JOY

Want some cute 'JOY' Alphabet Photography to give to a friend of print for yourself? This would be a great gift for a neighbor or teacher. Easy to put together & inexpensive= GREAT FUN! :-) Check out her blog here to get these images to print!

http://craftily-ever-after.blogspot.com/2010/12/joy-alphabet-photography-printables.html

single digits!

How far along? 32 Weeks
Total weight gain: 17 lbs+
Maternity clothes? all in maternity clothes now.
Stretch marks? not yet
Sleep: sleeping pretty good (so far!)
Best moment this week: my nesting instincts kicking in. I am all about ordering the carseat this week!
Miss Anything? putting on my socks/shoes without grunting :-) & bending down to pick up anything without thinking "thats a really long ways down!"
Movement: all the time!
Food cravings: meat, i crave a good steak
Anything making you queasy or sick: thankfully no!
Gender: no clue!
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? flat as a pancake
Wedding rings on or off? off
Happy or Moody most of the time: HAPPY! Although a sad commercial can cause the waterworks to just start! :-)
Looking forward to: heading out of town tomorrow & taking T-man to his FIRST movie this week {the new Muppets movie!}

Local Christmas Events for Families

1.)  Jordan Creek Towne Center Christmas Tree Lighting w/ Fireworks!

This Friday night @ Jordan Creek Towne Center:  we did this last year & Had so much fun!  It ended up with FIREWORKS & a tree lighting ceremony.  So much fun.  T-man loved seeing the sky light up last year.  We won't be able to attend this year because of ISU's last football game, but if you get a chance...take your family & make a night of it!

Santa's Arrival, Tree Lighting & Fireworks!

11/18/2011 - 11/18/2011

Join us, and Presenting Sponsor Veridian Credit Union, for our annual tree lighting event in the Amphitheater. Dueling Pianos will kick off the evening at 6 pm, followed by Santa's arrival, annual tree lighting and fireworks!

LOCATION: Amphitheater

TIME: 6 pm - 7 pm
http://www.jordancreektowncenter.com/events/santas-arrival-tree-lighting-fireworks

2.) Downtown Ames Christmas tree lighting night.  This Saturday 4-7 pm downtown ames. tree lightening ceremony @ 5:30, horse-drawn carriages, visit from Santa & kiddie train rides. 

http://www.mainstreetculturaldistrict.com/files/announcements/851.pdf

3.) Ames E-free Live Nativity day & kid friendly activities!

Ames E-free Nativity, day-long Christmas event there will be a live nativity with a petting zoo, caroling, music performances, a village craft room for kids, cookie decorating, a full food menu, and Christmas tree displays. We went last year & had SO MUCH FUN.  Here is some more information:
he Perfect Gift

Saturday, December 10
11:00am-6:00pm

First Free will present “The Perfect Gift” a Community Christmas Experience at the PLEX. As part of this old fashioned day-long Christmas event there will be a live nativity with a petting zoo, caroling, music performances, a village craft room for kids, cookie decorating, a full food menu, and Christmas tree displays.

http://www.amesefc.org/details/AnnounceDetails.aspx?AnnounceId=1880

4.) Dinner Theater @ Cornerstone Church.  We go every year to these plays/musicals & we LOVE THEM.  If you get a chance here is the information:

Christmas Tickets
A JB & Linda Family Christmas | December 8-18

This year, it's "A JB & Linda Family Christmas," complete with a hearty meal and all the songs you love presented by JB, Linda and their extended family.

SHOW TIMES
Thursday, December 8 | 7:00p
Friday, December 9 | 7:00p
Saturday, December 10 | 7:00p
Sunday, December 11 | 7:00p

Thursday, December 15 | 7:00p
Friday, December 16 | 7:00p
Saturday, December 17 | 7:00p
Sunday, December 18 | 7:00p

(Doors open at 6:30p each night.)

Purchase Tickets

TICKETS
All seating is reserved. Basic tickets (sections A, B & C) are $20 per person (includes meal & show). Upgrade to the "Sleigh Bell Package" (section SB) for $25 per person and enjoy front row seating and personalized party favors from JB & Linda. If you're a college student, attend the December 8 show for a discounted rate of $15 (sections A, B & C only).

Tickets will be available online, in the foyer after weekend services and at the Cornerstone office weekdays from 8:00a to 5:00p. Because this is a dinner theater event in our main foyer, seating is limited to 384 persons per show.

Length of event: 2 hours

MEAL MENU
Mixed green salad with homemade buttermilk ranch dressing
Iowa pork chop (9 ounces) smothered with white gravy and topped with grilled onions
French cut green beans
Cornbread with honey butter
Red velvet cupcakes
Ice tea & lemonade

CHILDCARE INFORMATION
Childcare is not provided at any of the performances. Recommended minimum age is 9. Young'uns under the age of 4 will not be permitted at the event.

http://www.cornerstonelife.com/christmas

Starbucks Deal!

Head over to Starbucks November 17–20 from 2–5 p.m. for a great deal!

When you purchase one holiday beverage and get a second one free! Offer valid on holiday favorites: Peppermint Mocha or new Skinny Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Gingerbread Latte or Eggnog Latte

Find a Starbucks near you.

Boy or Girl??

When I was pregnant with Tucker around this time we were very confident we were having a boy (even though we didn't find out) we went off of old wives tales; heartbeat, holding the child higher or lower etc. This pregnancy we have NO CLUE what we're having! Which is so much fun & is driving us completely nuts at the same time! :-) When it comes down to it though, we don't care what sex we have just as long as we have a healthy little baby.

Thankful for our Appraiser

Let me give thanks that for my husband of 7 years, and best friend of 10, who continues to find me witty and charming and beautiful and hot and loves me more every day even though I question myself every day if I have done a good enough job to deserve his adoration and love. He is such an amazing father, husband, follower of Christ, leader & provider. With interest rates at {again} all time lows he has been working alot. The last couple of weeks it hasn't been unusual for him to work til 1 in the morning. He NEVER complains, always in a good mood & is always there when I need him. Ryan Houck, we are so thankful for you!

Hook, Line & Sinker!

On the main floor of our home is either hardwood or ceramic tile...ALL OF IT. Did I mention it was WHITE ceramic tile? Never again will we put white in our kitchen... it shows every. little. thing! Maybe that's why we got the tile for only 0.08 cents a piece! Anyways, live & learn, right?! :-)

A few months ago I happened to run across an infomercial for the Haan Steam Mop. This thing looked amazing, I mean really! So as my floors got more & more annoying to keep clean & the swiffer pads refills were emptying our pocketbooks I decided to start doing some more research on this "miracle" mop. I read review after review, I quickly noticed I was becoming a spokeswoman for this product I had yet to try. I talked about it til Ryan knew everything there was to know, I made my sisters watch the infomercials with me & give me feedback. I think they were sick of me TALKING about it & just wanted me to BUY it! :-) So I did, except I didn't buy it from the companies website, I bought it off Amazon for a good twenty bucks off! (total $78.00 with free shipping) Well my friends, it arrived Wednesday & boy were we excited! Let me tell you what little losers we were Wednesday night was our date night & we went out to dinner then came back to clean our floors cause we were too excited not to! :-) We followed the instructions and WOW oh WOW! Did it work. Ryan & I were just so giddy in our purchase.

I LOVE THIS PRODUCT.

The best part?
Don't have to buy anymore refill swiffer pads/spray
no chemicals
drys instantly (I moped in my socks!)
can do any flooring, hardwood, pergo, ceramic til, laminate...you name it!
If you'd like to see a demonstration...JUST ASK! :-)