Christmas 2008

Hello all:
We had a great time at the house this year for Christmas. Lots of good food and merriment. Thanks to Grandma for heading south and spending the holiday with us, and the McGowens for heading north to do likewise. Also, a happy belated Boxing Day to everyone. Here are some pics:

Here's Mase at his Christmas pageant. He wasn't really that excited about going up on stage to sing. Steph had to go with him, then he wouldn't do anything but just sit there. Then he left the stage halfway through the program. You can see the look of disdain on his face.


Here's Mase on Christmas Eve selecting some cookies to leave for Santa.


Mase posing with the cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.


Checking out the cookies and carrots.


Now it's Christmas morning and Mase is digging into his stocking. Here he's holding his new two-pack Snoopy toothbrushes.


Everyone knows Mase likes fruit. When the kids at school put down what they wanted for Christmas, most people said stuff like action figures and toys and the like. Mase asked for "an apple, a flower and another apple. Well, he got an apple in his stocking and he was quite happy to show it off.


Steph, who is now quite the coffee connoisseur, got some Tim Horton's coffee imported from Canada. It's quite good. (She says to excuse her mismatched outfit)


Here's Mase opening his grand finale present, a 16G iPod touch.


And here he is pulling a fist pump to celebrate.


Mase and cousin Livee hamming for the camera.

- Nick

First Annual gingerALE Party!

Nick and I decided to host a holiday party this year. What could be more fun than decorating gingerbread cookies with the kids?? Well drinking holiday beer, of course! We blended the decorating with a nice sampling of holiday beer and gingerALE was born.

This year we had all kinds of beer from Winter Lager to a Happy Holiday brew. One featuring a cinnamon flavor while the other boasted somewhat of a pine flavor. It was fun sampling them all, decorating the cookies (which the kids loved) and hanging out with fun (and liberal) friends!

Here are pictures of the first ever gingerALE party!

xoxo,

Steph

P.S. Our invite list will be more extensive next year!!! So get your kiddos ready!

ProFlowers SCAM!

We were scammed! In October I ordered flowers from ProFlowers and they automatically signed us up for the EasySaver program. They have been deducting $14.95 from our account for the last three months. We never gave our CC info to EasySaver or ever heard from them regarding a subscription.

I called them and demanded our money back. They didn't give in so easily but after causing a bit of commotion and threatening to talk to a manager they finally refunded our money and cancelled the so-called subscription.

Nick (who had steam coming from his ears) wrote what he called a "strongly worded" email to ProFlowers:

Dec. 18, 2008

To ProFlowers/whom it may concern:
My name is Nick Trougakos. I am a newspaper editor at The Oklahoman, the major daily newspaper in Oklahoma City.

I have been a regular ProFlowers customer for several years. I have found your flowers to be of good quality and your service to be good. My wife has always enjoyed receiving flowers I have ordered from you. However, because of a deceptive practice on your Web site, I'm afraid I will no longer be using your service.

After my last order with you on Oct. 1, I began receiving charges on my credit card for your EasySaver program. If I signed up for such a program, it is news to me. I am a pretty savvy Internet user, and am especially concerned about e-fraud. But I feel I have been defrauded of three credit card charges of $14.95 each. I had no intent when I ordered from you to sign up for this EasySaver program. And I clearly provided my credit card information to ProFlowers alone, not to EasySaver. I feel you have betrayed the trust of a once loyal customer and at best used a deceptive Internet trick to do so.

I have copied this e-mail to the editor of the investigative journalism desk here at the newspaper, as well as to the local branch of the Better Business Bureau, although I suspect the BBB may already know about this scam due to the proliferation of complaints on the Internet linking ProFlowers with EasySaver. I may also forward a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. Either way, I hope you will consider amending your business practices in the future to avoid such deceptive tactics.

And I formally request that in addition to not providing my credit card information to any third-party "business" like EasySaver, you delete any and all of my credit card and/or personal information you have on file.

Sincerely,

Nick Trougakos.

So, if you are a ProFlowers customer then please beware of this sneaky tactic. We will no longer be using them, which makes me sad because I always liked their flowers.

xoxo,
Steph

Favorite Things

Mase has been a riot this holiday season. He knows sooo many Christmas songs by name. His favorites are "Silver Bells" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas". Yes, we too think those are odd songs to be considered a favorite for a three-year-old. But Mason has never claimed to fit in a mold, that's for sure.

He wrote another letter to Santa at school. Remember at Thanksgiving when he said he was thankful for cranberries? Well his teachers must think all the kid thinks about is food because his letter to Santa at school says "Dear Santa, Please bring me an apple, a flower and another apple. Love, Mason" I read the other letters from his school friends. They asked for things like robots, baby dolls, and bicycles. Not Mason, his mind is set on food. The kid likes cranberries and apples, what can I say?

Our neighborhood really gets into the Christmas spirit and almost every other house is decked out with lights. Makes for a fun ride home. Down the street our neighbors have a giant blow-up Santa. It's been pretty windy here lately and so one night Santa fell over. Mase said "Oh well Chawlotte, I guess Santa is dead." AHH! NO! What's a parent to do? How can Santa die??

He's taken to watching Charlie Brown movies, they are his favorite. If you haven't seen the Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas specials lately then no worries. The next time you see Mason he can recite them line by line for you. He loves him some Charlie Brown. Actually he loves it so much that we've all received new names. Long gone are the days of Charlotte's Web. Piggy (aka Nick) is now Charlie Brown - a move up in the name category, don't ya think? Templeton (aka Mason) is now Snoopy. He bays and everything. Just what we need, two beagles in the house. My name change isn't as permanent as the two boys...I'm normally still Chawlotte but on occasion will be referred to as Peppermint Patty.

I promise to upload pics from our gingerALE party...I'm not sure what my malfunction with that is.

xoxo,
Steph

Mason's Letter to Santa

Mase asked me to write a letter to Santa for him. This is what he had me dictate.

"Dear Santa,

How's your Christmas? How are your reindeer? Donner and Vixen. That's all I have to say.

Love, Mason"

xoxo,
Steph

What the hell is wrong with people?

I read this story today about a mom from Walters, Okla. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE!?!? I just don't get it. This story infuriates and make me so sad for many reasons.

1) PROPERLY INSTALL YOUR CHILDREN IN A CAR SEAT. This not only means strapping them into their seat, but also making sure the seat is actually attached to the car.

2) Three-year-old children should NOT BE IN AN ADULT SEAT BELT!

WALTERS — A 3-month old infant escaped with only minor head injuries after he was thrown six feet from a pickup that crashed on an icy road this morning. The child’s mother, who was driving and secured with a seat belt, died shortly after the single-vehicle crash.
Crystal E. Morgan, 25, died at the hospital shortly after the accident on U.S. Highway 277 northwest of Walters, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.
Morgan was driving north when she lost control of the pickup, ran off the road and struck an embankment.
Three-month-old, who was in a car seat but not secured in a seat belt, was thrown from the pickup but was treated and released from the hospital.
A 3-year-old child, also wearing a seat belt, was also slightly injured.

It makes me so sad that this young mother lost her life and that the kiddos will grow up without having her around. It's such a tragic story. I'm also sad that these kids were not properly restrained.

Yes I am the crazy neighborhood car seat lady. I'm passionate about this stuff. Did you know that 90% of car seats are installed or used improperly?? To assume that you are in the 10% using it correctly could end up being a costly assumption. Please get your seats checked. Please use them properly. Please know the laws for your state and abide by them. Check the height and weight limits of your seats. Don't be rushed to move your child to a forward facing position or to a booster if they can still fit in a harness. They are only young once, why not protect them as much as you can for as long as you can?

xoxo,
Steph

Livee Lost Her First Tooth!!

Awww!!!! How cute is she?? Our niece Livee lost her first tooth. Summer said they were eating at a restaurant and Livee mentioned that her tooth felt weird. When they got home Summer pulled it out and Livee flooded her with questions regarding the Tooth Fairy.

Here she is with her missing spot.


And her tooth tucked away safely for the Tooth Fairy in her little tooth box.


Congrats Livee!!! I can't believe she's growing up so fast.

xoxo,
Aunt Stephee

P.S. I'm behind on posts...I need to upload pics from our 1st Annual gingerALE party. It was too much fun. I tried last night but got distracted by a curly-headed boy that was stuck on a kitchen chair. Why you ask? Well he climbed up there to steal marshmallows then couldn't get back down. Naughty or nice?

Christmas Cards

As the avid reader(s) of this blog know, Christmas cards are a big deal at our house. Since Nick and I first started dating, way back in 2000 (right?), our mission has been to provide you with holiday humor every year. We've attached our beloved dog Baylee up to a sleigh while forcing her to wear antlers and even once a Santa hat. Buster came along and the dogs were forced to wear scarves. Then we had Mase and the dogs took a back seat. Mase has been the focus of our cards since his birth..as it should be, right?

Well this year we decided to all get silly and Mase decided to share the spotlight a little. We hope the cards have all reached their destinations so that (should you happen upon this blog) the surprise isn't ruined. If it is then...well sorry about that, happy holidays to you anyway. :)



xoxo,
Steph

We've Been Nice!

Santa must have thought that Nick and I have been nice this year because he brought us brand new wood floors!

This is looking in to the living room from the dining room:


This one is looking towards the front door from the fireplace:


The last two are looking into the living room from the front door:

xoxox,

Steph

All I Want For Christmas is an iPod and a Zebra

Mase's Christmas list is very short this year. He wants:
- an iPod with the song Silver Bells on it
- and a zebra

Simple enough...sort of?

Nick and I decided to get him an iTouch. Yes, we got our three-year-old an iTouch. :) He likes movies and this will replace our old archaic portable DVD player with it's low battery life, cords and stacks of DVDs. :) (I say archaic tongue-n-cheek because I had to draw on an art pad when I traveled as a youngster)

Either way, the iTouch will be a good family friend of ours. We have already uploaded Silver Bells and several episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Next up will be the movies and perhaps a few preschooler games. I hear there are some great ones out there.

As far as the zebra...well Mason is on his own with that one.

xoxo,
Steph

I love him.

Last night Mase lined up all of his stuffed guys against the wall. I asked him what he was doing.

He said "I'm da animal doctor. When da bad guys bam dem then I will help them feel better."
OMG :) He is so cute!!!

I said "Oh Mase that is so nice, they are very lucky to have such a good friend like you."

I love him.

xoxo,
Steph

ho Ho HO! *edited with pics*

Christmas is in full swing at the Trougakos house!

Mase is loving the little tree in his room. Although he's had a tree in his room since birth he's sure this is the first time. He enjoyed hanging ornaments on it with Nick and insisted that we take it back out of his room when it was bedtime. We had to nicely mention that there will be no moving of the tree in and out of his room every day.

Mase decorating his tree...

Mase standing shirtless by his tree...

He's watched the old school Rudolph and Frosty now countless times. Shrek the Halls was on last night and he sat on the couch - a slave to the television.

Meanwhile in Santa's Workshop (aka my sewing room) I sewed and wrapped presents. We're doing an eco-friendly Christmas this year. I've designed Christmas tags and printed them on recycled paper, we're reusing old wrapping paper by turning it over and having Mason color Christmas-like things on the white side. I say "Christmas-like" because you'll have to use your imagination when you see them. He only likes to color ornaments. Lots and lots of ornaments. I'm sewing almost everything for the ladies in the family and am having such a great time!!

Recycled paper tags...I've found so many fun ideas on crafts blogs!!! I love that fellow crafters are sharing their brilliant ideas. You can find tons of cute images for your own tags here.

This was fun, I took plain paper bags and printed giant labels for them and then matched with a coordinating tag. Festive and eco-friendly!

Martha Stewart had so many great ideas for non-traditional wrapping paper. I took this idea from one of her magazines. I'm so excited how it turned out and it's fun for Mason to help color too.

Mason and I also tried our hand at homemade snowmen, stars and snowflake marshmallows this past weekend. YUM-ME!


Nick has helped out quite a bit by staying out of my way while watching his beloved Raptors. I love the man but I did not marry him for his present wrapping ability. :)

xoxo,
Steph

Rock Star, Rupolph and Loud Banging

We've started a fun tradition of spending our Thanksgiving with our friends Mel & Sean. Since we hosted last year it was up to their house this year for a feast worthy of a belly ache.

Mase was too cool for school on his way to Aunt Mel's house.

Once we got their Mase immediately wanted to strip down to his undies and socks and bang away on Uncle Sean's RockBand gear as well as Aunt Mel's exercise ball. Nick and I are sure that when he's older he'll be the lead drummer for a band called "Undies Grunge".

Now that we're stuffed full of turkey it's time to move on to the best time of the year!! We're all decorated outside with lights, Snoopy and an inflatable penguin. We're not quite as festive inside because we have to wait for our new wood floors to go in before we put up the tree. The Christmas cards are designed and ordered, just a few more things left to do!

Mase got in the Christmas mood with a song. He forgets a few lines below but tries his best. Although you can't hear him for all of the loud banging and his hoarse voice (he has a cold).


Mase had hot chocolate last night and watched The Polar Express after a long day of Black Friday shopping. The Trougakos house did their fair share of pumping money back into the economy, that's for sure.

Nick and I are ready to sport some orange tonight for the Bedlam game. Wish us luck and warmth.

xoxo,
Steph

The Thirsty Beagle needs your help

Hello all, Nick here.

As Stephanie mentioned in an earlier blog post, I'm writing a beer blog for the paper now. I've started a fun contest on the blog to pick Oklahoma's favorite beer, and I'm trying to a.) get people to vote in the contest, and b.) get people to go to the blog to drive my hits up. So if you have a free moment, go to http://blog.newsok.com/thirstybeagle and take part in my Beer Championship Series. And you don't have to be from Oklahoma to take part.

Thanks!

Turkey Blues

Mase had a Thanksgiving Sing at his school today. They made Indian vests and pilgrim hats for the event, it was quite cute. Mason had a different interpretation of the songs than the rest of the kids. While they were happily singing along he was....well watch the video below. :)



Mason on the playground before his Thanksgiving party.

Getting ready to sing...he's not happy about the vest.

Do I REALLY have to do this??????????

After the singing the kiddos sat down for a feast. Mason was still so upset he couldn't even bring himself to take a bite.

This is the worst Thanksgiving feast ever!

Wait...this cookie is pretty good.

Matter of fact, it's delicious!

Now for the cranberries. Mason is in LOVE with cranberries. He gets so excited when we talk about them. The did an art project at school where they made a turkey and the teacher wrote "I am thankful for __________." The kids filled in the blanks. The other kids put "Mommy" or "Daddy" or "My Family" or "Grandma". Mason's turkey said "I am thankful for cranberries!"

When you don't like using a fork just pick up your pumpkin pie and eat.

This is how all of our parties end at school. All of the other kiddos are long gone and off playing somewhere but Mason is still at the table. He takes eating pretty seriously.

xoxo,

Steph

Dead Mouse Walking No More

It's taken:
- almost four weeks
- six different types of traps
- four different brands of traps
- 17 traps in total
- a lot of patience

...but we finally got that damn mouse.

Our little visitor met his maker this morning after being baited into a mouse house with Colby Jack cheese. Can't say I blame him for stealing a bite, it's my fave cheese too.

This mouse has, admittedly, gotten the best of us. It all started around Halloween when we found a half-eaten candy pumpkin on the counter. At first we thought it was Mason but deep inside we knew better. No way Mase would ever leave a candy pumpkin half eaten, he would have polished that thing off with one swoop.

It was at that time Nick finally declared it 'shock and awe' campaign time. He went to the store in the wee hours of the night to buy the trusty round traps that have never let us down before. After a couple nights of no mouse he started to add to the arsenal. After a couple weeks we had no less than 15 traps set up in our kitchen, a three-year-old stuck to a glue trap and a beagle with a pinched nose, but still no mouse.

Nick, feeling defeated, packed up all of the traps in a paper bag and put them away. He thought maybe there were too many distractions for the mouse and settled on leaving out just a few glue traps. Still no mouse.

Last night I freaked out and we brought out the arsenal again. We moved the washer, dryer, fridge, stove and cleaned/sprayed every single thing we could. We set two traps in the laundry room, four on the floor of the kitchen, four on the kitchen counters and two behind the couch. BINGO!!!!

We've had quite the battle with mice this fall. Remind me to tell you about our pet rat soon and no I'm not talking about Templeton.

xoxo,
Steph

Fall 2008 Family Portraits

- Steph