Jaime the elf at work

I was able to do things because of...

and this...
so this is what I did...
and this is the outcome...

So today at church Pastor Matt challenged us so to speak...what can I do to make christmas more "simple"...he went onto explain how people tend to overdo this season and in doing that, they forget what the true meaning of christmas really is.


So, this is what I will do. I am making christmas cookies shaped as...nothing. No christmas tree this year family. Just a plain old circle. I know I know. "That is stupid jaime" But really it isn't. It took me hours last year to make christmas tree cookies. I had to roll the dough out, cookie cut it, roll oit out again...cut it...roll...cut...you get the idea. Very time consuming. And since I have a little one now to add to the picture it is hard. I did tacos last year. This year I am doing lasagna. Frozen that is thanks to stoufers. For a minute I was going to make the lasagna by hand, than I slapped myself out of it. I always overdo stuff because I love to shower my family and guest with great food and to entertain them. I always want everyone to have a great time.But in doing these circle cookies, I can enjoy today and half of tomrrow with John and the kids. He also challenged us to have a peaceful christmas and to make christmas a spiritual event. So along with today's sermon titled, "Good Grief" related to the Charlie Brown Christmas story I thought this would be a great center piece...
I have been watching the Charlie brown christmas for the last couple ofweeks with tyler. And as I watched it with tyler for the first time I was blown away that it really explained the true meaning of christmas. I loved it.

Last but not least...christmas party #3

So Thursday was John's work christmas party. John is the regional director for Pro Audio Video. So everyone is technical and wire smart, video smart, audio smart...you get my drift. So you know it's kinda funny when there is "technical difficulties" with showing a video. I chuckled to myself at the table. John blurted out, "job opening!". They just played it off as "operator error". Tyler again enjoyed the band. Again with everyone being technical, they are all musical (except for john). So each of them play like 3 instruments. The picture is kinda dark, but that's what the setup looked like. And of course Gavin enjoyed his sleep!

This was tyler before the party. He loves to help us with anything and everything. Here he was helping daddy put together his kart!

Gavin can talk!!

So I talk to gavin often...and he finally started talking back...okay some people may call it "cooing", but he was talking to me. It was so precious. I absolutely love him. Then he nibbeld on my nose. I looked like Rudoulph afterwards!

"I wanna see Camwan..."

So Saturday was Tamale night at my moms and my family came down. We asked Tyler if he wanted to see Cameron (his cuz)...and all we heard for the next hour was...I wanna see camwan...

I don't know what got into him, he was all over cameron. Jumping on him, pushing him. Cameron loved it though. Although he is 7 and tyler is 2-1/2, they have so much fun together. I can't wait until gavin is old enough to be pushed around!!

"Attention Shoppers..."

So last night John and I went to target to pick up some stuff that we needed and stuff that we didn't.
A little side note: John is such a sucker. I'm afraid that Tyler will associate target with toys. I think he already thinks target is Toysrus. I'm thrifty. I'm always looking for good gifts but affordable for tyler. So he wants to get tyler this remote control car that is for ages 8+. I said, "It's too big for him and he wouldn't know how to work it." John said, "But he really wants it." I didn't buy that at all. Tyler was actually pointing to another car that was smaller. I just think daddy wanted it!!
okay back to my point of this post. John is a "wanderer". I always have to call him in whatever store we are in, so we can find each other. Well I didn't have my cell phone last night. and John was mis placed again. I said forget it, I'm gonna complete my shopping and just find him later or page him. Well as I was going pass the dog aisle, I hear..."Attention Target customers, will a Jaime Cram please come to aisle 3, your party is waiting for you" Oh my gosh, he didn't. Oh yes he did. There he was waiting for me at aisle 3 with a big smirk on his face. So when I got up to him, I told him in a nice loud voice, "John I was getting your Imodium AD advanced and your Metamucil." That didn't bother him. Just when you think you are gonna get him back, he doesn't care.
Were any of you guys at Target last night?

Which one are you?

So when it comes to Christmas shopping which one are you...
Are you the "list checker"? Or are you the person who actually takes time and thinks about what that individual really needs? Do you really sit and think what that person is in need for or would love to open up with such surprise. I know Christmas is not about presents at all. It is about the birth of our young saviour. But I was just thinking about this last night. If you are a list checker, do you just throw stuff in the cart that looks good with a mindset of, "hey l'm buying them a gift". Or if you really take time to think about each gift that you are able to give to that someone? And in doing that you may take up till Christmas Eve to complete your shopping. I really don't know where I'm going with this, I just thought I would blog about it.

Chrismas Party number 2 for the season

It was my mom's Chirstmas party at her work Teen Challenge. All of us kids got to go again for the second year in a row. My mom enjoys all of us there so she can brag. She won't admit that, but it's the truth. "C'mon mom, tell the truth shame the devil!" She just says she loves our company, which who wouldn't, right? After they were done singing worship songs, tyler wanted behind the mic for a little of his version of Christmas carols. I did spend most of my time outside watching Tyler and 2 other staff kids run in circles for an hour. John joined me about 20 minutes later. We sipped Hot caramel apple cider by the outside heat warmers and the prime rib. I know very romantic.

Christmas time in Sand Diego

So we went to San Diego Saturday to visit John's brother Matt, and saw some pretty great looking Christmas lights at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Of course it was pooring rain, but the great thing about this is that you just sit in your car and drive thru. At one point Tyler stuck his head out the window to get a better look!

Date Night

So John and I were able to have a nice night and dinner at the Northwoods Inn. Justin and Burg have offered a couple of times to babysit our little munchkins. So John and I thought it would be good practice for them and said yes. Thank you Uncle JRocka and Aunt "boog"!

Oh Christmas Tree...

We got our christmas tree and this year we decided to let it snow! We were actually looking for a small tree like a 3 footer so we can place on a table to be out of the way of tyler's hands, but

we ended up getting a 5-6 footer. It was fun and cold.

I'm lucky...and I'm finally starting to realize it.

So I was going to title this blog, "so you know" but I thought the above was better. I want to slap myself around a bit, because I have so much that has been given to me. Why on earth am I depressed? I should be happy. Truth be told, I am coming around a bit. It's probably the medicine (ha), but i know it's the prayers too. I didn't want to tell anyone, including John about how I have been feeling the last 3 months. But I am so glad I did, because now my family and friends can pray for me and understand me. John says I have been much more calmer. He joked and said I haven't gotten mad at him for little stupid stuff! Ha! That right there has to be the effects of modern medicine. But on a serious note, I feel I am gaining a connection to my Gavin. He smiles at me, coos at me, stares at me, he recognizes ME and my VOICE. But then I get in these moods where I just go into my lala land. If I'm alone for one day or even a couple of minutes, it hits me. I still have trouble sleeping. I know the holidays are gonna drag me out of the house, and I think that is a good thing. But I don't want to. We just went out for my sister's birthday last saturday and I'm glad I went out, but I didn't want to even get dressed. I know these are "normal" feelings. And I am so tired of hearing that. Because there not normal to me. But this past weekend brought it to my attention that I have a great loving family and am so blessed to have them.

My sick little monkey

After I downloded this video he wanted to watch it over and over and over and over again. My true two year old toddler at his finest.

Christmas time at disneyland

We went to Disneyland on Sunday with my inlaws. It was such a nice day. Cool. Not really crowded. It was Christmas-ie and fun. I tell you the only way to go to Dland is in a wheelchair. I wonder how many people are faken it just to walk on to rides. Janice (john's mom) had to be in a wheelchair due to a recent foot surgery. We did walk on to rides. We went on the finding nemo ride. I give it 3 star out of 5. First star will be for the great nemo music while you wait and while you are under. The second star I will give for the fun seating arrangements. Lastly my second star will go for the great water proof sealant they used so we all didn't die. The voices are so lame because they are not the "real ones". I mean Dory is Ellen DenGeneres. You can't fake her. So that was cheesey. It's weird, I didn't know what to expect. The images are like of a holographic or something. It's all computerized. We also saw the christmas parade too. We waited for an hour to get a good spot and people come all up on you to mooch in on your territory. I stopped them. One guy said to me, "Where's you F*%$#@! Christmas spirit!" I told him it was in my heart, not on this corner where I have been for an hour. I also told him to watch his language around all these small children. I would have never stuck up for myself a couple of years ago. If that same guy would have done that to me earlier, I would have let him in on my corner. And maybe I should have anyway...nah.

The days after Thanksgiving...

So we went to my moms on Saturday for a little more turkey and stuffing. We also played this fun guitar game. Everyone gave it a try including tyler. But of course he didn't want to share. What is it with kids not wanting to share? Or is it just mine? We ferel like we are the only ones out there with a toddler right now that is "Two"...I believe the stage terrible twos...and now I have to endure another child go through it. Oh boy oh boy.

**check out everyone's faces playing the guitars, so into it don't you think?

Day out with Thomas

So last saturday we took tyler (and gavin) to go see Thomas the train in Perris. He had a lot of fun. Now everytime he sees a train he calls out for Thomas. When we were on the train ride he couldn't stop waving to everyone, so cute. He also got to meet Bob the Builder. Of course, like always, he doesn't like to stand by the character and get his picture taken. He likes to walk around and talk at it. Oh well. I don't know how many times I heard, "I want to see Thomas!" all throughout the park. Not just from Tyler but the other hundreds of toddlers running amuck. And when we were all leaving, the same children (including mine) were crying saying, you guesses it, "I want to see Thomas!"