December 2012



We started December off by getting into the Christmas spirit.  After a breakfast of pancake snowman and hot chocolate we headed out to find our Christmas tree.

 

 

 

That afternoon we headed to a Living Nativity in town where we walked the streets of Bethlehem, had more hot chocolate, pet sheep, fed a camel, and made some crafts.

Paying her shekel in tax before entering Bethlehem

Hudson talking with a local

Hudson warming up with hot chocolate

Trying to feed a goat, they were full of carrots by this point

Visiting  Baby Jesus

 



Craft Time

 



Then it was back home where we got to decorating the tree in between watching the Gonzaga game.

 

 

Sam hanging lights on the house

Hudson supervising Daddy hang the lights

This year we headed to the library to meet Santa.  The library made a  night of it including pizza, decorating cookies, balloon animals, games, of course a chance to talk with Santa who gave them an early gift.

Coloring before things get started

Annabelle and her balloon reindeer

 

Decorating cookies

There is no such thing as too many sprinkles

Can't let the frosting go to waste

 

Annabelle and Santa asked for a Brave doll

Hudson and Santa asked for trucks

 

Waiting to open their gifts

Books

Finally enjoying their cookies

 

Then it was time to order Christmas cards, celebrating our first Christmas in Idaho we headed out for some pictures.

Family photo op by one of the Eagle signs

Kiddos on the steps of the Capitol Building

Capitol Building, kids and Christmas Tree

 

 



After Annabelle's Christmas program her break started and we finished up our preparations for the holidays.

Singing

 

Helping make cookies

Decorating the snowflakes we made with glitter

Very serious work

 

We are excited to be closer to family again and that it allows them to visit more often, especially for holidays.  Sam's parents joined us for Christmas and we had a great time.  It is also great to have Sam home for two straight weeks too.

 

Wrestling Grandpa to welcome him

Cuddle time

Story time with Grandma

Love morning cuddles with Daddy

(yes Sam has a Mohawk too)

 

On Christmas Eve we took a walk around the neighborhood to look at lights before returning home to open a couple gifts and

We stay in our pajamas all day on Christmas, so pajamas is what Grandma and Grandpa got on Christmas Eve.

 

Madagascar 3...Christmas Eve movie night

 

Christmas morning was finally here and for now we are lucky to have kids that are not up before the sun.  I am sure the time will come.  After stockings and breakfast we finally got around to presents, and spent the rest of the day enjoying our new toys and time together.

Waiting patiently to get into her stocking

Waffles with strawberries, cream, and pecans

 

Enjoying their stockings while we clean up from breakfast

 

Finally present time

Tiara for our princess

"Roar Roar" flashlight

Unicorns!

 

Monster Hat

Hudson and Pinkie Pie

 

The kids enjoyed their gifts, while we hid two more presents "under" the tree and waited for them to notice.  It took about an hour for Hudson to notice then they got to opening their final and "big" gift of the day.

Hudson ripping into it

A garage for his cars

 

Getting her gift out

Princess Castle

 

Thank you Daddy!

 

Then it was time to put these things together.

So many pieces

Hudson trying to help

Playing games with Grandpa

 

 

Just like that Christmas was over.  We said goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa as we continued to enjoy Annabelle's break from school and Sam's vacation from work.  We got our first snow during this week.

Got lots of crafts Christmas

Family picture on walls of kid's cardboard house

Clearing the driveway

Putting his dump truck to work

 

 

 

Then it was time to pack up the Christmas decorations and get ready to ring in the New Year.

Her ornament this year-Mermaid

Ornament from school

Hudson with his ornament-Oscar Mayer Weiner Mobile aka "Meat Truck"

Annabelle with Daddy's craft of the season: candle holder

One more craft from school

 

 

We like to keep our New Year's Eve low key, pajamas, movies, snacks, and going to bed around 12:01 am.

The boys and their blue mohawks

Ready to ring in the New Year

Hudson out at 11:39 pm

Annabelle made it to midnight

 Happy 2013!

 

November 2012

Life slowed down a little bit in November.  We didn't have guest every weekend, but would be hosting my family for Thanksgiving so were busy getting ready for that.   

 

One exciting thing that happened was an impromptu visit from a fireman.  I was getting the kids down for their nap/quiet time when I saw the truck.  I couldn't pass up the chance for Hudson to see it so we headed out to the balcony to wave.  They stopped and told us they had something for us as they started to get the stabalizers out I ran to get my camera.  The fireman made his way up and delivered stickers.

On his way

So excited!

 (Hudson didn't want to turn away from the truck)

 

 

Our next "event" was election day.  After reading a story and watching some School House Rock the kids and I headed off to vote. 

So proud of their I "helped" vote stickers

 

Annabelle's school participates in Operation Christmas Child so we took the opportunity to give.  Annabelle was very serious during our shopping and kept reminding Hudson that this was for other kids and didn't ask for anything for herself (I was very proud).  We packed our boxes and brought them in along with a few extras for the kids to pack boxes at school.

With the goodies

 



All packed

 





Our next project was to make cupcakes for the preschool to sell at the Church Holiday Bazaar to raise money to ship the Operation Christmas Child boxes.

Putting the finishing touches on

 

Ready to go

 

 

Hudson is a handful, but a lot of fun.  Here are a couple pictures of Hudson doing what he does.

 

Batman!



Nap time, can't sleep without his cars and trucks.

Before we knew it we were headed into Thanksgiving break, but not before Annabelle's school performance.  We made some "Thankful For You" treats for her teachers and enjoyed the show.

Making the treats

Decorating her notes

Ready to go

 



So cute

 

 

Then the family was here.  We enjoyed the full house (13 people under one roof), time together, and of course the food.

Cousins out for a walk

Leave it to Noah to bring a keg

we were all thankful

Sam fixing the disposal

Father and Son nap before dinner

Noah doing the honors

 



Napping on Opa

Noah finishing off the turkey

"Friendly" game of Nertz

(I won)

One more picture before they leave

 

Each day leading up to Thanksgiving the kids came up with one thing they were thankful for.  It was  a good exercise for them and entertaining for us.  Annabelle covered the major things and some of her favorite toys.  Hudson had trouble getting past trucks: tow, dump, fire, Daddy's the list goes on.  Looking forward to see how their lists change over the years.

 



The kids with their "Thankful Leaves"