Making My List

The Christmas season is officially here now and it is past time to start on the shopping!!  The grandparents have been asking for ideas for the kids and then my friend Meredith suggested we post our good finds on our blogs to share with one another, so I am attempting to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.  

Ideas for Christopher:

Shop at Learning Express.  They have a great selection of good educational toys and very few electrical things so that is always a plus (I'm not a huge fan of electronic toys).  A few specific suggestions from here are: I Spy Preschool Game, Dinosaur Stamp Set by Melissa and Doug, and See and Spell Game.

Other great places to shop for him are Back to Basics Toys  and Land of Nod.  Also, check Meredith's blog and read about the Black and Decker tool toys for kids.  I think those are super cute too!  Christopher has really enjoyed the music class we have taken this fall so any type of music related item you find would be a hit also (Except please no drum set!  I can promise you that it would be returned! LOL!).  There are some cute music toys in the above mentioned Back to Basics as well as Pottery Barn Kids.

For Lucy:

This one is tough.  Poor second baby, doesn't get anything new for herself because we already have every toy known to man!  I know it won't always be this way because by next year we will be able to get her girlie things like dolls and kitchens and stuff but this year, honestly the girl should get clothes.  Let's face it, I have already mentioned to Cory several times that I am going to have to get a second job in order to outfit this little girl.  Let's face it, the girl clothes are WAY cute and a little on the pricey side at times.  I know that is boring but seriously it is what she needs.  Unlike the toy closet, I can't exactly go pull out Christopher's adorable dump truck sweater from '05 for her this winter.  Here are some suggested shopping places:

Baby Gap

Gymboree

Janie and Jack

Pottery Barn Kids

Best Dressed Child (internet only)

So there you go.  Since we have three sets of grandparents buying for these kiddos, if you (the grandparent) would like to "claim" one of these suggestions, just post a comment.  I think everyone has learned how to do that by now!  Happy shopping!

Oh no, here we go...!

Lucy is crawling.  Well it is a combination of army crawling, inch-worming, and rolling but the bottom line is she gets where she wants to go.  

Time to baby proof again.  Are Hot Wheels considered a choking hazard because we seem to have collected quite a few of those over the last 3.5 years....Seriously, it is going to be so much harder to keep things out of her reach with all of Christopher's toys around here!

(Wow, three posts in one day!  Can you tell Cory took the day off today and I've had a little more time to myself?)

Precious Pictures

My SIL, Jennifer took some pictures of the kids the other day and I think they turned out SO cute!!  She is really creative and always has good ideas.  The best part was that my kids really cooperated and she was able to snap some sweet moments.  Here are a few of my favs...

Moving on and Giving Thanks

I'm a little bit embarrassed to admit how much I have still thought about that stupid football game, I mean I really can't figure out why I care so much. Have you ever seen the movie Fever Pitch? Well there is a scene from that movie where Jimmy Fallon and some of his friends are out mourning the loss of their Red Socks and they see a few members from the team at the restaurant, enjoying their meal, laughing and having a good time. Suddenly Fallon and his friends are like, "What is wrong with this picture?' "Why are we still hung up on that game and clearly they aren't?" So do you think if I was still in school at Tech, and ran into Graham Harrell, would he be as depressed as I've been these last few days? Maybe, maybe not.

The point is, I'm thankful for the season Tech has had this year. It has been more fun than any in decades. We are currently tied for first place in the Big 12 South and that is a great accomplishment. My guns are back up and ready to take on the Bears this weekend. Of course, we'll be watching a certain game taking place in Stillwater.  You never know what might happen. I'm convinced after Saturday night, that home field advantage can be as HUGE as your team wants it to be...

And really, why must my thoughts be so consumed with sports when what I am most thankful for is a wonderful family, a loving husband, and this...

Sick

We are all sick.  

Christopher has bronchitis.

Lucy has croup.

Cory and I are sick that Tech didn't bother to show up in Norman last night.  

The Locke household has not been a fun place today.

Walk it Out!

Many of you know that last year, several of my family members and I walked in the Breast Cancer 3-Day.  I can honestly say that next to giving birth to my two precious children, walking in that event was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.  I would have done it again this year, had I not been nursing Lucy.  I just could never figure out a way to do both.  

Well this weekend instead of walking, I spent my time cheering on the 4,800 walkers that devoted their time to the cause.  We appreciated the cheering so much last year we wanted to help out others this year.  Our whole team, minus one cousin who lives in California, came in town for the event and we all went out to cheer.  Even as a cheerleader, one can become so inspired by the thousands of people out there walking because in one way or another, their lives have been impacted by breast cancer.  I had Lucy out there with me on Friday and Saturday the entire time.  I can't tell you how many people stopped to smile and coo at her and when they did, they would say, "We're walking for you sweetheart."  Every time, it brought tears to my eyes.

Thousands of women are diagnosed with this awful disease every day.  Last year my aunt, and today, Cory's aunt became one of those women at the young age of 43.  The battle is far from over and yet we have to continue to fight it.  If you are reading this and are a female, I would like to encourage you to join the Army of Women.    Visit the site, and check out the video from ABC.  You will be inspired.  

My team, Pattie's Pink Princesses, will be walking in the Dallas/Fort Worth 2009 3-Day.  We would love for our team to grow beyond family and if you are interested in joining us, the more the merrier!   Click here, choose a video to watch, and you'll want to register today, because "what kind of world do you want?"

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell

Better late than never...

Yes, I actually made the costumes this year.  Nothing fancy really, mostly just adding some finishing touches to regular clothing.  Christopher LOVED wearing his costume and had an absolute ball on Halloween this year.  He really got into the whole trick-or-treat thing practically sprinting to every door.  He even had his first television debut and made the Abilene news on Halloween night.  It was pretty cute.