Scrapbooking

Good Morning everyone! I haven't blogged in awhile so I thought I would blog about one of my favorite pastimes. Although I don't have as much time as I'd like to, I love to scrapbook. When Tim & I were dating, I really started to get into it. I have a few albums of our dating time and proposal. He had a friend hiding in some bushes to capture his proposal because he knew I would want to scrapbook it (I love him!)! When Isaiah came around, however, time just flew away from me and I didn't scrapbook for over 2 years. I did do mini things like make my own cards and invites for things. I love homemade cards/invites. They are so unique and personal and you can make them especially for that particular person/event. My friend Kelly had me do some scrapbooking for her wedding awhile back and after that I started to get the itch. I also subscribe to a blogger who happens to be an old classmate. She is an avid scrapbooker and amazing at it! She is having a Best in Baby Scrapbooking week next week and I am excited to see what she has in store!   I started scrapbooking again a couple months ago and am having so much fun. I haven't been doing too complicated of layouts but trying to capture the moment of the photo. It's hard to leave supplies out since some little hands will get into it so I have to keep putting it away every night. Someday I hope to have a craft room where I can scrapbook at my leisure and leave it all out! :) Someday.... 

When I get my camera back, I will be sure to post some of my favorite new layouts!

**On a totally different note I wanted to share a cute little story about Isaiah. The other day I was nursing Micah and Isaiah needed to go #2. I told him to go and then to wipe himself and then come and show me in case he needed some extra wiping. Those of you who are moms know what I am talking about. Well, he seemed to be taking awhile and then I started to hear the toilet paper roll being tampered with. I shouted to him to stop playing around (He likes to unwind the WHOLE roll!) and he shouted back that he wasn't. Since I couldn't move (still nursing), I just sighed and thought of the mess I would have to clean up. When he was done, he showed me his backside, which was clean. When I was done with Micah, I went in to the bathroom to what I thought would be a pile of toilet paper. To my surprise, there was no t.p. on the floor and in fact a new roll of toilet paper on the roll. I asked Isaiah if he did that. He told me that the paper ran out so he replaced it because that is what you do. I am so proud!! My 3 year old son has learned to replace the t.p. roll without being shown!!! This gives me hope for all men! Ha! I know it's just a little story but I thought it was so great! Man, I love that kid!

Well, that is about all for now. I have a list piling up of my favorite mommy things that I should be posting shortly. For now, have a wonderful week and enjoy this CHRISTMAS season! 

Our Chicago Trip

Since Tim is about to open up another store (One World Wireless a Verizon Wireless Authorized Dealer~ Store #1 in Sheboygan, WI and Store #2 in Fond du lac, WI) , we knew we needed to get some family time in before we barely see him for months. We love this Holiday Inn in Shaumburg, IL that we've stayed in before when Tim had business in Chicago. It is a Holidome so it has a glass ceiling, a huge pool, lap pool, whirlpool, adult hot tub, game area, basketball court, talking parrot, and rooms right off the area. We always stay in those rooms so we just open our door and play! We arrived Sunday afternoon and hit the pool right away. Then we went to Rainforest Cafe and got seated right by an aquarium. Of course Isaiah made friends with 2 boys right off the bat and they enjoyed inventing stories about the fish while we waited for food. I don't know if you've been there before but once every 30 minutes or so they simulate a thunderstorm with flashing lights and thunder. Well, Isaiah, not such a fan. Micah could have cared less but Isaiah actually started to tear up. We explained that it was just pretend and that is what happens in the rainforest and we were at the Rainforest Cafe. He seemed okay the next time it happened. We had a good meal, toured around a bit and then headed back to the hotel. Isaiah and daddy went back to the pool while Micah and I tried to wind down and get him to sleep. That didn't work so well, so Tim ended up pacing the hallway with him for about 30 minutes before he fell asleep. In the morning we slept late since it took forever for the boys to get to seep so we ended up not getting to go to the Children's Museum since it was only open in the am. Which is okay because us Finleys are not morning people and we like an easy-going morning. We got a good breakfast in, a little swimming, and then headed to the Shedd Aquarium. We didn't know but it was a free day :) but the oceanarium was closed :(. We had a blast though and Isaiah learned a lot. When Micah got sick of the stroller, daddy hooked him up in the "man belly" and Isaiah took a little ride in the stroller. That's a lot of walking for a 3 year old! We ordered some fabulous pizza when we got back to the room and then played in the pool again. Isaiah made a new friend (surprise, surprise!) named A. They played in the pool and then later in the game room, where Tim won a funny ball from one of those grabby machines! yeah:) Isaiah and Tim watching a little football in the game area as mommy and Micah got ready for bed. Micah went to bed well this night but didn't stay asleep. (Boy was I ready for sleeping at home instead of all in one room!) The next morning we went to Dunkin' Donuts since we don't have one here and Isaiah LOVED it! The cashier even gave him some free donut holes which he thought was the coolest thing (ask him, he'll probably tell you all about it! lol). We had heard about how great their coffee and drinks were so Tim and I wanted to test it out ourselves since we have become slight coffee snobs. I ordered a plain latte and he had a black coffee. Not bad just not as good as Starbucks! Our drive home was good but tiring. We love mini-vacations and we had a fun time as a family but we were ready for some normalcy back at our house. Below are a few of our favorite pictures from our trip! Enjoy!

Micah climbing up his rent-a-crib in the hotel. He's such a big boy!

Isaiah playing with one of the interactive things at the Shedd. He loved all the hands on stuff!All my boys! Notice daddy with the "man-belly" (aka the Snugli carrier) on. It may be a slight uncomfortable but he loves the bonding! Micah loves it too! Mommy & Isaiah walking to the Shedd. Isaiah has his backpack leash on. Never liked leashes until I had a toddler who didn't like strollers and a bunch of weirdos walking around! 

What's your favorite mini-vacation spots? 

International Wear Your Baby Week

I am so excited for International Wear Your Baby Week! I love wearing my children in a sling and holding them close. When Isaiah was little, Tim used to wear him in "The Man Belly" (aka Snugli Baby Carrier). I still remember the first time he wore it. Isaiah was only about 3 weeks old and we were going to a mall. Tim hooked him up in the carrier and took about 2 steps before he was complaining that his back hurt and that Isaiah was heavy! I about died of laughter and then told him to "Shut It! Don't even try to complain to me; I've been carrying him for over 9 months and I couldn't take it off!" I don't remember carrying him too much, a few walks, then I went to the stroller. With Micah, I have been doing a few things different because he is a different child. When he was really little, I used to have to put him in the sling just to get anything done around the house! He was really into being held and would fuss if I put him down for more than 1 minute. Now, he likes to move a lot so holding him in the sling around the house is out of the question. I do like taking him in the sling on my hip when we go places where strollers just don't work well. When we went to a Day on the Farm it worked great because not only was the terrain not the best, but Micah was having a "mommy day" and needed some extra attention. Here is a candid Tim took of Micah and I at the farm while I was wearing him. 

I love this sling so much better than the Snugli. It is a Hotsling I got from Target. It is one piece of fabric and can be worn multiple ways. It is way cute and comfortable! I love wearing Micah and will enjoy it until he no longer lets me! Do you wear your baby and if so what do you use?

Here is a site you can see other moms wearing their babies and enter to win a sling from Nonny and Boo!

The new fashion craze....

**So here is a picture of me with my new scarf and I love it! I think it is so cute and comfy! What do you think?

Scarves

So, I was debating what I thought about this new craze...is it socially appropriate, am I too old, etc. I have decided to try it out. I know some people have thought these scarves look like Keffiyehs. There has been debate about them being culturally appropriate, however, after some of my own research, I have decided it's just a fashion. The way we wear them over here in the good ol' US is not how they wear them in Palestine. Also, the color is not the same. Most girls here wear bright colors. This is the one I bought; I think it's beautiful! 

What do you think about all this (politically ok, ugly/fashionable) ?

Great Mommy Suggestions

This will be ongoing but here are a few of my Favorite Mommy things:

One Step Ahead - great products for children. i love the safety items. a little pricey but for some things it is totally worth it!!

Target's nursing tank tops - very comfortable, thick, and supporting. no shrinking or fading

Bumbo - great for babies who are still learning to sit by themselves, and great for travel (if you get the tray) for anywhere feeding

Boppys - LOVE them! great for nursing, propping infants on for play time or tummy time. you can get a variety of covers that are easy to wash and really cute

Mum-mums - i love them because they dissolve in baby's mouth, are inexpensive, and not too messy

Orange Plus Cleaner - great all-purpose cleaner that is safe for everyday use, even if the children try to eat the tables

Tom's toothpaste for children - young kids need to brush their teeth but don't always understand that they shouldn't swallow the toothpaste. you would think they would love an excuse to spit. this toothpaste is safer if children decide to swallow and it tastes great 

Our trip - Hotel, food, and travel suggestions

Last night we took a trip to Sheboygan, WI to visit Tim at work. Since he has had to work open to close all week, I knew how exhausted he must be with all the driving. Also, the Cowboys were playing Monday Night Football last night and I knew he really wanted to watch the game, so I decided to drive there, rent us a hotel room, and spend some quality family time. We surprised Tim about 30 minutes before he closed up. Then we went and ate at Chili's. I have eaten there a few times and cannot get away from the Quesadilla Explosion Salad...it's AMAZING!!!! I don't like the citrus-balsamic dressing that it comes with but I love the ancho-chili ranch it's drizzled with. Just ask for an extra side of it. You must go try this salad sometime. 

We have stayed at a few hotels in our married life, and we just LOVE Holiday Inns! We are priority members and absolutely love the little extras we get. At one hotel there is a special line just for priority members and yesterday we had some water and chips waiting for us in the room. The one we stay at in Sheboygan is a Holiday Inn Express with not a lot of differences than a Holiday Inn. We love the linens (No gross comforters!), the showers have a curved bar for extra room, and they have the most little goodies than any other hotel (i.e. shampoo, conditioner, mouth wash, body wash, make-up remover, coffee, tea...). Another great thing about them is the continental breakfast that changes daily and offers an amazing cinnamon roll! And finally, as Finleys, we are not what you would call "Morning People" so we enjoy the noon checkout.

On our trip we take Hwy 45 and Hwy 23. On 23 there is an amazing path along the highway and farms for walking, biking, etc. It's beautiful! Our night wasn't the most restful with Isaiah wanting to stay up and play until almost midnight and Micah up crying almost every hour, but we had a nice drive, meal, and a comfortable place to call home for the evening!

So, if you ever find yourself driving to Sheboygan, the drive isn't unpleasant. If you go to Chili's, consider the Quesadilla Explosion Salad! And when you're trying to decide a hotel to stay in, try a Holiday Inn; the customer service is great, the amenities are nice, and the rooms are really comfortable.