It's a Pillow, it's a Pet, it's a Pillow Pet Xmas

 Merry Christmas! The Bear went incognito as a reindeer for the occasion. Christmas morning was spent with Grandma and Abuelo Matteson and Aunt Kellie. We then crossed the state for a Christmas dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Randall, Jon's sister and bro-in-law and their two little girls Emma and Ella. 

 Santa left a great stocking for Harrison, he especially liked the puppet.

 However he was a little perplexed about the orange at the toe.

 These squishy blocks were a hit! Thanks Aunt Michelle! He also can't wait to take his new blue sled out. We're just waiting for some more snow!

 Lots and lots of great books for bed time stories.

And the most coveted and popular Xmas gift of the season was the Pillow Pet! He cousins had 2 each and even little Harrison got his own infant-sized one to cuddle. And of course it was a bear :) 

Tuckered out!

A Lesson from Giada

I usually hate the morning Today show, so I can't explain why I still watch it when I'm home in the mornings. But two things actually stood out to me this morning as I rolled around the floor with the Bear.

I learned;
1) more Americans owe a greater amount of student loans than they do on their credit cards, and that the country's total is nearing a trillion dollars (student loans)
- this came literally 5 minutes after I was perusing GVSU's graduate website. I was intrigued about the possibility of going back to grab a few grad classes in hopes to, I don't know, receive a Christmas miracle and get my MI teaching license (on a silly note- each and every time I write the word license I mix up the s and the c, EVERY time). Well, now that story makes me want to wait that out a little.

2) Giada (cooking guru) suggested baking friends Xmas treats and gifting the food plus the bakeware. I thought this was an awesome idea. Nice Giada. I still think her shirts are way too low-cut but whatever. Honestly even I'm distracted when I watch that show. Anyway. Harrison and I jumped into the car over his naptime and while I hit up Marshalls and World Market he snoozed like a champ. Now all I need to do is bake and take. (spoiler alert for those of you that read this and receive this gift, Merry Christmas!)

Oooops, I hear the Bear. That was a short afternoon nap. Anything under 15 minutes just doesn't count.

Naptime?

Harrison loved napping yesterday. Two solid 1.5 hr naps. Today....he is currently on try #5 for a nap. The longest one he's managed has lasted 20 minutes.

Oh boy.

On a happier note, I am on vacation til Jan 4th. Sweet. I will try to post a more quality update tomorrow.

A Very Beary Christmas

All he wants for Xmas is Bojangles in his stocking...

a warm fire to keep his piggy toes toasty,

plenty of tree decorations, 

a good book, 

and someone to love :)

In Limbo

Sometimes life is a country music song. You try and try. It fails. You pick yourself back up. And repeat.

Well here I am again on the repeat cycle. Monday I came home to a lovely letter from the state of Michigan...yeah you know where this is going already don't you? Yup. Denied once again for my much sought after teaching license. I spent the last two days marinating on the letter. Also that $210 that went down the drain. Also the much anticipated launch date to our apartment. Also the fact that daycare is expensive. Also the fact that I might be stuck at full time when I really wanted that halftime position. Lots of thoughts.

I called my favorite education representative this morning to discuss options. He does. Not. Want. To. Budge.

The strange thing is that he said he agreed with me on all my points I brought up. Yes I have my Masters. Yes it would be weird to enroll into a MI Masters program. Yes he can see that going back to NYC to teach an additional 3 years is a tall order.

So I am stuck in limbo. He has no advice for me. And he wont grant me any bit of grace. So here I sit, stuck.

Suggestions welcomed because I am out of them...

and wondering, is working at the level that I am now worth it?

A Snow Angel

What is this white stuff?

He just wouldn't wiggle those arms to make his snow angels! 

A little confused as to why I plopped him down in the cold!

He can't wait to make his first snowman with his Dad!