Santa's Day Job

I have been thinking that I want to post more often, even if it is just a funny little thing that has happened recently. I got my first inspiration yesterday from my very funny little boy. We were getting ready to go to the mall yesterday (a huge mistake since it's so close to Christmas) and I told him that Santa was coming very soon, in just a few days. He knew we were going to the mall so he looked at me and asked "He working at mall today?" I laughed so hard, and of course I took him to see Santa at his day job.

Who Knew? I'm a Molasses-Gingerbread Cookie!

Here is the cookie quiz I took from Kara's blog: http://quiz.marthastewart.com/quiz/97 It said I was "undoubtedly Molasses-Gingerbread Cookies. You're warm, spicy, and multifaceted."

Which reminds me, I can't wait to make our annual gingerbread houses. My mom and dad make the houses from scratch and we shop all over town for the best decorations we can find (they are 99% edible, not that you'd want to, it's just kind of an unspoken law around here). I will post the pics of that when they are done!

Reading, Eating, and Rolling

Maisy LOVES her brother Duffy, and he's pretty in love with her too. The other day I looked down and saw him "reading" to her, so of course I jumped off the couch and ran for my camera. They are so cute together!

We bought Duffy's first advent calendar and he doesn't quite get it yet but what he does understand is that there is chocolate in that snowman!!! He gets pretty upset when I only let him open one per day, but some day he will appreciate them like I always did (my parents got us one every year too). Maisy is just busy rolling all over the place. She loves to be on the floor where she can explore the world. Here are some pictures of the advent calendar and Maisy rolling around in her "Baby's First Christmas" onsie.

Hubby Tag

I got this hubby tag from two blogs and didn't ever get the first one done so I thought I'd do both now that I've been tagged twice.

Jenn's:

1. Where did you meet? Junior high band class

2. How long did you date before you got married? 4 years (we got married young!)

3. How long have you been married? 6 years last May

4. What does he do to surprise you? I'm kind of hard to surprise now that I stay home but he used to clean the house while I was at work, and he ALWAYS surprises me at Christmas, he goes overboard

5. What is your favorite feature of his? That's hard: his eyes, smile, shoulders, and he has this little scar on his cheek that Ilove too!

6. What is your favorite quality? His ambition
7. Does he have a nickname for you? Beans (don't ask why, it's been like that for 10 years and I don't remember where it came from!)

8. What is his favorite food? He's a steak and potatoes guy

9. What is his favorite sport? GOLF!!!!

10. When and where did you first kiss? As I was getting out of his truck at my parents sometime in the fall of 1998! It was VERY sweet!
11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Anything outside with our kids
12. Do you have children? Yes, the cutest little boy(2) and girl(5 months) ever

13. Does he have any hidden talents? He can sing pretty well, but only for me
14. How old is he? 26

15. Who said I love you first? He did, I wasn't ready to say it back yet so he had to wait, I still feel bad about that

16. What is his favorite music? He loves almost everything but probably more hip-hop than anything (we don't usually agree on what to listen to)

17. What do you admire most about him? He is the most giving person I have ever met, to a fault sometimes
18. What is his favorite color? Green

19. Which side of the bed does he sleep on? Left

20. Will he read this? Maybe, he looks at it sometimes, but not very often :)

Ashlee's:

*What is your husbands name? Joseph Gilbert O'Keefe
*How long have you been married? see above
*How long did you date? see above
*How old is he? see above
*Who eats sweets? Joey, he loves them!
*Who said I love you first? see above
*Who is taller? He is, I'm only 5'2" and he's almost 6'
*Who can sing better? He does
*Who is smarter? I'd say he is, he'd say I am
*Who does laundry? Me, he only does if I slack off and then he shrinks stuff
*Who pays the bills? He does
*Who sleeps on the right side? I do
*Who mows the lawn? We don't have to do ours right now but when we did, both of us did it
*Who cooks dinner? Me, I love to cook, but in the summer he can grill like a champ
*Who drives? Usually he does but it scares me
*Who is the first to admit they are wrong? He is, I hate to admit it but I'm kind of stubborn with that
*Who kissed who first? see above
*Who asked who out first? He asked me out for Homecoming my sophmore year (trashed my room with the help of his best friend and my brother and sister)
*Who wears the pants? We both do

Dear Friends and Family

Since tuition is due soon and I'll have to buy textbooks, we are a little broke right now. I will be making bedroom slippers for you all as gifts for Christmas. Please let me know your sizes and if you would like them made for a man or woman (which will tell me what to put on them). You'll most likely agree that it's a splendid idea, and should you wish to do the same, I've included the instructions below.

How to make bedroom slippers out of maxi pads:

You need four maxi pads to make a pair. Two of them get laid out flat, for the foot part. The other two wrap around the toe area to form the top. Tape or glue each side of the top pieces to the bottom of the foot part. Decorate the tops with whatever you desire, silk flowers (this is most aesthetically appealing), etc.

These slippers are:

* Soft and Hygienic

* Non-slip grip strips on the soles
* Built in deodorant feature keeps feet smelling fresh

* No more bending over to mop up spills

* Disposable and biodegradable

* Environmentally safe

* Three convenient sizes: (1.) Regular, (2.) Light and (3.) Get out the Sand Bags.

I've attached a photo of the first pair I made so that you can see the nifty slippers for yourself.... Awaiting your response. It's crucial that I get the right size for each one of you.

Don't worry, you can thank me later :)

Spit Happens

Maisy had her first bowl of rice cereal this Sunday, I can't believe it! At first she didn't know what to think but was loving it by the end! She moved around a lot more than Duffy did his first time, but she smiled a lot more, too-typical Maisy. She is actually getting pretty good at keeping it in her mouth, as long as she feels like it at least. Thanks aunt Aimee for the cute "I Love my Auntie" bib by the way!

What is it with Boys and Cheerleaders?

We were lucky enough to get 8th row tickets to the Jazz game Saturday night and had a blast! Duffy got to meet the Jazz Bear and, more importantly according to his dad, the Jazz Dancers. He thought he was the coolest little boy on Earth! The girls absolutely loved him, as usual. During the game he was shown on the Jumbo-tron twice, being really grumpy the first time, and the Jazz Bear even walked from pretty far away up into the bleachers to hand him a ball. I guess he is just visible because of his crazy hair and he was on the shoulders of another crazy red-haired guy (daddy). We had such a great time, too bad they didn't win! Now, even three days later he is talking about how "that bear" gave him a ball and he won't stop playing basketball in the house! He really is boy through and through.
We got a picture of us with the bear too but it turned out horrible on our camera, if I get the one off of my brother's phone that looks better I'll post it.