What We Have Been Up To..

Hello friends! This month has just flown by it seems like. The weather is FINALLY starting to cool off, thank goodness. And the trees are starting to change colors. I love this time of year. Thanksgiving has came and went and Christmas will be here before we know it. We spent our Thanksgiving at home, just the four of us. My husband got off duty that morning and was sick so he spent the majority of the day in bed trying to get better. Tay spent most of the day in her room playing Minecraft and iChatting with her buds. I grabbed a Fresh and Easy Thanksgiving meal that took me all of 15 minutes from start to finish. It was great, and dinner was outstanding! It was nice to have a low key day since were heading out in the morning for a 3 day hockey tournament in Simi Valley.

We were all in bed before 9:30! We woke up ready to conquer the day. Got up to Simi Valley around noon, checked in to our hotel and Tay was on the ice at 3:00. Out of around 30 teams, they were the only all girls team. It was great. I think many underestimated them and were quite thrown back when they played against us. We left coming in third place and the girls were happy with that. They all are such competitors that they are already talking about their next tournament.

As we come to the end of the month I am looking forward to the holiday season. Cold weather, scarfs, hot apple cider from Starbucks, and under cozy blankets on the couch.

Here are some pictures of recent Freestone doings. Enjoy!

Nevermind. Google wants to charge me for anything OVER 1GB!! WTF???

Dealing with being leftout

The Freestone Four do 99% of things together, as a family. No vacations just me and my husband, no date nights, and we are ok with that. This is the time in our lives where our main, and only focus is on our little family. We know that our girls will not be small forever and that we only have them to ourselves for such a short amount of time in both our lives. However, today I was feeling a little left out. Let me explain why...
Tay has been skating everyday for almost 2 weeks! All on her own, we are not forcing her. She has just wanted to work on stuff to make her a better player, so we have been at the rink for almost 14 days straight! So when she asked for a day off, today, we were totally ok with it. She has wanted to go to the movies and to an Ontario Reign hockey game. My husband is off today so he was going to take her to do both. There is NO way that my Em is going to sit still through a movie, so I had to pass on that. And she is not going to sit through a hockey game, so I had to pass on that also. I would just spend the majority of my time walking around the arena with her, watching the game from the tvs. Needless to say, I am feeling a little leftout. Wish I could go do fun stuff like the movies. But so happy that they get daughter/dad time. How am I dealing with it you ask? Just to remember that they are having a great time out and having fun, just knowing that makes me smile:)

November

Yeah for two days being able to blog in a row! It's the simple things I tell ya:) Tay is in her room and Emily is in there too, so I am getting a little break. I know it won't last long, but I love listening to them laugh and play together. I hope it stays like this..them being so close. Please, stay like this!

So, a little confession. I have been addicted, I mean addicted to this show called, Pretty Little Liars, anyone seen it? I am watching Season 1 on Netflix. The baby napped in the car today at the rink, I watched two episodes in the car. It was awesome! I'm a little weirded out though by one of the story lines. Let me give you a little background. The group of girls it follows are in high school, I don't know how old. Now, one of the characters is in a relationship with her very cute, English teacher. I have found myself rooting for them and hoping they don't get caught. They are such a sweet couple and I'd hate to see them break-up. But HELLO their relationship is so inappropriate, and not to mention against the law! What's wrong with me!!?? Maybe I am a little jealous that none of my English teachers were smoking like Mr. Fitz. Any time I get, when Em is napping I turn it on. Season 1 is like 22 episodes too, I think I am on episode 10. Yikes! Will they ever get caught?!?!

I feel like such a nerd watching this show!

Hottie English Teacher!

I think I am going to try and set some goals, well I don't know if I will call them "goals" but things I want to do this month. I wonder if I can set them and cross them off the list come November 30. Here they go:

1. Read a book (any suggestions?)

2.Get moving, walking, running, something, at least 3x's a week.

3.Wash my face before I climb into bed.

4.When folding laundry, directly take folded laundry and put it away. Don't leave it sitting on the washer AND dryer for forever!

I think I can accomplish these. They are small, nothing big. I'm so tired of saying I am going to do something and then not doing it. Anyone have any ideas how to do that?! Ha!

Have a great rest of the night Friends!

Halloween and a Husband's Point of View

Chalk up another Halloween over! Time has flown by. Every year the Freestones do everything on Halloween Day. I always tell myself I will decorate the house early, we will carve pumpkins early..yeah those things never happens. I guess life seems to get in the way:) We went over to the pumpkin patch this morning around 10. There were tons of people there! mainly kids from schools, there had to of been 20 school buses in the parking lot. We picked our pumpkins, we had specific instructions from Tay that her pumpkin had to be big and then she also wanted a tiny one to go with it. I knew her wheels were turning, on what she was going to do. I love a child's creative mind! My husband wanted to stop at the Halloween store on the way back to pick up some spider webbing.  I dropped him and the baby and I went over to Subway to grab lunch. As I swung back to pick him up he had both arms full of stuff. He got in the car and says, yeah I know, I was like a kid in a candy shop! I just couldn't help myself! He had signs, to window decals, to caution tape, glow sticks and more. He loves Halloween:)

As soon as Tay got home we were decorating the house. It actually came out great! Wish I would've snapped a picture. After decorating was done, it was pumpkin carving time! I carved one, Tay carved one and Em drew on hers. 

Then for the first time ever, we roasted pumpkin seeds! My husband did all the seasoning, they turned out great!

Soon after that it was time to get the girls dressed in their costumes and then off to our friend Tammy's house. Her daughter and Tay are best friends, have been since Kindergarten, and every year we go over to her house. She cooks and we eat and chat, the guys drink beers and then we take the girls trick-or-treating. It was another great time, great food, and great friends. So thankful for friends like we have!

This year both girls dressed up as monsters, which to me was so SO CUTE! My husband was a hot dog and I was the mustard. We actually got a lot of compliments, people thought our combo was cute. He had this ski mask on, I have no idea why. Scary wiener I told him! Em actually went up to houses and got candy, but then would just put it in Tay's candy basket. They both had a great time!

Lastly, I have been away from social media for about 2 weeks now. I am liking it. I was talking to my husband about it today. I was talking to him about IG and how I didn't want people to know where we were and what we were doing all the time, although I loved posting pictures. He is not a Facebooker nor a IGer, but said, it's not about where we are, it is about where we've been.

I love him.

The Freestone Four Take A Mental Health Break

Mr. Freestone needed to take a hockey coaches class since he is an assistant coach for Tay's hockey team. When we found out that it was going to take place in San Diego we were super excited and decided to all go. It couldn't have came at a better time too. We all needed a mental health day(s). We totally took ourselves off the grid. No Internet. No hockey. No phones ringing off the hook. Just us, with our girls, enjoying  and soaking up every second. We need these days every once in a while, I think all busy families do. We are so consumed by work, hockey, school, and running a household, that we often forget the importance of family and time together. We needed to stop and just talk and laugh together. I never really realized how much social media took over my life. I feel like every chance I got I was looking at my phone. Checking Facebook or Instagram.  I turned my phone off and left it in my car. I didn't grab it for 2 straight days. I loved it! I still haven't looked at either. I don't miss them. 

We stayed in La Jolla Friday night. The Embassey Suites has a Manger's Reception everynight for hotel guests. Which basically means snacks and open bar. A soda for Mama, a Shirley Temple for Tay, and a beer or two for Dad! Can't beat free drinks and food:) We got up super early the next morning, but all was good because they offer free breakfast, coffee, yogurt, oatmeal, made to order omlettes, etc. I showered and went downstairs and filled our coffee cups! It was nice to have coffee already made for you. He had to be at his class by 8:30. And then the girls and I were meeting my mom and sister at the San Diego Zoo for a day together and it was also my little sister's birthday. The weather could not have been any more awesome. It was a cool 70 degrees with drizzle! I dropped him and made my way to the zoo, about 10 minutes away. It was great timing because as soon as we pulled up, so did they. We bought our tickets and went into the park. We literally had the zoo to ourselves for the first half of the day. It was fantastic! No crowds, no people blocking you from seeing any of the animals. What a great day! Wish we lived closer, I'd get season passes! 

The zoo closed at 5 and we headed to our favorite eating spot in San Diego, The Chicken Pie Shop. I have talked about this place before. If ever in San Diego, it is a MUST try! Chicken Pot Pie, corn, mashed potatoes, warm rolls, coleslaw and for dessert, I chose Coconut Cream Pie! Holy cow, it was so good! We chatted over dinner about the coaches class and about moving, yes we are moving! Can't wait! Headed home with full bellies and precious memories. That is what life is all about...right?

Weekend Ended On A Good Note!

Sadly our weekend has come to an end, but it was a great one! We had a baby shower for our friend and his girlfriend who are expecting a baby boy in October. Exciting! We couldn't stay long since my husband had a hockey game in the early evening, we went, said or congrats, ate a little, my husband drank a beer and then we were off to the rink. I have been banned from the last bulk of hockey games due to thinking I was the bad luck charm for the team. Every time I was there they would lose and then every time I wasn't they were playing great and winning. So I sat the last handful out. I was glad that the curse somehow has been broken and they won with me there:) Afterwards we went to a pizza place, the guys drank massive amounts of beer and the moms chatted away and kept on eye of the group of kiddos. We got home super late but knew that nothing was planned the next day and that we would be able to sleep in!
The baby woke up at 7! But I made her go back to sleep and she didn't wake up again unil 9, that was what I was talking about!!!! I took both the girls to run some errands and we actually had a great time together. We hit up Staples and Barnes and Noble. Tay has been in dire need of a new computer chair, so I figured Staples would be a place to find a decent one. We found a pink one, $30. Awesome! We then headed to Barnes and Noble. Tay needed a couple books to get the years started, I had a couple in mind for her and then she had a couple books she was wanting. We had a great time reading the first pages of books and adding to our pile. And, I found a USA puzzle! Wasn't the exact one I was imagining but it will do. She has already played with it like ten times, score:)

Reading The Lorax:)

In the Disney section

My happy camper!

Look at this loot!

Daddy putting her chair together

Almost done...

Sissy testing out the chair!

She loves it:)

We came home to my husband on a mission to kill wasps. He had a plan of attack, he was going to spray the nest and then run fast around the back and into the house. He said there was a huge nest of close to 50 wasps. We opened the back and off he went. I heard the spray and then a crash, or like a boom, and like he dropped the spray can. Here he comes through the backdoor with a crazy look on his face and a bloody arm and hand. Knees all red. I was like,"did you fall???" He goes,"dammit, falling when you are 30 doesn't feel like when you fall as a kid!!" It was my running from wasps husband eating crap that I had heard! It took everything I had not to laugh. Poor guy, scrapped his knuckles, has a cut on his arm along with a big ol' bump on this arm. I am sure he will be sore tomorrow!!! Wish I could have seen it though!
We ate an early dinner, salmon and veggies. Broccoli, zucchini, carrots, and cauliflower. It was simple and so tasty. Both girls are bathed and in jammies. After this it is time to read with Tay and then bedtime. Hoping tomorrow there is no crying and I will never see those tears again.

Have a great rest of the night Friends!

Doing The Happy Dance!

I woke up yesterday morning and started walking downstairs to wake up Tay. Before I opened her door I stopped, took and deep breath, and said to myself, "no matter the mood, let's just get through the morning." Giving myself little pep talks are necessary sometimes:) I woke her up and said I'd meet her downstairs. 10 minutes later her she comes with a SMILE on her face, no tears. It was looking good already. I wasn't going to be completely sold until we arrived at school and she was in her classroom, tear free. We walked to school she talked about what baby brothers are like, random I know. She said that if we have a baby brother her and Emily will play in the kitchen while him and Dad play outside. Typical. No, I am not having another baby just yet, it is hopefully in our future but not at the current time. We got to her school she gave me a hug and kiss good-bye, hugged and kissed her sister and she was off. Just like that, no tears, no panicking, just the 10 year old girl I know. Confident, happy, and brave!

I know Monday will be the real test, hoping that the tears and fears are completely out of her system and mornings can return to normal. The Freestones have a busy second half of the day so I need to get going!

Have a great day Friends!