...it's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

Oh my goodness...I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about the holiday season! I literally cannot stop thinking about shoveling as much mashed potatoes and turkey and cranberry sauce into my mouth as I can! I pray that next Thursday isn't "oneofthosedays" when I'm feeling yucky and vomit-y. And don't even get me started on Christmas. Oh my word...I just love it all...the sights...the sounds...the lights...the smell of "pine" (in the form of my Gold Canyon Candle!)...and family time!!!! DLo even put the lights up on the outside of our house already!!! I plan on decorating the rest of the house today...but we're saving the tree until Friday! EEEK! (And...please- spare me the "respect the bird" speech...I've had pumpkins and fall all up in my house for MUCH longer than my tree will be up!!!)

One of the things I've been looking forward to this season...don't laugh at me...is the return of the Starbucks Cold Cup Tumbler. I know...so dumb. But I didn't really think to buy one last year...and then all of a sudden... ALL my friends had them and they were sold out EVERYwhere! :( ::sadface:: Honestly...I didn't even really care about them when all my friends had them...it wasn't until I found out I couldn't HAVE one even if I wanted that I became obsessed!!! Story.of.my.life. I digress. So...I had heard that Starbucks was planning on bringing the "Holiday" versions of the tumbler back in the middle of November...so I made sure to call each of the Bux's near my house to confirm the date they were going to be sold. Today, my friends...was that day.

Last night, Derrick told me that I would need to get to the Starbucks at 5am. Um. Yeah.Right! That's like...Black Friday crazy! And anyone who knows me...knows that I'd rather rip my finger nails out than 1. wake up early 2. to wake up early to shop and 3. wake up early to shop with 9zillion other people!!! So. My plan was to wake up when the kids woke me up and mosey on down to get my tumbler. Except...I couldn't stop DREAMING about the stupid cups! I know, right?! The first dream was that they were sold out...the next was that the cups were uber lame and flimsy and worthless, but DLo and I HAD to have them anyway! Oh my word...dreams like that kept coming...So...when I woke up to use the potty at 6am...I told myself that if I couldn't fall back asleep (which generally is NO problem) that I'd brush my teeth and throw on some clothes and go. I tossed and turned and felt like I was going to throw up (in a nonpreggo way)...so I dragged myself out of bed to the Starbucks around the corner from my 'hood.

Now. I'm a SUPER competitive person. Even when I'm not totally outwardly being competitive...in my head...in my SOUL...I'm competing. So...I naturally was shaky and nervous b/c I HAD to get my tumblers!!! I HAD to beat all the zillions that, in my imagination, would be wanting a cup too. I pull in. I'm ready. Get my 3 tumblers, get out. Do it. Do it. Go. Legs, don't fail me. Go. Do it. Go.

...I walk in...

...I look at the sparkly and new holiday display full of holiday cups and ornaments and froofy flavored drinks...

...I see the cups...

...My heart rejoices...

::insertsoundoftiresscreechingtoahalt:: Wait. These are Grande sized...where's...where's....where's the Venti sized? Where's...the....Venti...sized?! I look around the entire store. (In hindsight- those Baristas musta been giggling at me and every other poor sap that scoured the entire store for those darn cups!). WHERE'S YOUR VENTI CUPS??? "Oh...we sold out of those right away...." ?!?!?!?!? WHERE'S YOUR VENTI CUPS?!?! "Yeah, they went SO fast..." Um...when did you put them out?!?!?!? "Like 5am... there are other Starbucks stores that might have them...."

Yup. Sad.Face. So I had to get my sad, tired, scrubbedout body into the car to start my search for these stupid stupid STUPID cups that I'm obsessed with. I call a store...and they have SEVEN! But...can't hold any for me...(and of course...I mistakenly called the one on 99th and McDowell...not 99th and Camelback, which is closer)...so as I'm headed there...I call the Starbucks that is next nearest to me...they are out. So...like a bat...straight out of you.know.where...I head to the one that had seven.

...I park...

...I shake...

...I walk...

...I'm in the door...

THERE THEY ARE! THERE THEY ARE! In the 10 minutes it took me to drive there...they didn't sell ANY of the seven! Woot WOOT! Now. I only needed 3. I know...that seems like a lot...but one was for me...one was for DLo...and one was for my friend Leslie- who had asked me to get one for her if I was out getting one. I only need 3, Kim. Just 3. But...they've been sold out everywhere...and....and...what if someone else NEEDS one...

...Do I buy them all?...

...But I only NEED three...

...Should I just do it?...

...No...that's mean, what if someone walks up behind me and wants one...

So. I took SIX of them. BAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAH. What.A.Bafoon. As I'm stacking them in my arms...the Barista asks- "Are you the one who called???" ::sheepishly:: Yesssshhhh. "Hmm...I should buy the last one..." I inform him how this is the 3rd place I went to and they were sold out of the Venti's everywhere... and he buys it! Hahahaha! (And as he is wrapping and bagging my purchase...he got a phone call inquiring about them!) Oh...the guilt I felt for buying 3 extra!!!

So. I get my tumblers...I get my White Chocolate Mocha (MMMmmmm) and breakfast sandwich (which I had a free coupon for!) and I scurry home.

..........


Come to find out later in the afternoon. THEY ARE SELLING THEM ONLINE ON STARBUCKS' WEBSITE. Are you for real? Are you joking? So. I've been up 2 hours earlier than my kids...my eye is twitching...my bank account is frowning at me...and I have 3 extra cups...that I can't even sell on Ebay (yet) for millions of dollars...b/c they aren't actually sold out...so long as you have enough thought to look on Starbucks.com! Boom.Roasted.

Aw....Well...at least I got what I wanted! ;)

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and GameStop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.


1. What is your holiday wish for your family?
My wish is for good health and some quality time as a family.

2. What is your Christmas morning tradition?
DLo and I have ALWAYS been bad at waiting until Christmas to exchange gifts....but since having Jude things have changed! We enjoy waking up early, snuggling on the couch in our PJ's drinking hot cocoa and staring at the twinkling lights of the tree. We listen to Daddy read "The Christmas Story" and then open up gifts!

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be?
Oh Santa...a bigger house would be nice!!! ;) But if that's too much...I'd settle for a new Mac computer!

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?
We LOVE watching Christmas movies!!! Or...listening to Christmas music in the car while driving around looking at lights!

5. What games did you play with your family growing up?
I was an only child...and my parents were...um..."older"...so I don't remember playing too many board games as a child (not that I didn't EVER play...but not as much as I do now!). I do remember playing alot of Nintendo (that my parents bought me when I was like 7)...and my dad would always prefer watching me play as opposed to playing with me! He got SO mad at those darn Goombas!!! Haha!

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?
My kids are too young to do this quite yet...but I plan on having them write letters to Santa and putting out milk and cookies for the man w/ the rosy cheeks!

7. Where would you go for a Christmas-away-from-home trip?
Hm. It'd be nice to have a "white" Christmas...so anywhere w/ some snow?

8. Check out GameStop and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year?
Third: Zumba Fitness (Wii)... b/c I'm having my third kid...and these hips DON'T lie- they want to be slimmer come June! :) And...I think it would be comedy.
Second: New Super Mario Brothers (Wii)...b/c I've always LOVED Mario...and I think it'd be fun to play the game simultaneously with DLo!!!
First: A PS3...not so much b/c we need a new game system...but because we plan on getting a BluRay player for each other for Christmas this year...and the PS3 would be a bonus! :)

...oops, she did it again...

So. For those of you who are NOT on FB...and who missed the announcement....
I'm.Pregnant.Again.

HAhahahahahahahaha! Oh my word. It's still a shock to say it! I guess you can say that we are three for three. Meaning...every time we have gotten an Annual Pass to Disneyland...we've gotten pregnant!!! I TOLD Derrick when we were there in September that we should SERIOUSLY consider if we wanted to get them again...b/c he KNEW we'd get knocked up if we did! !!! I guess I just didn't expect it to happen THAT month! ;)

It's been kinda a funny experience telling people that I'm pregnant again. I've had MANY mixed reactions from people. ...but most people are sympathetic knowing how "busy" I'm going to be (wait...as if I'm not ALREADY busy?!)...or kinda give me the "uh, you know what prevents that" kinda look. Whatever. Haha! We're happy about it...I mean...stressed and nervous too, but happy! I mean...how could we not be ecstatic that God would want to bless us with MORE kids? Guess it's encouragement that we're doing SOMETHING right, right??? :) And...I don't think many people know...or remember...that it took us SO long to get pregnant with Jude...so you know what...No, we're NOT preventing...and we ARE leaving it up to God until we know we're done! Um...which we know we're done w/ three...if anyone wants to know!!!! Heehee.

Baby Logan 3.0 will make their debut sometime in the middle of June. I don't plan on him or her coming out early...since my kids like to snuggle up in momma's belly!!! And...like my other two lovebuckets...we will not be finding out the gender of our new addition until the baby comes (suck on THAT, Linds! ;) j/k!!!)...

...NINE!...

::sigh:: Really? Is time going in warp speed to anyone else here??? How is it possible that my baby girl is already NINE months old?! Time sure flies when you're having fun!!!

This month, we've seen Emme grow so much! She is now crawling on all fours (instead of army crawling)...sitting up on her knees and trying to pull herself up on her feet...babbling up a storm...dancing (popnlockit baby!)...and into EVERYTHING that belongs to her brother!!!

She is such a joy in our lives...bringing us laughter and sunshine.


Emme,
Oh girlfriend...how sweet it has been to have you in our lives. You bless us so much with your sweet laughter...your snaggletoothed smile. Mommy, Daddy, and Jude love you so so much and couldn't imagine what life would be without you in it!

Mommy prays that you will grow up knowing that your value doesn't come from how pretty your hair is...or how cool your clothes are...how nice your makeup is...or who your friends are...but your value comes from the Lord. I pray you will know Him early in your life...and that you (and your brother) will serve Him with an unbreakable passion.

I love you, little princess.
-Mommy

...til...

I am just so amazed at my son. He is growing up so fast...and as much as I love each new stage...there is a part of me that is sad to see the "baby" in him leave. Jude is such a kind boy...for the most part- he does live up to the terrible two's sometimes! He loves his daddy and his sister so much. He adores his Mickey...and loves to make music. I find myself looking at him and trying to see him as an infant...but all I see is this little boy who is full of energy and wonder...

I want to cherish these moments with him (and his sister) all my life.

I never want to forget the way he says, "Oh shhhhhuuuuuure..." if you ask him questions.
...the way he says "Ho-nu?" (Hold you) when he wants to be picked up.
...the conversations he makes his toys have with one another.
...the way he puts his Mickey, dog, Donald, and sometimes Bullseye to sleep (doing our bedtime routine).
...and sometimes making Mickey "c-eye" (cry) so that he can go back and comfort him.

I want to remember how he wipes away my kisses...
...and demands more.
...how he puts on full band rehearsals...
...and says "Haaani" (Halmoni)

I don't want to forget his funny smile- which means he's up to no good...
...or the way he repeats, "Mommy, Daddy, I go peepee" when we're reminding him to NOT pee in his chonies.

I want to think back and smile when I remember how he always wanted daddy to read him the "Byebu" (Bible)...
...and mommy to read The Potty Book...
...the way he ALWAYS needs ice in his water cup at bedtime...
...and the lovely excuses he has already learned to make to get out of his bed...

I don't want to forget how obsessed he is with brushing his teeth...
...how he knows how to operate our phones and the dvd player better than we do...
...the sound of his voice when he says "Mommy"...
...his fake burps- followed by "tehdeh!" (excuse me)...
...how much he loves his sister...
...how he says "nieeeeeght" and waves his fingers...
...seeing his giant body on his lil truck I bought him when he was almost a year old- homeboy rides that thing everywhere...


Jude...
I know that you "like" your daddy more...but mommy wants you to know that you bring me so much joy. You make me laugh...you keep me young. I am so thankful that you are my son and my life is more complete with you in it.

I love you, son!

...Tennesee Part1...

Well...We're here at our home away from home. And no, I don't mean Disneyland! ;) Derrick and I were brave...and packed up our two babies...and our 5million bags and luggage...and hopped on a plane to see the Grandparents! We were actually talking last night...and this is our 7th time out here in the past 5 years. Yup. We love this place (especially when I don't have to sleep on an airmattress...)!!! It's so beautiful here right now...and down right cold! I mean...to board a plane at 104 degree temp and exiting the plane at 54 degree is quite a shock to the system!!! Oy! I was so not built for cold weather! I know that's really strange to some people...but I'd rather sweat than shiver!!! At least when I'm hot, I can stay inside or under a fan or AC or a pool or take off clothing. When I'm cold...I'm cold- inside, outside, under the covers...it's in my bones!

I digress. So. Our trip went pretty smoothly. I must say I was SO incredibly proud of Jude. He was such a good listener while we were waiting for Daddy to check in our 3bags...(while Mom, Jude, and Em stood on the curb w/ our double stroller, both HUGE carseats, diaper bag, Daddy's baby Taylor guitar, and the bag containing Jude/Emme's entertainment on the trip!). We stood there for what felt like forEVER...mostly b/c I was holding Emme w/ one arm the whole time...and holding Jude's hand w/ the other....and althoghe Emme, in comparison to Jude at 8months is WAY light...it still starts to make your arm want to fall off after 15 or so mins!!! OMG...I'm doing it again...I'm rambling...and making Jaime skim through all my blah blah! LOL!

Anywho. While we were waiting on the curb...this car pulls up w/ an older (60ish) man and woman. The woman is the one leaving, and as she is in line waiting to check her luggage...her husband, I notice...keeps.staring.at.us. Now. I'm used to this. HAHA. I know, so vain. No...I really am. I'm used to people staring at my kiddos...b/c they.are.gorgeous. I'm not kididng! But the really creeper was when the guy comes up to me and says, "Oh my goodness...your son here looks JUST like my grandson...do you mind if I take a picture of him???" Um. Uh. Er. I said "Ok" but inside I was thinking... 1. "Um, really? Really? ::lowervoice:: really?!?! I'm pretty sure my son looks NOTHING like your grandson b/c my son is gorgeous." and then 2. "Um. That.is.weird." HAHA. Well...he took his picture and went on his merry way. And soon after, his wife was done SkyCapping and came to tell me that Jude looks like her grandson all over again. Hm. Still don't buy it...not gunna lie! ;) And...it's not the first time people have asked to take a picture of my kids...is that weird or what?!

So then... we finally get through security...which went pretty smooth considering all we had...and they had to do the tests on the baby food stuff... So. We get to our gate...and wait and eat. DLo is holding Emme...and this guy sitting across from us...is smiling at playing peekaboo w/ her... Cute right? Yes...until. He comes up...all smiles and giggly and happy...and was like, "You are just so stinking cute! You are just flirtin' so much... If she was a lil older...I'd ask her out!" ::insertsoundofscreechingtires:: Um. Awkward much? LOL. Um. 1. My daughter is not even a year old...if she was a lil older...your a** would STILL end up in jail...or dead 2. She's sitting on her daddy's lap...you don't say stuff like that to daddy's girl while she's sitting on his lap!?! Who ARE you?! LOL. Hm. No...I mean...yes...it was creepy...but he was having so much fun getting her to smile and giggle...I think he just...chose a bad phrase to come up and say. LOL. Hmmm.

Then on the plane...our man flight attendant was uber friendly to Emme too...but he was a father to 3 boys...so I guess I can see where seeing a beautiful, well tempered, little girl would draw a dad in...except he kept saying he was going to "take her home"... Um. Okay sir. O.kay. And then, of course...there was the lil 9 year old boy who kept playing w/ Em from across the aisle. (which was both adorable and annoying at the same time!) ;) I told DLo that he had better buy a rifle soon...b/c before we know it...we're going to have BOY.TROUBLE! ;)

Alright. So. We arrived. We survived. We get someone to take all our stuff to our rental...and we drive to Chattanooga for some OG (which...btw...was AWFUL- I mean- how do you mess up Fettuccine Alfredo?!) ...and then to Cleveland. It was awesome to see Gma/Gpa...and so fun introducing our princess to her Great Grandparents! (PS- Emme's middle name "Ann" is Gma Logan's middle name as well, which is why we chose it)...

Looking forward to the rest of the week! :)

...behind...

Ugh. I'm way behind on updating. I'm sorry!!! Let's see...let me do a 5 second recap of our September...

Um. Lindsay and I finished watching LOST. We went to Disneyland. Emme turned 8months. Um. I am pretty sure that is it. Haha!!!

Disneyland was fun. And thank THE LORD for motherinlaws who are so excited and willing to come and help take care of the babies! Oh my word! Emme was great...loved looking at everything. Jude did pretty good...but this go around, he was afraid of pretty much everything- the characters, the rides...everything!!! Oh well, kid...we've got Annual Passes...you'll just hafta suckitup! ;)