I Tri and Craft

thoughts from a mother of boys, a marathoner, a triathlete, a crafter, a wife, and a scientist

Category Archives: Holidays


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Black Friday Rule

Happy Black Friday!

Did you go shopping?  Brave the lines? Get great deals?

Some stores were open on Thanksgiving and my sister wanted me to go do some shopping with her.  I was tempted, but didn’t end up going, nor did I brave the crowds early Friday morning.

In the past I had found great deals on Black Friday, but I don’t seem to see them so much anymore.  They have some great deals on big electronics, but that is not what I am shopping for.

My oldest son wants action figures and Lego’s, my youngest doesn’t even know what toys are yet.  Those things just don’t get the deals, so no I didn’t get up early and spend all my money.

My sister actually went out on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and got some really great deals.  So, is all that chaos really worth it?  I used to think so, but not anymore.  Of course, this also means I still have lots of shopping to do before the big day.

Baby Sid in his Thanksgiving gear

Baby Sid had a great first Thanksgiving, too bad he didn’t get to enjoy the food this year 🙂


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Daily Thanks Day 22

Today, and all days, I am thankful for my family.

My family on Ian’s first Thanksgiving

I am thankful for ALL of my family.  My mom, my dad & step-mom, my grandparents (all of them), my parents-in-law, my brother-in-law, my sister-in-law, my brother, my nieces, my nephew, my cousins, my aunts, my uncles, those who are basically family (you know who you are), my husband and my kids.

But of course I couldn’t forget my wonderful sister, who is always there for me and she is my closest friend.

My Brother & Sister holding me

 

I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and I am so very thankful for each of them.

 

I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving!


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Snake Eyes begs for candy

I love Halloween!!

Halloween is even greater than it was before because I get to share it with my kids.

This year was Ian’s third Halloween.  The first year he was only 7 months old and I dressed him up as a bat to go with his cousins who were vampires.

Ian and Luna at their first Halloween

My nieces friends and their parents came over for a pretrick-or-treating party with food and games.  Then all the older kids went trick-or-treating and we stayed at my sisters to hand out candy.

His second Halloween he was a monster, and super-duper adorable.

Ian and Dad at his first Trick-or-Treating

We went out trick-or-treating with my cousin and her daughter, who is just a week older than Ian.  Us adults had to go up to the door with the kids and ask for the candy.  The kiddos could talk, but were being shy.

This year he rocked it.  We get a catalog from a company called Chasing Firflies, they sell kids clothes and costumes that are amazing.  They are expensive  but the quality is worth it.  My sister has some of the girls costumes from there, including one this year.  We showed Ian the catalog and out of all the boys costumes he decided he wanted to be Snake Eyes from G.I. Joes.  For two months he stuck to his decision.  Every time we asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween he would through his fist in the air and proclaim “Snake Eyes!”

The Snake Eyes costume was too large for him so I searched for a cheaper version and had my mom alter it.  I was afraid come game time he would change his mind, or decided he didn’t want to participate, or wouldn’t wear the mask.

Much to my delight and pleasure he was still excited about the costume.  So we  donned his alter identity, took pictures with his cousins and headed out into the night while the baby stated with Bamama and Tante to hand out candy.  He held his sword up and said “I Snake Eyes!”

Ian as Snake Eyes with his cousins

At the first house Dad, Uncle and I stood back on the street as the three of them walked up to the door and politely begged for candy from a complete stranger.  My heart swelled and burst with pride for my big boy and longing for my little baby back.  I heard that little voice say “trick-or-treat. Thank you” and then he came back with a huge grin holding his plastic pumpkin bucket and told me “I say trick-or-treat and I get candy!  Let’s find anoder house Mama!”

This continued at each house and as his bucket got filled I would have to carry it for him and he would say “whew. it’s so heavy. I so strong mama.” when I gave it to him on his way up to the door.

Since his cousins aren’t typical nine-year olds we didn’t stay out long, because they wanted to go home, not because my son was too tired.  We headed back to my sisters and he got to examine his stash and have a few pieces of candy.

BEST HALLOWEEN EVER!


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The Days before Halloween

We were at my sister’s house while she was unloading her groceries which contained a new pumpkin carving kit.  Ian had her open the kit to gain access to the tools, mainly the scoop.  Since he had to leave the scoop at his Tante’s house, I had to promptly go out and buy Ian his own kit.

For about two weeks he would play with his scoop and ask to go to the pumpkin patch and scoop out pumpkin guts.  Of course when we finally did go, he brought his scoop with him.

We went to Liepold Farmsagain this year and once again we lucked out and the rain didn’t come while we were there.   Pumpkin patches are no longer just about picking out a pumpkin, but they have a whole slew of activities for the kids to do.

Ian and his cousins at the pumpkin patch

We finally pulled the kids away from the fun and games to search out their pumpkins.  We looked at multiple pumpkins which Ian kicked and touched and examined.  When I asked if he wanted that one he would say “nope, it too heavy.”  So I pointed out smaller ones, to which he would reply the same.  Until we found his baby pumpkin and he said “yep, dats da one mama.”

Ian picking out his pumpkin

The next weekend we started the carving process at my sister’s house.

Pumpkin carving at Tatne’s House

Baby Sid came to the party, he didn’t participate in the carving fun, but dressed for the occasion.

This was Ian’s first year at participating in the carving process.   He helped scoop out the guts and then helped put the pegs in.  He did a big pumpkin and a baby one.  I had him pick out a stencil for me to carve, which he choose a crow on a gravestone.

Ian and his pumpkins

He also picked out a skeleton Potato Head pumpkin kit.  So at home we had to do it all over again.  He was so happy about this pumpkin that he took it to bed with him.