Dinner Menu:

We have a busy busy week around here. What with finals being almost done, 2 play groups, a trip to the library for story time, tying baby quilts, getting things even more christmasy, some park going and maybe even the zoo to end the week. Tired? So am I an its only Monday! To keep me going and motivated we need some good food. Heres what we are eating this week:

Monday-Honey Lime Enchiladas

Tuesday-French Onion Sandwiches

Wednesday- Tacos

Thursday- Pasta

Friday- Grilled Pork Chops and Rice

I am always looking for new and fantastic things to make. Any fun ideas? Also I am baking up a storm for Larry to take treats to work. I love feeling busy and nothing makes me happier then a clean house, the fire going, and cooking in the kitchen with my su-chef Max, he's really such a helper..and he is getting really good at helping me unload the dishwasher. He hands me thinks one at a time, the bowl, the plate, a fork it takes about 20 minutes to unload when he is around.

The First Christmas Story: Told By Max Harris

Apparently our Christmas nativity involves a Santa Mr. potato head. Max always places him around the nativities constantly. I love this little nativity it allows him to play with it and still try to instill the spirit of Christmas. I turned my back for 10 seconds though and he was up on the table throwing the animals, baby Jesus, and stable before I knew it. This boy is constantly moving and is non stop. We have a special little tree just for him that he can touch and destroy and we redecorate everyday so he is distracted by the big one...that we have yet to purchase. It is so fun having a little toddler around for the holidays its so much sweeter and special to have him love the lights and the goodies that come to the door. But watch out for those presents he already unwrapped one and proudly brought me the paper to throw away.

Saturday Love.

This morning we woke up bright and early ready for the day. I have been sleeping extremely bad for a couple weeks now. My back is killing me so I am glad when morning comes and I can get up and move. This morning I got Larry up and Max and we went to the park. Everything was still damp so we wiped down the swings and slides and Max went wild. After about a chilly hour we packed Max up in the car and went to good old health McDonalds for breakfast. Max just loves those hash browns. It was are family date morning, we had a great time. We've been trying to really tighten our budget so we can get closer to our down payment so this was a big splurge for us! I didn't really want anything for Christmas but to do little things like this all month long and go out to eat a couple times so Larry is making it happen. The rest of the day Larry studied and was gone till late at night and Max and I played but for the morning we actually were together happy and worry free for awhile!

Also I made this PIE: Its delicious!!!

Grasshopper Pie

8 oz cream cheese, softened

8 oz tub Cool Whip

1 Oreo Crust (I buy premade but you can make your own if you prefer)

1/2 (of a 14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk

16 Keebler Grasshopper Cookies

Green food coloring

Crush cookies in a large Ziploc bag. Some large chunks are fine, but you want mostly very

small, even crushed pieces.

In the bowl of a mixer, beat cream cheese on medium until smooth. Add sweetened

condensed milk and beat until combined. Mix in crushed cookies and fold in Cool Whip.

Add food coloring and fold in until desired color is achieved. Pour into pie shell and chill for

at least 4 hours.

High 50's....

The weather here has been extremely nice, yes its California but even for December its been beautiful in the afternoons. Max has been to the park everyday for a week, he even got Larry to take him before church on Sunday. Larry is almost done with finals which is a nice relief. Its hard having a husband work so much and then have to go study so much. Its completely different then undergrad days when we both were hitting the books, working, and childless. Law school in itself is such a beast and add on top a high stress litigation job and its just craziness. Anyways after Larry worked at the office for a few hours we met him for lunch and a quick trip to the park before Larry headed down to school and we went home for naps. Its so fun to be outside in the sun and watch Max run around, go down slides, chase birds, and play with his dad. He lights up when Larry is around because Larry will play rough with him, I'm more into kisses and discipline.

These days any small time we get with Larry is a miracle so its nice to be able to live close to his work and be able to take an hour out for our day to keep everyone happy. We will take full advantage of this beautiful weather, I keep thinking our days are numbered but we will see!

Sunday Best

It is so hard to get a good picture of this kid! I have a 100 of him running toward the camera, making a weird face, eyes closed, you name it and it's NOT photogenic...He's a really cute kid in person though. We love Sundays around here. Playing at the park in the morning, taking a nap and off to church which can be torture for a toddler and a pregnant mom just trying to make it through 3 hours tantrum free for the both of us! My favorite thing about his church attire is his cute little black church shoes. He looks like a little man all dressed up it's so cute.

Hurray For Fridays!

Things I am Happy About Today:

1. Getting Christmas decorations out.

2. Watching Max watch the christmas lights

3. Making peppermint cookies

4. Getting the 6th season of Bones on DVD for a killer deal on black friday!!

5. Scoring 97 cent jammies from Old navy for toddler and new baby boy!

6. Deciding on a baby name (maybe?)

7. Cool crisp winter air & a warm fireplace

8. Finishing dozens of sewing projects

9. My bath & body works wall plug-ins (candle free house with kids now)

10. The Panera bread restaurant opening up in Folsom!!

11. Figuring out the best place to put a christmas tree that Max won't destroy??

12. Listening to Max "talk" to himself and his stuft animals.

13. Our fisher price nativity that Max plays with all day. He loves to chuck the baby Jesus because its the most ball like :) haha

I am not sure what it says about my life that such simple things bring me such great joy. I think its a good sign because theres not much going on in it most of the time!

Memories Of Max.

Its been so sunny these last couple days its been so nice to play outside even though its pretty cold and windy. Every day Max bangs on the doors until we get to go play outside. He screams with delight once we reach the park and will run to the swings. Today we took a trip to the church and while my mom cleaned out the nursery cabinets Max played a good solid hour with bubbles and the small slide they have there. Its so funny to watch him go down the slide and then run back to climb up and do it again...over and over. Its so fun to watch him learn, and grow and laugh while he plays. He kept wanting me to turn on the microwave on the fake kitchen h'es so persistent he will take my finger and place it where he wants me to push, and gets frustrated when it doesn't work like the real one at home.

I know that nobody cares about these things but I want to remember them. He is learning and growing everyday its sad to see as the baby features disappear and he looks like a little boy. He is a dare devil and it really is a miracle at times he is still alive. He has learned to climb on the couches and jump off them or to other objects like the ottoman. He will climb up and teeter on the cushions or just look at me and then let go, like he is waiting for me to say NO. He still loves balls and playing with his basketballs for the better part of the day. He is also starting to walk up stairs instead of crawl. He knows when its bath time and where to go and that he gets naked (which he loves),and he knows where to get his shoes and put his dirty diapers. He even tries to wipe himself and hold his butt paste its hilarious. He screams bloody murder when we brush his teeth at night but its kinda nice because his mouth is open nice and wide. He loves bringing me things to open like crackers and drinks and is a very social eater. He gets mad when I give him a sippy cup but he really wants a bottle. Sometimes he will sit infront of the fridge until I give in. He thinks all little boys should drink diet coke and get to play on a real computer not his baby one.

I want to remember every little thing he does and every little laugh, roll, chubby body part I can before its all gone and hes grown up. He is so expressive with his blue eyes and will lift his eyebrows up and down and has the biggest smile ever. He is learning to throw tantrums and he is learning the reality of time out. He is active, smart, and has a great memory. Its amazing to see him everyday and I love being his mom. I hope he won't attack the new baby too much and that he will feel just as much love from me as before. My favorite part of the day is when he will come in my room and say "mom" over and over until I say "yes Max" then he smiles big and runs away, waiting for me to chase him and play.

{pictures taken October 2011}