Christmas 1 of 3

I sat down last night to finally blog about our happenings over the past couple weeks and guess what. I didn't. It had actually been so long since I had been on my computer that I didn't even know where it was. No joke.

 

The Christmas season took me by storm and it sure did sneak up on a person so quickly following Thanksgiving. From shopping to wrapping to baking...ok, that's a lie, I didn't bake a single Christmas related goodie, but I've been baking for Ethan. I have to tell you about this egg replacer that has pretty much changed my Ethbaking life, but that'll wait until I download a million photos for you to peruse.

 

Now, I did my best to edit them... however those edited versions are hidden somewhere secret on my computer and I can't find them. And because I assume you'd prefer any picture to no picture, you'll get the unedited ones. (Do you remember a time when we had to print off photos to share them? Or when you had to use a real camera instead of your phone? Or a time you didn't bring your phone with you to the bathroom? Oh...that got a little off topic, but really, you know that three minutes behind closed door has turned into a check Facebook, check Instagram, maybe throw in a quick game if you're lucky kind of time.)

 

I digress.

 

We started the Christmas week with just the family at our house. Dad made delicious beef tips and tarragon chicken. The girls were so excited to open gifts...ah, to be three. Not a care in the world except which gift is next. 

 

EthMike and Papa Mike in their matching hats.

The only picture I have of Emmie even half looking...she's busy people. I can barely keep up.

Ethan, loving the itty bitty Bitty Baby food that was soooo much smaller than I thought it was in the picture.

And my boy, loving to push Emmie's new stroller.



An update from this one last March.

Santa, two weeks later.

 

No, I never intended to be in the Santa pic.

 

But apparently the photographer had a different idea in mind. While I think kids crying and screaming in Santa's arms are hilarious, I guess he thought I would only buy a family smiles version (the people ahead of us were Photoshop switching heads to get it just right) so mom and dad were added to the mix.

 

Emmie was not interested in Santa in the least bit...however she did muster the courage to ask for a "toy" from Santa. When asked to specify her toy choice, she said a doll. And when asked to once more clarify that, she said a baby one.  So that Bitty Baby she just got two weeks ago for her birthday, apparently not as memorable as I was hoping.

 

In the picture I'm also using Mrs. Claus' chair to hold myself up. I threw my back out and was hunched over and hobbling around for days on end. There were meds, there were lots of glasses of wine and margaritas.

 

And I don't even have to say this but, can you believe it's Christmas next week? Holy hell, where did December go? I am proud that I have a handful of presents purchased (nothing wrapped) but I did buy wrapping paper, so that has to count for something right?

 

 

 



It's not about how much you spend, it's how much you save!

Let's talk about online shopping for a moment.

Is anyone else aahbsessed this season? While I believe I've posted about online shopping before, this time I really really mean it.

The deals. They're out of control these days! From Black Friday to Cyber Monday does it even matter? They all seem legitimately amazing. And really, you're foolish to spend full price or pay shipping for anything.

And then....a blog commenter (thank you jbricks) told me about Ebates.com and while I had heard of it before....I really had no clue.

You guys! It's the coolest, easiest thing ever! You seriously just go to Ebates.com and pick the store you want to shop at...Gap, Amazon, Macy's, you name it. And then it directs you to their website. THAT'S IT! (They also list any current promos that store is running)

And then.....you get a certain percent back in cash in the mail!

2% here, 2% there.....SEVEN PERCENT at Gap! All for one extra click. I can do that.

Annnd, if you forget about good old Ebates and fill up your Gap cart...you can just hop back over to Ebates and all of your stuff is still in your cart!

Happy Shopping to all and to all a good night!

THREE!

Oh Emmie Ann Fellows, how are you three years old already?

Happy Birthday to sweetest, funniest girl I know.

You are so vibrant and full of energy and your humor never ceases to amaze me. You laugh at yourself and make everyone else laugh too.

You go through crazy stages but right now, you are in the sweetest, most loving and polite stage and I want to bottle you up and keep you like this forever. Manners have become your go to...thank you this, thank you that...please daddy can I have toast, oh thank you daddy! I think you've realized you get more with sweetness than with sour. Who can say no to those baby blues looking up at you asking so nicely for anything?!

You love your brother and recently asked that we just call you "sisty" which is what you think Ethan calls you.

But more than your brother, you love me! Please remember this when you're sixteen and mad at the world! Every night you give me hugs and kisses and tell me that I'm your "most favorite best friend."  Dad claims you say this to him as well, but I will pretend you only say this to me.

You have recently started putting on dance shows and mini concerts. You sing at the top of your lungs and throw yourself around the room. You are quite the entertainer and have no volume control. You also love Doc McStuffins and pitch a good fit when the episode is over and you have to go to bed.

You just transitioned to the three year old room at daycare and it's been a little rough. Every morning has been a sad one, we even had to start giving you breakfast at home so that you would at least eat. (Because just like your mama, you need to eat to keep the crabbies away!) But, dad said this morning was a drop off with no tears so hopefully we're over the hump.

In addition to your please and thank you phase, you love to say "potty" words right now. Why saying "butt" is so amusing, I'm not sure...but I'm fine with you growing out of this stage quickly.

You are my Emmiekin, my funny, sweet, sometimes sassy, little dream come true.

Interview with my girl last night:

 

 

2nd year post, 1st year post

Did you know I can't bake to save my soul?

Like at all. Ok, I can bake banana bread and a frozen pizza, but other than that...not a chance. It's so precise and I'm not all that interested in following directions thoroughly. Just ask Andy, never once have I been able to make a chocolate chip cookie.

 

Now, this hasn't been that big of a deal until we got the no gluten, no egg, no soy for EthMike information. The boy...he can't have baked goods that are premade; there is either egg or gluten in everything!!

 

I wanted to at least bake the kid a cake for his birthday (that we sandwiched together on Thanksgiving...along with Emmie's too...a Thanksbirthgiving celebration if you will).  But to not be the baking kind and then have to figure out if the egg is a binder or leavening agent or what I could substitute where...overwhelming to say the least.

 

And then, Sarah, a little Facebook angel/sorority sister/gluten free baker extraordinaire gave me some simple but amazing advice. Egg free equals vegan!

 

Yeah, I didn't know that at all and it for sure changed my outlook on things. It helped me narrow down my recipe searches and knowing I would just have to substitute a gluten free flour...way easier. She also introduced me to foodgawker.com - Ahhhmazing.

 

Now. I'm still a terrible baker, but I'm seriously trying so hard! And guess what...Ethan will eat anything! So even though my muffins have all been flat as pancakes and look nothing like the internet pictures...they're getting eaten.

 

Gatorade and Coke: not for the recipe.

 

So far I've tried Banana Almond Muffins, Banana waffles, Vanilla cupcakes, and Chunky Apple Cinnamon muffins.

 

The Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes are the only thing to really turn out so far.

And in the non-bakery category, I have mastered Mac and Cheese from scratch with gluten free corn noodles. And for real from scratch: milk and corn starch plus cheese, that's it! And last night I tried my hand at Garbanzo flour pizza crusts. Emmie thought they were awful, but I thought there were totally ok.

 

 

Emmie did however enjoy the gluten free, not-so-much-true-Vegan-once-I-layered-frosting-on cupcake.

 

 

He really will eat anything, bless his little heart.

 

And then he helps me do the dishes.

 

I am starting to enjoy baking a bit...I just wish things would actually turn out like the internet pictures! So, I will hopefully figure it all out and until then, Ethan will enjoy his flat ol' muffins and gummy waffles (along with the rest of his fruit, veggie, meat and dairy filled diet).