Christmas Cards

I have been a loyal Shutterfly customer for years. Not only does Shutterfly consistently offer awesome deals on photo prints but Shutterfly has developed many products that customers are able to personalize with their favorite photos, including photobooks, calendars and magnets (all of which make great gifts during the holiday season!).

In prior years, I have made our family’s Christmas cards through Shutterfly and plan to do so again this year. Card making through Shutterfly has always been an easy, fun and positive experience! Truthfully, the most challenging part of the process is deciding which card template to use because there are so many styles of Christmas and Holiday cards to choose from.

As a busy, working mom of two even busier little boys, I am really looking forward to the ease of Christmas card making through Shutterfly this year.  Once I select a card, upload our family picture and personalize the card with our holiday message, I will be able to relax while I wait for the cards to arrive.  And if I am really in a pinch for time, Shutterfly will even stamp and mail the cards for me! 

If you haven't before, I encourage you to try card making through Shutterfly this year.  And if you are a blogger, you can have Shutterfly make your cards too - Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly!)

12 weeks

Twelve weeks goes by so very quickly. When William was born, I had visions of a never-ending summer stretching out before me. Lazy mornings spent cuddling William, trips to the park, storytime at the library, and adventures at the zoo were all part of this vision. I should have known the 12 weeks I spent getting to know my littlest and trying to keep up with Lucas would pass by in a blur. It's hard to believe I head back to work tomorrow. The reality hasn't quite sunk in yet; I'm sure that will happen when my alarm goes off tomorrow morning.

I'm sad to be going back to work full-time and a bit apprehensive about how everything is going to get done around the house, but I know we will soon find a new routine. There just may be even more toys scattered around the house and crumbs on the kitchen floor than there were before...a scary thought indeed.

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!

Our air conditioner chose the hottest, steamiest, most humid week of the summer to die when it quit working early last week. William and Lucas (and myself for that matter) did not tolerate the 90+ temps in our house so we spent a night at the Bloomington Sheraton and several nights at my sister's house. Lucas was tickled pink...he was able to play with Calvin's toys, see No-kay (Noche) and pour sand in his hair.

Book Club Babies

Six moms, three toddlers, two six-month olds and 4 newborns equals a very fun playdate. Six out of nine moms in my book club had babies this year, the newborns all within two weeks of each other. We have a lot of little readers on our hands!

Baby's First Phone Call

I was notified by Julia at Work, Wife, Mom...Life! over the weekend that I won a gift certificate to Baby's First Phone call, which will come in very handy this summer. I ran across Julia's blog a few months ago in my quest to connect with other working moms. It didn't take long before I started following Julia's site and reading her blog updates on a regular basis. Thank you, Julia, I'm excited to try out Baby's First Phone Call!

A Love / Hate Relationship...

...with Papa John's pizza is never a good thing, especially when one really enjoys Papa John's pizza.

I could tell the long, sordid Papa John's pizza story but don't want to bore anyone with the details. Lets just suffice it to say I was overcharged for a pizza and wanted a refund. Several conversations were held with Papa John's management, and I was promised free pizza coupons.

They never arrived.

I tried to let it go...I really did. But the fighting part of me would not be denied what was rightfully mine, so a last ditch effort was made to secure the pizza refund. As a result, Leo and Tom (the store's General Manager) are now on a first-name basis, and Tom made what was an unfortunate pizza incident right. I am happy to report we can now order pizza from Papa John's again, and that is just what we did on Friday night.



On a side note, I hope there is not a notation by our name that indicates bodily fluids should be included on our future pizza orders. And yes, Lucas did finish this entire piece of pizza, even though it was the size of his head.

Recommendation

Leo and I decided to try to sell this old couch on craigslist today.



I was not expecting to get many hits for this couch (if any) so was pleasantly surprised when we had three inquiries into the couch by this evening. Our first couch viewing was tonight, and the couch sold! Hmmmm....I wonder what else I can get rid of around this house since our first craigslist experience was such a positive one???

This week...

...we have been doing a lot of praying for Stellan and his family.



I ran across this blog several months ago and quickly became addicted to Stellan's story as well as McMama's photographs and writing. If you are interested in reading more about Stellan, you can check out McMama's blog at http://www.mycharmingkids.net/.

Presidential Inauguration

Normally, Lucas is not allowed to watch TV; however, I made an exception to this rule today. I didn't want him to miss such an historic event!

Just as cool was watching the Fergus Falls High School band march in the Inaugural Parade! Watching the band play for our new President made me miss my band days!!

Wildlife

Yesterday, Lucas and I were driving home from Target when we spotted seven Whitetail Deer practically in our background. Lucas was eager for a nature lesson so I stopped the car for him to watch these deer roam around the neighborhood. If Leo would allow it, the Loxtercamp family would have a few dogs (preferably Westies), a couple of miniature goats and a pet deer.