We did a whole bunch of Christmas themed Family movie nights this year. It is hard to find new Christmas movies so we did repeat one - Elf - at the kids' request (which I didn't mind at all!).

Santa Buddies
The kids loved this movie! It was kind of an impromptu movie night and the kids thought Christmas cookies would be the perfect treat. And an even bigger treat... store bought cookies! :) V-girl went to the store with me to pick out the cookies and K-man begged for egg nog - so we had both and it was a big hit!

Ernest Saves Christmas
I really liked this movie as a kid and thought our kids would like it to. They thought it was funny but in their opinion it didn't hold a candle to Santa Buddies. There must be something extra funny and special about talking dogs.

For our treat we have chocolate covered marshmallow Santas. L-Monster got in on the action in this picture. V-girl and I found a baby sized hat for him at the store and couldn't resist.

Elf
This is one of my favorite Christmas movies! I have seen it many times and every time it just warms my heart. I love the idea of a 6 foot elf, his worldly innocence, eating sugar for every meal and that singing spreads Christmas cheer.

We did this for a movie night last year and I still had the elf hats that I made so we wore them again. Even L-monster got in on the action (and boy did he look cute!). Last year we did a candy buffet and that is what the kids wanted to do again this year. I would like to come up with a new treat but the kids really seem to like the all-you-can-eat (just don't get sick) rule that goes with the bowls of candy.

Polar Express
This is K-man's favorite movie and although we own it, we have never done a movie night with it. Well this Christmas season was the perfect time.

I took my cues for the treat from the book (my favorite book as a kid!) and from the movie. I wrapped nougat candies in green cellophane and tied them with ribbon and big jingle bells. And we had decadent hot chocolate with whip cream, chocolate and caramel sauce and sprinkles. And of course, we all wore our pajamas!

Prancer
I had never heard of this movie before but when I did a search for good family Christmas movies this one was on many lists. And they had it at the video store! I was able to find M&M figurines that were filled with mini M&Ms and had antlers - just like Prancer! ;) I made antlers for all three kids out of brown construction paper and pipe cleaners (to keep them stiff). You could also use thicker paper but it might be harder to cut out. I just free handed the design for both sizes but they also have templates online. You could also make it into a craft and use hand outlines.

It was fun watching so many Christmas movies this year. I would like to repeat the tradition and try to watch a lot next year also. Of course, there aren't that many different movies so we will surely have some repeats. Do you have any good Christmas movie ideas?

I am way, WAY behind on posting about our movie nights. Eek! So to make it a little easier, I am going to lump some together.

We did a movie night for Imagine That which stars Eddie Murphy and Yara Shahidi. Mike and I were both a little skeptical about it since we aren't big Eddie Murphy fans (how many times can he play the same character in different movies?) but we were pleasantly surprised and the kids liked it a lot.

There is one scene in the movie when Eddie Murphy is trying to get his daughter from a birthday party and gets attacked in the ball pit. So for our treat I made mini popcorn balls (using this yummy recipe!) to look like the balls.

The next day was our turn for treats for V-girls soccer game so I made extra and packaged them the same way and they were a big hit!!

UP was a really funny movie - although it is a little heavy at the beginning (I don't usually tear up at the beginning of animated movies).

The kids actually saw this movie in the theater but they loved it and luckily like to see movies more than once.

Knowing that the main premise of the movie is a house being carried by a huge bunch of balloons, I was determined to make a treat that incorporated this. I made mini gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and frosting and then uses floral wire to attached the floating "balloons". I would have liked to have had more balloons but I ran out of time.

Next up: Christmas Movies!

Some people take to breast feeding like a duck to water. I didn't glide or swim quite that easy. At all. I have taken to it more like a cat to water. So has my son.

I think that the breast is best. Absolutely the best thing for Mom and baby. And before I gave birth I never thought there was any other way I would ever do it. When I heard other Moms talk about the bonding experience and the closeness it created I imagined me with my little monster as I gave him the liquid gold that my body just naturally created as I nourished and loved him. And truthfully, when I heard the stories of people that couldn't breastfeed or didn't do it for very long I thought they were lazy or just didn't try hard enough (baring any medical reasons of course).

All these thoughts were only solidified more for me when I read all my pregnancy books and went to the breastfeeding class. I was worried about breastfeeding (and being able to since I have had breast enhancement surgery) so I felt so much better when I learned that babies are naturally drawn to our nipples by sight and smell and they want to drink. And though I think that is a beautiful thing and am amazed by a woman's body, I wish they would have told me that it isn't all sunshine and roses.

Nobody told me, "breastfeeding is hard". Nobody said, "you may not enjoy it". And nobody said, "Your little one may struggle with it". But I wish they had.

After struggling with it for the first few weeks, things started to go smoother which made me very happy. And I was really relieved when he started eating quicker and not taking his standard 45-60 minutes. But it was never smooth. I actually looked forward to the times when I knew I would pump and bottle feed. It was so much easier for both of us.

When I took him in for his 2 month check-up (actually at 10 weeks) he had only gained 2 pounds in 8 weeks. Not good news. I explained that I thought he had acid reflux (which he did) and was prescribed some medicine and told not to change anything he would start gaining weight. Well a couple days after the appointment we started refusing my breast. Sometimes he would suck for a few minutes and then stop and cry. Other times he wouldn't latch on and would cry every time I would try. It was very disheartening and I felt rejected.

I did a lot of reading and asked for a lot of advice but he wouldn't eat and since he only weighed 8.5 lbs I didn't feel comfortable with letting him skip meals. So I started pumping and also supplementing with 2 ounces of formula (I just don't make enough - although I still eat oatmeal every morning and drink milk tea and lots of water). I still offer the breast at every feeding and there are times, like this morning, when he stays on 8-10 minutes. And there are other times he is completely uninterested.

Although I am coming to terms with it, I feel like a failure. Yes, I made it to 3 months *sort of* but I am 9 months short of my goal. I am still pumping but my supply seems to be slowly fading. I only get about 12 ounces out a day.

When opening up about all the issues I faced I have found a lot of other Moms that have similar stories and also had a hard time. Why don't we share that information before hand? Why don't we start with, "Breastfeeding is the very best thing for your baby. Although it comes easy to some, it is difficult for many others..."

There are things that I will probably do different with my next baby but really, there wasn't much I did *wrong* this time. Maybe this was the Lord's way of humbling me. Now when I hear women say they didn't breastfeed or only breastfed for a short time I wonder, "what is their story?".

I have learned that although breast is best, it isn't always possible. And more important than breast is love- which he gets no shortage of.

Interested about what the athletes are thinking, seeing, feeling and doing? Now you can follow a list of verified Olympic athletes while they are at the games. How cool is that?

http://twitter.com/verified/olympians

Some of my favorites over the last little while:

Before I do anything else, THIS must be done!

I would like to introduce you to our newest member of the family:

Lucas (L-Monster)
born November 1st
6 pounds, 7 ounces
18 inches long

My favorite picture from the hospital

Proud Parents

So much has happened since I used to write regularly. Life got in the way and I had trouble finding my way to the keyboard for anything besides work and Facebook. I have had a lot people ask what was going on and when I would be back and although I would plan on it soon, it never happened.

I am actually quite ashamed by this. A year ago I had so many hopes on where I wanted this website to go and how I planned on doing that. Then in March 2008 I found out I was pregnant! Woo hoo! And I had so many plans on where I wanted this website to go and how I planned on doing that. But then I got behind and life got in the way and we had baseball and t-ball and softball and soccer and a big growing belly and... I just didn't know where to start again.

And then L-monster was born in November (2 weeks early which totally threw off my plan and messed this Type A girl all up) and I took 3 months maternity leave. From life. As so many of you have experienced yourself, my days and nights became consumed with feedings and diaper changes and comforting and soothing and trying to run a home that I never even came back. I didn't even try.

But my 3 month hiatus is over and I am back now! And I have SO much to write about. This Mom thing is a kick!

I want to get back to the basics and talk about natural products and trying to make green choices. And I am WAY behind on movie nights - although we have been doing them faithfully. But I also want to explore some new topics and I may even tread into the messy swamp of steplife - something I have never discussed too openly.

So hello world! It is good to see your bright eyes and beautiful face again! I hope you have missed me and will let me back in!