Happy Halloween!!!!

It's not a big secret that I'm not a fan of Halloween but the Hubs loves it and so does the kids.  But there's nothing cuter than little kids in costumes.  So in honor of the Hubs's favorite holiday, here's a quick look at my Halloween cuties through the year.

Noah's first Halloween....probably not the most flattering costume for a fat baby (2007)

My lil Dinosaur (2008)

Thomas (2009)

My lil Pumpkin...Emmy's first Halloween (2009)

Pretty Tinkerbell (2010)

Brave Fireman (2010)

Jessie and Optimus Prime (2011)

Spiderman (2012)

Merida (2012)

Happy Halloween!!!!  Stay Safe!!!!!

Happy Independence Day

The land of the Free because of the Brave

Thanks to all of the men and women who selflessly put themselves in the battlegrounds to defend our freedom.

I hope everyone has a Happy and Safe 4th of July!!!!

A family filled, balloon blowing, candy eating, swing breaking Easter

I hope everyone had a blessed and happy Easter Sunday!  We had a pretty good one this year.  It started off a little rocky before church (I love this age that Noah's at right now.  The attitude is a-flying) but ended up being a great day.  I wasn't able to get matchy matchy Easter outfits for the kids again this year.  Children's Place has always been my go-to place because the boys and girls outfits always matched.  I just wasn't impressed this year so it was Target to the rescue.  I went a little more casual this year than years past.

Happy Easter from the Crimella kiddos.  Don't you just love it when one wants to take the picture and the other ruins it with a fake smile?!?!?

We headed to Mass and were expecting the entire family at our house at 11:30.  I've always hosted some form of Easter party, whether it be a breakfast or a lunch.  This year, I was kinda hoping that we wouldn't do anything.  I've just been so worn out lately.  But everyone started asking what time to be at the house for Easter so I decided to just throw something together really quickly.   The Hubs and I decided just to do an easy lunch since we wouldn't be getting out of Mass until about 11.  So we settled on a sandwich bar.  He ran to Publix Saturday night to pick up all the fixings.  I ended up dying eggs at 11:30pm because I forgot about them.  Noah was not thrilled when he woke up to find that I had done it without him. Oh well.....

I didn't get any pics before Mass....again it was a rough morning...so the picture taking started well after the party began.  We had plenty of food and everyone seemed to have a good time.  The kids got TONS of stuff.  The Easter Bunny stopped by our house but also stopped by all 3 sets of grandparents's houses.  Plus my brother's new girlfriend brought a little something for the kiddos.  They are truly spoiled, but very loved children.

The guys went out and hid eggs while everyone finished eating.  Then it was time to head out to find the eggs.  The kids always have a good time.

Our nephew loving the egg hung

My handsome man

I love this picture of Em

This is the point where things always end up interesting.  At one point, my dad and my brother in law were standing barefoot in the road on the manhole cover trying to see who could outlast each other.

The kids were swinging on the tree swing which led to the adults getting in on the action.  This ultimately led to the Hubs standing on the swing and the rope snapping.  He didn't get hurt at all and the swing got a stronger rope.  We were all HYSTERICAL at this point and my poor sweet nephew was the only one upset that he might be hurt.  It was beyond the funniest thing I've seen in a while. Of course, I got it on camera!!!!

This was never a good idea

Notice the broken swing in the bottom left corner

The new rope can hold a bit more weight this time

Oh I forgot....this year also included balloon animals.  My brother's girlfriend works at the Glazier Children's Museum as well as being a teacher.  My dad found out she can make balloon animals so he bought a bag of balloons to surprise her with.  Well he didn't buy a pump so the boys tried to blow them up by themselves.  Let me warn you....it's next to impossible.  They all managed to figure out how to do it (after about 2 hours of trying) but it was a painful experience watching their heads turn purple and veins popping out everywhere.  And of course, the Hubs would be the first one to blow it up.

I also had an impromptu photo shoot with all the couples in the family.  I love this pic of me and my brothers with our significant others

I fell in love with this pic of me and the Hubs.  This definitely ranks high up on the favorite picture list!!!!

Hope all of you had an amazing holiday!  Are your family get togethers as nuts as mine?

Love is in the air

How is it possible that it's almost February?  I feel like yesterday I was decorating for Christmas and now I'm planning out my Valentine's Day decor, much to the Hubs's dismay.  While I'm starting to get visions of Conversation Hearts in my apothecary jars, I can't help but get excited about taking the kids to the store to pick out their Valentine's Day cards.

I remember growing up when Mom would take us to the store so we could pick out the perfect cards to give to our classmates.  And there were always the unwritten Valentine rule: your BFFs always got the biggest, best cards while that boy who liked you (that you didn't like in return), he got the one that had nothing related to love (don't want to give the wrong idea). Going through our mailboxes or bags was the best, especially with your girlfriends.  Giggling about what boy gave you what card....oh to be young again!

Fast forward 20 years and I still get excited about Valentine's cards although it's a completely different ballgame now that I'm older.  It's about sending love to our friends and family, near and far.  And for me, it gives me a chance to share some of my favorite pictures of Noah and Emmy while sending a little joy their way.  The Hubs doesn't understand it at all but it's something that I love.  There's nothing more exciting than opening your mailbox and finding a card full of family pictures.  It's one of those things that can brighten even the worst day.

With Valentine's Day around the corner, I am definitely turning to my friends at Shutterfly. Not only do they have amazing photo products, their cards are amazing.  The paper quality is the best I've found and the print quality is stellar.  And I've never been disappointed with their card designs.  This year's Valentine's Day card collection might be my favorite!  There's so many options I can't decide which ones to get. Flat or folded? Square or Rectangle? Black & White or color? 1 picture or many? They even have Erin Condren cards.

I'm telling you....tough decisions.

Here are some of the cards that made it to my "Must Send" list this year:

This one is my favorite (and is very similar to our Christmas card this year)

If only I could get my kids to recreate this picture

I love the idea of sharing family facts and memories

The colors.  The pattern. Swoon!

The brown is a little unexpected for Valentine's Day but I'm loving it

I used this card a few years ago:

I still love the pink and orange combo

So what do you think?  Which one should be the Crimella family Valentine's Day card?
Which card design have you fallen in love with?
How are you planning on sending your Valentine's greetings this year?


{side note.....I absolute adore Shutterfly and their products.  I may or may not have a million orange boxes sitting on my dresser full of pictures and a couple photo books on display in my house. I can't get enough of them!!!  Can't you tell?}

    

Black Friday Madness

Did you shop Black Friday?  I live for this day.  I have memories of when Black Friday actually happened on Friday.  My mom and I would be standing outside the stores, in the cold (FL cold) hitting up all the deals at like 4 am.  I distinctly remember one day that we were at WalMart and they had all the "deals" in the middle of the aisles wrapped in brown butcher paper.  Then they made an announcement and the sales associates tore open the paper and ran.  It was a free for all and you hoped you were close to where you wanted to be.  Mom picked the right place because we were right in front of the DVD players we were searching for.  However she got pushed to the front and ended up throwing boxes over her head to everyone that was reaching.  It was probably one of my most fondest Black Friday memories.  Then when I started working retail, I'd go Black Friday shopping in Leesburg (2 hours away) then hop in the car and drive to work where I'd close the store.  It really is a great day for me.

Well the Hubs has a different opinion.  He thought it was crazy that I went to Bealls at midnight last year and then to the mall at 3am to get the most amazing pair of boots.  He'd rather forget about the savings and go shopping when it's not crazy or just buy online.  And this year, I kinda felt the same way.  I wasn't in the mood to shop, or deal with crazy people, or start Black Friday on Thanksgiving (which is a crime people).  But I did log on to Toys R Us to take advantage of their BF deals.  I ended up getting about 90% of Em's Santa shopping done. Pretty proud of that I must say.  Then I went to Target's website since it had the bike we're getting Em on sale with the best price I'd seen.  Well once I figured out that there was over $20 in shipping and the bike was in stock at every Target around my house, I couldn't pull the trigger. That shipping cost would pay for her helmet.  So I took the plunge.  Got dressed and headed to Target to get my Black Friday on...at 11pm!

The parking lot wasn't too bad since the store had been open for over 2 hours.  I was shocked when I saw tons of TVs still waiting to be loaded into carts.  I even contemplated buying one.  We're sorta in the market for one since we only have 2 TVs....the one in the living room and one in Noah's room.  I've caved and agreed to put one in the bedroom.  Well I didn't leave with a TV but I did leave with the last princess bike the store had.  I can't wait for Emmy to open it!  She's going to flip!

via

Then, of course, I just wandered and bought more stuff.  PJs for the kids, Legos for Noah, a bike pump so we can actually pump up Noah's bike tires, the stroller tires, and the tires of Em's soon to be bike.  Yes, we did not have a bike pump until now.  Losers.  We know.  Scored a $4 copy of Princess Bride for the Hubs.  Oh and coffee.  I bought more coffee.  Just what everyone needs to be buying at 1130 at night.

Does it look like I need more coffee?!?

Then I did convince the Hubs that I "needed" to go to Bath and Body Works to buy more candles (which I did need).  I sweetened the deal with lunch at Lee Roy Selmon's so he was happy. Until he had to wait, with the kids, for over 20 minutes because I was stuck in the checkout line.  It was worth it because you could stack coupons, which doesn't happen on a regular basis.  I spent $70.05 and saved $179.58.  I'd say that was worth it!!!

Hope everyone had a great day filled with deals and memories!  Now it's off to finish up my decorating before the Florida/Florida State game comes on and the Hubs gets body snatched and I get the angry, loud, obnoxious version.

Where have I been???

I apologize for the lack of blogging on my part.  Right now, there are so many things going on in my life and I need to put them first, above here, Facebook and Twitter.  I've also spent the last 4 days in Orlando so needless to say, I'm SOOOOOOOO far behind in reading all my faves and keeping up with everyone's lives and so far behind in documenting my life.  So here's what I've been up to for the past 2 weeks (in pictures of course!).......

Easter has come and gone.  We had a great Easter weekend.  It started with an Easter breakfast at the Seminole Rec Center followed by an Easter Egg hunt.  First thing I learned....Em is deathly afraid of the Easter Bunny.  Granted this Easter Bunny was creepy looking but she was petrified.  It kinda makes sense because she only likes meeting the characters at Disney that look like actual people (aka princesses and princes). She freaks out with Mickey Mouse.

We had an egg dying party too!!!  The Hubs usually doesn't do this with us so it was a nice treat (minus the whole having to teach him what to do part)

Easter Sunday was full of faith and family.  We went to Mass in the morning and then our entire family came over for lunch and an egg hunt

 I just laugh every time I look at the pic of me and the Hubs.  He hates having his picture taken and he was making that stupid face so I was poking him and my brother's girlfriend snapped a pic.  I love it so much it's my profile pic on FB! All in all, it was a great day weekend.  Next up...my mom and I took the kids to Disney for 4 days.  Can't wait to share all of our fun with you!!!!