Merry Christmas!

For unto us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be on his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful,

Counselor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

Wordless Wednesday--He's Going To Make a Wonderful Father Some Day!

M got a baby doll for his birthday.

He loves babies! He loves his doll!

He's going to make a wonderful father some day!

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For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Winner!

Well, I said I was going to close my giveaway last night, but in the midst of last-minute Cyber Monday shopping, I forgot.

Sorry!

Anyway, the winner of Mama Wants Her Body Back workout DVD is Jamie! Congrats!

I'll shoot you an email, Jamie and get you hooked up. :)

Thanks, everyone, for participating!

Big Boy Bed FAIL!

He helped build it.

He played in it.

He went "night night" in it.

But would he sleep in it? Nope!

M got his big boy bed for his birthday. We thought he was ready.

He's such a good sleeper and he loves his sisters' beds.

But his own bed? Not so much.

We put him to bed Friday night in his new bed, and he completely freaked out!

He went running to the door as soon as we left his room, crying that scared cry little kids make. I picked him up, and he clung to me. I tried laying down with him in his bed, but no go.

Needless to say, M ended up back in his crib.

And now? He has no desire to go anywhere near his new bed.

sigh

Big fat big boy bed FAIL!

Finally!

After snowing most of last week,

after temperatures below zero for most of the week,

after icy roads, slippery sidewalks, and squeaky snow,

it finally warmed up enough and the snow finally became wet enough

to make this:

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Don't forget! Today is your last chance to enter to win this!

Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful...

...but it sure is beautiful.

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Don't forget! This ends tomorrow!

The Turkey Turns Two

Two years ago today, I had a big turkey of a baby.

A 10 pound, 11 ounce turkey.

A boy turkey.

Who, though unexpected and unplanned for, was the turkey we never knew we needed until he came into our lives.

And today, this turkey turns two.

My baby!!!

Happy Birthday, M!

We love you very, very much!

Wordless Wednesday--Drift

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

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Also, don't forget my giveaway!

Snow

Snow

No breath of wind,

No gleam of sun--

Still the white snow

Whirls softly down

Twig and bough

And blade and thorn

All in an icy

Quiet, forlorn.

Whispering, rustling,

Through the air

On still and stone,

Roof,--everywhere,

It heaps its powdery

Crystal flakes,

Of every tree

A mountain makes;

'Til pale and faint

At shut of day

Stoops from the West

One wint'ry ray,

And, feathered in fire

Where ghosts the moon,

A robin shrills

His lonely tune.

-Walter de la Mare

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And don't forget about my giveaway!

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

It snowed this morning! It snowed this morning!

Yippee!

So what if it only lasted three hours?

So what if it didn't stick to a single thing?

It snowed this morning!!!

Wordless Wednesday--Moses Lake

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Mama Wants Her Body Back--Review and Giveaway

This mama has had three kids, and this mama's body has never been the same since. Some things stretched, some things grew, and some things will just never be the same.

However, this mama can (and will) get her body back, just not her original pre-E body.

And so can you!

Mama Wants Her Body Back was developed by Lisa Druxman, a mom who has been in the fitness industry for 20 years. Lisa designed this series workouts specifically for moms, targeting our specific problem areas, and working with our busy schedules.

The Product

"Mama Wants Her Body Back is a series of three 20-minute total body workouts...Each 20-minute workout consists of 5 mini workout rounds. These rounds contain the three key elements that every mom needs in their workout to get her body back--cardio, strength and core. These workouts are specifically targeted for a mom's body and a mom's time. If we can endure the labor of childbirth, then mama--you can truly do anything!"

My Review

I just tried this workout this morning, and I have to say I like it. There are no routines, nothing complicated. Each workout round consists of one minute of cardio, one minute of strength, and one minute of core. Within each minute, three different levels are introduced (low, medium, and high) and are each done twice for ten seconds at a time (10 seconds low, 10 seconds medium, 10 second high, repeat). This is a very doable format!

There are always three moms demonstrating the workouts, too; one (Lisa) does the basic workout, one does an easier, modified workout, and one does a harder, modified workout. This program is definitely designed for all levels!

And, seriously, who can't find 20 minutes?

The only thing I didn't like about the program (and it's a totally personal thing) is that it uses a resistance tube. I suck at the resistance tube! Even after years of playing volleyball, I just don't have the upper body strength to use the tube. Weights I'm fine with, but a tube! Blech! I know using one regularly will increase my strength, so I will. But grumblingly. :)

I'm definitely going to be using this program in the future. Care to join me?

Win It!

Mama Wants Her Body Back has generously offered another copy to one of you! Just leave a comment, any old comment, here or on FB (I'll post over there, too) and you are entered to win! U.S. only, though. Sorry!

Sorry, no extra entries; I don't like extra entries.

I will close comments on Monday, December 6 at 8:00pm PST and announce a winner then. Good luck! And mama, you can get your body back!!!

This post was written for Family Review Network and Mama Wants Her Body Back who provided this complimentary product for review and giveaway in return for my honest opinion.

My Family Christmas Book and Memories--A Review

Another review; I know. But there are just so many good ones available right now, I can't pass them up!

I'm really excited about this one, too!

Now that our kids are getting a little bit older, Mr. Einstein and I have been talking about finding something for Advent. Something to help ourselves and our children prepare for the Christmas season. Something to guide our thoughts and prayers. Something to lead into discussions of what Christmas really means.

My Family Christmas Book and Memories encompasses all of this, and more.

This "book" isn't really a book; it's more of a binder with tabs, which I love. It's full of prayers, and Scripture readings, and activities, and songs, and crafts, and recipes. There is room for Christmas planning ideas, and card lists, and gift buying guides. There is room for many years of Christmas memories and photos. There is even a small section for New Years.

Seriously, this book has it all!

And while My Family Christmas Book and Memories is comprised of "Advent and Christmas prayers and activities to build family traditions centered on Jesus Christ," there are plenty of non-religious songs and crafts, like Jingle Bells and gingerbread houses.

Advent is coming up quickly (November 28), and I can't wait to use this book with my family!

This post was written for Family Review Network and My Family Christmas Book and Memories, who provided this complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Wordless Wednesday--On the Dock

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For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Little Star--A Review

I love books.

Oh, how I love books!

(And, yes, I really like kids' books, too. Shh! Don't tell.)

I also really like Christmas books, but it's so hard to find good Christmas books, especially books that follow the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus.

Enter Little Star by Anthony DeStefano.

I just received Little Star in the mail today, and although I have a semi-strict rule of no Christmas until after Thanksgiving, this book was just too cute to wait for another month.

Synopsis (from the back of the book)

A king is about to be born! The stars in the heavens are competing to shine the brightest to celebrate his birth. But when they see the poor family, the donkey, the shabby stable, the stars all think, That can't possibly be a king. We've been fooled.

All except one. The smallest, loneliest star in the sky, Little Star, is the only one to understand what the king is about to bring to the world. But what can Little Star do for him?

My Review

First off, Little Star is beautifully illustrated! The pictures are definitely geared towards children, but without being cartoony or comical. A big plus with me (and my kids) when dealing with the Christmas story.

While the main theme of this book isn't just Jesus' birth, but rather Little Star's participation in Jesus' birth, the theology is sound. The story of Jesus' birth (minus the stars, obviously) is neither embellished nor detracted from. It is woven into Little Star seamlessly, being neither prominent nor shoved aside.

My two girls seemed captivated by the story, and stayed quiet through most of it (which is huge!). Six year-old E refused to tell me her opinion (she's a grumpy girl tonight), but asked quite a few questions about stars after listening to the story. That's as much as I got from them tonight. Sorry! I'll update later if I can glean any more from either of them.

Over all, Little Star by Anthony DeStefano is a wonderful Christmas book! It is definitely written for children, with both language and themes easily understood by them.

It has put me into the Christmas spirit a month early. Which I suppose isn't a bad thing; however, I still refuse to play my Christmas music yet!

This post was written for Family Review Network. I received a complimentary copy of Little Star from Anthony DeStefano in exchange for my honest review.

Footed

A couple of years ago, we started the tradition of giving our kids new winter pajamas at Thanksgiving. We buy them at the Carter's outlet towards the end of summer, and each kid gets to pick out the pair he or she wants. (Okay, he doesn't get to choose; he's too little.)

This year, both girls chose footed pajamas, so M got a footed pair as well.

Since it's been so cold already this year, we broke out the Thanksgiving pajamas on Halloween.

They were so excited!

Super Kids

Our town celebrated Halloween on Saturday instead of Sunday.

Weird, I know, but it's a small town with small town mentalities. Most stores are closed Sundays, and Sundays are typically family days.

Whatever. It is what it is. I just follow the rules. :)

Halloween in the Einstein house isn't really a big deal. We have yet to actually go out and buy costumes for the kids, instead mostly choosing to dig through the dress-up trunk or use hand-me-downs.

This year was no different.

Last year for Christmas each of the kids got a personalized cape from Baby Pop on Etsy. So I thought, Perfect! They can be super heroes!

And so they were.

I made them each a mask that coordinated with their capes, and Presto! Instant super heroes!

I think E has her mask on upside down. Oh, well.

See! Personalized! And each of the cape combinations totally matches the corresponding child's personality. It's uncanny.

Love it!

This one wasn't very cooperative during picture time. This is as good as it got.

We ended up going downtown to trick-or-treat at the businesses. All three kids were wonderful, even M! It was fun, but crowded. And too many teenagers/adults. And infants. Why would an infant need to go trick-or-treating? Free candy for the parents? Puh-lease.

Anyway, after an hour, we were all freezing, so we went home, took warm baths, ate pizza and watched a movie, just like any other Saturday.

How was your Halloween?

Oh, yeah! The disclaimer. Baby Pop has no idea I even exist, except as a former customer. There was no compensation. At all. The end.

So Big

C turned three last May.

In March, I switched out her 2T clothes for her 3T. She was then measuring a little smaller than her big sister E did at almost-three, and didn't need her 3T's as soon as E had needed them.

By August, her shirts barely covered her belly button. Her long pants high-watered. And although she finally potty trained over the summer (thank God!) and was wearing underwear instead of bulky diapers, the waistbands on her pants were pinching.

So, I broke out the 4T's.

4T clothes, people. In five months, the girl had grown an entire clothing size!!!

!

I know!

I ended up supplementing her winter wardrobe by buying her some new jeans in a size 4, not 4T. At the beginning of September, those size 4 jeans needed to be rolled up two inches at the hems.

Now? At the end of October? Those same size 4 jeans don't need to be rolled up at all!

C is so big! Too big! The middle child we thought would be our shorty?

Well, guess again!

Wordless Wednesday--Glow

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For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Squished

Ah ha!

I squished the last one this morning.

Victory is mine!

It's the small things, people; the small things.

Bugged

I am irritated with,

frustrated by,

plagued with,

bugged by

fruit flies.

They are everywhere!

Seriously! Where do these little buggers come from? (I mean, obviously, they come from fruit.) But how can my house be clear, my fruit be freshly bought and washed, and two days later, there are swarms?

And as much as I dislike fruit flies, in my kitchen I can at least tolerate them. To a point. I expect them to be in my kitchen. That's natural. That's where my fruit is.

But fruit flies in my bathroom? Gross.

Why, oh why do the fruit flies like my bathroom? I could understand it if I saw them in the sinks or in the shower. Swarming around a source of water would at least make sense.

But the fruit flies in my house? Must be narcissistic or something. Because in my bathroom I see them

on the mirror,

flying in front of the mirror,

walking on the mirror.

And while they are much easier to squish on the mirror, um, gross.

So, yeah. I'm feeling bugged today. How are you feeling?

Wordless Wednesday--Reflection

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

Wordless Wednesday--Splash

Oktoberfest 2010

We've decided to make visiting Leavenworth an October tradition in our family.

Straight out of the camera. Unedited. I swear! Look at those trees changing colors!

Yes, we know it's Oktoberfest. No, we don't go for the beer.

But we would, if we didn't insist on bringing our kids with us.

Which we do. So we don't.

We walked and walked and walked. And somewhere along a trail, the girls managed to find walking sticks.

And somehow, M never even noticed. That's how excited he was with all of his unexpected, longed-for, outdoor freedom.

He usually gets carried/worn a lot. He tends to wander.

E in the baby swing. What a goof! And yes, that is yet another missing tooth. That makes seven total. With one more loose.

Good grief!

Let's all just pause here and revel in my son's cuteness. Go ahead. He's cute, I know (and dirty, but that's beside the point). But you can tell me again, if you want to.

And just because I'm not convinced you really stopped to gaze adoringly at him long enough, here's another one:

You're welcome. :)

We stopped to throw rocks in the river.

And by "we" I mean C and M.

We climbed rocks and logs down by the river.

And by "we" I mean E and C.

I love this last photo. He's just a boy being a boy.

Oktoberfest 2011, here we come!

Fog

I miss normal.

I miss my old life.

I feel like I'm living in a haze, a fog that has crept in on little cat feet, slowly, catching me unawares. I wake up each day, realizing something is different, something is not quite right.

My life has been shrouded, covered, and I want it back.

I want my mom to be okay.

I want to stop being constantly annoyed by my children.

I want to want to tackle responsibilities rather than escape them.

I want to feel in control, well-rested, and healthy.

I want an actual conversation with my husband, not just a one-sided run-down of the day's happenings. I want to spend time with my husband, not just pass by each other between one meeting or event and another.

I want the fog to lift, to reveal my life again.

I know everything will look different, be different, but still I want to see it, to know it's there, safe and secure.

Even if "normal" is now changed, altered.

At least that way I'd feel grounded, clear-sighted, purposeful.

At least I'd feel like me again.

Sunday Sunset

I've Been Busy

If I could marry this wedding, I would.

Okay. Well, not really, but it almost makes one wish one could when one actually captures a photo like this: