Walk Down Costume Lane

It's almost Halloween again.  The years are flying by.  And, Thanksgiving will be here in less than one month and Christmas in less than two.  I need to get busy.

I was reminded today of all the past Halloween costumes that Taft has worn and there seems to be a theme.  Professions.  See what you think....

2008:  Golfer

2009:  Fisherman

2010:  Boxer

And although we have not taken any "formal posed" photos of his costume this year, he is the UPS man.  I am sure that you have figured that out by the earlier posts and there are more to come in this keeper.

This is the first time that he picked out a costume all on his own.  He said he wanted to be a pirate until we got to Party City and then picked this darling costume out.  I love it!  It has been a real hit with people and I have not seen another child in it at any function we have attended. 

**If you are here from Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life, WELCOME!  As you see, Taft is my only child.  He turned 3 in June.  At this time there are no plans for another.  Be sure to click on the "Home" button  and have a look around.



SUYL - How Did You Tell Your Husband And Family That You Were Pregnant?

This weeks Show Us Your Life @ Kelly's Korner is all about how you told people that you were pregnant. 
Our story bittersweet one.  First of all, you must know that my father in law called me once a week to see if I were pregnant yet for over a year.  I had tried to get pregnant for years.  He got very sick with a AAA and had to be put in UAB in August of 2007.  He had surgery in August and never came home.  He passed away in September due to multiple complications.  Shane and I had just moved into a new house here in Florida and 500 miles away and had not seen each other very much since we had been traveling back and forth to Alabama (not at the same times) and working here also.
In October, I was able to go to CKU in Orlando.  If you are in the scrapbooking world, you know that it was a great convention with days of classes and product demos, and of course, crop time with friends.  I was so tired while we were there.  I never stayed up to the 12 midnight end of crop.  On Sunday, October 14th, we got home.  I didn't want to do anything but sleep.
I went to work on Monday and still felt horrible.  Then I looked at my calendar and thought I may have found the reason why.  I didn't want to tell Shane until I knew for sure.  I am sure that you can imagine why.  I stopped at Walgreens and got two tests.  I then came home and they were positive.  There was only one day in the month that we could have possibly gotten pregnant, and it was the day that Ken died.  I am sure that sending Taft here was his first item of business to take care of in heaven. 

We had had a running joke about Ken (my FIL), we said that he was very busy helping out the Auburn football team from heaven because they were having a great year.  I came out of the bathroom and told Shane that Ken had been very busy with a little surprise for us also.  A baby.  He was very happy and sad at the same time.   It is what his father wanted and it was happening without him here.  
We called Shane's mother and she was very happy.  The family needed something to look forward too.  We then called my parents, grandmother, and sister.  We called Shane's brother house and he was not at home but we got Teresa.  She was giddy and told Izzy and Evan while Shane called Scott's cell phone to tell him.  After that it was friend time.

Then, on June 2, 2008, Kenneth Taft Belton arrived.  It seemed only right that Taft have Pop's first name.  The name Taft is after my great uncle.  Shane's mother bought Taft a little Auburn outfit.  It says, "Pop's Little Tiger" on the front and Teresa suggested navy tiger paws on the booty.  It was perfect and we new he needed to wear it home from the hospital. 

And as I look around the house at this moment, there is no sign of life without him.

Kids Birthday Parties

Today at Kelly's Korner, the Show Us Your Life Friday is all about kids birthday parties.  I have to say that I love over the top kids birthday parties.  I have a few sites that I love to look at on a regular basis just to get ideas and see what people can come up with.  Here are just a couple:
Birthday Party Ideas
Amazing Moms
I did a lot more for Taft's first birthday than I should have and pretty much swore that it would not happen again.  At least not until he is big enough to help out a little.  I found a cute theme and TONS of things to make it happen at Oriental Trading.  This is a great place to shop for all the little extras you need for your party.  The prices are great and they ship really fast. 
We went for a Surf Monkey/Luau theme.  His birthday is in June and we have a pool at our house so we were going to make the most of it.  You can read all about it here.  I am not sure that I mentioned in that post that we had flower leis and hibiscus flower hair clips at the door so all the guest could be in theme.  They all came from Oriental Trading also.  All most all of the serving trays came from Dollar Tree and the dollar aisle at Target.  Great places for kids party supplies.
Some of my favorite things were the little things that sometimes get overlooked.  I LOVE the hibiscus food picks that I used to make the tropical fruit tray.  They were perfect.

 I was also pretty proud of the fact that we used little sand buckets to hold the plastic ware at the table.

I even made the cupcakes and had never worked with fondant.  I loved how they came out but I now know why people charge $3 cupcake at a bakery and it is worth it.
The best gift we could have gotten was the fact that my friend and photographer, Casey, took all the photos.  I was so busy and would have never gotten the things she did.  If you live here in Florida, be sure to check her blog out here.
We also had him a Farm themed party in Alabama.  I ordered cupcakes for that one and my favorite little detail were the milking buckets that I found in the Target dollar aisle.  They where perfect for favors.

You can read more about that party here.
For his 2nd birthday, we where very low key, and it was great.  We had cake with just the three of us at home and then Taft and I went to Alabama.  My sister gave him a surprise party along with her little girl Mallory's 3rd birthday.  Kristi and I made the cakes and the kids had a great time.  If you want, you can see more here.

This year Taft will be 3.  It is hard to believe.  I have started planning already.  He will have a little party at his preschool with a Mickey theme.  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is his favorite show.  I plan on "stealing" Kelly's great coloring book favor idea that she used for Harper's party this year.  We plan on taking him to Disney on his birthday.  It's a great perk of living in Florida.  He has never been.  Later in June we plan on having a party at home for all his friends and our "Florida family" with a Toy Story Theme. 
I can't wait to see some of the birthday posts today.  I know that there are very creative girls out there and I hope to get lots of ideas for the future.

Show Us Your Life - Christmas Cookies/Goodies

It's Friday, and that means that it is Show Us Your Life day at Kelly's Kornor Blog. Today's topic is Christmas Cookies/Goodies. I have not made any holiday yummies yet but I plan on making some soon. These are just a few of my all time favorites.

Sugar Cookies. Just plain sugar cookies. I like to make a simple glaze using water and confectioners sugar, brush it on with a small paint brush and use sprinkles. Super easy and very good. It also makes purchased cookie dough have more of a homemade taste and feel.

photo from dandthemom.com

I also love Magic Cookie Bars. They are also very simple to make. My mom got the recipe when I was a child. I believe it was from a box top recipe book or the can of condensed milk. I love them! I prefer them without the nuts. Eagle Brand now has a boxed kit on the market to make these making it even easier. Otherwise the recipe can be found at http://www.eaglebrand.com/.

photo from swissbeets.com
A new favorite of mine is pecan pralines. Not just any pralines, but the ones from the Savannah Candy Kitchen in Savannah, GA. The are the best on the market (in my opinion). They also come in chocolate which makes everything better. I have never tried to make them. I just buy them. You can order them at http://www.savannahcandy.com/. Totally worth it.

photo from savannahcandy.com

Fantasy fudge is also a treat that my mom makes almost every year. The recipe comes right of the jar of Kraft Marshmellow Cream. It is so easy, but it is a must that you use a non-stick boiler. We usually make it with and without nuts and I like to make a batch using the peanut butter chips insteas of chocolate. My husband loves peanut butter fudge. The recipe can also be found at http://kraftfoods.com/. And the following photo is from their website.

Show Us Your Life - Christmas Trees

It's Friday again, and Kelly's Kornor is doing another blog hop today. Today's theme is Christmas tree's. Be sure to check it out to hop around and see lots of different tree ideas. How perfect! I was thinking that it would also be the theme of my December Daily for today so it works out great!
Last year, I put up two full size trees but I decided it was a little much with a crazy, busy, 18 month old in the house. One of those trees was in the formal living area that we never use and we have it gated off from Taft at the moment also. No need for a tree there.

Here is our family room tree. It is a 9 foot skinny tree and I love it! It looks nice and doesn't take up a lot of room.We collect ornaments from traveling and they are some of my favorites. Like a mini Carmel Mission from our trip to California.And an alpaca from the Alpaca Farm on the San Juan Islands in Washington State.

I love my little mini pre-lit trees in the kitchen breakfast area. I got them a few years ago at Big Lots and the set of 3 was $19. I couldn't pass that up.
Mini trees on the fridge with some of the reindeer collection that I have started. My sis-in-law collects snowmen and my sister collects nutcrackers. At least we are all different.The bar tree.
Taft's little tree with all his many ornaments from his first Christmas. He got more ornaments than I could imagine from friends and family last year. We plan on adding to the collection even more this year. I also plan on checking the Hobby Lobby 75% off after Christmas tree sale to get him a bigger nicer tree for next year. He will need it!

My poor husband also has a tree like Taft's that goes in his manroom. It has ornaments that are all sports and fishing related. I have yet to get that tree up. Maybe today while Taft is taking a nap would be a good time.

Can't wait to see every ones trees!

Show Us Your Life - Christmas Traditions

My sweet friend Kendra, turned me onto the Kelly's Korner blog. Every Friday, Kelly has a Show Us Your Life day. The topic varies and people post links to their own blogs on the subject. So - I decided to participate again today.

Shane and I have not had a lot of Christmas traditions with just the two of us. In fact, I believe that the only one we have is that Christmas ornaments are what we buy as travel souvenirs. I always liked that idea instead of coming home with lots of little tacky travel items that you never set out and eventually throw away.

We did have a little "problem" with our red velvet cake last year. They were out of red food coloring so we bought green. I think that a green velvet cake will be a tradition for us from now on.

Since Taft's first Christmas was last year, we tried to start some traditions with him. We read "The Night Before Christmas" before bedtime.

Reading on Christmas Eve - Taft 6 months old

We also started Taft his own Christmas tree in his room. Everyone in the family bought him ornaments to go on it and when we traveled he also got souvenir ornaments of his own. This year I am starting him a little 2 up scrapbook album of his ornaments, the year that he got them, and who/where they are from. I know that I will forget if I don't.

Taft's tree from last year.

Also - we are starting a new tradition this year. Taft has an elf named Quincy. Quincy came last year but got here very late and Taft was really too little to enjoy him. Everyday in December, Quincy will appear and bring him little gifts. Kinda like an advent calendar but way more fun. I love that there will be so many things to do with him and his elf as he gets older.

Taft and Quincy last year.

Merry Christmas everyone! I look forward to reading the other posts today! Maybe I will find some new traditions.