Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's opened up in our part of town on Monday. One opened in South Charlotte a few months ago, but not really knowing what TJ's is, that's a little far for me to travel for groceries. My friend Kelly has been telling me since I've known her what a great place TJ's is. I've been a little sceptical. I mean really, it's a grocery store, right?! Well, Kelly and I planned to meet there on Monday morning when they opened. She was going to show me the ropes, so to speak. On the way there, she called me and said her youngest had just thrown up in the parking lot, so she was headed home. I decided to go anyway...I mean I was already on my way, right? I bought a few thing that sounded good. Here are a few samples...

Candy Cane Joe Joe's - oreo like cookies with mint filling studded with candy cane pieces (the box is already almost gone - 4 cookies left that I'm saving for after dinner)

Dark Chocolate Belgian Carmels with Sea Salt - already gone

Red Pepper Hummus - YUMMO

Whole Wheat French Onion Pita Chips - Delish, especially with the hummus! Oh and very low fat - BONUS!!

99 cent whole wheat pizza dough - we will be trying this out for dinner tonight



So, needless to say. I'll be back! YAY for TJ's! Sorry Kelly for my skepticism!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I can officially begin thinking about Christmas. I try very hard to not start thinking about it before. If I do, I forget how important Thanksgiving is. I did, however, make one provision this year.

The Monday before Thanksgiving several of us got together to start making Advent calendars. It took two nights, so we finished up this past Monday. We copied one that Kelly received as a gift. It starts December 1 and follows the history of redemption to the birth of Christ on the 25th. I have loved it since I saw it when they moved here. I mostly sewed, while the other ladies cut out the ornaments (which I'm VERY thankful for). I'm so EXCITED to start using this wonderful tool with our children!!

I also have to say that making the calendars was so much fun! I love these women!! I hope we can get together on a more regular basis!

Amber, Kelly and Shawnda working diligently. :-)

Kelly cutting pockets.

Just a small glimpse of our mess!

Shawnda, Amber and Stacey take a second to pose for the camera.

This is the second calendar I made for myself. I actually made it yesterday afternoon. Shawnda brought burgandy and darker green felt with silver trim for hers and I loved it so much that I had to have one. This picture and the next show what it looks like with all the ornaments on. This is what it will look like on Christmas Day. You only put one ornament on each day. Each ornament corresponds with the scripture for that day.

And this last picture is the first calendar I made with traditional red and green trimmed in gold.

Thanksgiving...

We traveled to Jacksonville, Florida this year for Thanksgiving. Jonathan's brother Steve lives there. He recently bought a house, so we went to check it out! I have to say, I was a little sceptical about our Thanksgiving meal! But alas, there was nothing to worry about! :-) Steve bought our meal from Honey Baked Ham and it was DELICIOUS!! And I have to say it was REALLY nice not to have to worry about getting everything ready. Ordering out is a great idea!! Steve was a great host. He certainly kept us busy...parks for Emma to play, shopping for big ticket items for his house, the zoo, putting together big ticket items for his house and going to church. We had a great time!

Emma and Uncle Steve. Emma really took to Steve. Every morning she would say "Teve?" Then she would go into his room and wake him up. Poor guy didn't get to sleep in one day!

Steve's Secretary, Beth, made him this BEAUTIFUL apple pie for his Thanksgiving meal with us. It was really good!

Steve and Emma at the zoo.

Emma looking at something...not sure what it was. :-)

LOOK AT THAT TONGUE!!!!! OH MY!!!!

Emma and Daddy riding the carousel.

Emma playing with the goats. She LOVED this part of the zoo!

A crocodile. Did you know they aren't hungry this time of year because of the cooler weather?! I had no idea!

Emma on Daddy's shoulders. :-)

Emma liked the monkeys. She kept saying "monkeeees" :-)

Steve tried to show Emma how to snap her fingers! :-)

How long is too long?

So I need real mommy advice. Lately Emma has flat out refused to take a nap once or twice a week. She will play in her bed for an hour and a half to two hours and then be ready to get up. I'm SO not ready for her to give up her nap and frankly...neither is she! She is a total WRECK by 4:30 or 5 on the days she doesn't nap. She's been crying in her bed for 30 minutes and I've told her she can't get up until she takes a nap, but honestly I don't think it's going to happen. Any advice would certainly be welcomed.

Been busy (and just plain tired)...

Here are a few pictures of what we've been up to the last few weeks. I've tried several times to upload pictures over the last several weeks, but Blogger doesn't seem to like me. And to be honest, I haven't had the patience to wait!! :-)

Pumpkin patch on 10/13 or so...

Mommy and Emma.

Emma and her friend Jonathan checkin' out the rabbits.

Emma picking out her pumpkin!!

This is the "big girl" furniture we bought for Emma a few weeks ago. It's all still in the boxes in various places around the house at the moment. We are in the process of getting rooms painted and getting closets and rooms cleaned out. Once all that is done, we will put all the furniture together and start transitioning Emma to her new room! We'll keep you updated!!

Our trip to VA a few weekends ago. We drove up to an Apple Butter Festival where there was a pumpkin patch and then to Crabtree Falls. The weather was beautiful and the mountains were so refreshing and beautiful. Emma has no fear! She climbed up 3/4 a mile or so of the mountain with us! She would have kept going, but we knew she still had to make it down and we didn't want to carry her!!

This last picture was taken no more than 5 minutes after we got back in the car to go home! She was so tired and didn't even know it!!

More updates to come over the next few days... Here's what you have to look forward to: Birthday party for a friend, Halloween and pictures of our newly painted room! :-)