cooking dress

Caden LOVES to help us prepare dinner. So for Christmas, Doug and I were looking for some more "unique" gifts for Caden in addition to the vehicles and board games he got. We found 2 that lean a bit more toward "unique". One is this chef's dress up outfit. Caden calls it his "cooking dress" even though we've tried many, many times to explain it's not a dress of any sort. Anyway, he loves it and asks to wear it every night while he kneels on a chair next to me "helping" me cook dinner. The outfit came complete with the chef's hat, jacket, 3 plastic cookie cutters, mini skillet, and 4 cooking utensils. Caden dons the get-up each night to help us and dutifully makes us cookies for dessert, rolling them out, cutting the shapes, and baking them in the utensil drawer he uses as his oven. I love his imagination and his passion about helping in the kitchen. It's so fun to see him using his creativity, plus I think he looks really cute in his cooking dress!

101 in 1001 challenge

I have been thinking a lot about the things I'd like to accomplish in my life. Now that I'm in my 30s and Caden seems to be growing up a warp speed, I want to make sure I'm living my life, not simply going through the motions. So I have challenged myself to complete my 101 things in 1,001 days (see complete list on left sidebar). I found this particular idea on this website. Wish me luck and if you're so inclined, ask me about my list and/or start your own list.

The Mission:Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks.

Christmas Day

We had both sets of our parents over to our house for Christmas Day. I made brunch (including a new coffee cake recipe, Thanks Lisa!). While I was making the coffee cake, Caden kept asking me if that was Jesus' birthday cake. We spent a lot of time talking to him about the real reason for the season. After brunch we opened gifts with my parents.

Caden loving up both grandmas
love this expression

very happy with his blue M&M's tin

helping Cane Papa unwrap

me and my favorite boy

making Cane Grandma proud by

sporting his new Jayhawk Jersey and hat

Chritsmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve with Doug's parents, Tim, Melissa, Tegan, and Jensen and Doug's parents' house. We had a yummy dinner and opened gifts. Caden and Tegan were quite spoiled with loads of new toys and games. The highlights of the evening included hearing Santa and his reindeer on the roof (the daddies throwing old potatoes on the roof to make it sound like hooves) and holding Jensen on his first Christmas. He is so cute and snuggly! Doug and I also got many wonderful gifts from his parents and Tim and Melissa. I know I'm loving everything I got this year!

Tim opening Jensen's first OU Sooners blanket
Caden opening a gift

sporting his new spiky hairdo

Tegan with Kerplunk (very fun game)

happy with a new 4-wheeler

pretty girl

Papa's excited!

Aunt Melissa and Tegan

our first gingerbread house

A few days before Christmas Cane Papa (my dad) came over to help Caden and I decorate Caden's first gingerbread house. Papa did the icing (glue), Caden did the decorating, and I supervised (kept Caden from eating the decorations).

a messy, but very fun project

frosting on the nose ~ Caden thought Papa was hilarious for

doing this very "un-grownup" thing

happy decorators

mostly finished project ~
except for the chimney and mini candy cane sidewalk

Happy Birthday!

The newest Livesay is here!!

Jensen Riley Livesay greeted the world at 5:32 p.m. today.
7 pounds 2 ounces
19 inches
LOTS of dark hair

Mommy Melissa and Baby Boy are doing great!

We are so excited he's finally here safe and sound!! CONGRATUALTIONS Tim, Melissa, and Tegan!!

Jensen came a week before his scheduled delivery date, but I'm extra glad because now I have all of Christmas break to hold and enjoy my new nephew and he'll make this Christmas even sweeter!

ADORABLE & SWEET

Caden holding Jensen for the first time.

Caden practically swooned over Jensen,

smothering him with lots of hugs and kisses.

As we were leaving the hospital, Caden says,

"Baby Jensen is nice. I love him!"

the new big sister

Tegan couldn't wait to hold Jensen, show him

the birthday card she made him, and proudly

sport her new pink T-shirt announcing,

I'm the BIG sister!

I just can't wait to hold this sweet new baby some more. You can count on lots more baby pictures in the next few days!

tagged

Amy tagged me last week and I‘m just getting around to answering the questions about Doug. Life has been full and very busy lately. So here goes . . .

His full name? Douglas Charles Livesay (or when was little Doogie Poogie or Dougy Chucky when I want to bug him)

How long married? 8 years as of July 8, 2008

How long dated? We had our first date (a blind date) on May 8, 1998 and we got engaged on July 18, 1998. So about 2 ½ months, but we were engaged for 2 years then until we got married in 2000.

How old is he? 30, but quickly approaching 31 on January 15. He’s about 10 weeks younger than I am and he likes to rub that in from my birthday in late October until his birthday.

Taller? He is by a long shot, maybe 6 or 7 inches.

Who can sing the best? I would say that I enjoy singing a LOT more than he does, but he probably sounds a LOT better than I do.

Smart? I would say equal, but about different things.

Laundry? 60/40 me. He helps me quite a bit and I’m teaching him to fold. This is has been good because his help (we usually fold together) has really cut down on the time it takes, plus we have the added bonus that since Doug has been helping me, Caden has been VERY interested in helping fold laundry too. I’m hoping this will make some sweet girl a very HAPPY wife some day, but not for at least 20 years or so.

Paying bills? ALL Doug. Money, paying bills, writing checks TOTALLY freaks me out. I do constantly pester him about if he’s SURE we have enough in the bank.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Facing the bed, he does because if the bad guys come in the middle of the night I think Doug will scare them away faster than I will.

Mows lawn? He does most of the mowing, but I help some. We also mow my parents’ yard and I do their yard quite a bit. So I’d say probably 65/35 Doug.

Cooks dinner? 80/20 me now. Doug used to do most of our dinner preparations, but now I’m usually home awhile before he is. Doug is a fantastic cook and we both enjoy cooking and love to try new recipes. I will say that Doug does 97% of all the grilling we do, but that’s mostly because I’m absolutely TERRIFIED of fire and can not light matches or start the grill without having a mini panic attack.

First to admit they are wrong? Without doubt, Doug. I’m very stubborn, strong-willed, and bull-headed when I think I’m right. Perhaps that comes from being an only child. Plus I’m a lot more intense than Doug is. He’s very laid back.

Who kissed first? Doug.

Who wears the pants? My in-laws would say Doug does, but that I tell him which pair to put on. But seriously, we both make decisions for our family and we try to work major things out together.

And here he is...