Five on Friday Thankful Addition

Happy Friday/Post Turkey Day/ Black Friday/ Holiday Season/and anything else I missed. . .

I see a lot of people did the listing of things their thankful for on Facebook one day at a time and here are just five of mine:

1) kiddos.  Holidays are a ton of fun with little ones around too but I mean having them and expecting them.  This past week one bestie had a baby boy and another shared her pregnacy news...it reminds me of how truly blessed we are to have them and love on the kiddos in our lives.  Most of us know at least one person that struggles with this and my heart goes out to them!

2) food.  I stumbled on the Scary Mommy Nation where you can apply to have assistance for your Thanksgiving meal or donate...reading those stories made me tear up. I am thankful that my family's biggest food delmia was which dessert to try first.  It is something I take for granted at times.

3) family. I love the calls, texts, and email planning for meeting up with family, what to bring, and what everyone is doing.  I love watching Grant play with everyone and when he is the center of attention (he is the youngest at the moment but Greg's side is having four new ones by the 2014 holidays so this is Grants year!)

4) time with friends.  Last week I was thinking that I never hear from or hear back from a good friend.  She works different hours and participates  in a lot of evening activities.  We traveled back to our hometown for Thanksgiving and went to the local bar for their famous Wednesday night tacos pre Thanksgiving.  Since no one really wants to cook the night before, this place is packed.  You share long tables with people who you vaguely remember their names and the food is great.  My friend, her husband, and parents were there!  We sat and talked for a couple hours and gave Grant to his grands then headed over to their house for board games.  We played a couple of different games and had a horrible loosing streak of guys verses girls Sequence losing 10/11 games bit had the best time (until 130am...)

5) having ways to avoid in person Black Friday shopping. The hubs and I passed by a Walmart on the way home and decided to stop in and see what they had at 630pm last night.  Parking was full into the field next door but we found a good space.  We walked in and there were no carts and lines further than we could see.  We did a look around the toy section and circled back out the door. It was madness!!!  I thankfully utilized the internet for Target, Walmart, HomeDepot, and Best Buy shopping either on Wednesday or between 130am and 3am on Thanksgiving morning (I was still up from meeting up with friends mentioned in number four!) My shopping hours may just be the early hours on Thanksgiving from now on...I got almost everything that I wanted plus  for few extra things I saw last minute!

Thanks for stopping,

Holland

The Goeser Family 2013 Christmas Card

Thanks to the variety of cuteness on Pineterst, I had such a difficult time figuring out what I want to do as our 2013 Christmas card.  Last year we featured the sleepy Santa baby with this photo:

It was a hit and still one of my favorite photos from last year.  This year proved to be more difficult in getting our little man to stay in one place, look cute, and have a cute setting or backdrop.   I like to take my own Christmas card photo so I can print them wherever has the best deal.  This year I received to $20 off your Shutterfly card order with a separate code for free shipping, combined with the 40% off over the weekend made my 50 cards $7.19!  I don't really need 50 but I had around 38 listed so 50 gave me some extra.

In the end, I figured putting Grant in the tikes Coupe Car that he loves would get some good photos.  Another Pinterest Christmas card photo idea pin had one that inspired our card.  I really wanted to get these ordered over the weekend so when helping me neighbor unpack her tree, I grabbed the top portion and gave it a go.  

The small snow cover was perfect but the extreme cold was not.  The poor thing had on so many layers but continuously pulled hats off.  The neighbor girls were running in and out of the photo then their dog.  It was a two quick 3-5 minute sessions followed by diaper changes, tears, and screaming.  I couldn't get a thing with shadows, girls, a dog, a dripping nose, and an upset toddler.  The only photo I got a smile is the one were he is standing sideways smiling at the girls.  Out of 35 shots these three were the winners.  I hate the shadow across Grants face on the bigger picture but 2 hours of Photoshop trying, it wasn't getting any better!

I am happy with the end result, anyone would be if they saw those 10 minutes snapping photos!  The price couldn't be better and they ship today!   

Five on Friday

I am linking up with the girls for Five on Friday once again...Happy Friday to all and here we go:

1) Locks on bedroom doors. This is not for the reason you think:) I am ever so thankful to have spent my small bonus on house cleaning every other week for five Fridays.  I choose a limited amount of the house just mainly the living room, bathroom, and kitchen to have cleaned and it is surprising how stressful the night before is.  I feel I have to pick up the house before they clean...I just don't want them to pick up and clean around all the crap lying around.  So the spare bedroom has become a dumping spot for the things I give up on finding the true home when I run out of time.  I lock the door so no one will bother getting in...I wonder what they think is in that room!?

2) Staying strong with limiting Grant's gifts.  This is so hard, there are so many cute things that I think my 16 month old needs.   Walmart is having the Leapad2 for $40 starting at 8 am and I am holding firm on not breaking down and storing this for a year or two before he "needs" it.   I got Grant five things and know that 6 Aunts, 3 uncles, godparents, and his grandparents all have plans on getting him things too.  We. Just. Don't. Need. Anything.  (Repeating with every holiday ad, commercial, and car route past stores- too bad my office window looks at the mall...)

3) Thanksgiving food.  I am excited for Thanksgiving for the food.  Two years ago we were prego but not sharing yet and the repeated morning sickness before, during, and after 10 straight weeks of holiday food was not pleasant.  Last year we decided to split our holiday and have Thanksgiving dinner with my mom and 14 year old brother.  It was going to be great not having to travel until Greg and I got the flu to compete with Grant's horrible cold with sleepless nights.  Hopefully, nothing will get in the way this year!

4) Buying extra hats.  It is amazing how little boy hats disappear.  I thought I had enough but was so glad a friend mentioned keeping a bunch around was for the best.  Grant has six hats running around here somewhere and on our coldest day yet, only the smallest one could be found.  It will do for today but when I get home, I will be making a basket for his winter accessories! 

5) Warm blankets.  This time of year I throw a couple of blankets over the couch and chair to be at arms length when you need them.  I am finding out they are great for little boy tugging games and a quick fort too...


Thanks for stopping by

Holland

Five on Friday

Friday o Friday...what a long short work week! I was so happy to see the clock hit 3:30 pm so I could shut down the work computer!

Working from home yesterday and having Monday off for Veterans Day allowed me to get a head start for the holiday season and enjoyed a little relaxation tonight.  Here is my last minute five:

1) a good weekend away...A girlfriend and I got a two and a half day mini vacation down to Kansas City (3 hours away) without any kids.  Christmas shopping, a movie, bowling, lots of food, casinos, and good conversation- I don't know if it could have been any better.  It is amazing how refreshed I was at the beginning of the week.

2) infant Tylenol.  Grant came home from nana's and papas with goopey eyes, a runny nose, and crabby.  This was followed by three days of fevers, appointments, and one bad ear infection.  I wish the cuddling time was for a different reason but thank god that he could be more comfortable and get a little sleep in.

3) the stack of Christmas presents wrapped in our bedroom corner.  I have rolled out the paper and started to get ready, I think I may just put up the tree this weekend.  It went by so fast last year that I just want more time with it but I will need some tips on now to defend a tree against a 16 month old?

4) new underwear.  This sounds silly, I know.  On our trip last week, Victoria Secrets had the 7 pairs of panties for $26 with a mystery gift card worth at least $10.  I love picking out the kinds I want and each day just starts off better with cute undies on.  

5) Christmas lists delivered. After seeing my cousins get a stack of wonderful games then looking at my matching sweater (not just to my three sisters but the rest of my female cousins as well) years ago, I had to ask what happened- why did they get the good stuff?  Not to sound ungrateful, I just didn't understand so I asked.  The answer- they told the gift giver what they wanted.  Hmmm, smart idea.   I like to be surprised but have learned just to suggest a list of what I want and it's been delivered!

Five on Friday

Happy Friday and Happy November to all!!!
Returning after a much needed break to focus on other stuff for five on Friday...

1) Hiring it out...I got a couple hundred dollar bonus at work and decided to really treat myself- I hired a cleaning lady to clean my bathrooms, kitchen, and mop the hard floors!  It is only once every other week for five times (up through Christmas) but it was wonderful coming home to a mostly clean house.  I opted to stretch my money the furthest and only having the main floor done with no bedrooms to score two extra times.  They came last Friday and I have had a much better week keeping up with it all.  It is not in the budget to go past the five times unless I find a couple other things to cut but will enjoy it as long as I can.

2) Walmart baby clothes finds.  Any one else love dressing their kids up for holidays but after the first year have trouble finding them?  I have been on the hunt for cheaper non pj holiday clothes  for Grant but it is hard to find for a 15 month boy.   I have loved Walmarts faded glory onesies for $3.25 but had a hard time finding ones that are 12, 18 or 24 months.  All of the Thanksgiving wear says "my first" until visited a Walmart in Omaha and found two!  If you haven't seen their collections,  it varies by store but it is worth a look.   I scored two sets of 3t pjs for next year(s) for $6 each too... When we visit for thanksgiving I will be stopping to see what they have for Christmas.

3) Despite having a 102 fever earlier yesterday, Halloween was a hit.  It is going to be so much fun seeing holidays through Grant's eyes.  This is the first holiday that he is starting to understand there is something special going on and he is catching on too....while trick or treating being offered a basket with candy to select one- he grabbed the handle of the basket, that's our boy!

4) Yesterday marked one year of Grant going to daycare.  I can't believe that 15 week old turned into my 15 month old but I am glad he goes where he does.  During the week, they see him awake more than I do and sometimes that is hard but hearing at least three people welcome him personally and 2-5 tell him goodbye everyday warms my heart.  For those of you that care for our little ones, you are wonderful and I can't say how grateful I am (but will try with some gifts and food!)

5) Photos marked for some day.  Ok, no judgment please- these are hilarious.  My older sister got married two weekends ago and while unwrapping gifts at their house Grant found something new to play with....a twelve pack.  He enjoyed picking the cans up, throwing new things in the box, and at the end even tried to drink out of a closed can.  My baby sister sat there with her iPhone snapping photos as we giggled then posted the below.  It is nothing to frame or attach to the baby book but I am sure it will come out at his 21st or wedding day sometime in the future:

Have a great restful weekend, especially those that get to "fall back" with me on Sunday!

Holland