fun getting to know their new toys and books.  I forgot to include a couple of things in the picture, but here's generally what their days consisted of:

Brennan

  • Texas A&M shirt
  • Homemade by Grandma Embroidered Badgers shirt
  • Red sweatpants
  • Angry Birds shirt
  • Sweater (unpictured)
  • Cowboys jersey (unpictured) 
  • Long-sleeve shirt (unpictured)
  • Disney Bedtime Favorites book
  • Pixar Shorts DVD
  • Sugar Cookie Chapstick
  • Animal finger puppets
  • Starter Thomas set (unpictured)
  • Train set in Rubbermaid tote
  • Playdoh bucket
  • Playdoh tools set
  • Llama Llama Holiday Drama book
  • Superstructs building set
  • Mickey sounds book
  • Texas A&M plush football
  • Gyro bowl (unpictured) 
  • Wheelies Loops 'n Swoops Amusement Park
  • Mickey repositionable sticker sheet
  • Homemade by Mama moose quillow
  • Ginger bread man Christmas lights
  • Space Captain Mickey (unpictured)
  • 2 Snow brick molds
  • Sled (unpictured)
  • Lemax village candy shop
  • Bag of Mega Blocks
  • Remote control truck
  • Talking baseball toy
  • Mickey wood puzzle
  • "What do people do" book
  • Mickey pajamas
  • Mickey & Pluto ornament
  • Christmas countdown ornament
  • 3rd Christmas ornament
  • Personalized train ornament
  • Godchild ornament (unpictured)
  • Amazon Toys Gift card (unpictured)
  • Money from family (unpictured)

Bryleigh

  • Cabbage Patch doll
  • Bathtub Froggy
  • Yogurt Melts
  • Baby's 1st Christmas ornament
  • Personalized Baby's 1st Christmas ornament
  • Baby Booties ornament
  • Fairy Messengers Tiger Lily ornament
  • Godchild ornament (unpictured) 
  • Christmas sleep sack
  • Personalized Piggy bank
  • Dora outfit
  • Stuffed duck
  • Bag of Mega Blocks
  • Roll 'n crawl ball
  • Colors 'n Counting book toy (unpictured)
  • Homemade by Gigi (Grandma) sock monkey
  • Homemade by Mama Leopard quillow
  • My Pal Violet
  • Texas Tech bib
  • Texas Tech creeper
  • Lemax Village church
  • 11 pairs of adorable socks
  • "I Love You So Much" Record a Story
  • "The Story of Christmas" book
  • Sled (unpictured)
  • Pink and Grey outfit
  • Santa Loves Me outfit
  • Zebra pajamas
  • Osh Kosh B'Gosh jean jumper w/ matching pink shirt (unpictured) 
  • Brown sweatshirt outfit w/ matching red shoes
  • Bunny lovey
  • 2 Homemade by Grandma embroidered bibs
  • Baby doll w/ homemade by Grandma blanket
  • Build-a-bear gift card (unpictured)
  • Money from family (unpictured) 
I sure am thankful for family and friends that love them both so much!  It is a good thing for the sake of us in our little house that Christmas comes only once a year! :)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

$100 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway!

Want a chance to win back some of the money you spent this holiday season?  I've teamed up with Tiphero.com and nearly 150 other bloggers to bring you this giveaway for a $100 Walmart gift card!  Just use the form below to enter!  Good luck!


Details: 
The giveaway runs from Dec 19th until Jan 2nd 11:59 Eastern Time. The prize is a $100 Walmart Gift Card delivered electronically or via snail mail. It is open to the United States, 18 years or older.

Toddler Talk Tuesday- He's DEAD!

Boy, oh boy! Doesn't that title sound full of Christmas cheer?!?  Well, you've got Brennan to blame.

He's DEAD!


This morning, Brennan was standing and looking out of the bedroom window.

Brennan: Hey Mom!  There's a squirrel running in the snow!
Me: Wow, cool!  He's so fast!

Brennan: Yeah, he is fast.

Still looking out the window...

Me: How does our snowman look out there?

He is now 2 ball of snow lying on the ground with one arm sticking straight up...

Brennan (without hesitation): He's DEAD!
Me: Yeah, he's not looking very good is he?
Brennan: No, he's not... HE IS DEAD!
Me: That's too bad.  We'll need to build another one when we get more snow.
Brennan: Yeah, we will, but this one is DEAD!!

Yep, got it. :)


Friday, December 14, 2012

Hyland's Homeopathic Products Review and Giveaway

Having a sick or uncomfortable baby is miserable!  When they aren't happy, YOU aren't happy.  That's just the nature of kids.  You want to help them feel better, but sometimes it seems like your options are limited.  Many of the medicines available aren't the safest, especially for little kids and if you are like me, you try to avoid giving them whenever possible.  That means your poor baby has to feel pretty bad before you use a medication.  Well, I've got great news for you!  You can get homeopathic products that are safe for your baby and will help them feel so much better!

Hyland's Homeopathic Products are 100% natural and are safe for your child (and you...  There is an entire line of products for adults, too).  There is a product available for a huge variety of ailments from sicknesses, to restlessness, to teething.  The remedies that come in tablet form quickly dissolve, making it easy to treat babies and kids.  Some remedies also come in liquid form.

I was sent a wonderful package of Hyland's products to review with my kids.  It included Allergy Relief, Calms Forte 4 Kids, Flu Care, Sniffles & Sneezes, Cold 'n Cough, Cough Syrup, Colic Tablets, and the popular Teething Tablets.  What a great variety of products!

I wasn't able to try all of these products as I typically have pretty healthy kids, but I did try some of them.

One of the products I was most excited about was the Calms Forte 4 Kids.  Sometimes Brennan has a hard time settling down at night and falling asleep.  It isn't every night, but just here and there.  Most of the time we can tell by evening whether or not it is going to be 'one of those nights'.  On those nights, we'll give him one does of Calms Forte 4 Kids- his 'calm down' medicine.  He really likes it and takes it happily.  He'll even say it is yummy.  Shortly after we give it to him, sure enough, we notice him beginning to settle down.  He'll typically choose a less crazy activity like blocks or books and begin to wind down.  Bedtime on his crazy nights has become so much easier.  Now he can fall asleep with ease.  I'm very satisfied with this product.

We tried the Cold 'n Cough liquid and the Sniffles 'n Sneezes on Brennan as well, when he came down with a cold.  I'm not quite as sure of the results with this one.  Brennan is extremely tough when it comes to getting sick.  Normally we don't even notice that he is sick until his nose starts running like crazy.  He rarely slows down or gets whiny because of sickness... just naughtier!  So, this time we tried using Hyland's cold remedies.  He was mostly congested.  His nose wasn't running much. He took the medicines easily (at different times, of course) and liked the taste.   We didn't notice a huge difference in his attitude or symptoms.  Though they may have made him feel better, it was hard to tell with his ridiculously high tolerance to discomfort.

Neither of my kids have Allergies or got the Flu (thank God!) so we haven't tried either of those yet.

Bryleigh was my test subject for the Colic Tablets and the Teething Tablets.  We gave her the Colic Tablets when she was really crying and upset, but we didn't know why.  We also tried them when she was gassy, since one of the ingredients is supposed to help with gas pain.  They did seem to help her settle down some.  The didn't cure the crying completely, but definitely helped.

The Teething Tablets were even better.  They really seem to help ease her pain.  They work the best in the daytime when she can naturally tolerate the pain better, and they help at night, but at night I do still occasionally give her acetaminophen. Overall, I am pleased with both the Colic and Teething Tablets.

The only thing that I could even come up with for Hyland's to improve upon is the actual appearance of the tablets.  They all look identical- small, round, and white.  It would be nice if they were different shapes or colors so that they could be easier to tell apart, in case of a mix up or something.  This is pretty minor, though, considering that you should be able to keep them straight in their own, clearly labeled bottles.

I've got to give Hyland's a big two thumbs up on their products.  What a great alternative to traditional medications!

Wanna win the same Hyland's gift package that I reviewed?   Hyland's is generously providing one winner the exact same package that I reviewed!  Just fill out the form to enter! (US only, please)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*I was given this product for review purposes. All of my opinions about this product are solely my own. Your opinions may differ. I was not compensated to write this post in any way.*

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Delicious Cookie Dough Truffles Recipe!

We are doing our annual cookie bake  at my Grandma's farm again this year and I thought it might be fun to try something new and mix it up a little.  So I went on a search for something delicious and hit the jackpot!  I found these Cooke Dough Truffles and saw that the reviews were pretty impressive.  I decided to give them a test run before the cookie bake JUST to make sure! :)

Mine are ever-so-slightly different than the original recipe, which can be found here if you are interested.  Here is my modified recipe:

Cookie Dough Truffles-

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1-1/2 pounds chocolate candy coating/almond bark

Directions

  • In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour, alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in chocolate chips. 
  • Chill dough for at least an hour or until it becomes easy to work with.
  • Shape into 1/2 to 3/4 inch balls. Place on plate.  Make sure they are still nice and firm before the next step.  If they are softening, chill a while longer.
  • In a microwave, melt candy coating or almond bark; stir until smooth. Dip balls in coating; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper. Allow to harden. If desired, remelt remaining candy coating and drizzle over candies. Store in the refrigerator. 
Enjoy!  Let me know if you try these! 

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Toddler Talk Tuesday- I can do this!

I can do this!

Brennan was playing with his alphabet magnets on the couch when he decided to start shoving them down the crack.
Me: Brennan, don't do that.  We won't be able to get the letters back easily.

He reluctantly stops, thinks for a minute, and then lays down on the floor to reach under the couch for his magnets.  He gets one, tells me what letter it is, and continues on.  After retrieving several of the closest ones, I see him struggling to reach another.

Me: It's hard to get them out now, isn't it.

He suddenly stops, stands up, and with an emphatic motion, proclaims-

Brennan: Don't worry!  I can do this!  I'll move the couch a little bit.

In one fluid motion he springs onto the couch, and slips between the arm and the wall.  Sure enough, the couch begins to budge.  Remember... Brennan is TWO!  It slides out further and further, and with great encouragement from me, he finally gets it moved enough to retrieve the difficult 'J'!  

Good job, big boy!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Dearfoams Slippers Review!



Coping with the Minnesota cold in December isn't always easy, but it just got a little easier for me with my new Dearfoams Slippers that I was sent to review!

I had my option of reviewing any pair of Dearfoams Slippers of my choosing.  The choice was nearly impossible.  There are so many cute designs and styles!  Since I'm still a kid at heart, I chose a pair of adorable bear slippers- Bear Face Scuffs.

They are just the cutest!  I love them and so do the kids.  Brennan has been plodding around the house in my much too big slippers.

The inside of the slippers are lined with extremely soft faux fur. to pamper your tootsies.  The insole has a foam core to cushion every step.  They also have a rubber non-skid sole so that you can run out to the mailbox in comfort!  They are so warm and cozy.

These slippers are machine washable, which is a feature I love.  I found that they also run very true to size.


These slippers would make a GREAT Christmas gift!  I can guarantee a smile when these are pulled out!  Cute!

The Bear Face Scuffs usually retail for $30, but they are on sale today for $25.50.  They come in two different colors and a variety of sizes.  Check them out here.

If bear slippers aren't your thing, make sure to check out http://www.dearfoams.com/ to see all of the awesome choices available!

These get 2 thumbs up from me!


*I was given this product for review purposes.  All of my opinions about this product are solely my own.  Your opinions may differ.  I was not compensated to write this post in any way.*

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Snowy, snowy day!

This afternoon I was sitting on my couch, nursing my sweet baby girl to sleep, and blogging one-handed.  The snow was piling up outside (literally piling up!) and I was quite cozy inside.  The view was absolutely beautiful.

Fast forward about 5 hours.  As of now we have over 10.5" at our house.  We just got  back in from snowblowing, shoveling, and snowman building.  Brennan is a lucky little boy and got to spend last night at Gigi and JuJu's house (Grandma and Grandpa) before playing there today.  Now, because of the snow, Brennan gets to spend the night again!  Bryleigh enjoyed a little outside time and built her first snowman with Mama while Daddy was doing all of the real work.

Last year we had almost no snow, so we are all enjoying the pieces out of this blizzard.  Here are a few pictures!


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Bryleigh's Homemade Christmas stocking!

It's done!  I've been working on this stocking since January or February- before Bryleigh was even born!  These cross stitched stockings take hundreds of hours to complete, so I am thrilled to be finished with plenty of time until Christmas, too! 

 Drumroll........


I love it!

Now my littlest one has a stocking that matches mine and Brennan's!  Next year's project is Ryan's stocking.  The only part of this stocking that I'm not crazy about is the 'B'.  I did it correctly, but it looks kind of funny... Tonight I will try to improve on it.

And in case you are interested, here is my stocking


And Brennan's


And Ryan's... the reason we are all getting matching stockings, and not just getting stockings for only the kids.  Honestly, I tease him too much about this stocking.  It is something that was made for him as a child by a family member, but really...  :)


Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Toddler Talk Tuesday- Naughty Puppies!

Naughty Puppies!

Yesterday, while I was working on putting clothes away in the kids' room, I watched an interesting interaction unfolding.

Brennan: You puppies are being naughty!  You are having a time out!

He gets the timer and puts them on the time out bench.

Me: Brennan, your puppies are in time out?
Brennan: Yep.
Me: What did they do wrong?  How were they naughty?
Brennan: They spanked Bryleigh!!!
Me: Oh, that is naughty!

After a couple of minutes, he pardoned them and let them come out, but soon enough, they were making trouble again.

Brennan: You need a time out!
Me: They were naughty again?!?!  What did they do this time?
Brennan: They spanked Bryleigh!!!
Me: That is so naughty.  I wonder why they are being so naughty...

A few minutes passed and he, again, went to talk to the offending dogs.

Brennan: I'm sorry I had to spank you.  It is not fun.  You are done with time out.
Me: Did the puppies tell Bryleigh 'sorry'?


Brennan proceeded to make the dirty dogs apologize.  Maybe they've learned their lessons.