Christmas Holiday Eating Tips that I had to share....

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare..You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor DAY?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Have a great CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas Cookies...

...are finally finished! I really don't have on my hands as much time as it may seem, I swear! The cookies, coloring icing and decorating process has taken me a week!

Polar Express

We had a Polar Express Pajama party tonight with the kids. Namma, Grandpa and UB had not seen the movie so we invited them over - PJ's required. We had had gold tickets to punch that our conductor Kaitlyn passed out and we lined up chairs to "board" the train. (I can't take credit for this clever idea - Kaitlyn's teachers did it at school last week - they even had Hot Chocolate!)

As Promised...

Now presenting the Crumley Christmas Light Spectacular!!!! (You can't see the train and other lit trees on the far left side of the house - but I think you get the point!!)

Kaitlyn's Christmas Party

Here are a few pictures from Kaitlyn's party today. They decorated ice cream cones with green icing and put candy on them for dessert - what a fun (and messy) treat! Kaitlyn got the "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" book in her book swap. It is one of her favorites and she can "read" it. She got in the teachers chair and started reading to the class (including Ethan's Grandma who is sitting next to her). Later that day, when I got home from WalMart there were a bunch of wild turkeys in our front yard. This time there were only about 20 - last week we lost count somewhere over 40!!

Gingerbread House

Uncle Brad got us this great Gingerbread Kit. Kaitlyn and I put it together this afternoon. It was sticky fun and turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself!!

Tyler's Christmas Party

Yesterday was Tyler's party at school. The teachers went all out and they made the cutest little gifts, keepsakes and decorations for us!! My favorite is the Christmas tree handprint Tee!

Santa & Mrs. Claus

Last Tuesday Namma, Tyler, Kaitlyn and I went to visit with Santa again. This time Mrs. Claus was there!! Tyler wanted absolutely nothing to do with either of them and Kaitlyn couldn't get enough time! Kaitlyn was almost as big as Mrs. Claus!

Memphis Marathon

I'm behind in posting but could not overlook posting this awesome picture of my parents. Two weeks ago on Saturday the 6th, Mom and Dad walked in the St. Jude's Children's Marathon in Memphis. They completed the half marathon in the freezing cold weather and cut almost 5 minutes off of their last time! We are so proud of you!!

Hot Berry Soup

Yesterday Kaitlyn, Allen and I spent a few hours outside decorating the yard while Tyler napped. We try to out do the Griswolds every year - I'll post pictures another day soon. Anyway, Kaitlyn decided to pick these little red berries off of the holly bushes out front. She got a big bowl full and then kept saying she wanted to make hot berry soup. After dinner we heated up a bowl of "hot" water and then I let her offer the ingredients for the soup. We added salt, pepper, sugar, vanilla, milk and raspberry jam (I added red food coloring). She dumped in the berries and was so excited. It broke my heart trying to explain to her that she couldn't actually eat it!!

Can you see the Choo Choo train?

Can you see the Choo Choo train coming down the track? We had Uncle Brad over for dinner on Saturday night. I must say the cooking Gods were with me this weekend. The dinner was excellent (if I do say so myself) and the three different types of cookies that I made this weekend all turned out awesome - better than usual!! :-) UB helped the kids put together the train that we got from Home Depot (at 6 am on the day after Thanksgiving). We thought it would be fun to have around the tree (which we decorated on Sunday). The kids had a blast and Tyler ONLY wants to play with the train. In the last picture he is saying "Choo Choo" and pulling the train whistle. So much fun! (Warning- it is a VERY loud train if you get one!!) And yes, my daughter is wearing a sleeveless leotard when it is 40 degrees outside. What is the point in arguing, really?

Visit with Santa

We went up to Marietta Square yesterday to visit with Santa Claus. While the kids waited they got to play on the train that is located in the park on the Square.

This picture pretty much describe Tyler's reaction to Santa. AAAHHH!!! Kaitlyn really enjoyed her visit with him though and asked for LOTS of things, then performed a song and little dance for him. He really enjoyed it!


When we got home we "TRIED" to get some more pictures of the kids since they looked so cute - as you can see it wasn't in the cards.

Annual Pilgrimage

We made our annual pilgrimage to the "Orange Store" on Friday to pick out the Crumley Christmas tree. The kids have more fun racing around in the shopping carts, but it is still a family affair!
Tyler was very concerned about these people standing in our car to tie something to the top of it!
He needed a little snack after a hard day at Home Depot. He took Daddy's burrito from Moe's and ate the rest of it!!

Missing Thanksgiving Pics

I forgot that there were pictures on our other camera! Here is a Crumley family portrait!

And the Stockings Were Hung....

The kids and I started putting out Christmas decorations yesterday. It is a several day process in our house as we go "a little" overboard at Christmas time!! The fire place is just missing greenery which we will get when we pick up our live tree this weekend.

I was really excited to have the time to put up my Coca-Cola Christmas tree this year. I have been able to put it up in 4 years (gee, this is Kaitlyn's 4th Christmas - any coincidence?) HA! Anyway, the entire tree is covered ONLY in Coca-Cola ornaments and has red and white lights, a Coke tree skirt and a bottle of Coke tree topper. The reindeer and Santa "fly" around the bottle.

Off to go work on more decorations!

I Want Candy

Kaitlyn is posing in her new "Candy Shoppe" outfit from Gymboree. The shirt says "I Want Candy" which was so appropriate for her since she says that a million times a day!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Here are some photos from our Thanksgiving weekend. On Thursday morning Allen took the kids out back to play in the leaves and got some great pictures. They loved to bury themselves and jump in the big piles of leaves. Tyler also enjoyed rolling down the hill but I was worried that he would roll into the lake!!

I only have two photos from the actual meal - Kaitlyn with UB and with Namma - the food was great and it was awesome having UB home with us!!

The kids stayed the night with Grandpa and Namma so that on Friday morning Allen and I could go shopping (at 4am - yes, we are crazy!) The kids had a great time in their backyard.

Santa Memory

Yesterday we were in the car coming home from playgroup and Kaitlyn was being abnoxious. I thought it was about the time of year where I could use the "I'm going to call Santa and tell him you are being bad" trick. Kaitlyn said, "When you call him will you ask him to please bring back my pacis? I want my blue paci and my orange paci back!" I was floored that she remembered giving her pacifiers to Santa last Christmas (yes, we put them out on the dish of cookies). I was also shocked that she remembered their colors! I burst out laughing so my "threat" didn't go very far!!

Last Day of Little Gym

Sadly, our Little Gym is closing their doors. Times are tough, and it has really impacted their business. Yesterday the kids had their last classes. Tyler was first and he enjoyed play time with Mommy and Daddy. Kaitlyn performed well during her show - and even had special visitors in the audience - Namma, Grandpa and UB!! Here are a few pictures from the day as well as a video of her bar routine. She is the only student in her class that can pull herself up on the bars! Go Girl!!

Mr. Turkey Song

This is so cute we had to share!!

Playdate

Yesterday we met our friends Margaret, Mary and Matthew at Jumpits for a playdate. The kids
had a great time!

Tyler followed Mary everywhere. He loves her and yells "MMAAARRRYYYY!" So cute!

Kaitlyn and Mary (she jumped up when I took the picture).

Kaitlyn and Tyler had a blast falling into the bean bags. Matthew was running toward me for this shot.