Yay Portraits!

Jason hates that I make him go and do this every year, but this year actually didn’t suck. We went early, so the kids weren’t tired and cranky, the schedule hadn’t gotten backed up making us wait forever, and the staff was able to make our kids really crack up. Lots of great pics this year!

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For grins and giggles, here are our family pics, taken every November/December, since we have been married. He thought it was pretty dumb to get them done when it was just the two of us, but I’m glad we did. I like to see the evolution of our family!

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

4th of July Weekend 2009

Carly looking quite patriotic

Dinner at the lakehouse w/ my family

People full of good food

Chad playing w/ Jonah

Jonah playing with Cosmo

My dad’s new (used) 26′ sail boat

Jason and my dad on the sail boat watching fireworks

Kay on the boat, looking way younger than she is!

Jonah an Mommy on the sailboat

the fireworks

Jonah trying to sail the boat

McCarty Family Reunion 2009

A few of my favorite pics of us and the kiddos at our family reunion this past weekend. To see the rest of the pictures, visit my facebook album!

Easter 2009

Here are the pictures from our trip to the farm from this weekend. We saw horses and cows (which I don’t have pics of unfortunately) and chickens. We played on the trampoline, in the flower bed, and went fishing. We dyed eggs and had all sorts of fun at Granny and Papa’s House. I’ll update this album tomorrow (Sunday) hopefully, with pictures from the rest of our Easter festivities. See More Pictures Here!

chickens

smelling

bouncing

bunnies

touching

watching

smiling

traditions

eggs

basket

goodies

eggs

hunting

friends

cookie

Updated on Monday 4/13/09 – We didn’t get a picture of us all dressed up this year because we were running late before church, and Jonah spilled juice all over his outfit on the way home from church, so it all had to come off then. We did get some pictures of Jonah hunting Easter eggs at the party we went to last night. One of Jason’s co-workers had a Easter potluck dinner that we went to and I was really surprised how well Jonah did looking for the eggs outside (his first outdoors egg hunt) with all the other kids. In all the hub-bub of the day, we really didn’t have a good opportunity to give Jonah his Easter Basket, so we did that today when Jason got home from work.

In the future, I think we’ll give it to him on Easter Saturday morning. I’d rather make a distinct difference in what each of the different parts of Easter are about… like that the typical fun Easter Saturday traditions (dying eggs, eating candy, egg hunts, bunnies, chicks, and what not) are about celebrating the beginning of spring and not try to intertwine it with the religious aspects of Easter Sunday. I want Easter Sunday have its own traditions that are reverent and give thanks to our Savior and what He’s done for us… like dressing in our Sunday best, sharing meals with friends or family, and like how our church does this flower cross thing… where people bring fresh cut flowers to put in the wire mesh cross in the atrium all morning and by the end of the last service, the cross is fully covered in flowers. Jonah even put one in it this year! I feel like trying to make some sort of connection between rabbit handing out colored chicken eggs filled with candy and the crucifixion on the cross is just ridiculous and that the two should be separate from each other. So they happen on the same weekend, yes, but not the same day. I wish there was a good way to separate Christmas like that too. I think the fun family/cultural traditions are good to have, but I think kids need to learn what is “just a fun tradition” and what is “biblically relevant” for the different holidays. Anyway… that just became a really long rambling rant I guess. Congrats if you read this far and aren’t plucking your eyeballs out! hehe

Thank You Everyone!!!

I just wanted to post a great big “thank you” to all our friends and family who not only gave Jason and I some great gifts, but spoiled our kiddo rotten!   Since having him, I feel like I’m actually happier seeing him get his gifts than worrying about what I get myself. So seeing so much love poured out on him just makes my day. I really do appreciate you ALL!

Jonahs Christmas Haul - 2008

I have always liked the tradition, my mom had, of taking a “Christmas Haul” picture of what all the kids got for Christmas each year, so here’s Jonah’s from this year. Poor Jonah didn’t get anything for Christmas this year, can’t you tell?! hahaha now to find a place to put it all! It was a miracle in intself, just being able to get it all into our van to bring it home!

My Christmas Q&A

01. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper wherever possible! I actually like wrapping presents. I crisp corners and fold over the edges to make them all pretty… not that anybody notices, but I feel like I’m doing a good deed by making them pretty. Besides, who’s tree are they sitting under for most of December?! Mine! So of course they have to look nice! haha

02. Real tree or Artificial?

Our Skinny Tree

Artificial. I like the concept of the real tree, but I like having my tree up earlier than a real one would allow, plus they make such a mess and why cut down a perfectly good, oxygen making tree, when I already have a perfectly good, non-dying tree here already? I am on the look out for the perfect artificial tree though. It’s almost as hard to find one of those as it is to find the “perfect” real tree. My current one is ok, but it’s tall and skinny, and not very fluffy. I got it when we lived in an apartment, but now that I have a bigger space (and more ornaments) I’d like a bigger tree to fill it. It kinda seems empty in that corner to me.

03. When do you put up the tree?
Usually the night after Thanksgiving although with all the travel that we’re doing this year, we decided to go ahead and put it up the weekend before Thanksgiving so we could enjoy it for the 2 whole weeks we’ll be home before Christmas.

04. When do you take the tree down?
I’m assuming this is what question 4 was because it was missing when I copied the survey… but usually, we take it down the weekend after new years. This year it gets to stay up a little longer because we’re hosting a Christmas After-Party on that weekend!

05. Do you like eggnog?
Disgusting. Even with the help of booze.

06. Favorite gift received as a child?
Probably the 2 hampsters I got from Santa when I was 9 (I think?), which my Mom had previously told me NO WAY was she going to get me a “rat to let loose in this house”, and then she proceeded to grumble about needing to go kick Santa’s rear end for bringing me not one but TWO “rats”. I named them Itsy and Bitsy.

07. Hardest person to buy for?
My grandparents cause if they want/need something that they don’t already have, they just go get it.

08. Easiest person to buy for?
Jonah. I have already bought everything I intend to this year, but I can’t help but find more things that I WANT to buy for him! hehe

09. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes.  I have a Willow Tree Nativity set that I keep hoping someone *ahem, Jason* will get the metal star backdrop for *wink wink nudge nudge*  

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Our Christmas Card

I try to mail them if I get around to it. If not, then nothing I guess. I try to make my own cards a lot of times, and that’s what gets me into trouble cause I run out of steam before I get them actually sent out. I skipped all that this year and I just ordered a few photo cards from snapfish, with a quick pic I took of Jonah in front of my mom’s tree, for 1¢ each, on a limited quatity special, so I think I only have enough to send to my family… so here’s a sneak peak for the rest of you. I guess this sorta counts as e-mailing them huh? Blogging them wasn’t listed as an option! 

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I can’t think of a specific one right off hand, but I know there have been a couple of times where I got something from someone, who should have known me well enough to know better, that was exactly what I DIDN’T WANT.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Cartoon version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

13. When do you start shopping?
I like to get everything done before Thanksgiving, unless I know I’m shopping for something, like electronics, that I know I can get a really great deal on, on Black Friday. I’m pretty close to done now actually.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Poinsetta Towel and Pot Holder I Re-Gifted

That’s actually the theme of the Christmas After-Party that we host. You can bring as many unwanted gifts (re-wrapped of course) as you want to the party, and then you get to draw for however many you brought. Then we do a little bit of stealing and the whole thing is a lot of fun. I actually like both of the gifts we ended up with last year… a picture frame and a cake stand.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Giant Cinnamon Rolls (we have them for breakfast on christmas morning)

16. Lights on the tree?
A tree without lights???  That’s just wrong. But if you’re asking for a numerical value, my skinny little tree has 350 lights on it (plus the star!)
                                                                        
17. Favorite Christmas song?
O Holy Night… it’s one of the few that I feel like I can sing relatively well, acapella, so it’s usually what I sing when I’m in the Christmas carol mood.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Travel. And lots of it. Christmas with my mom’s family at “the farm” the weekend before Christmas usually, then christmas morning with my parents, then Jason’s mom, then Jason’s extended family, then back to my parents’ house for a gathering with my dad’s side of the family. All of Christmas day we’re go go go, but at least it’s all in the same city.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s?
uhhh… , dasher, dancer, prancer, blitzin, comet, cupid, donner, vixin, and rudolph? maybe?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star. The angels creep me out for the same reason porcelin dolls do, they look like they’re looking at me.
                                                                                                
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Christmas Jammies For Jonah This Year

We usually get to open one on Christmas Eve, and it’s always Christmas PJ’s. Everything else is the weekend before Christmas (see #18) and Christmas morning. Jonah’s getting Christmas jammies this year, but I inherited some new ones from my Mom this year (to fit my pregnant belly) and Jason will probably just wear some old ones that he has.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
That my husband waits until the week before Christmas (sometimes just the day before) to do his shopping.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

The Noman Ornament Jonah Painted

I like to mix it up every year. I, like my mom, collect ornaments for several themes when they go on clearance after Christmas. This year our big tree is all silver and blue, and the little tree is going to be decorated, by our playgroup kids, with kid proof ornaments . Every few years I do a “traditional” tree with no holds barred as to what goes on it. I have a box of “special ornaments” that are handmade or were hand me downs from various parts of our family, or were ornaments I got to pick out as a kid. That was a tradition in my family, picking out an ornament that has to do with the favorite facination of the year. I’m continuing that with Jonah but I’m also thinking I may try to do an ornament craft project with the kids each year too. So this year Jonah painted a little wooden snowman, because he is ALL ABOUT the “noman” everywhere!

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Vennison Enchiladas at my grandparent’s house (the weekend before Christmas) but really, I like those any time. We don’t usually have a “traditional” Christmas dinner, more of a pot luck sort of a thing with my Dad’s family. 

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Ever since becoming a parent, I have found it’s more fun wishing for gifts for Jonah, maybe because I’m still a big kid, but I’m excited about the cool stuff he’ll get. I DO have a wishlist that I keep up with year round, though, because it’s always so hard to think of something when someone asks me on the spot. But to name a few specifically, I guess, the nativity backdrop (see #9), the Bon Voyage expansion pack for the Sims2 (so I can get my Seasons expansion pack working again… it installs just fine but the play disc is scratched), some wintery maternity clothes (sweaters/longsleeve shirts and a nice pair of jeans) and a few oddball things for cooking/hosting parties.

Annual Halloween Party

Just thought I’d post a few pictures of the costumes worn at the Halloween party last night. Some of the guys really like to try and go for that total-shock-factor. I think that award either goes to King Leonidas (from the movie 300) or Darth Vader in Drag… definitely hard to decide who’d win it though! There were definitely some great costumes this year! I made the costumes for Jason and I, plus the PacMan head, and most of the Queen Gorgo dress, so I was quite busy this past week!

Queen Gorgo & King Leonidas (from the movie 300)

Pirate & Whitey the Parrot

Witch

Adam Jones (aka PacMan Jones)

Speed Bump & Caveman

Flightless Bumble Bee & Lumberjack

Pregnant Padme (Starwars Episode III)

Clark Kent as Chuck Norris

Ghetto Priest

Boxer

Darth in Drag

Thor

Luke Skywalker

Flapper

Church Fall Festival

Just a few pics to post from our trip to the church’s fall festival tonight. We didn’t go REAL trick or treating, this year, because Jason had class and I didn’t feel comfortable taking him by myself to wander around door to door.

Pumpkin Carving

With a busy schedule this coming week, we decided to just go ahead and carve our pumpkin on Sunday night, which is earlier than I’d like to, but we’re busy on Tuesday night, and Jason has school on Monday and Wednesday night, so that’d just leave Thursday, and what’s the point of having it carved for one day? I hope it doesn’t go moldy before Friday, but if it does, oh well. We’re not passing out candy this year cause Jason has class, and I’ll be taking Jonah to our church fall festival since I’ll be by myself. Our doorbell still doesn’t work anyway. :-\ Here are a couple of pictures from our pumpkin carving, the rest (along with some other recent shots) can be found in our Fall 2008 Facebook Photo Album.

Jonah trying to scoop the guts out on his own.

Jonah trying to "help" me cut the design.

Jonah trying to help Jason light the pumpkin.

Now, every night, Jason lights the pumpkin when he gets home from work/school. The later, after we get Jonah’s jammies on and read our library book, The Trick or Treat Countdown, we go out and tell the pumpkin “night night” and he gets to blow out the candle. It’s pretty cute. That boy is OBSESSED with pumpkins right now. He carries his trick-or-treat pumpkin bucket around the house all day!!! LOL

Eat Some Trash!

My Roasting Pan and All the Trash

It would be a CRIME if we didn’t have trash to eat this time of year! So now we do! What? Trash? Eating Trash you say? Yes, I know, most people call it chex mix or what have you, but in our family, we call it Texas Trash. I have a recipe card in the book I got from my mom, for my wedding, that has my grandmother’s recipe in it. For as far back as I can remember, my mom (and both sets of grandparents) would make Texas Trash sometime around mid October and we’d be munching on it till Thanksgiving! How’s it last so long when it’s so tasty? Because we make a crap-load of it! In fact, I couldn’t even fit it all into my roasting pan, I had to split it into two batches and use the lid of the roasting pan as a second pan! I just had to cover them with foil instead. 

The Recipe:

In your largest roasting pan, combine:

• 1 box of cheerios
• 1 box of corn chex
• 1 box of wheat chex
• 1 box of rice chex
• 1 1lb bag of pretzels
• 1 regular size can/jar of salted peanuts
• (and pecans if you like them, but I don’t)

The in a glass measuring cup, combine:

• 3 sticks of melted margarine (just think of the volume of cereal it’s covering! )
• 1/4 cup of worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp of celery salt
• 1 tbsp of garlic salt
• 1 tbsp of onion salt

Drizzle over contents of roasting pan, stirring to coat evenly.
Cover and bake at 200 degrees for 1 hour.
Stir contents, cover and bake again for another 30 minutes.
Stir again and then bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes.
Allow to cool/dry before storing (I spread it out on cookie sheets to dry it faster.)

Now that we have Trash in the house, I feel like it is OFFICIALLY fall! Now to just make time to get those fall decorations out! By the time Thanksgiving gets here, it’ll be time for a Christmas tree!