What we have been doing??

First of all... I need to know if all of you guys on my email list are getting spam email. I have a source (meagen) haha that is getting emails trying to sell her sex tapes I think she said, they are coming I am pretty sure just how these emails are coming. Please go to the blog and answer the poll at the right to let me know.. if you guys are then I might be changing the blog over.

Ok.. On to the rest of the our lives. Jaemen's Dad and I have been WORKING.. Of course it is Xmas season and we have been working our little tails off. Other then that though we have taken out some time for a little fun...

We went to the Piston vs. LA clippers game on Nov 27th after Thanksgiving..

We have decorated our tree and rearranged our living room even though.. now we are thinking we should have done it a different way and Sherrow has been thinking he wants to lift the tree up with bulbs and all.. I wont let him.

Then, we had Jaemen's 2nd Birthday party... And he had a ton of fun. Here is the cake that I made him

And a couple of the presents that he recieved...

Other than that I have been working on a few things including some scrapbooking pages and a recipe book that is neater then my own writing and if something spills or spashes on it.. it wont bleed!

Problem is I need a picture for it all... Ahh hopefully the next cake I am going to make for JJ's last birthday hurrah will turn out. I have been wanting to make this cake for a while NOW!!

Until next time,

Karidan

Our little boy is...

TWO YEARS OLD TODAY!!

(he had just ate breakfast on thanksgiving.. forgive his mouth)

He is getting so big and so grown. Everyday he is getting so smart and I love it... But as any momma would be I am sad. I miss that little lovebug that would just cuddle with me all day if I wanted him too. Sure he cuddles now at night and I am sooo thankful for that but I miss the baby. On the other hand I think to many people have told him he is turning two and he internalized that which has told his mind he can act out in a "Terrible Two" way. Whew!! That boy has been something else lately. We are going to celebrate his birthday a little today just give him our present and then later in the week we are going to have small parties for him with Grandma's and Grandpa's. So pictures to come from that..

Halloween Activities...

Well, our Internet has been down for about a week now. So I have fell even more behind then I normally already are. With Sherrow only home for two weeks we have been trying to spend as much time with him and get all of our activities done.

So first off we have the pumpkin patch. We had to go on a Tuesday so unfortunately the hay ride wasn't running to pick pumpkins. But they did have a few nasty ones up at the front. Jaemen thought he was strong enough to pick them up. And I am a sucker for cute jeans on little boys.

Note: Why are we looking for a new pumpkin to carve, Dad?? That is becuase we had a little critter I believe one night that was a little hungry and took a rather large chuck out of his pumpkin and left blood from there gums all over it.. Very upset!!

He has sooo much fun at the ceder mill. They have a corn box instead of a sand box.. which for adults is disgusting and you can't even go in with your child because of all the dust in the air but the kids love it. They have a wood train for them to climb in and play in. And last but not least they have these huge drain pipes I think they are for slides and JJ loves coming down those.

Then there is trick or treating... We werent out very long because it was nippy and I am guessing the rest of the people in Michigan thought the same thing cause we didn't have half the amount of people that we did last year. Everyone again loved the costume and it was a hit!! AND I didnt see anyone else have it so I am very happy. Of course Jaemen wasn't really up for pictures he was way to interested in candy.. but here are the pictures I did get. p>

Well until next time,

Karidan

Trick and Treats, Birthdays, and Baking Lessons..

This weekend was a busy one for us. Actually just Saturday.. We had Halloween at Metamora State park with the whole Hill Family. It is a great time for all of us to get together. If you remember last year we did this BUT we were at Holly State park. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a whole group picture this year but I did try to get around and get pictures of most of the kids that were just wee babies last year and can't see in the picture last year. Everyone had a great time despite the FREEZING temps.

The Twins (Dave then Dylan)

The twins were Pirates like JJ was last year. But they had a good time before the Trick or Treating. I actually got pretty good pictures of these mover and groovers above looking at the camera. (since my dear sister wont give me any pictures to scrap I will get my own) There was a Bubble Fogger that all the kids just LOVED.. actually a lot of the adults also thought it was awesome also. You can see little Davey playing with the bubbles... Look at that excitement.

Then I have been holding off showing pictures of Jaemen in his costume until this point so the surprise wouldn't be spoiled. Jaemen is the UPS Man!! I LOVE this costume!! It is SOOO adorable!! He wasn't so good about pictures this time but below the collage of pictures this time is a picture I got of him in August when he went Trick or Treating before.
This little girl has the most GORGEOUS blue eyes ever and is just starting to walk. Don't mind her jacket but is was also the Michigan vs Michigan State game and unfortunately her Daddy went to State. I wish I could have gotten a better picture of those eyes though. She was a tiny little pumpkin last year and this year she was a bumble bee for Halloween. Which complimented the little guy below...

Who was celebrating his 1st birthday!! This is Cameron, my cousin missy's baby. He was Winnie the Pooh even though for some reason I didn't get a picture of either of them... weird. Anyways.. Happy Birthday Cameron. Just a year ago you were just this small.


Other then that, I was baking again for the first time in a LONG time and learned a good lesson. Taste test EVERYTHING before putting everything together or you will be doing this on more then one occasion.

YES that is my WHOLE cake in the garbage!!
It is a Peanut Butter fudge cake. Or at least half of it! The cakes were sooo good I almost couldnt wait to eat before putting the icing on. And that is where everything went WRONG. The recipe calls for Dark Chocolate... Whiped in boiling hot whiping cream. Not that hard right?? WRONG when you use 8 oz of UNSWEETENED Chocolate. It didnt look right before I but it on the cake but I just told my self you went exactly to the recipe and it will come out alright. So I frosted it. When I put it into the fridge to set up a little frosting got on my hand so I figured you are all done just lick it off! Glad I did before anyone tasted that cake it was the GROSSEST, NASTIEST cake ever and it took a cup of milk and candy corn to get the taste out of my mouth. So needless to say I will be rebaking this cake!! Two questions...
1. Should I just buy Hershey's Dark Chocolate candy bars for the dark chocolate?
and
2. Is heavy cream the same thing as Heavy WHIPPING cream??


Ps. For the family members... If you want the pictures you can go to the link at the right of the blog it says Jaemen's Pictures.. Click on Karidan's Gallery at the top and it should lead you to all of my web albums and you can print them right from there!! Let me know if there are any problems!! There are a lot more pictures then I show here!!

Love,
Karidan

Jaemen's Bedroom Renovation

For a while now I have been thinking of things to do to Jaemen's room. It is a little to babyish for him now and he needs a new bedset anyways for his new big boy bed!! Yes... Our little man has grown up and moved to a big boy bed. It has been wonderful. He goes to sleep all by himself and stays asleep in there until about 6am and then wakes up and wants to sleep with mommy and daddy. SO MUCH IMPROVEMENT!!!

So the two colors which I can not get a paint sample of online to show you the colors are Red Delicious and Rich Navy. I hope it is going to turn out. Not sure if the red should go on top or bottom... I have it on top though. Next, here is the bedspread I have picked out..

I think this one is cute and will grow with him... He is loving sports and anything to do with balls ever since I can imagine. So I think this will be good for him. I am going to add these on top unless I think it is to much.

I will lose my much beloved Jaemen letters that were above his crib... So I think I will either just redo them or I think but the saying, "You have to take the shot, to make the shot" above his bed to keep the theme going..

The last thing that I am thinking about is on his closet door just buying a little quart of chalk paint and doing the inside of the door panels. I am not sure about this. He has been showing major interest in coloring lately BUT... I also do not want him to think that coloring on the door/walls is ok. So I might just do it for now and not give him the chalk for a while yet until he can comprend.

I need to get navy blue curtains for his windows so that the sun doesnt come through that sliding glass window in the morning and I am thinking about getting iron on a big basketball to the one on the sliding glass window. Not sure how I am going to do that though yet since I dont know how to sew. My craftiness will figure it out though.

That is what I am up to right now and hopefully we can get some of that done before his Daddy gets back from Texas.

Until later...

Karidan

Then... and Now

What I am about to show you below is kinda crazy..I am always trying to take pictures that look like pictures that I love just so I can compare and just so I have that shot again. So tonight when JJ went to take a bath I tried my hardest to get the first shot again. Did not work all that well BUT you get the point that I was getting at. I am not to sure if other kids grow like this but look at this.. He was 8 months old in the first picture (LOVED this picture and that little butt) but he isnt even up to the top of the cabinet and now he at 21 months a little over one year later. Is almost a whole HEAD above the cabinet(probably would be if his knees weren't bent). IT IS NUTS!?!? Now do you believe me that he is growing TOOO MUCH!!!

Project 365... and a Scrapbook Page

Sept 2, 09 - The reason I can not get Jaemen to let go of the passie... Cause I am thinking we have probably taken out stock in Playtex. He finds them everywhere. But this is a common sight in our household one in his mouth and him playing with two-four others...

Sept 3

Sept 4thThen... I think I have fallen in love with 8.5 x 11 pages.. Which isnt cool since I just bought his 12 x12 album. But I think I am just going to inter-mix them since the smaller ones fit too.. Tell me what you think?? And dont you just miss that little face??

Until next time

Karidan

While the cats away...

the mouse will play.. haha yeah right..

Well with Sherrow here... that usually means I scrap a lot more because we are not watching tv together or just spending a little quiet time with each other. This time has been no different. Although I have not got a whole bunch done I plan to! Thanks to my Dad and Maryanne, I was able to get a lot of supplies from one of my favorite scrappin stores and here are just a few pages I have made from them so far.

I LOVE this page!! It is soo cute and I know I said I was done with his baby book but I will probably forever add to it.

And this is one of those pages I will talk about that doesnt have a home.

I also have a now a couple of pages waiting for a home since I do not have an album for Jaemen's pages from 1-->2 years old. Yes now it is really setting in that I am about a year behind BUT I got a whole book done, a whole year accomplished. And I am soo happy for that since I have never finished a book yet. But this wont be for long since I ordered THIS and it should be on its way. These albums are going to help me be able to display them on a shelf in the living room or something so that I am not the only one. I am getting the same books as this picture and I love the look of this for display(although mine are leather not fabric). I am hoping to get every color of these albums and two in each since I hope someday that I get so many layouts that I can fill more then one. But for right now just one in every color a different year in each color.

I know that I have not posted Jaemen's halloween experiences BUT he has an awesome costume and NOBODY better steal it.. Haha just joking. But for real I am just waiting for a little closer plus I didnt get the best of pictures of him. He has another escapade here on Oct. 3rd... So we will see..

Lastly, I am going to do my darnest to bring back the Project 365... I know I have not been taking any pictures and honestly I think it is a little much for some one that works. Maybe great for someone that is a stay at home momma like Jennifer... She has done awesome for two years in a row... Go check out her blog it is awsome and I would love to have those results but I am thinking next year Project 52... A picture a week...

And to prove it here is September 1st's Picture.. This is a picture of the AWESOME lamps I got today at Target thanks to my mom for my Bday. I got two for each side now we just got to get the bed off the floor with a frame and a bracket for the tv to put on the wall and two nightstands and the room with be complete. Oh I also need to take a picture for the wall behind the door that I have been wanting to take.

Until Later

-Karidan

OH MY GOODNESS..

He is going to be TWO here in just a few short months. I can't believe it... even though you know he is going to be because he is starting the terrible two's way to early. But I finally got some good pictures of him when he was out camping last weekend and 'trick or treating'. ( I know way to early but that story will be later once the colder weather hits OH WAIT that is right my computer is telling me it is 61 degrees right now!! ) Anyways... The only problem with the pictures is he is in the wrong teams sweatshirt!! I will have to find him a Michigan one SOON football is here!!! More update later.. HEY it is my birthday I dont need to be spending my time on the computer so I will be back later.

Summer fun...

So we have been finally having summer weather here in good ol' Michigan and Jaemen has been loving it. He can finally play in all the water that he wants to. Every night when we come home he has gotten on his swimsuit and went right out to the pool... He loves playing in the hose and drinking all the water he can choke down.

Oh and as you can see one thing he loves to do is use his slid like a waterslide and he goes down feet first on his belly. He is nuts.

Other then playing in the pool last Sunday we took him to the Splash Pad in Grand Blanc and he LOVED that. Well at least until some big kid knocked him down and he took a pretty big knock to the head... THank god the ground was the real soft rubber flooring so he bounced but I am sure it hurt at least it looked like it hurt. After the fall, he got back out there but then he wanted us to go where ever he went so it was about time to go. He just drank all the water there too haha...

Here is a scrapbook page that I just threw together today after seeing a layout like it in a gallery that I look through almost daily. I loved it and it was for a mothers girl so I just knew I needed to make it for a "mama's boy" since everyone knows that is what my little man is.

Lastly, before I get out of here. I am sorry I have taken so long to get back about my medical scare. I am ok.... The doctor told me that it is due to the fact that my nerves run accross my body down my leg and are getting blocked by the scar tissue of my incision. Because of this the nerves are coiling around each other. There was a name for it but I cant find it online and dont know how to pronounce it... So anyways that is why there is a lot of pain since it is all nerve endings. Solution: I have to have steriod injections into the coil and hopefully this will reduce the pain and after a coupld injections do something to the nerves that I didnt understand haha... I was very relieved but the next day I was in about the same pain so I am upset that it didnt really work.

Well to end this, our lives are just consisting getting ready for Sherrow to leave on the 21st. And I think while daddy is gone we are going to switch Jaemen to a Big Boy bed... and start potty training... I was going to try and get rid of the pacifer but I think the two above things is enough for the little guy.. We will work on the pacifer later!!!

Until then

Karidan

Pictures...

I was over at my dad's house last night and got a few pictures of the kids cause they have sprung up in the last couple of months..

The twins are WALKING.. full time now... Here is Christopher... He is getting huge also. He is starting to take some of his first steps also at 10months old.

Then of course we have Jaemen...

I am working with my camera getting some pretty dark shots so I am working with that... Until later..

Karidan

So Sorry...

So a lot has happened since the last post...
1. I was in another accident.. Everyone was ok but the car did not make it
2. We have bought a new car... 2004 Grand Am... and LOVING IT!!!
3. Sherrow had a family reunion
4. The internet was down for almost a week
5. Jaemen had a temperature of between 102-104 through the whole week of the fourth
and last but not happy to report...
6. Project 365 has taken a major hit.

So I guess let's recap a little more in detail on each one of those.

1. So the day of my mother's side graduation open house/party. I was traveling to go and get Sherrow from work and was in an accident. It was pretty bad but everyone (Jaemen and I) made it through. I suffered pretty bad the next day considering I turned the car so I was take the blunt of the accident and not Jaemen. I suffered also on the emotional side for a little. I had a lot of guilt about having JJ in the car and not being more careful.. About smashing another vehicle and no this one was not quite paid off. But after a late night breakdown Sherrow and I conquerred all of my feelings since I held them in until now and I had to see through all of it.

2. The accident was on the 6th and drove off in a car I think 18 days later. I am very happy that we could bounce back from the accident and not take as big of a hit as I thought we were going to take. We went from a 1996 Bonneville to a 2004 Grand Am and only increased our payment by $50.. We have been wanting something more but I definetly didnt want to smash one to get the other. But we came out on top and are very proud of ourselves.

3. Sherrow had a nice family reunion over the fourth. Unfortunely, Jaemen was not feeling his best and could not enjoy the beautiful beach at Seven Lakes State park. (which is very far out) Flint did not have fireworks this year due to the recession so we just enjoyed a few back at his sisters house. Also due to the fact I had a sick child in my arms the whole day I only have one picture and I didnt even take it.. But at least it is of our family.. You can tell that JJ was not feeling it.

4. Not much more to say the laptop was acting up and no internet.

5. On the 3rd when I went to put Jaemen to sleep I noticed that he was a little warm but nothing serious. So I went to check on him about two hours later and low and behold he was burning up at that time I think it was 102.4. So gave him some tylenol and hoped he would wake up and be better. NOPE... about 4 o clock I woke up again and he was still burning up this time it was 103.1. Long story short... Everytime the dang tylenol would wear off his temp would be right back up in the 103's. He didnt eat anything other then one helping of applesauce and one juice. I knew then something was up. So the next morning I took him to the clinic and there you go he has a throat infection. This poor kid just got over pink eye.. oh yeah I guess I should have put that in the list too.

6. Well sad news.. at least to me. Project 365 has taken a major hit in June. I thought ok Karidan just bounce back in July and yeah I think I have only taken 3 pictures of the past 7 days. It will be ok I will get back to it. And hopefully pack to blogging more also.

Meagen also just came to see us for an hour. I am soooo excited they might (fingers are crossed) be moving back to Michigan. I CAN NOT wait to hear if Mike gets the job.. But while she was her she was more the kind enough to TRY (key word) to get some pictures of us together. It really didnt work. Jaemen still wasnt feeling the best and Sherrow WOW Sherrow was giving the craziest faces ever. I should post them just to embarrass him so he wont do it again even though he claims he didnt know these were serious pictures. WOW... anyways here is the best and ONLY picture I can pull from the batch...

Well I will try to be more on top of the blog now that the internet is back up...

Karidan

Look who's 18 months

Yes my little boy is one and a half years old... and the neighbor across from us had this cute little house and slide so I decided to get it for him. I have been looking for more things outside and I think this completes his little collection of toys but this boy LOVES to be outside. Dont you just love that laugh below in the second picture he is such a nut. At this point I wish I would have had my new lens on so I could have gotten closer but I guess we will just crop.

Just a few facts about Jaemen at 18 months....

1. He is in 2T shirts and 18 month shorts and 2T pants with a belt to hold them up

2. He has All of his teeth and I am sure actually he has had most of them since he has been 14 months

3. He is the best cuddler when he wants to be but will tell you "NO" in a hot second and doesnt know how to say yes!

As you can see the pictures are getting better outside but they are still a little dark sooc (straight out of camera) so I am still trying to work on that but I have a newborn shoot coming up and I cant wait!!



-Karidan